YouTube, You Lose

It must be one of the few times something has made its way across the Atlantic with the UK coming first.

Over there, it’s called Happy Slapping – video taping assaults at random for distribution, usually using cell phones.

Most people by now are familiar with the latest US emulation of this particular brand of nastyness, especially with the widely publicized case of 8 teenagers in Florida. There are other cases, but they all have one thing in common – the results of these attacks are filmed, then posted to the ‘Net.

Now some sad sorry excuses for parenting would like to try to shift the blame to the ‘Net – or, such as in the eyes of one of those pathetic parents of the Florida teens, the victim themselves.

But at the end of the day, the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the perpetrators.

The law is being abused outrageously by teenagers – they know the chances of them actually being punished for their crimes are slim, and any punishment they do get amounts to a slap on the wrist.

Given the state of the Juvenile Justice system, I’m amazed the Judges don’t hand out $20 bills to these vicious feral teenagers for being well behaved in court – On the off chance they get convicted, their sentences are virtual Academy Awards in recognition of these little angels’ acting abilities in court!

So here’s my question.

If such crimes (and, the opinions of some of the parents of these animals aside, they are crimes), are being committed with the intent, primary or otherwise, of posting videos of the crimes to the ‘Net for notoriety, or bullying (or any other reason, come to think of it) – why can’t the wastes of skin that carry out the crimes be penalized and prevented from gaining any “benefit” from doing so?

Most places have a “Son of Sam“-style law – a criminal cannot be allowed to profit from their crime.

So – why can’t legislation be introduced to “enhance” the sentences for crimes where the footage is uploaded? An even bigger enhancement if the crime was committed to be uploaded sounds good too.

Blaming the ‘Net for these callous people’s actions, as many parents who appear to be in denial seem wont to do, is no solution – it doesn’t even begin to address the root causes – Teenagers who think they’re above the law and/or think assaults and kidnapping are harmless fun.

Judd said the most shocking thing about the attack is how lightly the alleged assailants took their actions. Vieira asked him if they showed any remorse when they were arrested.

“None at all,” he said. “When we had them arrested and in detention, they were laughing and joking, ‘Guess we’re not going to go to the beach on this spring break.’ One girl actually asked our detective, ‘Am I going to be released in time to go to cheerleading practice tomorrow?’ ”

MSNBC – Teens videotape revenge beating

Since many parents are failing to instill any level of social and moral responsibility in their children, the only real way to combat this phenomenon is to slam the perpetrators, hard.

Sentence enhancements, Federal Civil Rights violations – something, anything needs to be introduced to start showing these misfits that their behaviour is neither appreciated and will not be tolerated in a civilized society.

It doesn’t matter if it ruins their lives to have a felony record, it doesn’t matter if they spend 5 years in an adult facility – It’s time there was a real deterrent out there.

It likely won’t stop the attacks – some people will still think such things are fun – but those are people we really don’t need to include in society, so let them reveal themselves and end up where they belong.

Behind bars.

In cages.

Away from polite society.

The Florida teens are being charged as adults, including for kidnapping.

Facing charges of battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping are Mercades Nichols, 17, Brittini Hardcastle, 17, April Cooper, 14, Cara Murphy, 16, Britney Mayes, 17, Kayla Hassell, 15, Zachary Ashley, 17, and Stephen Schumaker, 18.

MSNBC – Teens videotape revenge beating

Personally, I hope they get locked up for the maximum amount of time possible. Decent people don’t need animals like those teens amongst them.

It’s just a shame that their parents will never face a judge and jury to determine their own culpability for the actions of the brats they brought into this world.

I’m just amazed they haven’t hired Gloria Allred to try to “explain” their position to the world.

Maybe next we’ll be hearing how it really isn’t their kids’ fault, they were possessed by the magic blue smoke that escaped from inside their computers?

It’s time lawmakers stepped up to the plate and start considering posting the videotapes of these crimes by the criminals to the ‘Net to be worth enhancement of sentences, or even crimes in and of themselves – incitement? Intimidation?

Until we show kids that think this is “fun” that there are real consequences, all we’re going to see is more of this.

Give such brats their 15 minutes of fame, but change the venue. Let them be seen around the world in chains and shackles being sentenced as adults to several years in adult jails. If they really want to be on camera, give them the perfect chance.

Starring on Court TV.

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