Sad / infuriating story from Rutgers University - what should their punishment be?

[RoryN]

Short version: a guy sets up a secret video camera to film his roommate while he's off with his girlfriend. The camera catches his roommate having sex with another dude.

The guy - and, presumably, his girlfriend, who also knows about the camera - thinks this is funny, and tells people on Twitter. He then sets up the camera again, but this time alerts people on his Twitter account that they should watch his gay roommate getting it on live on a streaming feed, because he knows when it's going to happen. It happens.

Gay roommate finds out about being secretly streamed live on the internet. He kills himself.

So, you're the jury...

 

[sasaou]

Jail time for all involved. Let their conscience kill them.

 

[KRCummings]

Wasn't that a scene in American Pie?

 

[Bert Notorius]

Wasn't this a Seinfeld episode?

 

[RoryN]

Jail time for all involved. Let their conscience kill them.

That's assuming they have one. The fact that they did this in the first place suggests they might not.

 

[sasaou]

That's assuming they have one. The fact that they did this in the first place suggests they might not.

People will do most anything they think they can get away with. Usually not thinking of the outcome, not trying to be malicious. Though I have to admit, when you mess with a person's sex, that is especially heinous.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

There's a deep thread on Gawker about this that I was reading earlier. I'm unsure about where the liability exactly lies. The only thing that is for certain is that the two people who did the prank will have their names attached to this and will carry the stigma that they caused someone's death forever. A deeply regrettable lesson learned.

The whole thing is immeasurably sad for that student's family and so fucking stupid that this juvenile homophobic bullshit is thought of as funny. You don't disrespect someone's personal sexual intimacy like that, not even for ball-busting "lulz."

 

[RoryN]

Wasn't that a scene in American Pie?

Wasn't this a Seinfeld episode?

Geez, you two. Get current.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Virginity_Hit

 

[Luk]

I didn't realize vette was still in college.

 

[Bert Notorius]

Geez, you two. Get current.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Virginity_Hit

You don't know how thankful I am we didn't say the same, exact thing.

 

[RoryN]

I didn't realize vette was still in college.

If vette found his roommate having gay sex in front of a camera, he would have killed him.

And then he would've driven off as fast as his piece-of-shit car would've taken him, so that he wouldn't have to answer as to why he was the other man in the video.

 

[Luk]

If vette found his roommate having gay sex in front of a camera, he would have killed him.
<snip>

I wonder how many times he would have watched the video before the killing began.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

So, you're the jury...

What's the charge? I can't convict or acquit unless I know what specific crime you are alleging has been committed.

For that matter, you haven't even addressed whether the culpability is criminal or civil.

 

[laZilla]

All they can charge them with is privacy violation or some bullshit like that. They will probably take a plea deal and get off with minimal punishment.

 

[Sonny Limatina]

There's a deep thread on Gawker about this that I was reading earlier. I'm unsure about where the liability exactly lies. The only thing that is for certain is that the two people who did the prank will have their names attached to this and will carry the stigma that they caused someone's death forever. A deeply regrettable lesson learned.

The whole thing is immeasurably sad for that student's family and so fucking stupid that this juvenile homophobic bullshit is thought of as funny. You don't disrespect someone's personal sexual intimacy like that, not even for ball-busting "lulz."

On a (perhaps insensitively) different subject, I don't entirely understand what Gawker is. New York-centric gossip?

 

[Ham Murabi]

Stoning!


http://www.theonion.com/articles/there-was-definitely-a-point-during-that-stoning-w,18165/

 

[IrezumiKiss]

On a (perhaps insensitively) different subject, I don't entirely understand what Gawker is. New York-centric gossip?

Yeah. Basically, Gawker is New York City-based media and gossip, but they comment on all newsworthy stateside and worldwide topical issues of the day as well. It's also the main parent hub for several other lifestyle/culture blog sites on different subjects and areas, all in the Gawker format. Jezebel is probably the second most famous, dealing with the same in a heavily women-centric forum, Defamer is the Hollywood-based Gawker hub, Valleywag is the San Fran-based hub, Deadspin does sports, Gizmodo does tech, Kotaku does gamer culture, Jalopnik does car n' auto, Lifehacker does personal/career/professional productivity tips, iO9 does sci-fi and Fleshbot does the porn and adult culture beat. There's also GawkerTV for video media and GawkerArtists for artists.

It started out way back when as a blog site to gossip and snark on celebrity, but it's really grown to incorporate itself into a full-fledged lifestyle media forum. I used to do it sporadically, but now I go there every day. The convos there are quite interesting. The bent is mostly liberal, given the NY-based demographic, but there's a good mixed group of heads to bounce off of.

 

[RoryN]

What's the charge? I can't convict or acquit unless I know what specific crime you are alleging has been committed.

For that matter, you haven't even addressed whether the culpability is criminal or civil.

There's this thing called Google...

 

[Colonel Hogan]

There's this thing called Google...

Thanks for pointing that out.

Since the maximum penalty for the charges are five years, and knowing that they will probably be paroled at something less than that, then, yes, I would say the maximum penalty would be appropriate.

 

[RoryN]

Thanks for pointing that out.

Since the maximum penalty for the charges are five years, and knowing that they will probably be paroled at something less than that, then, yes, I would say the maximum penalty would be appropriate.

This brings a larger question to light: should juries impose greater sentences to compensate for all of the factors (bullshit and otherwise) which reduce sentences? Are they already? Is it ethical?

 

[Colonel Hogan]

This brings a larger question to light: should juries impose greater sentences to compensate for all of the factors (bullshit and otherwise) which reduce sentences? Are they already? Is it ethical?

I think it is safe to say that both judges and juries charged with actual sentencing are aware of the reality of parole. That and the mitigating or aggravating circumstances attendant to the crime are why a range of sentencing options exist in the first place. And it's why I would have no problem invoking the maximum in this case.

What they cannot do is invoke a harsher sentence than the law allows for that charge. The option of filing a more serious charge with harsher penalties is one that rests with the District Attorney.

 

[blunt_trauma]

i would pull any favours i had owing with the press,
and get their faces on the front page.
i'd make sure every potential friend, lover and employer they'll ever meet knows exactly what kind of people they are.

when they can no longer leave the house for the shame and the abuse,
they'll understand exactly what they did wrong.

 

[scott_harris70]

Short version: a guy sets up a secret video camera to film his roommate while he's off with his girlfriend. The camera catches his roommate having sex with another dude.

The guy - and, presumably, his girlfriend, who also knows about the camera - thinks this is funny, and tells people on Twitter. He then sets up the camera again, but this time alerts people on his Twitter account that they should watch his gay roommate getting it on live on a streaming feed, because he knows when it's going to happen. It happens.

Gay roommate finds out about being secretly streamed live on the internet. He kills himself.

So, you're the jury...

Just throw them off a building or something. If they can fly, they are free.

 

[Devil'sChild]

Just throw them off a building or something. If they can fly, they are free.

Just because they would split you like a Sunday roast, don't get all bitter. Just prep your ass to take a cock while you swallow another in your mouth.

Its not like it would be different from any other Monday night in your life. You can complain and post otherwise. Its ok though, Just live your life, and be honest with your emotions. We will judge you inappropriately, but some people wont. You should count on that.

 

[scott_harris70]

Just because they would split you like a Sunday roast, don't get all bitter. Just prep your ass to take a cock while you swallow another in your mouth.

Its not like it would be different from any other Monday night in your life. You can complain and post otherwise. Its ok though, Just live your life, and be honest with your emotions. We will judge you inappropriately, but some people wont. You should count on that.

Sounds like you know all about sucking cock, why don't you educate us?