In some of the newspapers a few days ago- The Times and New of the World (definitely) there was a small article about a boy who had been a victim of 'happy slapping' and commited suicide?

Anyone read it? The boy was from my school

I heard about this - so sad

Just been looking on the web and couldn't find it. I think it's awful that people get a kick out of doing that to someone else. The people who did that to him are guilty of nothing short of murder in my opinion. His parents must be distraught. I expect it's badly affected the school too - were the perpetrators pupils at your school too?

It's sick and twisted. Even the phrase "happy slapping". Whats next? "laughing murder"? Happy slapping is just bullying.

I heard about that, it's really sick and sad. Nat, I'm really sorry to hear about this, what's happening at your school?

The American term is 'thrill killing'. Having watched the hideous antics in New Orleans I can easily believe this kind of thing happening in America.

This sort of stuff brings me to tears and I get so ANGRY that our stupid F****** government is doing absolutely NOTHING about it.

Good grief! Theres actually a term for it???

I'm so sorry to hear about this Nat.

[gives warm gentle hug]

Amber
x

How awful.

I think happy slapping is ridiculous - no point whatsoever. I've seen a few year 7 and 8 kids very upset after being targetted by year 10s and 11s....

Sorry to hear that, Nat.

I saw that, and I did wonder if it was your school, Nat.

I hope action will now be taken to protect other children from such bullying.

I saw it as well Nat & wondered if it was your old school.
Really sorry to hear about
What is the school doing to prevent it happening again?

Just found it. Sickening isn't it. To think we have a minority culture who take such pleasure from such disgusting actions is truly distasteful . Something that needs to be stamped out in a hurry. (sorry, that's how strongly I feel about this kind of behaviour)

Sorry this happened Nat. What's happeneing next?

It is a shame that the minority ruin it for the majority.

Sorry this has happened Nat.

Just read the article. Its really sick that people are doing things like this. Sorry to hear it happened Nat.

It is terrible that people find doing this fun, it is so disgusting and pathetic. The thing is that I am sure it won't be the last time this happens, and there needs to be some urgent action taken otherwise this will happen again.

No idea what is happening now. The article put a lot of blame on the school but the school had done stuff to try to stop it apparantly. I don't know that much.

I remember the day his year group were told, they all had an assembly and most of them were crying their eyes out. A few of my younger friends from music were devastated. He was going to do Music GCSE too.

Poor kid. If only the (good) kids had done something to say, maybe include him in their gang to protect him. One of my friends was really cool, she asked a friend of hers in the same class as me to watch out for me when we had to go to different classes.

What a tragedy but no way an isolated incident - another soul snuffed out to provide entertainment and laughs for a few thugs.

Yet the government sits there doing absolutely nothing.

It's clear that existing controls don't work. I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that tough sentencing in tough prisons or public birchings is the only way to stop this behaviour - until we find a better way. No one wants to talk like that but sooner or later someone will take power and really deal with it.
And here's our government about to extend alcohol licensing laws so that drunken gangs can rule our streets 24hours per day.

It's saddening and anger-making that justice will never be done. If the culprits are charged with assault what will they get? Two hours of community service or something as stupid.

That's terrible. Some people are so sick and twisted. How on earth did behaviour like this become known as "happy" anything? His poor family and friends must be totally devastated.


I agree with you about the licencing laws, Watermelon. It's completely mad to let people drink for longer when drinking is the cause of so many of the problems in the first place. It's alright for the government to talk about continental-style licencing laws but, unless you have the kind of café culture that exists in places like France and Italy, too many people will just use it as an excuse to binge-drink for even longer and then go on to indulge in still more disgusting and yobbish behaviour.

I don't think that tough prison sentences or corporal punishment are the answer, though. Prison achieves little except to satisfy society's thirst for revenge and rarely helps offenders to reform, which should be the main object of any punishment. America, for example, has both the highest prison population of any western nation and the highest crime rate. We need to look at why a small minority feels compelled to act in this appalling way if we are to stop more tragedies like this one from happening.

Tony Blair talked about being "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime". Sadly, he doesn't seem to have been either.

The thing I can't understand is that it's only the government who seems to be all for these extended drinking hours - experts, hospitals, police, etc and the law-abiding decent hard-working citizens seem to be against it! The government can be so deaf and blind when it wants to be. It makes me mad - the coop near us gets regularly broken into at the weekends and it's usually crowds of youths coming out from the local pub who are to blame.

It's weird isn't it?

Nat I'm so sorry - just back from a week away and the first I'd heard of this (although we logged on to bbc news at the internet cafe, didn't spot it).

I agree they are guilty of murder. The law no doubt would disagree, but the law is an ######.

I don't know what works with people like this. Prison, fines etc do not seem to work. Yes, society (and I include myself in that - part of me would enjoy returning blow for blow on someone who'd done something like this if I'm honest) would like some kind of retribution, but it does not seem to change attitudes longterm which is what's required if others are not going to suffer in the same way as this poor child and his family.

Maybe they should be forced to work - under VERY strict supervision - with people who've been the victims of bullying and violence - or with those victims who would be willing and of course not all would be able to face that. Work as unpaid orderlies in wards where hit and run victims are looked after. Otherwise perhaps you lock them up and throw away the key. I'm not sure there's any middle road that will achieve anything.
(angry>>>)

thats horrible! that happy slapping thing is sick and it's wrong. i can't think of anyone who would do that!