When your kids leave the house, they can be terrors. They can be awful. Karen Klein is proof positive of that fact. Karen is a school bus monitor in Pennsylvania. On Monday she was subjected to taunts and bullying by a bunch of kids on their way to school. It was all caught on tape and this morning, Karen was on Today and explained how she stayed so calm during the entire ten minute video. She is amazing.
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ReplyDeleteSaw this this morning - these parents should be so ashamed of their children.
ReplyDeleteAnd not to be nit-picky or anything, but this happened in New York State.
Cause people in the south would never bulky someone?!
DeleteThe article says Pennsylvania. I think surfer was just pointing out that other reports indicate it was in NY state. I don't believe surfer was making it a north/south thing at all.
DeleteEnty, she's from Rochester, NY, not PA.
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to out the kids whose faces appear in this video. I don't care if they are children. They obviously recorded this because they wanted to share it -- they just didn't expect it to happen on this level. I guess they will have to deal with the consequences now.
Karma's a bitch.
This makes me wanna cry. Fuuuck...
ReplyDeleteThese kids need to be sent to Singapore and publicly flogged, and then their parents need to be slapped around some, too. Damn, today is shaping up to be one of those days when I hope the Myans are right.
ReplyDeleteI've read on other sites that 4chan (or some other group) have identifed the kids and even posted their names. I think that's how the school was notified, but am not positive.
ReplyDeleteI saw on DListed that the donation site where folks are sending her money is up to $140,000. I hope that doubles!
I refuse to watch this video because I'm pretty sure I'd put my fist through a window...god, I hate kids some times...
Rude disgusting kids (old enough to know better btw) I was popular as a kid yet I sat up front and respectfully had conversations with my bus driver. Anyone who had a problem with that didn't try to say anything to me lol ;)
ReplyDeleteTruly an example of bad parenting. I was taught very young, prior to kindergarten to know I was ALWAYS an extension of THEM as parents. I knew how to speak to adults & conduct myself. This is beyond trashy. They are OLD ENOUGH to really know better, if they were raised properly and taught respect. Obviously not.
I just finished looking at the photo article on buzzphoto and reading this after that brings tears to my eyes. No one is 100% saintly 100% of the time, but the maliciousness and spite that these children exhibit just blows my mind. What hurts me the most is that none of these kids seem to second guess their joy in making another human so unhappy.
ReplyDeletethis is absolutely terrible.
ReplyDeleteI love listening to my adult coworkers taking about how awful the kids were to this woman and later they're talking about how annoying another coworker is or how fat or smelly this guy or that girl is...
ReplyDeleteBullies never grow up
I'm sure everyone experiences bullying, especially in elementary school and junior high, but has anyone here witnessed kids being this hateful?
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is increases awareness, but I feel like this younger generation takes bullying to an extreme that none of use have experienced.
She's got some good karma coming her way. Reddit got ahold of the story, and the Internet minions have raised almost $150,000 for her last I checked. This is since yesterday. She could end up with a million dollars by the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI hope she does. I think I will give her some money, too. No one should have to go through this shit.
Deletei hate these kids!!!! this video seriously made me & 2 of my coworkers cry this morning.
ReplyDeletethe kids should be ashamed of themselves. the parents shoudl be fined for doing such a poor job on these assholes & sending them out in public for us to deal with.
go donate! this lady needs a vacation!!!
So this is our bright future.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't make it thru 45 seconds of this video. I know I was a little shit when I was a kid, but never to this extreme. This is just sad.
ReplyDeleteI am showing this to my 7 & 9 year old telling them they will be homeless if they ever do something like this. Kids need to be shown this stuff so they can understand how to react in these situations.
ReplyDeleteI weep for the future
ReplyDeleteThe "me" generation at its finest. I hope all parents show this to their kids as a learning tool, so they do not do the same.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't watch past 2 minutes. That poor woman. How could anyone be so cruel?
ReplyDeleteMost of the kids these days would laugh at it. The generation coming up is horrid.
ReplyDelete@Donner and Beth. Yes the 4CHAN army is on it. They are the same ones who revealed the identity of that girl in eastern Europe who drowned the puppies a couple years back. They have all the kids info, their parents info, etc. Should be interesting....
ReplyDeleteThis video makes me SO angry.
ReplyDeleteThe kids should get some sort of community service and so should they're parents.
Hateful little assholes.
If someone could post the link to the site for donations on this comment string I would appreciate that. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAm tempted to fly up to Rochester on my own dime and sub in for this lady for a couple of days. With a sock full of nickels. This makes me so angry.
Apparently one of the kids even said "You are so ugly, your kids should kill themselves". She lost a son to suicide 10 years earlier :(
ReplyDelete@selectivesoul
You took the words right out of my mouth. I believe in supporting kids through anything (drugs, coming out) but I seriously would not tolerate my kids being hateful.
Mashable had a lot of details, including identifying who some of these kids were (redacted). One of these heathen's (the guy who took video) mea culpa was "I had no clue it would go this far". Really, asshole? Arrrgh
Regarding my comment, I mentioned coming out because I know parents who have sent their kids to therapy to convince them they are not gay. Not because I think it's bad and compare to drugs!! Had to clarify
ReplyDeleteAnd now I need to go back and read the feel-good "restore my faith in humanity post". My blood is boiling!
ReplyDeleteOMG...this is so horrible. It made me tear up. I'm absolutely furious at the ignorance of the youth now a days. In Asian countries they respect their elders and hold them in high esteem, listening to their words of wisdom and experience. In the US, the youth run the country, and once a person hits a certain age, they're nothing. The sad thing is, everyone is going to be that age one day (God willing) and they may also be fat one day.
ReplyDeleteIf this was my child...I don't even want to say what I would do. Let's just say they would never do it again.This woman would not only get a full apologym, but my child would be mowing her lawn, doing her dishes or whatever chores she needed done.
normal lurker but this video has me in tears. these kids are horrible. they need to be embarrased just like they did to this woman.
ReplyDeletetheir parents better handle shit right. :(
Fuck these kids. This lady deserves everything good in life that will now hopefully be coming her way.
ReplyDeletethis is what happens in a country obssessed with children's entitlements. just look at the comments blaming the parents! children can do anything they want and get "counseling" as punishment. the parents are too busy making money so these little shits dont have to do anything.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a saint or anything when I was their age, but I can't even imagine talking to an adult (or anyone, really) this way, or even close! And if my parents had found out, I'd probably be grounded until I was old enough to vote.
ReplyDeleteI refuse to watch it. Feel so sorry for her. There is absolutely no respect or empathy anymore.
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the video but have seen it mentioned on the news. May I ask why there's a donation fund set up?
ReplyDeleteAnd gossiping/bad mouthing co-workers is not bullying.
Gossiping/bad mouthing coworkers is not bullying?
DeleteWhat is it then?
Just curious...a woman at work who people make fun of and she knows and cries in the bathroom. This is just immature behavior?!
Whoever asked for the link to donate:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein
The kids have been outed and I have heard (not actually seen) that their addresses and phone numbers have been posted.
Really don't want to watch this, so I'm not sure how old these kids are, but I have to chime in here: I am all about kids taking responsibility for their actions - absolutely. But there is a reason why children are considered minors in the eye of the law - we as humans are not ready to fully manage ourselves until we are at least 18. Brain biology and whatnot.
ReplyDeleteWe should absolutely look to the parents for answers when minor children have gone off the rails. I know I'm a broken record, but gosh darn it, we have a sacred, and legal, responsibility for the people we undertake to raise. We ARE responsible for their actions, and in this case, both parents and children should be held accountable, and both punished as well.
to add to my comment from earlier...if this does not make your blood boil...quote from one of the boys' father (from ABC news)
ReplyDelete"My family's received death threats," Robert Helms told ABC News. "He's a 13-year-old kid. It was a stupid mistake and he's paying for it but I just think it's a little out of control."
here's the site for donations
http://www.indiegogo.com/
While what these kids was horrible, I don't believe in outing these kids on-line - isn't that just another form of bullying, when people call them or email them and threaten them? But absolutly, they should be punished, preferably with community service and their parents should have to serve it with them - obviously the parents aren't doing a good job.
ReplyDelete@MajawithaJ - my parents were the same way. I remember once they gounded me until I was 50. I don't remember what I did but they were REALLY pissed off! I think that grounding last 3 months.
My brother is retired and drives a bus to bring in extra money. The kids seem to love him. I really don't know how he does it, maybe growing up the oldest of 6 and being in Viet Nam taught him a thing or two about not tolerating anything. Meanwhile I copied the link for the donation, it's awful what she had to put up with. The parents should have to make a public apology and not hide in their snotty rationalizations that "their kids are really good kids".
ReplyDeleteHorrible abuse from these little ass wipes. When I graduated High School last month the first thing I thought of when I walked the stage was "Thank god I don't have to deal with these ass holes anymore." Poor Karen having to put up with these little shits for so long .
ReplyDeleteThere's a fundraiser somewhere online (I'm sure someone else has already put up the link to it) to give her a nice long vacation away from these demons. Last night when I donated (best money I've spent this year) the count was a little over 100k, not sure what it is now........Considering how she only makes a paltry 15k a year I'm sure she'll really appreciate the extra money. Whatever she does with the cash I hope she sends all these fuck heads a postcard from her luxurious suite in Tahitit.
Luis Recio apologized with sadface & all :( most likely at the behest of his parents & another parent was in tears and also apologized after viewing the video. Of course, Luis is the one that took the video & then went & had the genius idea of telling on himself by uploading his douchebaggery on youtube.
ReplyDeleteIf this keeps up and he commits a crime, he'll likely leave a brightly colored trail with fanfare behind him, complete with fingerprints & yes, you guessed it, a video of him committing the crime. Youth. Makes me Smile. ;)
Yes SecondCityKid,
ReplyDeleteThank goodness kids like Luis are really stupid, it makes it so much easier to catch them. Glad to hear some of the parents are apologizing. Now hopefully they will teach their rotten little offspring the manners they should have taught them to begin with.
This is the generation of cretins that might be your caregivers one day. Depending on your health you might be at their complete mercy, scary huh?
ReplyDeleteThis shit makes me so angry at the state of things (bigger picture than just parent-child) that I could just brake something right now.. This is MESSED THE FUCK UP!
Why wasn't the bus driver speaking up? I drove a school bus once upon a time, and trust me, you DO have control over the kids while the bus is moving. If they act up, you pull over. Then you wait for the kids to shut up and sit down which they do pretty quickly once the bus stops moving and they realize it ain't gonna start again until they obey the rules. I once even evacuated the bus in a snowstorm because one of the bratty middle schoolers was flashing a camera in my rearview mirror over and over again. Since the kids were all "cool" most of them didn't have coats with them so I took an unusually long time to "check the bus for fire" before I let the shivering, snow-covered kids back on. The point is, they never tried that stunt again.
ReplyDeleteThe bus driver has some power. The bus monitor does not.
I'm a teacher, and if one of my students did that to me...I'd have the parents and the principal involved SO FAST! I would try and remain calm like her, but they wouldn't get away with it!
ReplyDeleteCan't watch.
ReplyDeleteIf my daughter ever behaved like this I would instantly believe in spanking!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad for this lady and the abuse she apparently takes on a daily basis. Shame on the parents and lots of shame on the kids who are clearly old enough to know better.
ReplyDeleteSomething else interesting, she was touched several times, if she had touched a child you can bet the little asswipe would bring charges.
I cried when I saw this on FOX last night. Mrs. Klein behaved with such dignity while those terrible insults were being hurled at her. She must be a remarkable woman. I agree with Vicki Cupper, though: Most kids today would laugh if they saw this video. Sad commentary on our society.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this was said already but these boys now have this video on the internet and it will follow them for the rest of their lives. When future employers/schools/etc... google their name this will come up.
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand why they'd do that. Furthermore, I don't understand the rational for posting the video online. Did they really think picking on someone is going to garner accolades?
ReplyDeleteI donated some money so Karen can retire early, here's the link: http://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein
Topper,
ReplyDeleteI am curious when did you drive a bus? Because if it was a while back things aren't the same these days. You do anything that seems like corporeal punishment, embarrassment or anything and then you are the one to blame.
I am glad these little brats and their parents are feeling some heat over this. It is all over the news. I don't however defend the crazies who contact these people and such. That is way over the top.
Thanks to those above for posting the link. I will make a donation today.
ReplyDeleteI would give anything to have been there to beat the absolute shit out of them. And then I'd go and beat the absolute shit out of the parents that "raised" those children.
ReplyDeleteHow that woman kept her cool is beyond me. I would've lost it 2 minutes in and wound up in jail.
@Sunny: What he MEANT was he had no idea he would get caught. That's not much of an apology if you ask me. Obviously these kids are trouble makers anyway or they wouldn't need a bus monitor period.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I want to do. Just like the It Gets Better Project I want to start a Be A Hero Project and encourage kids (in a group) to stand up to bullies. That's the only way it will stop. When it becomes socially unacceptable to pick on people.
I can't watch it or I will completely lose my shit. Fucking jerk kids.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever found out my son treated another person this way I too would instantly believe in spanking.
I hope someday they look back and are very, very ashamed.
@Sherry
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!! I have thought about your idea for quite some time as my step-daughter has been TORMENTED since she started school (and she is a junior in high school now). I am non-confrontational and don't believe in physical fighting, but I've spent my life sticking up for the underdog and I will encourage my kids to do the same. You should seriously get a grass-roots campaign going, and I will help you!!!!!!!!
@ Sherry and Sunny - count me in ladies! And not to brag, but I've got mad non-profit organizing skillz.
ReplyDeleteOk, but I'm thinking Disney's doing a campaign called "Say Something" (not sure about the name), running psa's featuring their stars. It seeps into my unconscious, as the 10 year old loves him some Disney sit-coms.
We'd just have to be careful not to piss off the Mouse. But I'm in.
Horrible. I'm not in a position to donate but I am in a position to raise my son to be a gentleman. This strengthens my resolve. I do hope this incident follows the boys through adulthood. Make an example out of them.
ReplyDeleteI would agree about not outing the perpetrators, but it seems like this was staged and filmed for the purpose of posting on youtube. Therefore it's not unfair that a world of shit has come down upon them. If they hadn't uploaded it, they probably would have gotten away with it. And no one forced them to upload it.
ReplyDeleteJust went to that website, already $290,000 has been donated to her :)
ReplyDeleteIf this is indicative of our youth we are so screwed.
ReplyDeleteThe behaviour of those children is just disgusting, I have no sympathy for them or their parents. Karen demonstrated more grace and dignity than I ever would in those circumstances. Makes me admire her even more.
ReplyDeletethis is what happens when parents are more concerned with their kid's "looking right," as opposed to behaving properly.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, I'm a parent of three heathens and I'm deemed the mean one, the bitch, etc, b/c I feel it's my job to kick my kids ass, and keep them in check. Not to make them, "cool," etc.
Corporal punishment......better us bring the smack down on them then johnny law when they're older, and I beg for someone to tell me this bus isn't filled with a bunch of future criminals unless someone tazes their ass now.
'scuse me..."tazes their asses now."
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to watch the video, I'm tearing up at the thought. Doesn't help that the woman looks like my grandmother! I'm glad the internet is being useful and helping her...rotten kids! I bet their parents are swimming in shame today!
ReplyDelete@Frufa and @Sherry
ReplyDeleteI tried to use the google for Disney's Say Something, but all I got was a DHS website about reporting suspicious terrorist activity. I seriously want to look into this. I am so disgusted with the cruelty happening out there, and would love to be a part of something to help stamp it out
I know I'm gonna have ppl disagree, but I'm glad these little fucks got outed! I hope some bad shit comes their way and it gets publicity so others will see the consequences of this behavior. These spoiled little shitbags need a good ass kicking!
ReplyDeleteThey've passed $300,000 in donations now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein?c=activity
She can just buy a new house in a lovely retirement community with no kids if this goes up much more.
@hairydawg......I'm with you
ReplyDeleteThis makes me wonder WHY don't more people practice BIRTH CONTROL.
ReplyDeleteHairydawg,
ReplyDeleteOuting is one thing but people get crazy when they know where people like this live. One of the fathers said they received death threats. No matter how much these kids deserve to be despised and their parents deserve to be embarrassed threats are clearly over the line.
Group mentality and peer pressure are terrible things. This poor woman, I hope she can retire on these savings and not have to go back to this job.
ReplyDeleteOk, Sunny, I'm on it - lemme do some google research. There is also great info on a website called PTO Today. At least, that's the name of the organization.
ReplyDeleteThe Disney thing might have run it's course; maybe they're just rerunning the psa's - Demi Lovato is in one of them :-(. I had to tell my kids what happened to Sunny with a Chance the other day - double sad face.
Sunny, also google Rachel's Challenge. We are super hyped about this in our school district. Rachel was one of the victims of the Columbine tragedy. Her family is doing this, and it is incredible.
ReplyDelete@Lurky Loo I did drive a bus a while ago, but I never embarrassed or touched a child. The thing that works the best is simply stopping the bus and talking to the kids.
ReplyDelete"I'm just trying to get you all to school/home in one piece, and if you're distracting me, we might have an accident...etc. I can't drive until you are all quiet, so the sooner you quiet down, the sooner you'll get home...etc."
Sometimes they were so obnoxious that I even turned off the bus, unbuckled my seat belt, took the keys, moved to a regular seat at the front, and quietly waited for them to figure out why the bus wasn't moving.
Granted, the school system I drove for placed student safety above everything else--including punctuality--and they encouraged us to stop the bus whenever we needed to maintain order. I used it frequently. It's safe and very effective. By the end of the school year the kids were trained and they got to school/home on time. Some of them gave me a hard time once in a while, but come Christmas, the brattiest ones were the ones who gave me presents. I was dumbfounded. I mean, who buys Christmas presents for the bus driver??
In other "war" stories, I remember a fellow driver smelling smoke, stopping the bus, grabbing the fire extinguisher, yelling "FIRE!", and spraying the students in the back of the bus who were smoking. The kids thought he was awesome.
Yeah...good times.
Warning to those who choose to google Rachel's Challenge - have tissues handy. It is powerful stuff.
ReplyDelete@ Topper - my bro in law's dad is retired from the military, and his retirement job has been driving a bus. He has been doing it for years, and we crack up thinking about his scrawny, yet mean as hell, ass bringing fear into the heart of all the school children on his route. He also does not hesitate to invoke the old "bus riding is a privilege, not a right", and has no problem completing the necessary paperwork to "throw that jackass off the bus". So he's kind of awesome that way.
ReplyDeleteMy mother works as a bus monitor and she's told me plenty of horror stories. She, too deals with stuff like this on a daily basis. She's been hit, spat on, had death threats etc, and most of the kids are under 13. And when the school board goes to the parents, a lot of them express the same hateful, violent mentality. She went to court once because a parent also threatened her. School starts at home. Kids are disgusting these days. Absolutely disgusting.
ReplyDelete@lost - I totally agree with what you've said, and good for your mom for pursuing those cretins legally.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes me so sad, because school does start at home, and 90% of troubled kids probably learned all their worst behavior at the hands of their parents, with the foul language and behavior aimed squarely at these children.
My mantra is that all kids are fabulous; some of them just don't know it yet. Sadly, many of them will never hear anything but vitriol from the people who are supposed to love them most.
better to give the money to a homeless person
ReplyDelete@Topper
ReplyDeleteI was a very well behaved kid on the bus and my mom still made sure I got my bus driver a Christmas present each year until I started driving myself. In a season where it's customary to generously tip postal workers, hairstylists, dog walkers, etc., bus drivers should be thought of too. It was usually just a small box of Fannie Mae chocolates, but it was bought with my allowance and the driver knew he or she was appreciated.
Thanks to whoever posted the donation link. I don't have the stomach to watch the video but I'll be sending a few dollars her way.
They should all be sent to prison where they can be gang raped, murdered and then burn in hell.
ReplyDeleteThese kids are horrible! I'm glad they got caught as a consequence of their own actions. They were seeking public attention for their awful behavior because they were proud of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that this woman had to be the object of their derision and disrespect. I'm not even sure there is help for these kids - it's not just about being young and stupid. These kids clearly have no idea about respect, courtesy or good manners. In this video, they ceaselessly made fun of this lady's person, age, income and her emotions.
They need to be seriously called on their own BS - it will make them better people if they're made to understand why this is so wrong. This is just despicable.
She's up to $345,000 now
ReplyDeleteDear Future Children of Mine,
ReplyDeleteIf you EVER treat another human being like these kids treated this bus monitor, I will put you up for adoption.
xoxo,
Mom
@frufa
ReplyDeleteI will look up both once i am back on my computer later tonight. I am sure I will be a blubbery mess, as I am an overly sensitive soul (my biggest blessing snd worst curse all in one). And I totally get the double sad on explaining Sonny with a Chance to the minis
Having read about this poor woman´s story I can´t bring myself to press play. This is the kind of stuff that makes you lose any faith left in the human race, that´s for sure...
ReplyDeleteAll my LOVE to Karen!!!
I have not read the comments and I could not finish the video. I had to shut it down five minutes in to avoid doing damage to my monitor.
ReplyDeleteARREST THESE KIDS.
They are the ones physically assaulting a woman, taunting her, shouting obscenities at her. They are the ones making a video of their activity and posting it online for her further humiliation.
They are cruel beyond belief. I don't care what you do with them after you arrest them, but five years of juvie sounds good.
#killtherealpigs
I have a strong desire to beat these kids unconscious with permanent facial damage and then pour lye down their bullying smug little throats.
ReplyDeleteBut I won't ever do that. My parents taught me right and wrong.
Okay. These kids are disgusting and foul, no doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteBut.
To wish rape, violence, permanent damage? That is fucking sick and every commentor here who is advocating that sort of punishment for what these little bastards did is EVERY BIT AS AWFUL as they are.
YOU GUYS are the kind of people who produce kids like that; I pray you never breed.
I cannot watch the video, either. It hurts to read that they told her she was so ugly her kids should kill themselves. When I was in high school I was told I was so ugly I should kill myself. I can tell you to this day what year it happened and who said it. When people say those things don't stick with you, they lie.
ReplyDeleteThis is evil. I can't even watch the entire thing. :( Jesus.
ReplyDeletePoor lady - all she wanted to do was ride the bus. No human being or living thing deserves this. I want to give her a great big hug and kiss on the cheek.
ReplyDeleteThis is my alma mater. How embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteI havent read all the comments yet but will later. I can tell you that the kids have been outed and the police are very concerned for their safety. I doubt they will be able to live in the district anymore. Hopefully their parents will take parenting and teaching respect more seriously in their new homes, far far away.
Geez, I was nervous to come in and read the comments. All day long, one of my friends has been bitching about people giving money to Karen. I mean she is absolutely LIVID that people are donating, and that's what I thought these comments were also going to be.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad these kids got outed, I think it should follow them forever. Maybe it will force them to look back and reflect once their brains are done growing.
@anotheramy: Thanks for the update and the priceless "Hopefully their parents will take parenting and teaching respect more seriously in their new homes, far far away."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I see the school district being sued by the parents of the young good-for-nothings.
I watched the whole video. The touching of her got worse. When it first happened I said out loud 'assault'. Vile language, gang mentality, a group of males picking on a lone female. I am also fat and bullying does not stop. To the commentator who wrote stand up for yourself, she couldn't, they are children. Also, as someone who has stood up for herself, it doesn't stop it, most of the time it escalates it. Throw the book at the children, ban them from whatever activities give them pleasure, I think it might be too late to give them empathy. Sad world, but I am gladdened that people are donating, restores my faith in humanity.
ReplyDelete380k . That's a powerful statement people are making about this. I saw it last night and had to turn it off because it was so upsetting.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein
$392,695 now.
ReplyDeletePeople really need to teach their children, that could easily be their mother, grandmother, aunt, sister. I just don't understand the lack of compassion and understanding today. For instance, today I had to go into Walgreen twice and there was a homeless man and his dog. Now I am weary about giving cash to people on the street but this guy was clearly in a hard place. I got my nerve up to approach him(I used to work at the sheriffs office and there was a homeless shelter real close and I would get harassed daily for money to the point I would be cussed at and followed) and when I gave him the money his eyes teared up and he said you know you are the only person who has walked by me and smiled and looked me in the eyes instead of the other way. I gave him $10 cause that was all I had on me and as I pulled out I started crying cause I felt so helpless. All I could think was that could be my dad if he didn't have my aunts home to fall back on.
@bobbi - thank you for sharing your story - it really touched me, and I will remember it.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I just wish my kids could have been there to see that kind of stuff is real and how important it is to give when you can cause you never know what the daylight brings.
Delete@bobbi - your simple kind act may be the tipping point for this man. Remember about the power of a single candle to shatter the darkness.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Bobbi! :)
ReplyDeleteThat poor awesome lady! I hope the school district and board have the balls to suspend and/or punish each one of those kids and not kowtow to the parents! I'm off to donate, I can only afford a little but I support her 100% !!
ReplyDeleteI felt so bad that they treated her so poorly. I almost started crying when they showed her crying. Some kids can be so mean. In my years of teaching, it seems that kids have been getting worse and worse every year. I am not saying all kids are bad. I have had plenty of really well behaved kids. But these kids really make me sick. She is a much stronger lady than I would/could ever be. I would have probably punched one of them and gone to jail.
ReplyDeleteI can't watch the video, but I've been hearing about this all day. What I don't understand is why these kids are so STUPID! It's bad enough that they lack compassion, manners, and empathy, but to put this on the Net? Haven't they learned anything about viral videos? I live now as if I'm on camera. I really do. How egotistical and moronic are these kids?
ReplyDeleteAs far as outing these kids, they should be outed! I wonder how many times they have done this without being caught. I seriously doubt this was the first time they did this to this poor woman.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to not let myself hate these little demons. I'm sure they're getting enough of that already. At their age, my nephew was holding doors open for old ladies and helping them carry their groceries. I think kids learn from their parents, but then again, you can be great parents, but at this age, peer pressure can be a powerful thing. The positive side is that this lady is now richer than I'll ever be, and that there were only 4 kids involved, not the entire bus. Sadly, no one stuck up for this lady, but I can't blame the kids for laying low. These boys are incredibly cruel with their words.
ReplyDelete1) Why would anyone get mad that people are donating money? In the sea of causes out there, how is she not worthy?
ReplyDelete2) Someone asked if any of us had witnessed anything this bad... Yes. Kids have been this mean to "lesser kids" for, well, at least 35 years, so probably longer. (I doubt I was the world's first bullying victim.) I may not have seen kids be this mean to an adult, but I'm sure given the right "weaker adult" some kids I knew could have been. I still find it too painful to talk about my own childhood, but I can tell others' stories: When my sister was a chaperone at a church lock-in (overnight slumber party), a socially awkward boy was trying to find a group that would let him sit and talk with them. He approached some girls (not his first "try" with a group there, but the one my sister witnessed) and they told him no one liked him so he should kill himself, and then started laughing as they created scenarios that fit the church building, like that he should jump from the choir loft, and that if he bled a lot or had a seizure before he died they would just laugh. My sister did her best to put the literal fear of God into those girls, and then to convince the boy that God loves him exactly how he is, but there was no way that girls who could joke that way in the first place were going to care what the volunteer youth director had to say about it. Another time two sisters having a water fight with sponges and buckets were approached by "cool" boys who wanted to play too. The socially awkward sister knew these boys were mean to her at school but maybe this was her chance to have friends the next school year, so she said yes. The boys went around back to fill their bucket and the chasing began. She threw a soaked sponge at them (which was the game) and they rushed her and dumped the contents of the bucket over her head. Which would have been the game, too, but they had PEED into the bucket (!) and then they ran off, laughing triumphantly, with her soaked in their urine. Bullies have always been evil evil evil, entitled, undisciplined kids who feel somehow superior because they got lucky by having the rich parents or the attractive genetic code, like that is anything they accomplished themselves.
3) I do not care about protecting these kids from having their identities come out. They did not care about viciously attacking those that should be protected from them, but now they worry? Let them. They will finally know what consequences feel like, and it may make them want to change the course of their life before it is too late. My sympathy always lies with the victim.
4) Again, who could begrudge this poor woman the kindness of sympathetic strangers? It's one thing if those complaining about the funds were FORCED to donate, but this does not involve them in the slightest. Donate or don't donate, but why criticize those who feel moved to bring this woman some happiness?
This is some real "Lord of the Flies" shit here. Douglas Coupland wrote a book called "Life After God," the idea stemming from the fact that kids in the 60's abandoned the traditional religious upbringing they had, so that their kids had no religious upbringing at all, and these kids are the children of that generation. Say what you will about religious hypocrisy, pedophile priests and intolerance (ALL valid concerns,) there was also a grounding in basic human decency that took root in kids who got dragged to church that served to place limits on this type of behavior. The idea of the Golden Rule, the Good Samaritan, and similar instructive lessons helped create a character that "plays well with others," something these kids DON'T do.
ReplyDelete@WUWT?
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for the painful memories you have from your childhood. I am sick to my stomach about the stories regarding what your sister witnessed, and just pray that these kids (and you) recover from the brutality of these assholes (sorry, I normally try to keep a PG rating with my comments but I can't right now. I honestly can't wrap my mind around how evil human beings can apparently be).
@Frufa
Fruuuuuufa. I didn't get too deep into the PTO website yet, but I'll be darned I did need those tissues for Rachel's challenge. I am such a firm believer in the mission statement about the chain effect. My Mom (beautiful, ridiculously smart, compassionate) is my role model because she would always bypass the "perfect specimens" and head straight for the person who was maybe a little awkward/didn't have a lot of money/down on their luck and make them feel special. Because of her, I'm like that too and I can only hope I can instill that in my little guys as well. You are right - it all starts in the home :) P.S. We need to become FB friends and private message so we don't start driving others insane! Sorry CDAN pals!!
Shame on those little monsters and shame on their parents! Just disgusting.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel for this woman. This time, it's children. From other things I have read, one of the parent of these morons is on the local police force and athey are trying to strong arm her into not pressing charges.
ReplyDeleteThis world has become such a horrible place. In the past, I was bullied by other kids. Today, I am bullied by adults, kids, even by kids with their parents egging them on. As a matter of fact, it happened just tonight when I went out to eat with my husband and daughter. I used to be the new kid in school and never fit in. Now, I am the fat lady.
People can be so very, very cruel. This is one of many reasons my daughter was pulled from public school and is now homeschooled. She was bullied in first grade because she was the only one with red hair. First Grade!! My daughter would never do this and I think she wouldn't be able to sit for a week if I found out she did.
I wish this bus monitor the best and hope something happens in this world to make this behavior stop.
@Cyrene
ReplyDeleteAnother heartbreaking story of how cruel people can be. I am so sorry for the pain that others have caused you and your daughter. My step-daughter in another state has endured the same tormenting as your daughter and it rips me to shreds. Love being sent your way from San Diego, and I'm sure you and your daughter are beautiful, inside and out
Ah, yes. Boys will be boys, eh?
ReplyDeleteLittle fucking sociopaths. I'm sure they're really "sorry".
And, I'm sure they'll all grow up and be successful, since boys and men must be forever free of consequences for their violence, narcissism, and utter selfishness. In fact, they will most likely be rewarded for it.
I could only watch about 30 seconds of the video before I triggered and wanted to throw up and cry.
ReplyDeleteSure, Robert- religion is SO good for encouraging "basic human decency"- as long as men are always in charge and women are always enslaved.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know what the school's reaction to this was, because frankly, I don't hold out much hope that the parents will really do anything. The death threats, while over the top, may provide a wake up call that wouldn't come from the parents.
ReplyDeleteI read Karen had a been a monitor for many years, without incident. I hope she is able to take the money raised and take a nice trip.
Also, you could not pay me enough money to work with middle schoolers. God bless those that do.