The Myspace Hoax

I saw the headlines for this story what seems like ages ago. The initial reaction has always been 'this was made for theatre', though I don't mean that in an indifferent manner. The story itself is so tragic that it seems impractical. It's like something the Greeks would construct if they had modern assets and inspiration to fuel their onslaught of depressing mythology. It's that fictitious of a reality. Nevertheless, it is real. It is solid - and a kid is dead as the result of an ill-intended conspiracy.

Megan Meier could be described as ordinary. Based on readings, she was an emotional, bubbly, preteen girl addicted to Myspace - which reminds me of my little sister, who is at that funny stage of life. Regardless, this kid suffered from depression amongst other things; she was medicated, but even then, she was impressionable. What happened to her was the result of someone taking advantage of that impressionable nature. A mother of a former friend had created a fake teenage boy on Myspace, elaborately concocting the character of Josh Evans to woo and crush Megan Meier. With contributions from her daughter and another party, the mother broke the spirit and confidence of a preteen, a child, already subjected to enough melodrama in the world of teen-hood. Megan Meier committed suicide after "Josh Evans" berated and spread negative comments about her, even telling her that the world would be better off without her.

From a legal stand point, things are tied up. There has been no real retribution, although there have been societal changes accommodating the seriousness of online harassment. According to an MSNBC, the alleged conspiracy group had not apologized for the matter, and no criminal charges had been pressed in the years following Megan's suicide. Why? Because there was no law accommodating the situation, therefore they were going scotch free while law enforcement struggled to find a solution to the complication. It wasn't considered a crime. At the time.

However, it could be considered a Tort, or "a private wrong that injures another person's physical well-being, property, or reputation" (Ch. 3, Pg. 31, The Essentials of Business Law, Liuzzo, Anthony and Joseph Bonnice). While the act did not violate a legal statue, it did cause injury of another person's physical well-being. Similarly, the group could be held accountable for defamation and libel which are defined as: "Defamation is the harming of a person's reputation and good name by the communication of false statements ... Libel is the spreading of damaging statements in written form" (Ch. 4, Pg. 45, The Essentials of Business Law, Liuzzo, Anthony and Joseph Bonnice). That was reason enough for a valid pursuit, and after a series of legal struggles, the mother who had generated the hoax was convicted of three misdemeanor charges relating to computer hacking and fraud. However, the jury found it difficult to convict her of the few felony charges she was up against - namely Conspiracy.

From a personal stand point, I have little words. The Internet is serious business - that's a joke people like to make, but it's undoubtedly true. People formulate real relationships over long distances, and I know that I have, having several friends who I've known for years living in Ontario, New York, California, and even across the globe in Australia, Britain, and Switzerland. Certainly it's a cautious step, but, nevertheless, people do formulate strong bonds with other people. It happens - and in that respect, the Internet is serious business that masquerades as a unique rendition of real life and ... Not quite real life? The fact that someone would take advantage of a communications tool to hurt someone else is rather atrocious, though not impractical or all that surprising.

I do believe this is a cautionary tale - more so to Internet goers formulating close friendships. At the same time, does this affect me and my Internet habits? Hardly, though I think it's something important to be spread and known by anyone using social networking sites or communication forums. I find it sad. Terribly, really - and for that reason, I'm not sure I can formulate a grandiose or elaborate opinion. I simply find it sad. Suicide is a sad thing. It's not a joke, and it's not something easy to take in. Even when the death is that of a total stranger.