TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – As a matter of policy, WLFI does not cover suicides. Numerous studies point to a potential “copycat effect” following media coverage of suicides. But when the mother of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life due to bullying reached out to us, we had to tell her story.
Danielle Green’s daughter hanged herself from a tree outside the family’s mobile home park on March 5. … Danielle says the bullying started on Feb. 28 of 2012. She says Angel’s father was put in jail for molesting her, and when the private matter went public, the teasing began. Article
Where are the public officials coming to the aid of this family in their time of need?
Aside from the bullying by the middle schooler’s, who is going to sit down with the news media and educate them on responsible reporting. According to this article this teasing was all brought on when a “juicy news piece” ran amok in the community bringing everyone’s attention to the family that was reaching out for help for child sexual abuse. This is exactly why so many child molestations are unreported! What has happened here is that any child in this community, especially this middle school, has been silenced now in what might have be a desperate attempt to get some help if they’re currently being molested at home. Sure, give the kids some lessons in respect, but let this be a learning experience for the media everywhere including the shaming websites. This blood is on their hands too.
When public disclosure came into vogue to feed the hungry mob, it became apparent that the reason this specific information had not been released historically was not an oversight. It seems that somewhere along the line, there was the realization of the damage that could be done to victims and innocent family members alike. As the information gets pushed out en masse, there are disclaimers up and down but those ultimately don’t protect the innocent people on the periphery of these cases. So while the public’s insatiable thirst for prurient and scintillating details is gladly afforded by opportunistic bottom feeding politicians, where is the thirst for the protection and privacy of the innocent family members on both sides of the issue?
Until the lawmakers are held responsible for the downrange effects of this chaotic feeding frenzy, will they take up the issues with a real sense of humanity and prioritize accordingly.
Quoting LBJ – “You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered.”