Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi posted, "Jumping off the gw bridge sorry," on his Facebook page. The 18-year-old leapt to his death from the George Washington Bridge. The story has sparked many emotions on the Internet.
Clementi was apparently distraught after two Rutgers freshmen classmates secretly recorded him having sex with a man in his dorm room and streamed it over the Internet.
The Internet has facilitated many aspects of the world we live in including acts of cruelty.
The two culprits are facing charges that could result in up to five years in prison.
Questions are emerging whether this is a case of cyber-bullying or a hate crime. Would his classmates have broadcast him having sex with a woman? Maybe, and if that had been the case how could we argue the incident would not still have profoundly affected the aspiring musician?
The Internet response on the tragedy is massive. It is the chatter of countless blogs. Twitter is streaming swiftly with comments expressing outrage, shock and grief.
"NeonPurpleHaze: my heart goes out to tyler clementi's family. you are in my prayers and my heart."
"luthredrev: Deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers for the family of Tyler Clementi. What a tragic and incomprehensible loss! "
"MarkSilver: Disgusting use of tech. Another example of tech #bullies. Invasion of #Privacy Charges After Death of Tyler Clementi...."
As cruel as the Internet can allow users to be, it can also illuminate the humanity of users. I wish Tyler's classmates had looked deeper into their humanity earlier.
Matthew Fortner has been at The News & Observer since 2002. He has a passion for gadgets, cutting-edge technology and all things geek.
Comments
Double Standard
Thu, 09/30/2010 - 12:42 — pi_r_roundSo what's the crime? If it had been the paparazi posting some celebrity in a compromising video it would be ok and people would lap it up like the mutts they are.
Paparazzi generally
Thu, 09/30/2010 - 17:59 — mpheelsPaparazzi generally photograph celebrities in public places where there is no expectation of privacy (even for the non-famous). In this case the suspects used a webcam to remotely film the victim while he was in his dorm room (i.e. his home), where he quite reasonably assumed his actions would be private. If a paparazzo planted video cameras in a celebrities home and distributed the video, he absolutely would face criminal and/or civil charges.
Its a crime because it
Thu, 09/30/2010 - 13:58 — alexhowardThe perps need their eyeballs clawed out for punishment!
Thu, 09/30/2010 - 12:24 — BitterEXdemocratYEP.
The perps need their eyeballs clawed out for punishment!
Thu, 09/30/2010 - 12:23 — BitterEXdemocratYEP.
Scared
Thu, 09/30/2010 - 10:55 — landsharkIt scares me down to the marrow of my bones..... The level of cruelty today's youth will go to in a heart beat. Weather it be human or animal victims! It's frightening because we have never seen anything like this at this level of involvement by so many youth. We have no legal defense against it. It appears all natural defenses have been breed out of them...... It's not the Internet, it's not the gun, or the hammer, these are just tools that descent folks use in a proper manner!