NatalinaPerez Hilton's Irresponsible Behavior Ignites Harassment of Teenager
March 9th 2009 23:04
I like millions of others enjoy checking in on Perez Hilton's blog every once in a while. Generally, I think Perez (real name Mario Lavandeira) is entertaining albeit somewhat offensive and at times unfair. I still guiltily must admit that I do visit his site on occasion, and it was on my most recent visit that I came across an issue that inspired me to write this post.
One of the regular features on Perez Hilton's site is called "If You are Easily Offended Click Here". Generally, these posts lead you to an unflattering picture of a celeb or news item that is unsettling in some way.
Today, Perez created one such post, except the target of what he considered offensive this time was a 16 year old boy who posts videos of himself on You Tube, singing Karaoke style to some of his favorite songs. Admittedly, the kid does not have the best voice, but he is just that....a kid. And because Perez labeled him as offensive and directed his millions of readers to the boy's You Tube page, the minor is now receiving a barrage of comments that range from mildly insensitive to downright threatening.
If You Are Easily Offended
I was horrified to read some of the comments that this poor kid has been receiving. Here is a random sampling: WARNING, many of these comments contain offensive language...
The reason I am highlighting this issue is not because I think that Perez directly encouraged these awful rants, but because I think that knowingly directing his readers to this kid's You Tube page was completely irresponsible. I acknowledge that it is very difficult to police the internet, and that ultimately, the child is posting his own videos, but Perez has a hand in the harassment that is being doled out because he drew attention to the juvenile with the goal of making fun of him.
It is never ok in my book for an adult to poke fun at a child, especially in such a public manner. And, with cyberbullying being the problem that it is, I find his actions to be completely negligent.
We've all heard stories about kids that post things online and then become targets of harassment, sometimes leading to dire consequences for the humiliated youth, and I hope that everyone goes to perezhilton.com and lets him know that if he does not speak out against the bullying that he instigated, then he is condoning it, and that is unacceptable.
The line must be drawn somewhere.
One of the regular features on Perez Hilton's site is called "If You are Easily Offended Click Here". Generally, these posts lead you to an unflattering picture of a celeb or news item that is unsettling in some way.
Today, Perez created one such post, except the target of what he considered offensive this time was a 16 year old boy who posts videos of himself on You Tube, singing Karaoke style to some of his favorite songs. Admittedly, the kid does not have the best voice, but he is just that....a kid. And because Perez labeled him as offensive and directed his millions of readers to the boy's You Tube page, the minor is now receiving a barrage of comments that range from mildly insensitive to downright threatening.
Perez Hilton/ Getty Images
If You Are Easily Offended
I was horrified to read some of the comments that this poor kid has been receiving. Here is a random sampling: WARNING, many of these comments contain offensive language...
"Listen, yu suck. u suck at singing and u probably suck dick,,you fuckin fruit cake !"
"YOU; FUCKING PISSED OF THE WRONG PERSON I TRIED TO BE NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WRITE ME BACK IF YOUR NOT CHICKEN SHIT..........lmfa i kow you wont"
"go die faggot"
"u think ur hot?
haha; i laugh!
ur probably youtubes disgrace!
face it fatty
YOUTUBE HATES UU!!
those ppl saying ur good r on crack so just shut the fuck up and get a life.
pshaw. fatty "
"ok, get a rope, yeah, any size, i think a LARGE one for your LARGE diameter, tie it up, maybe to you know the cieling, or the light tie it, make sure its got ALOT of protection so the ceiling doesnt collapse and pull yourself up then pull the rope then drop yeah, thankks mate, saved us alot of space."
"YOU; FUCKING PISSED OF THE WRONG PERSON I TRIED TO BE NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WRITE ME BACK IF YOUR NOT CHICKEN SHIT..........lmfa i kow you wont"
"go die faggot"
"u think ur hot?
haha; i laugh!
ur probably youtubes disgrace!
face it fatty
YOUTUBE HATES UU!!
those ppl saying ur good r on crack so just shut the fuck up and get a life.
pshaw. fatty "
"ok, get a rope, yeah, any size, i think a LARGE one for your LARGE diameter, tie it up, maybe to you know the cieling, or the light tie it, make sure its got ALOT of protection so the ceiling doesnt collapse and pull yourself up then pull the rope then drop yeah, thankks mate, saved us alot of space."
The reason I am highlighting this issue is not because I think that Perez directly encouraged these awful rants, but because I think that knowingly directing his readers to this kid's You Tube page was completely irresponsible. I acknowledge that it is very difficult to police the internet, and that ultimately, the child is posting his own videos, but Perez has a hand in the harassment that is being doled out because he drew attention to the juvenile with the goal of making fun of him.
It is never ok in my book for an adult to poke fun at a child, especially in such a public manner. And, with cyberbullying being the problem that it is, I find his actions to be completely negligent.
We've all heard stories about kids that post things online and then become targets of harassment, sometimes leading to dire consequences for the humiliated youth, and I hope that everyone goes to perezhilton.com and lets him know that if he does not speak out against the bullying that he instigated, then he is condoning it, and that is unacceptable.
The line must be drawn somewhere.
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Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
I really wish more legal measures could be put in place that prevent adults from exploiting kids this way. This is worse than the bullying that is happening on social networking sites because this idiot has a huge readership. And make no mistake, this IS bullying.
Why is it being allowed to continue?
Thanks for bringing this to light. I would never read this kind of trash anyway but lots of people who like the odd bit of celeb gossip do. Maybe it's time people turned the table on him and started publicly taunting him. He would be the first to kick up a stink.
Comment by Lola Tahlulah
Lola Tahlulah
Comment by sam sall
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Health Matters
Comment by sam sall
Health and Fitness
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Health Matters
Comment by sam sall
Health and Fitness
Speech Starter
Health Matters
can not delete it