Lights, Camera...Fight
July 23, 2010By Chrisnatha Derosier

"Meet me outside after school!"


When one student has a problem with another that cannot be solved using words, they usually wait until the school bell ends the day and they handle it outside - perhaps near a playground.


Today, things have changed.


It is one of the most popular yet troubling trends among adolescent students today -- witnessing a fight, catching it on video and uploading it online. This is referred to as cyber-bashing, children videotaping other children fighting and then posting the clips on the Web for everyone to see.


"Cyber bullying is rife, and filming an event like this is another way of bringing it to life," said adolescent psychologist Kimberley O'Brien of Sydney, Australia.


According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, 20.8 percent of participants reported being perpetrators or victims of physical bullying in the past two months; 53.6 percent were victims of verbal bullying; 51.4 percent were victims of relational bullying, which involves social exclusion, and 13.6 percent of cyber-bullying on a computer, cell phone or other electronic devices.


In the worst cases, some of these fights end in death.


In September 2009, Derrion Albert was beaten to death during an off-campus after school fight on the south side of Chicago. Caught in between a fight among two gangs from two different neighborhoods, Albert was beaten by several boys who used railroad ties. Ultimately, four individuals were charged with first-degree murder.


Video-hosting websites such as YouTube have been the domicile of these disturbing images. The frequent viewing of Albert's beating and death eventually lead to nationwide coverage and dialogue regarding youth violence.


"Derrion's death, like so many, brings awareness, but the downside of these events is that there is an increasing desensitization to crime," said Marcus Campbell, Senior Pastor of Abundant Grace Assembly in Chicago, Illinois, just blocks away from where the Albert beating took place.


High school cheerleader Victoria Lindsay was a victim of cyber-bashing. According to police officials, six female teenagers lured Victoria to a friend's home in Lakeland, Fl. and attacked her one by one when she arrived. It is said that the reason for this attack was for the sole purpose of creating a YouTube video.


An online clip of the video shows the teens blocking the front door so Victoria was unable to escape.


Five teenage girls ranging in ages 15-18 were arrested and charged as adults. 


"What they did was illegal…I just want her [Victoria] to have justice," said Patrick Lindsay, Victoria's dad.


These brawls either take place on or off-campus. Some are even witnessed by teachers.


"I can remember when two good friends had a disagreement and were about to work it out by talking. The problems were almost worked out and those around continued to add fuel to the fire until they both fought," said Coach Trevor Harris, physical education instructor at Miami Edison Senior High School.


Psychologists say cyber-bashing stems from an age-old theory that human beings are innately "peeping Toms" or voyeuristic.


Voyeurism is the recurrent urge or behavior to observe an unsuspecting person who is naked, disrobing or engaging in sexual activities or, in this case, activities which appeal to you most base desires - like violence.


The voyeurism paraphilia often accompanies other personality disorders such as exhibitionism.


How do we explain a fight between two peers being viewed online more than 1 million times?


A certain amount of voyeurism is considered normal in today's society. Teens watch disturbing images online such as fights. They seem to get a thrill out of seeing a teenager beating up another.


"This is the most tribal generation I have ever come across in my 22 years of adolescent psychology, and they are banding together for this 'entertainment' of bullying and harassment," said Michael Carr-Gregg, Australian psychologist who specializes in adolescents and mental health.


Another argument is whether or not the individual who captured the image on video is held responsible for providing details or can be at all punished for not doing so.


"Students who record the fight should be held responsible because the video will determine the true facts on how the fight started and what caused it instead of hearing different stories from two different people. The video will point out everything out," said recent graduate of Northeast High School, Achelet Petithomme.


Has Derrion Albert's case challenged us to take a closer look at cyber-bashing?

"The last year has summoned a call to action: churches are praying, conversations are being had, the Chicago Public School system is asking for help and the mayor is trying to get guns off the street. In summary, Derrion's death was the initiation of a new call to reclaim the streets," said Campbell.


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