The SW Kid Case

[TK-8252]

Finally a chance to take a break from the grind of politics!

 

Now, we all know about the "Star Wars Kid."

 

But he filed a lawsuit against the families of the teens who posted his video on the internet. They have since settled out-of-court.

 

Read all about it, where else, wiki!

 

----------------

 

There are so many frivolous lawsuits, and this is a perfect example of one. If you make a video of yourself, and then don't take out the tape, you're a ****ing idiot and deserve to be ridiculed as such.

 

I know that the kid gets sympathy from other victims of bullying, but what's the best way to deal with a bully? Well, this kid could start by getting up off his fat ass and get some muscle. Maybe if this kid did his lightsaber moves everyday he'd drop a few pounds. Besides, he brought the bullying on himself. It's not like he's being teased because he's ugly or something, which isn't something that you really bring onto yourself.

 

So in summary, **** him. He did this to himself.

[Mike Windu]

Bullying is a pretty big problem in schools... :|

 

Sure, the guy's pretty stupid, but no one should be bullied. Dealing with bullies isn't quite that easy for some people.

 

I think he's goofy, and he should have taken it in stride and kept his head up. But he didn't.

 

"Sue or sue not, there is no trial."

 

[TK-8252]

Bullying is a pretty big problem in schools... :|

 

Sure, the guy's pretty stupid, but no one should be bullied. Dealing with bullies isn't quite that easy for some people.

 

Yes it is, as it is in the real world. Since the curriculum in school sucks, the best thing that schools have to offer is learning how to deal with people, which is why homeschooling sucks.

 

Let's face reality. Sheltering kids from "mean" kids and having the teachers acting as baby-sitters is no way to prepare someone for the dog-eat-dog world. One day you will face a nasty co-worker, or a mean boss, or a road-raging driver, and if you don't know how to deal with these people then you're screwed.

 

A little bullying isn't going to harm you. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Now, I would never be a bully, and I frown upon those who do, but there are mean people out there and that's not going to change. People aren't going to just be nice because it's the right thing to do. That's not how society works.

 

And in Star Wars Kid's situation, I have no sympathy for him whatsoever, considering that he's the one who taped himself in the first place. If you're an idiot, you will be treated as one. That's how it is in school, and it's how it is in real life. He needs to learn to grow up and deal with it, and I don't mean by suing. As far as I'm concerned, he's being the bully now.

 

"Ooo I'll sue you 'cuz I don't like what you did to me! Nanananana!"

 

I guess what goes around comes around eh?

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

There was a thread on this topic in Ahto to which Insane Sith replied: "**** that fat ****". I agreed with it then and I agree with it now.

 

F*** that fat f***.

[edlib]

I dunno... I still feel for the kid. We've all done stupid, embarrassing things that if anyone found out about we would never, ever hear the end of it. This kid had that done to him at the international level. That can't feel good.

 

People gave me s*** the whole time I went to school. I'm not sure how I would have coped with something like this... I don't think any of us can really say.

 

Should it have led to litigation, though? I'm not sure... probably not. However, I can see the appeal of trying to turn this stupid situation to your financial advantage anyway you can. Hey, why the hell not? If you already find yourself scarred for life, at least try to make a few bucks off of it if you can.

 

Truthfully,.. I would rather see him go that route than to do nothing and save it all up, and pull a Columbine when he gets to high school.

 

But that's just me...

[toms]

He should have sued them for everything he could get... i hope he got enough to at least piss off their parents for raising such callous and uncaring kids.

[Joe©]

Yes it is, as it is in the real world. Since the curriculum in school sucks, the best thing that schools have to offer is learning how to deal with people, which is why homeschooling sucks.

 

Deal with people? What do you mean by that? Sit around and chat with their friends? Get in trouble? Deal with a some other kid that made fun of you in front of your friends?

 

I think homeschoolers learn plenty about that. Least I have.

Although I would like to just knock a few teeth out of some people I know.

 

As far as bullying goes. You have to deal with it, there is always going to be someone out there more meaner than you are, but people (like this kid) that do not have a backbone need to grow a pair...

 

Being grown up is not about being able to buy smokes or beer or anything, its about being able to handle situations on your own, in a mature and reasonable fashion (Something this kid is not doing)

[Good Sir Knight]

Eh this isn't surprising, the kid has every right to sue and if he's awarded his money..well thats just how it works. As lame as it sounds, thats how it works in America and compared to other frivolous cases... this one isn't too bad.

 

(Hot coffee ring a bell?)

 

I get a little more pissed off when people sue their insurance company or pretend like their kneck hurts after a fender bender.

[TK-8252]

I dunno... I still feel for the kid. We've all done stupid, embarrassing things that if anyone found out about we would never, ever hear the end of it. This kid had that done to him at the international level. That can't feel good.

 

True, but you probably wouldn't VIDEO TAPE yourself doing said stupid, embarrassing thing. If you're going to do a stupid, embarassing thing, DON'T VIDEO TAPE YOURSELF DOING IT.

[Mike Windu]

Because he knew someone'd find it right?

 

It's like sex tapes - not intended to get out into public. But they do.

 

Is it the fault of the person being taped or the fault of the tape stealers?

 

Private property rights.

 

Kid should sue their asses off.

 

He's still stupid though.

[edlib]

How old was he when he made this tape?

 

Since the rational judgement part of your brain isn't totally functional until you are in your late teens/ early 20s, chances are he wasn't really thinking about all the possibilities.

Plus, he might have been a more trusting person and never stopped to think that somebody would do that with his tape. (Although I'm sure that part of him has been burned away forever... )

[TK-8252]

Because he knew someone'd find it right?

 

He'd be beyond stupid if he thought that no one would find it left in the studio.

 

Is it the fault of the person being taped or the fault of the tape stealers?

 

Private property rights.

 

You need to read the wiki article, Mikey.

 

"On or around April 19, 2003, the original owner of the tape discovered Ghyslain's recorded acts and immediately shared it with some friends."

 

It isn't even his tape. He took someone else's tape and used it to record himself. The original owner had every right to share it, post it all over the internet if he wanted to. It was HIS TAPE TO BEGIN WITH!

 

There isn't and shouldn't be a basis to sue some families just because the kids were being mean to him. Because you got picked on and teased and you were too much of a little bitch to deal with it doesn't give you the legal basis for a lawsuit.

[edlib]

If there was no basis, then the case would have been dismissed outright. The fact that it almost went to trial shows that there was enough of a case.

 

Pain and suffering, and mental anguish are enough to hang a lawsuit on.

[TK-8252]

If there was no basis, then the case would have been dismissed outright. The fact that it almost went to trial shows that there was enough of a case.

 

There's a lot of frivolous lawsuits that go to trial, and a lot that even happen to win. The classic slip, fall, sue for example, and more recently the finger-in-the-chilli case.

 

Pain and suffering, and mental anguish are enough to hang a lawsuit on.

 

Oh, give me a break! If people make fun of you because you're an idiot, maybe you shouldn't be an idiot. There are consequences to your actions. If you use someone's tape to record yourself doing something stupid, then when people see it and make fun of you, blame no one but yourself. Plus, if you are truely so damaged and go through pain and suffering and anguish because some kids called you a name everyday, you are weak and will never make it in life. He needs to toughen the hell up for the sake of his own survival.

[edlib]

All I'm saying is that if people were giving you s*** everyday, and a lawyer approached you and said: "Listen, I can give you 2 choices;

First: You've lost your dignity, and people are going to treat you like a tool all the time.

Second: You've lost your dignity, and people are going to treat you like a tool all the time... but with a big cash settlement."

Which one are you going to go for? If you are anything like a normal person, you are going to grab what's behind door number 2, aren't you?

I mean, if you're gonna get grief either way you slice it, why not try to sweeten the deal for yourself?

I can't feel at all hostile to him for working the system for what it's worth. If it came down to me to develop a thick skin and a backbone while broke, and developing a thick skin and a backbone with a trust fund... hey, call me mercenary, but my vote is for the trust fund. Again, why the hell not? I didn't make the laws, and I don't exactly approve, but as long as they exist and you can possibly exploit them for your own benefit, why wouldn't you?

 

You also assume it's the kid who is actually doing all of this himself. My guess it's his parents who are behind a lot of this, at least the litigation part.

 

And why did the other parents settle if there wasn't a case? They could have gone to trial and possibly won, further humiliating him in public.

[Mike Windu]

That's the damn truth.

 

I'd do the same if I were in his position. I wouldn't really care about the distribution of the video, maybe comments like fatass or whatever, but hah, I'd laugh at them and go buy myself an Escalade with the money I won.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Eh this isn't surprising, the kid has every right to sue and if he's awarded his money..well thats just how it works. As lame as it sounds, thats how it works in America and compared to other frivolous cases... this one isn't too bad.

The kid lives in Canada.

[TK-8252]

It seems that you have the same attitude as the people who slip and fall on their ass, then sue the place because they see the chance to grab some cash. You KNOW the lawsuit is frivolous... but you'd want some cash anyway.

 

First: You slap and fall, and now you're hurt."

Second: You slap and fall, and now you're hurt... but you can get some money out of it for yourself."

 

When you go to a store and buy something, you are paying MORE for it because the cost of frivolous lawsuits against the store has been added into the price you're paying. YOU are paying for the mistakes of OTHER people who very well might have done it on purpose, too.

 

Of course, that little bit is unrelated to the SW Kid case since it's suing the families, but the point still stands: frivolous lawsuits are BAD. The world would be a better place if there weren't greedy bastards suing people over crap that's their own damn fault to begin with.

 

And why did the other parents settle if there wasn't a case? They could have gone to trial and possibly won, further humiliating him in public.

 

Well, I don't know but I can speculate that it would be cheaper to just settle... Michael Jackson settled in at least one case... doesn't mean he's guilty eh? *Opens can of worms*

 

But might I have sued in the same situation? I don't know. Maybe, because at the spur of the moment you're feeling irrational. But if I did the same thing as he has done, I'd deserve and expect to be ridiculed as a greedly little prick.

 

The principle is that you don't sue because you got your feelings hurt. You don't sue because you got teased or picked on. If everyone who got bullied at school sued the family of the bully, there would be no end of these lawsuits... families would be destroyed because the parents can't afford to pay up... and you can say goodbye to freedom of speech (oooo I can sue you now 'cuz what you said hurt me)!

[Joe©]

Hmmm... I should release the films of Samuel Dravis running around town dressed like a ninja... I dunno the bugger might sue me

 

I know I could never sue, even in his shoes. It just makes him into a bigger idiot than he already is. I actully had not heard of the SWK till now, and intend to watch the vidio just because hes being a pain.

[Mike Windu]

OH NOES! FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO FUND BULLYING?!

 

TK, listen to yourself man. You're desensitizing the issue and drawing straw men that don't directly follow this. Bullying on a local level and mass ridicule are two entirely different entities.

 

I don't give a damn if the kid's an idiot and it wasn't his property to begin with. I don't think anyone should be subjected unwillingly to millions upon millions of people's daily ridicule.

 

Though I did find it funny.

[TK-8252]

OH NOES! FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO FUND BULLYING?!

 

Well, that wasn't my point, but I'll move on...

 

TK, listen to yourself man. You're desensitizing the issue and drawing straw men that don't directly follow this. Bullying on a local level and mass ridicule are two entirely different entities.

 

In order to look at something rationally, from a legal perspective, it must be desensitized. Arguing out of emotion or fear or sympathy is not rational.

 

I don't give a damn if the kid's an idiot and it wasn't his property to begin with. I don't think anyone should be subjected unwillingly to millions upon millions of people's daily ridicule.

 

Then he shouldn't have taped himself in the first place, period. It's common sense. Do something stupid, don't record it. Perhaps he deserves ridicule.

 

He's an idiot. Look at Jack Thompson. He's ridiculed daily by gamers all across the internet... he's gotten death threats... his e-mail address was posted for anyone and everyone who wants to tell him to f*** off... should he sue the people who ridicule him? I'm sure he's tried! And it just proves what an idiot he is!

[Mike Windu]

In order to look at something rationally, from a legal perspective, it must be desensitized. Arguing out of emotion or fear or sympathy is not rational.

 

I meant that in the issue of arguing in your seemingly pro bullying argument. "Builds character" is what you are apparently stating. That people must be subjected to constant ridicule, etc in order to become better human beings.

 

That simply does not happen. Bullying possesses drastic psychological effects upon a child's life and directly influences the type of person that he will be. What of those who cannot handle bullying? How are you going to teach them to "man up" to bullies? I'm not quite sure that all kids are able to shake off a bully, otherwise bullying wouldn't be such a problem.

 

That's my idea of desensitizing.

 

Then he shouldn't have taped himself in the first place, period. It's common sense. Do something stupid, don't record it. Perhaps he deserves ridicule.

 

It may be a fault on his part, but it's no less of a fault for those who distributed it. If I taped something idiotic and my friends got hold of it, I wouldn't mind. But millions of people? That's a whole other story.

 

You want to tell me that we shouldn't do things that are "stupid" for fear that we might be ridiculed worldwide? Doesn't that violate our freedom to do stupid things?

 

There's nothing honestly stupid about him taping himself doing moves, except for the fact that he sucks and he's uncoordinated. But that's no reason to subject him to ridicule.

 

Jack Thompson is a completely irrelevant red herring, but I will address that issue anyway.

 

Jack Thompson is an idiot, yes. I concede on that fact. But he willingly posts his idiocy for the world to see. Not to mention his argument is filled with logical fallacies that are quite easy to pick out.

 

This does not justify people sending him death threats.

 

Should he sue the people who ridicule him? No, he shouldn't, and he couldn't, because of freedom of speech.

 

But freedom of speech is not the question at hand. The right to privacy is the question at hand. Why does it matter if it's someone else's tape? They haven't claimed it in months, and it is evidence of the kid's stupidity. He should possess the right to keep that quiet.

 

I would have sued the hell out of someone if they found a tape of me twirling a golf ball retriever like an idiot and spread it on the internet to the point where I was damaged psychologically.

 

Whether the kid is actually damaged psychologically remains questionable, but I'm certain there were some side effects.

 

And messing with people's heads generally doesn't fall under good intentions in my book.

 

Is this an exploit of the justice system? Damn straight. But in my view, it's nothing more than punishing pranksters. Punishment might be a bit extreme at 250,000, but hey, it's common sense not to do something stupid like post something that could get you sued for a ****load of money. Maybe they deserve to be punished.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

He's an idiot. Look at Jack Thompson. He's ridiculed daily by gamers all across the internet... he's gotten death threats... his e-mail address was posted for anyone and everyone who wants to tell him to f*** off... should he sue the people who ridicule him? I'm sure he's tried! And it just proves what an idiot he is!

His credibility's shot since he had to undergo mandatory psychiatric testing to determine whether or not he was sane, I believe that he barely passed for sane

 

Anyways, I'm a kid who's been doing calculus (for fun), physics calculations/programming (once again, for fun), and anime fansubbing afterschool since my freshman year in high school. Needless to say I have all of about 3 friends, and I know what bullying is (not physically though). I still have no sympathy for this kid. He should have used his anger and embarassment as motivation to do something about his bullying (other than suing or killing someone).

 

If he gets his ass kicked, he should get in shape and deck the kid doing it. If he gets made fun of, ignore, laugh it off, or make fun of them back (only if he can make it funny though, otherwise he'd just be SW Kid + unfunny). Kids in school (or people in general for that matter) have been made fun of since the origin of modern society, what makes this kid entitled to $350,000? And what good came of him getting the money anyway? Now he's just SW Kid + douchebaggery + $350,000.

[Mike Windu]

what makes this kid entitled to $350,000

 

The fact that someone was stupid enough to post it on the internet and he was smart enough to salvage the situation in some way.

 

You'd do the same. I'd do the same. It's easy money.

 

edit - you guys must have some pretty weak bullies.

 

Bullies around here usually bench 350. But I don't encounter much bullying myself, I'm cool with everyone. <3 athletics

 

I dunno about you, but that just doesn't seem logical to hit a guy benching 350 when you're benching half of that.

 

And it's not like he can bench it within a week or so. Building muscle takes a hell of a lot of time. I can guarantee you that.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

The fact that someone was stupid enough to post it on the internet and he was smart enough to salvage the situation in some way.

 

You'd do the same. I'd do the same. It's easy money.

 

edit - you guys must have some pretty weak bullies.

 

Bullies around here usually bench 350. But I don't encounter much bullying myself, I'm cool with everyone. <3 athletics

More like he was stupid enough to tape himself doing that stupid s***.

 

I wouldn't do the same.

 

No, not really, and the fact that they can bench 350 just means they can push you hard, it doesn't win you the fight.