26 year old woman beaten by 9 middle schoolers on a public bus

[one...two...tree 2,762]

#######? Is it a full fcuking moon? What's with all the crazy inexplicable violence? Clearly, there's something we don't know here. But #######, kids, you don't have to try to kill the lady, no matter how mad you are. But Steven, I agree that an unprovoked assault is a little bit different thing than a provoked assault, in terms of what it says about the kids' total effing craziness. Of course, as I think both Steven and Lisa are saying, that doesn't excuse hurting the woman at all.

On the surface, it makes me also go...#######??? But I think it's important to hold off on getting outraged without knowing just what transpired. It is tragic and disheartening, but still in the context of how many people get on buses everyday without incident, I don't think we should all get paranoid that the person next to us in a bus is going to jump us for looking at them strange.

Certainly the story doesn't make me wary of public transport or anything, but actually, in this case, all I need to know to say the kids did something outrage-worthy is the extent to which they harmed that woman. I mean, you can get off a bus any time, so I don't think they were doing it in self defense. If it was unprovoked, then that's a little scarier, but even if the woman called them horrible names, spat at them and threatened them, they had some choices in how they reacted. What they did was sick.

I'm trying to imagine my reaction if some guy's girlfriend spit on my wife and then he pulled a knife on her. I wouldn't be going after his girlfriend, but I certainly would beat the sh!t out of him if I had the chance...and I'd believe I was acting out of self defense.

[Fandango 1,440]

#######? Is it a full fcuking moon? What's with all the crazy inexplicable violence? Clearly, there's something we don't know here. But #######, kids, you don't have to try to kill the lady, no matter how mad you are. But Steven, I agree that an unprovoked assault is a little bit different thing than a provoked assault, in terms of what it says about the kids' total effing craziness. Of course, as I think both Steven and Lisa are saying, that doesn't excuse hurting the woman at all.

On the surface, it makes me also go...#######??? But I think it's important to hold off on getting outraged without knowing just what transpired. It is tragic and disheartening, but still in the context of how many people get on buses everyday without incident, I don't think we should all get paranoid that the person next to us in a bus is going to jump us for looking at them strange.

Certainly the story doesn't make me wary of public transport or anything, but actually, in this case, all I need to know to say the kids did something outrage-worthy is the extent to which they harmed that woman. I mean, you can get off a bus any time, so I don't think they were doing it in self defense. If it was unprovoked, then that's a little scarier, but even if the woman called them horrible names, spat at them and threatened them, they had some choices in how they reacted. What they did was sick.

I'm trying to imagine my reaction if some guy's girlfriend spit on my wife and then he pulled a knife on her. I wouldn't be going after his girlfriend, but I certainly would beat the sh!t out of him if I had the chance...and I'd believe I was acting out of self defense.

You, your wife, and 7 of your friends?

Self defense...really???

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You, your wife, and 7 of your friends?

Self defense...really???

It's all speculation at this point, isn't it? I can imagine that if regulars on the bus also witnessed this guy pulling the knife out on my wife, they might also react. People do crazy things when a knife gets pulled on them or someone near them. Watch the movie, United 93 - how many passengers retaliated to the single guy wielding a knife. If you pull a knife on someone, I have no sympathy if a group of people beat the sh!t out of you.

[Fandango 1,440]

You, your wife, and 7 of your friends?

Self defense...really???

It's all speculation at this point, isn't it? I can imagine that if regulars on the bus also witnessed this guy pulling the knife out on my wife, they might also react. People do crazy things when a knife gets pulled on them or someone near them. Watch the movie, United 93 - how many passengers retaliated to the single guy wielding a knife. If you pull a knife on someone, I have no sympathy if a group of people beat the sh!t out of you.

But they beat the sh!t outta her....sure, he got banged up, but she's the one who's sportin a fractured eye socket.

Yanno, the non-knife wielding person?....by all accounts, btw...

It's good to see you turn more towards the corporal punishment ideal, though.

Edited December 6, 2007 by LisaD

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You, your wife, and 7 of your friends?

Self defense...really???

It's all speculation at this point, isn't it? I can imagine that if regulars on the bus also witnessed this guy pulling the knife out on my wife, they might also react. People do crazy things when a knife gets pulled on them or someone near them. Watch the movie, United 93 - how many passengers retaliated to the single guy wielding a knife. If you pull a knife on someone, I have no sympathy if a group of people beat the sh!t out of you.

But they beat the sh!t outta her....sure, he got banged up, but she's the one who's sportin a fractured eye socket.

Yanno, the non-knife wielding person?....by all accounts, btw...

It's good to see you turn more towards the corporal punishment ideal, though.

People react when threatened... I have no idea who hit his girlfriend, whether she was throwing punches as well. That's it...we don't know.

[Fandango 1,440]

You, your wife, and 7 of your friends?

Self defense...really???

It's all speculation at this point, isn't it? I can imagine that if regulars on the bus also witnessed this guy pulling the knife out on my wife, they might also react. People do crazy things when a knife gets pulled on them or someone near them. Watch the movie, United 93 - how many passengers retaliated to the single guy wielding a knife. If you pull a knife on someone, I have no sympathy if a group of people beat the sh!t out of you.

But they beat the sh!t outta her....sure, he got banged up, but she's the one who's sportin a fractured eye socket.

Yanno, the non-knife wielding person?....by all accounts, btw...

It's good to see you turn more towards the corporal punishment ideal, though.

People react when threatened... I have no idea who hit his girlfriend, whether she was throwing punches as well. That's it...we don't know.

W.O.W.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You, your wife, and 7 of your friends?

Self defense...really???

It's all speculation at this point, isn't it? I can imagine that if regulars on the bus also witnessed this guy pulling the knife out on my wife, they might also react. People do crazy things when a knife gets pulled on them or someone near them. Watch the movie, United 93 - how many passengers retaliated to the single guy wielding a knife. If you pull a knife on someone, I have no sympathy if a group of people beat the sh!t out of you.

But they beat the sh!t outta her....sure, he got banged up, but she's the one who's sportin a fractured eye socket.

Yanno, the non-knife wielding person?....by all accounts, btw...

It's good to see you turn more towards the corporal punishment ideal, though.

People react when threatened... I have no idea who hit his girlfriend, whether she was throwing punches as well. That's it...we don't know.

W.O.W.

You know, Lisa, learning to respect someone else's opinion without agreeing with them would go a long way in keeping these discussions civil.

[jundp 191]

Kreager was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Her companion, Troy Ennis, also was beaten, police said, but did not require hospital treatment.

But the mother of one of the suspects says the victim, for an unknown reason, provoked the attack by spitting in the face of one of the girls. Beverly Bell, whose son is an eighth-grader at Robert Poole, said the victim's boyfriend then pulled out a knife and threatened the girls, which prompted the boys to attack the man.

Interviewed after yesterday's court hearing, Bell said her son had never been in trouble before. Testimony in juvenile court revealed that five of the six boys arrested had no juvenile records.

"We don't know why that woman did what she did," said Bell, referring to the alleged spitting incident. "But I can't see these kids jumping on anyone for no reason."

Another parent said it was Kreager who did not want any students sitting next to her initially, prompting an argument.

Why'd you bold that bit?

the victim's boyfriend then pulled out a knife and threatened the girls .... conflicting reports as to what actually transpired. If this woman did spit in the face of one of the girls, that is considered an assault.

Of course, this is the MOTHER'S account of what her child told her. I'm not sure I believe that either. Why did they beat up the woman if the boyfriend pulled a knife? And I'm sorry even if she said "don't sit by me" that still doesn't justify that kind of a beating.

1> It's a proven fact that Middle Schoolers (in the US) are becoming increasingly violent and sexually active.

2> Baltimore is the scariest place I have ever visited in my life and I would never want to ever go back there and visit.

Both true stories

I see the flip side all the time with teenagers because of my work with charity groups at our high school. But I also see the craziness of some of these kids, and I'm in a private school. The only reason I can get through to many of the kids whose behavior is questionable is because they trust and respect me. But it's been a struggle. I still deal with kids who have violent tendencies and when I ask them why they did such and such, you know what they tell me? "I don't know Ms. P, it just made me angry." There's such a lack of ability to control and manage anger in the younger kids, 13-15 age group. It's very sad. And a lot of it has to do with lack of parental involvement, in my experience.

[Fandango 1,440]

You know, Lisa, learning to respect someone else's opinion without agreeing with them would go a long way in keeping these discussions civil.

Hrmm, I was unaware this discussion wasn't civil!

Seriously, I think you have a hang up about this respect issue....nowhere here was I rude to you, called you names, or showed anything but civility. Yet you're back to the same one note song you always sing with me. it's sad you feel the need to deflect from the convo like this, but whatev.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You know, Lisa, learning to respect someone else's opinion without agreeing with them would go a long way in keeping these discussions civil.

Hrmm, I was unaware this discussion wasn't civil!

Seriously, I think you have a hang up about this respect issue....nowhere here was I rude to you, called you names, or showed anything but civility. Yet you're back to the same one note song you always sing with me. it's sad you feel the need to deflect from the convo like this, but whatev.

Expressing 'shock' or 'outrage' over opinions expressed here does nothing to add to the discussion...I just don't see the point in saying, "Wow, I can't believe you think like that." All it does is put that person on the defense rather than talking about the issue at hand. People agree or disagree and both sides can argue their points to infinity without it becoming an issue about them and their 'faulty' thinking...it's really that simple.

[Fandango 1,440]

You know, Lisa, learning to respect someone else's opinion without agreeing with them would go a long way in keeping these discussions civil.

Hrmm, I was unaware this discussion wasn't civil!

Seriously, I think you have a hang up about this respect issue....nowhere here was I rude to you, called you names, or showed anything but civility. Yet you're back to the same one note song you always sing with me. it's sad you feel the need to deflect from the convo like this, but whatev.

Expressing 'shock' or 'outrage' over opinions expressed here does nothing to add to the discussion...I just don't see the point in saying, "Wow, I can't believe you think like that." All it does is put that person on the defense rather than talking about the issue at hand. People agree or disagree and both sides can argue their points to infinity without it becoming an issue about them and their 'faulty' thinking...it's really that simple.

Let's get something straight: you chose to jump on the defensive. Don't blame your emotional responses on me. It's a peeve of mine...I have a friend that always says 'This person made me feel this small.' No, she allows people to make her feel small. In response to my

W.O.W. comment, you could have said 'why do you say that?' or any number of things....but instead, you decide to feel offended, once again...and lecture me...once again....on respect. Don't pin your respect issues on me, cos you really have never seen me be disrespectful, I assure you.

Oh, and 'w.o.w.' is hardly outrage....

Anyways, this has become tedious and pointless, so I'mma bow out now. Enjoy!

[Ban Hammer 14,571]

[natty bumppo 297]

I got the pizza ...

[Ban Hammer 14,571]

I got the pizza ...

and i got $20 on lisa!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Here we go again. Fancypants is typing.