Authorities seeking blogger: to charge him with obscenity

Authorities seek blogger who posted sex gossip

Associated Press
Oct. 1, 2006 03:40 PM

ATHENS, Ga. - Authorities are searching for whomever posted a long list and description of supposed sexual encounters between dozens of high school students on the online networking site MySpace.com.

Oconee County Sheriff's officials said they were investigating who posted the gossip about North Oconee High School students Sept. 1-9. Since gossip isn't a crime, the sheriff's report lists the offense as distributing obscene materials to minors. The list describes sexual encounters and could be accessed by people younger than 18.

"There's a lot of difference between writing on a bathroom wall and distributing it all over the world on the Internet where anyone has access to it," Lt. David Kilpatrick told the Athens Banner-Herald for a story published Sunday.

Students argued with one another, disrupting classes, when most found out about the MySpace blog, said principal John Osborne.

Kilpatrick said that MySpace gave him the e-mail address of the person who created the site, but that it was an anonymous Yahoo account. He said he would subpoena BellSouth, the Internet service provider used to create the e-mail address, to try to determine who paid for the Internet service.

Any student found to have created the site could be expelled because the school's conduct code covers off-campus behavior that affects school life, Osborne said. He said they might also face lawsuits from parents of students cited in the postings. SOURCE

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What do you guys think about this?

Do you really think authorities have grounds to put any of us in jail for posting over 18 material on the internet that's not behind a members area? What are your thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Do you really think authorities have grounds to put any of us in jail for posting over 18 material on the internet that's not behind a members area? What are your thoughts?

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Oh i really hope so.

Just imagine all the free porn that would eliminate over night :thumbsup:

Regards,

Lee

Here is a another school punishing kids for expressing themselves online from home. What is this teaching the youth of today? Are they getting the message that they aren't really free to express themselves? I can understand the bullying or sexual harrassment it's the "otherwise inappropriate" bit that concerns me. What are your thoughts?

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School officials tackle online obscenity
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Indianapolis school officials are cracking down on Internet harassment and inappropriate comments, sparking concern from teens and free-speech advocates.

The Indianapolis Star reported that area school authorities have been increasingly looking at ways to punish students for material deemed as bullying, sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate, including blogs and postings on home computers.

One student has reportedly been expelled for inappropriate online postings.

"Kids look at the Internet as today's restroom wall," said Steve Dillon, director of student services for Carmel Clay Schools. "They need to learn that some things are not acceptable anywhere."

Many students agree with free-speech advocates, who are opposing new measures, saying it infringes on the privacy of students.

But, the Star reported, officials continue to look for ways to temper what can be posted on online networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

SOURCE

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Originally Posted by Squirt

The Indianapolis Star reported that area school authorities have been increasingly looking at ways to punish students for material deemed as bullying, sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate, including blogs and postings on home computers.

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I see nothing wrong with that at all, kids shouldnt be allowed to bully others in school, or out of school in person or online... End of story.

Regards,

Lee

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Originally Posted by Lee

I see nothing wrong with that at all, kids shouldnt be allowed to bully others in school, or out of school in person or online... End of story.

Regards,

Lee

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I totally agree!

The part about "otherwise inappropriate" actions, that's disturbing to me, as it's undefined. It could include postings of you and your partner, professing your love for eachother. It could include you posting what a crush you have on a teacher. It could be you posting about a run in with the principal and you not liking the way you were treated.

Kids in school blog what we used to just say to friends.

Are you concerned about "open rules" against freedom of expression? Again , against bullying and harrassment is understandable, but "otherwise inappropriate" seems to broad. What are your thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Are you concerned about "open rules" against freedom of expression? Again , against bullying and harrassment is understandable, but "otherwise inappropriate" seems to broad. What are your thoughts?

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If it forms part of a school contract i have no problems with it whatsoever.

Regards,

Lee

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Kids in school blog what we used to just say to friends.

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Thats because 90% of them are dumb as rocks thanks to the failing education system.

Regards,

Lee

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Originally Posted by Lee

Thats because 90% of them are dumb as rocks thanks to the failing education system.

Regards,

Lee

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Man and that's a problem here in Australia as well as the U.K. really sucks

Although a childs education doesn't lie fully on the shoulders of the school. You can give a kid all the homework in the world but if nobody is home, or to tired from working 3 jobs, or off to war in Iraq, then what's a kid to do. bummer really

and to think the kids are out their blogging and getting busted by their schools... interesting

I don't think schools should have the authority to involve themselves with events that do not take place on school grounds. That is between the kids and their parents only.

The public school system needs to concern themselves only with the behavior and grade performance of students at school. They are not the moral police.

But I'm sure the people behind this latest story are actually conservative right wing mothers who saw the blog entry of their daughters classmate and freaked out. They can't have their innocent daughters going to school with this unknown pervert. Find him and stone him!

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Originally Posted by Matt 26z

I don't think schools should have the authority to involve themselves with events that do not take place on school grounds.

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Schools already have te authority to do just that in some instances, child abuse for one, if a teacher suspects that a child is being abused at home, they can report it to the authorities.

This is no different to child abuse in my eyes [bullying] it is just that its being done by other kids.

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The public school system needs to concern themselves only with the behavior and grade performance of students at school. They are not the moral police.

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Im sure that is why they are wanting to look at this a viable option.

Im almost certain that kids who get bullied have a hell of a time at school in fact, i would go as far as saying that a lot of these bullied kids try to cut class because they are being bullied, im pretty sure that is going to have an effect on their behavior and grade performance.

Regards,

Lee