Father accused of using stun-gun on 18-month old. Ranty Part deux

http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/01/26/news/top_story/2aaa01_tourture.txt

Synopsis: In February 2007, Wittman was arrested by Albany police after using a high-voltage stun gun to shock his 18-month-old son.

WHA-WHA-WHAT?!?!? The icing is that the father is accusing the wife of using the stun gun on the child as well – so who knows, maybe both parents did this. This is absolutely rediculous, and proof that while you need a test to get a driver’s license, only working reproductive organs are required to have a child. Working BRAIN optional. This has apparently been happening for quite some time, and if the mother isn’t culpable, the child should have been removed at first sign. Hopefully he’ll end up with a new home with people that didn’t get their child-rearing advice from Nazi/Lab exploitation films.

However, this is a nice slightly-mad science tie-in.

CNN: Woman blames bullies for her 12 year old’s death (I’m getting ranty)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/29/bullying.ap/index.html

Highlights (source: CNN)
# Kim Myers said bullying and ridicule drove her 12-year-old to kill himself
# Myers said teachers, students and administrators ignored warning signs
# The Myers family plans to sue the school system alleging wrongful death

While I truly empathize with the mother of this child (anyone dying that young is tragic), I feel that her wrongful death suit is an irrational response. While bullying and other negative behavior should be discouraged by schools, schools cannot completely prevent bullying, short of not permitting students any contact whatsoever. A wrongful death suit will not solve anything. If the school tries to change in response (if they don’t have to cut educational funding due to legal losses), it’ll likely be some general blanket solution that fails to fix anything, like banning dodge-ball. Considering the amount of counseling and meds, and her mother’s attitude, I might be so bold as to presume that Brandon was raised to believe he’s a victim of the bullies.

I have a problem with that mindset. I speak from personal experience that when you spend a lot of time feeling like a victim, you’re most likely a victim of your own making.

I seriously know what I’m saying. I went through quite a lot of bullying and harassment in grade school. From 2nd through 5th grade, harassing me was the “class pasttime.” I had ulcers by the time I was 13. I was in counseling, yadda yadda yadda. I didn’t figure out how to deal with it until I STOPPED taking everyone else’s advice.