Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Liberal_in_LA

(44,397 posts)
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 10:44 PM Jun 2012

Bus monitor Karen Klein's tormentors suspended for year, donations on her behalf = $670,000


A radio station in Boston held an event in Karen Klein's honour on Thursday

Four US students who gained infamy after a video of their verbal abuse towards a bus monitor went viral have been suspended from school for a year.

Footage of the 12- and 13-year-olds taunting Karen Klein has been viewed some 8 million times.

The school system in the New York state town of Greece says the students must also complete 50 hours of community service with senior citizens.

Mrs Klein, 68, said she did not want the boys to face criminal charges.

She told the Associated Press last week that others should not harass or threaten the students.

"That's not the way to go about things," she said. "They're just kids."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18656095
33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bus monitor Karen Klein's tormentors suspended for year, donations on her behalf = $670,000 (Original Post) Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 OP
Sorry, but this is way out of proportion. TheWraith Jun 2012 #1
Wasn't a human interest video. Igel Jun 2012 #2
I think the parents have agreed to the punishment. Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #8
I think Go Vols Jul 2012 #11
That's exactly what it is. TheWraith Jul 2012 #18
who said life was fair? yet it's usually unfair in the opposite direction. i'm pleased a woman HiPointDem Jun 2012 #3
not only has she been promised the money, corporations have stepped up like Disney Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #9
Beautifully expressed suffragette Jul 2012 #32
Pretty much. joshcryer Jul 2012 #14
yeah but people donated the money freely.. dionysus Jul 2012 #19
I don't think so. MineralMan Jul 2012 #22
In a sense you are right in terms of harm done, but it is not excessive in terms... aikoaiko Jul 2012 #23
It does seem rather crazy treestar Jul 2012 #26
Fuck the Little Bullies we can do it Jul 2012 #29
Then you can write her a letter asking her to give the money back. bluestateguy Nov 2015 #33
And here I sit, fired from job for being hurt at work DiverDave Jun 2012 #4
Thing is, the fundraising for the Klein case was triggered when the bullying video went viral. alp227 Jul 2012 #10
Yeah, I know all those things DiverDave Jul 2012 #24
I think this about right and proportional..granted Douglas Carpenter Jun 2012 #5
+1000 Mosby Jul 2012 #15
Again, good on her for comments like this... FedUpWithIt All Jun 2012 #6
Question. What if one of the boys later runs for political office? alp227 Jun 2012 #7
The answer is obvious. Yes lunatica Jul 2012 #12
What would the statute of limitations be, though? And which behaviors? alp227 Jul 2012 #13
depends on what else they did in their life, is he going to have a pattern JI7 Jul 2012 #16
What's wrong with knowing Obama ate dog when he was 7? lunatica Jul 2012 #20
ok, I don't begrudge her a thing magical thyme Jul 2012 #17
It's not out of proportion. Are_grits_groceries Jul 2012 #21
Bullying hicklespickle Jul 2012 #25
so your main concern is a game? really? really really? ret5hd Jul 2012 #28
Gotta agree. RebelOne Jul 2012 #30
gotta agree with who? ret5hd Jul 2012 #31
After watching bankers/ceo types wreck XanaDUer Jul 2012 #27

TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
1. Sorry, but this is way out of proportion.
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 11:07 PM
Jun 2012

Kids yelling mean shit? Big news. Punishment, sure. A year? Probably excessive.

$670,000 for being yelled at while you were working? INCREDIBLY excessive. Sorry, but there's people who endure far worse average days at work than this woman getting yelled at by asshole teenagers. But because you can't make a human-interest viral video out of somebody spending 11 hours grinding aluminum parts until their hands are numb, standing on a concrete floor in 90 degree heat, those people get ignored.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
2. Wasn't a human interest video.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 12:00 AM
Jun 2012

After humiliating and denigrating a 68-year-old woman because of her age, weight, sex, and emotional response, some kid put the video up on facebook so that they could exult in how crude they were to somebody else and continue to mock her.


People are subjected to that every day by little "angels". And the little angels really do think that they are angels and quite fine people.

They've been really, really miseducated. They're all over empathy when *they* want to be the subject of it. They know how to get things for themselves, all the right buttons to push. They're just too wrapped up in their little worlds to think about empathy for others.

Having empathy is to be able to be empathetic to those different from yourself. That's hard, and while I don't know what percentage of Americans were ever really commonly able to do this I know that too many of them have stopped thinking it's worth trying. "Empathy" has dropped off to top 10 qualities emulated by high school graduates and new college freshmen for the first time ever.

The suspension will be appealed and reduced. And the donations were, like it or not, donations. Not from the school district. Notions of "excessive" don't really enter into it.

Go Vols

(5,902 posts)
11. I think
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 08:09 PM
Jul 2012

its the parents fault for raising such little assholes.They should be accountable to some extent.

TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
18. That's exactly what it is.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 12:02 AM
Jul 2012

While it may hold some insight about those particular kids in that particular situation, in the larger scale it's no more relevant or representative than simply being the opposite end of the bell curve from a story about a bunch of kids raising money for war orphans. Trying to extrapolate a trend from one incident doesn't work, and trying to force it usually breaks down into some variant on the old saw about those damn kids today and how horrible they are. Which I guess works, if you don't mind insulting an entire generation for their age, inexperience, and people they've never met and never will. And as long as you can forget that your elders said the same things about YOU, too, and their elders said the same things about them.

 

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
3. who said life was fair? yet it's usually unfair in the opposite direction. i'm pleased a woman
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 12:39 AM
Jun 2012

who had to keep working at age 68 got a nice retirement for a change.

she's looked completely glum in every picture i've seen her in up to now & said in a previous video
she didn't really believe she'd get the money -- i think that comes from a lifetime of dashed hopes and (as she did on the bus) keeping her head down & trying to get by.

she looks glowing in that photo, maybe she finally believes something good happened to her for one
of the few times in her life.

why the sour grapes? yes, there are people worse off. that was true before she got the money, so what?

 

Liberal_in_LA

(44,397 posts)
9. not only has she been promised the money, corporations have stepped up like Disney
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 03:54 PM
Jun 2012

and the airline that will fly her family to the vacation spot. So she's aware something good is coming her way.

MineralMan

(146,189 posts)
22. I don't think so.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 09:30 AM
Jul 2012

The punishment for the kids who did this is certainly proportional to what they did. They'll be going to a continuation school, where they'll continue their education. They'll do some community service.

The money? That's irrelevant. Someone set up a fundraiser, and people donated, mostly in small amounts. It added up to a decent-sized fund, which I hope will be given to her, although I'm still concerned about that. Individuals donated as they saw fit. Nothing out of proportion there, either. Good luck to this woman. I hope her retirement goes well.

It is not a zero sum game at all. The terrible conditions faced by other workers have nothing to do with people's response to this woman. Each person is an individual, and each person's trials and issues are that person's.

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
23. In a sense you are right in terms of harm done, but it is not excessive in terms...
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 09:36 AM
Jul 2012


...of the impact the video had on viewers and their desire to do something nice for her.

She became a symbol of something greater than herself and the specific incident.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
26. It does seem rather crazy
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 01:51 PM
Jul 2012

Like she hit a lottery. I'd be yelled at by kids for that kind of money.

At least it seems like she got a lot more money than Zimmerman did.

The internet going viral thing is amazing.

DiverDave

(4,874 posts)
4. And here I sit, fired from job for being hurt at work
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 12:42 AM
Jun 2012

And so broke I cant get my tooth fixed.
And this lady gets 650K for being yelled at?
Bring em on, I'll take it for half that

alp227

(31,959 posts)
10. Thing is, the fundraising for the Klein case was triggered when the bullying video went viral.
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 08:07 PM
Jul 2012

And it's WAY more complicated than "being yelled at"...the boys deliberately went beyond simple insults and went with disgusting personal attacks on her family tragedy such as her being a widow. It's disgusting how people are selectively rationalizing what the boys did such as "boys will be boys" or "insults happen in the real world". (Really, some on that other forum have done worse rationalizations.)

As for your fired from work case, you may file an appeal with the EEOC or tell your story to a local media outlet and gain publicity.

DiverDave

(4,874 posts)
24. Yeah, I know all those things
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 07:58 AM
Jul 2012

but I just could use some of that kinda love about now, is all...
And, yeah, I have a lawyer and he tells me it perfectly legal to fire me. It happens all the time.
I would have PAYED for my insurance out of the meager funds I get, but they have no way to do that, they just fire ya.
And getting workmans comp is no 'vacation', as some on the right yell at me.
I barely have enough to pay our bills, and forget trying to take my kids on any type of vacation.
Or buy my wife anything nice.
Like, you know, flowers or something...I do pick wild flowers when I come across them.
It is bitterly,BITTERLY shaming as I've always provided for my family...

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)
5. I think this about right and proportional..granted
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 01:59 AM
Jun 2012

Things like this probably happen a lot more often that people realize. But to send a message that society does not accept bullying especially of senior citizens by children is a very good thing. This decision also recognizes that these children are not unredeemable and they will have a chance to make something of themselves in the future. Perhaps Mrs. Klein did kind of luck out when it came to financial side of things. But so what? How is that a bad thing? I'm less fortunate than many and more fortunate than most. I'm not going to begrudge those hard working souls who have an unexpected turn of great fortune. Mrs. Klein has been working for $15,500 per year at a thankless job and now she can enjoy a first class vacation and a comfortable retirement. Not everyone is so fortunate. But that is no excuse to begrudge those who have such serendipity.

Most importantly, it raises to public consciousness the whole issue of bullying and hopefully will serve at least to some extent as a deterrent to potential bullies out there.

FedUpWithIt All

(4,442 posts)
6. Again, good on her for comments like this...
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 02:08 AM
Jun 2012
"That's not the way to go about things," she said. "They're just kids."


Hopefully, now all the involved parties can move on with their lives. The story made note that the boys and their families agreed to the suspensions without a hearing.

alp227

(31,959 posts)
7. Question. What if one of the boys later runs for political office?
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 03:27 PM
Jun 2012

Would it be appropriate to bring up this incident?

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
12. The answer is obvious. Yes
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 08:16 PM
Jul 2012

If you run for public office everything you've done is fair to bring up. Good, bad or indifferent.

alp227

(31,959 posts)
13. What would the statute of limitations be, though? And which behaviors?
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 08:20 PM
Jul 2012

In this country, you can find educated people in the workforce who actually raise a fuss over the fact that Obama ate dog meat during his childhood in Indonesia, during which Obama was 7 or so. Should we start asking for political candidates' high school diaries next and point out in campaign ads: &quot Candidate) wrote something mean about another student 25 years ago in high school!"

On the other hand there are truly concerning stories that would make thinking people question Romney's character, such as the dog-on-the-roof story or how he forcibly cut another student's hair in high school.

JI7

(89,172 posts)
16. depends on what else they did in their life, is he going to have a pattern
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 08:31 PM
Jul 2012

of bullying like Romney. or will he do mostly good things in which case people are forgiving.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
20. What's wrong with knowing Obama ate dog when he was 7?
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 07:21 AM
Jul 2012

Wasn't he the one who told the world about it in his book?

The usual suspects may want to make something out of it, but it just doesn't really get any traction. But we know about it.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
17. ok, I don't begrudge her a thing
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 08:43 PM
Jul 2012

but I've been bullied and tormented my whole life. I just wish somebody had videoed themselves doing it and sent it viral.

Seriously, I am glad that she has enough to be able to retire. Nobody should have to be taking that shit ever, but certainly not after a certain age. At some point, you should be able to retire with a little dignity...

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
21. It's not out of proportion.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 07:33 AM
Jul 2012

Last edited Wed Jul 4, 2012, 08:04 AM - Edit history (1)

This country has an epidemic of bullying that is driving some to commit suicide. Kids can be incredibly cruel. Unfortunately, it's too often characterized as yelling, insulting and poking. It is much more than that if you are on the end of it and nobody will help.

I wouldn't send them to juvie. If they aren't hard core bad before, they will be when they leave. It's my undertanding that they will be taught in an alternative setting. They won't be larking about on the streets.

As far as the parents go, sometimes even the best kids with good parenting can get swept up in the moment by peer pressure. Peer pressure can be incredibly strong especially when there is a large group. I have seen this first hand.

Bullying won't stop, but it has to be confronted continually. Social media has made it worse with video postings, etc.


hicklespickle

(1 post)
25. Bullying
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 01:49 PM
Jul 2012

This has gotten everyone up in arms about bullying in general and I'm concerned that if Rockstar release Bully 2 in about 2013 or 2014 then this will affect it's release because when the original game was announced many people tried to have it banned without any solid information about the game and bullying is a lot worse these days than about 7 years ago in 2005. The first game turned out to be not that bad at all but most non gamers got their information about the game solely from the morons who campaigned against it and so probably think that the game is as bad as it was originally thought to be. I do however think that these kids are idiots and should be punished for such callous bullying.

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)
30. Gotta agree.
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 02:14 PM
Jul 2012

The son of a friend of mine committed suicide because of bullying in school. He was only 15 years old. He was bullied because he was overweight.

ret5hd

(20,433 posts)
31. gotta agree with who?
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 05:13 PM
Jul 2012

if with me, well, ok. no fight there.

but if with hickspick, well, he is sayin' we should ignore the situation because some game he likes might be rejected by the public.

XanaDUer

(12,939 posts)
27. After watching bankers/ceo types wreck
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 02:00 PM
Jul 2012

The economy and walk away with even more money, I am a-okay with "bullied old grandma" taking the money and running. As for those abusive little SOBs? Too bad. Thanks to their actions backfiring on them, she can retire. Good for her. Every now and then one of the lambs escapes the slaughterhouse.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Bus monitor Karen Klein's...