Making Fun of a Teacher

[empathom]

Hi... Pennsylvania resident and high school student here.

Recently, three friends of mine were confronted by the administrators of my school and school district concerning a website they made last summer. They had created a personal blog through a popular website (www.xanga.com) in order to make fun of a particular French teacher at our school. And while I recognize the apparent immaturity and ethical inappropriateness of this action, I still feel the need to defend my friends against what I deem an unfair punishment.

Right now they are facing, at most, ten days of suspension. Their site has some lewd language and is written from the first-person point of view of the teacher... basically making her out as a completely immature teenybopper girl, and very satirical in nature.

The questions/points I have are the following:

The site was made on my friends' computers, in their own rooms, outside of the school. So, do the school or teacher have any right to legal prosecution? Does any form of "identity theft" even enter into it? And as far as defamation goes... does the parodying by frustrated teenagers on their own personal, unadvertised (yet technically publicly accessible) blogs... count as defamation? Especially when the content of the blog is so obviously absurd that my friends couldn't have possibly expected anyone to really view the site as belonging to the teacher herself?

This has been a pretty rambling post, and for that I am sorry. I'd just like to find out what other people think of the situation... I'm skeptical of the school's claim that they have a responsibility to punish my friends for this blog.

I originally included the URL, thinking that it would help me get more informed opinions. But since it may not be completely necessary for me to associate myself with the website, I removed said link.



Thanks,

Adam

 

[BelizeBreeze]

First of all, the website is not satire. It's tasteless.

Second, the teacher is not a public figure so you are not free to 'parody' her as you would be a legitimate public figure.

Third, tell your friends to grow the hell up.

As to whether or not the school can control the content or require them to take it down, Read TINKER v. DES MOINES SCHOOL DIST., 393 U.S. 503 (1969) and it's progeny....and that's ALL the help you're getting.

It's hard enough to live in this world without fools making fun of you.

 

[empathom]

Alright, thanks. Although I'm not ready to place the creation of a pointless Xanga on the internet outside of school on the same level as visual political protestation inside a school. But I suppose for a while now I've been questioning how much the site could even be considered "satire" or "parody". So, okay. I'll admit that.

And... I guess this must be one of those "flock you fly with" things... but I tried making it clear that I agree that it is inappropriate and tasteless to begin with.

So, I don't see why I personally deserve the slight attitude I'm getting from you. After all, I haven't necessarily dedicated myself to some grandiose cause of defending these three. I just wanted to be more educated -- and I hope you're not discouraging that by implying that I'm a fool simply because I 1) know three teenagers who *GASP* would actually do something tasteless, and 2) was initially wrong about how to view the situation.

I mean, wow. This kind of thing could really push me away from trying to expand my horizons and keep my point of view in check by looking at the facts.

You're lucky I'm not actually a fool.

And as far as I'm concerned, you're lucky that there are even teenagers out there who bother to find forums like this, write half-decently written posts, and actually find out whether or not he has any right to really protest the situation. Most teens would simply go on protesting on grounds that (as I think I've realized from this thread) don't hold any weight in the argument anyway.

Thanks for your help, though. I hope everyone gets as warm a greeting here as I did.

Adam

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Alright, thanks. Although I'm not ready to place the creation of a pointless Xanga on the internet outside of school on the same level as visual political protestation inside a school. But I suppose for a while now I've been questioning how much the site could even be considered "satire" or "parody". So, okay. I'll admit that.

And you should. It is pointless and shows only a juvenille idiot has created it.

And... I guess this must be one of those "flock you fly with" things... but I tried making it clear that I agree that it is inappropriate and tasteless to begin with.

That is correct.

So, I don't see why I personally deserve the slight attitude I'm getting from you. After all, I haven't necessarily dedicated myself to some grandiose cause of defending these three.

you did that by extension. Instead of posting their link in your question, you could have simply asked if such a situation was legal.

I just wanted to be more educated -- and I hope you're not discouraging that by implying that I'm a fool simply because I 1) know three teenagers who *GASP* would actually do something tasteless, and 2) was initially wrong about how to view the situation.

no,that assessment was made because you posted the link.

I mean, wow. This kind of thing could really push me away from trying to expand my horizons and keep my point of view in check by looking at the facts.

Quit acting like a spoiled brat who takes his ball home because he can't bat cleanup. You want to learn something, learn to take an opinion that YOU ask for.

You're lucky I'm not actually a fool.

Personally, I could give a rat's behind.

And as far as I'm concerned, you're lucky that there are even teenagers out there who bother to find forums like this, write half-decently written posts, and actually find out whether or not he has any right to really protest the situation. Most teens would simply go on protesting on grounds that (as I think I've realized from this thread) don't hold any weight in the argument anyway.

Grow up kid, your actions have absolutely nothing to do with MY luck or lack thereof. I am not responsible for your actions as you are not responsible for mine. You chose to come here and ask an opinion and got one you didn't like. So be it. Learn from it.

Thanks for your help, though. I hope everyone gets as warm a greeting here as I did.
Adam

Me too. Maybe then they'll learn we don't take you by the hand and pat you on the head like a baby. Or is that what you wanted? I can scare up someone with a nipple if that would make you feel all warm and cuddly.

 

[empathom]

Alright, fine. If you can't interact like a decent human being, and you insist on mistaking that kind of preferable behavior for "warm and cuddly" (not to mention mistaking my criticism of you as a person as me saying, "ow! I got an opinion I didn't like! *whimper* " when I obviously fully accepted and thanked you for your opinion and legal reference) ..... well, then, you don't deserve this response. But you're getting it anyway. You're obviously a bitter person who can't seem to break through whatever layers of negativity and indecency you've formed for yourself over the years, even when someone comes to you openly, honestly, and respectfully. I pity you.

Goodnight,

Adam

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Alright, fine. If you can't interact like a decent human being, and you insist on mistaking that kind of preferable behavior for "warm and cuddly" (not to mention mistaking my criticism of you as a person as me saying, "ow! I got an opinion I didn't like! *whimper* " when I obviously fully accepted and thanked you for your opinion and legal reference) ..... well, then, you don't deserve this response. But you're getting it anyway. You're obviously a bitter person who can't seem to break through whatever layers of negativity and indecency you've formed for yourself over the years, even when someone comes to you openly, honestly, and respectfully. I pity you.

Goodnight,

Adam

Now that would have been an intelligent response ....


FROM a two year-old.

 

[touchofgrey]

Adam, you can get all the information you need to know about Belize by reading his signature statement. In my experience, anyone that picks apart another persons post line by line has way too much time on his hands. Maybe this is just his way of finding satisfaction without putting his hands on a body part and doing what he really needs to do to relieve himself. (Apologies to Belize if he is a she but the sentiment is no less appropriate)

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Adam, you can get all the information you need to know about Belize by reading his signature statement. In my experience, anyone that picks apart another persons post line by line has way too much time on his hands. Maybe this is just his way of finding satisfaction without putting his hands on a body part and doing what he really needs to do to relieve himself. (Apologies to Belize if he is a she but the sentiment is no less appropriate)

Now that adds a lot of intelligence to the conversation.

Did you stay up all night to think about that stupidity?

 

[confusedagain12]

BelizeBreeze

Now that adds a lot of intelligence to the conversation.

Did you stay up all night to think about that stupidity?

If it makes you feel any better, go onto other threads and read posts from Breeze he/she/it is usually an a**. And always wants to get the last word. Whoever this person is they seem to have no life and take it out on anybody whose question irritates them for whatever reason.

My advice, if you're seeking advice, is get it somewhere else. I just come here for entertainment purposes, mainly because I can't believe some of the responses these people give on a forum for is supposed to be for support and advice. Chances are that Breeze will come and and correct my grammar or punctuation, they like to do that a lot to.

 

[ongoingvoni]

re;making fun of a teahcer

If your friends have nothing better to do than make fun of a treacher on the internet, they deserve to flunk school, along with any other punishment they are given. Although it doesn't make the news much, there have been reported cases of suicide associated with someone placing a web site directed soley to make fun of or belittle a person. How would you feel about your friends if this teacher did not have a strong sense of self and she/he killed themselves? What should the punishment be then? slap on the wrist and a thats ok don't do it again?

Just because you have the power to ruin a life, doesn't give you the right to do so. Just my humble opinion

voni

 

[empathom]

I appreciate everyone's opinions (and character clarifications).

Over the last day or so I have definitely reconsidered my opposition to their punishment... I do not think the situation is black and white... but I think some moral raproachment is definitely necessary... so why not the school as the one to hand it out?

Once again, I don't defend what my friends did. Having a close relative who has tried to kill herself several times, I fully appreciate the severity of these kinds of situations and the sensitivity required in dealing with them.

I've pretty much stepped down from all the controversy. Thank you for your unbiased points of view - they really helped me look at the situation objectively.

Adam