Students bully school bus monitor, post video on YouTube

[proud2BlibKansan]

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
A group of students in western New York are being investigated after tormenting a school bus monitor for more than 10 minutes and posting video of the incident on YouTube.

In a clip titled "Making the Bus Monitor Cry," the students -- male and female -- takes turns hurling profanities and insults at the woman, identified as Karen Klein.

At one point, Klein removes her sunglasses and begins to cry. A student mocks her, saying, "She probably misses her box of Twinkies."

The students attend Athena Middle School in the town of Greece, a suburb of Rochester, New York.

Klein remains calm during the incident, as students continue to mock her, calling her fat and suggesting she commit suicide.

more . . . http://www.kctv5.com/story/18838290/students-bully-school-bus-monitor-post-video-on-youtube

[rocktivity]

1. What is our children learning?

There is a crisis in our educational system indeed...if our kids are so dumb they record the crimes they commit AND publish them online!


rocktivity

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. This is just unbelievable

These kids use the words "fuck" or "fucking" in nearly every phrase that comes out of their mouths.

They also tell her she's so fat and ugly her kids should kill themselves. And her son committed suicide 10 years ago.

I'm hoping at the very least, these little darlings get kicked off the bus. Someone on youtube posted their names and some of their phone numbers. So they should have at least a few people harassing them for awhile.

[AverageJoe90]

34. One must wonder what kind of fathers or other authority figures these guys would grow up to be......

Somehow, I get this awful feeling about them.......

[raccoon]

156. Hope people do harass the little shits. nt

[Lionessa]

5. That ignoring bullies doesn't and has never worked.

They know this, but parents and teachers keep trying to say it will solve the problem. It doesn't and this is proof.

If she was the adult monitor, why wasn't she doing her job? I mean if they were bullying a kid would she have still just cried?

I'm sorry I realize y'all want me to sympathize with the lady and hate the children, but that woman should've been able to handle such a small bit of harassment about being heavy and hot.

Seriously, if it had been me, I'd have just said, "yeah, I'm fat and I'm hot, do you really want to piss me off?" Or perhaps, "yeah, I'm fat and hot and you will be too when you're my age."

Not one word from her, not one ounce of defense or comeback? I just have no understanding of people being willing to play the victim without even the slightest effort otherwise, and again,

MY BIGGEST CONCERN is that if this monitor couldn't handle some personal harassment, how could she be expected to handle a student gang on student altercation? That's her job, she apparently isn't qualified.

[surrealAmerican]

9. Whether she's qualified or not, I don't know ...

... but she appears to be very poorly prepared to handle the situation, which looks like a lack of appropriate training. I would guess that this is a very poorly paid job, so you can't expect to attract well-trained applicants, and that her employer is unwilling to pay to properly train bus monitors.

[Lionessa]

10. Then the bus company should be held responsible. As I said, and will again,

if she can't handle herself, how will she handle bullying of others. Parents should be outraged both at the students and at the bus company installing poorly trained, poorly paid, unable to handle a crisis bus monitors.

[former9thward]

182. Blaming the victim.

Classic.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I don't think antagonizing them would work.

She did the right thing by not saying much to them. They would have just bullied her more if she had tried to come back at them verbally.

I admire her restraint. But if she had done anything different, I would say she could have moved to a seat closer to the driver and let the driver know they were bothering her. The driver could have then stopped the bus and called 911 or the bus company. I honestly don't know that the driver even heard the kids because a bus is pretty noisy and depending on how far back she was sitting, the driver may have had no idea what the kids were saying.

The other thing I noticed is there are a couple times - once when she is holding her purse - that it appears a kid touches her. She pulls back so I sensed she was touched. ANY touch is assault. So if it was me, I'd be reporting them for assault. It doesn't matter that she wasn't physically injured.

[Lionessa]

19. So I'll ask again, would you respect her restraint if it was a student

being bullied and she showed "restraint" by not doing her f'ing job?

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. I think I answered below

But no, that would be a completely different situation. Her JOB is to protect the kids so no, just sitting there calmly is not the best thing to do when kids are bullying another kid.

What I would have done - if this was a kid being bullied and I was the monitor ---- I would have first separated the kid being bullied from the gang bullying him. Move him closer to the front of the bus, as close to the driver as possible. If necessary, I would have asked the driver to call the school or the bus company (or 911, depending on how serious the physical bullying was). Then I would have walked back to where the bullies were sitting and stood there in the aisle, making them have to go through me to get to the kid they are bullying. As each of the bullies got off the bus, I would have walked as closely to them as possible and made sure my body was between the bully leaving the bus and the kid being bullied.

Then I would have have written a detailed report to give to the school and the bus company (or the police).

I can tell you for sure if this happened where I teach, those kids wouldn't be riding the bus to school again for a LONG time.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. Something else I just thought of

I don't know if she realized the kids were videotaping her. But if it was me, I would have pulled out my cell phone that has a video camera and started filming them. I've never had to do that, but I know teachers who have and they say it stops the bad behavior pretty quickly.

[KurtNYC]

159. these kids filmed themselves too, in another video on another day of this crap

see: Mean Kids Bullying Old Lady On Bus - More

This was no isolated incident. More like a reality show made by little morons who wanna be Gordon Ramsay.

[TheMadMonk]

95. DRIVER! STOP THE BUS!

Back when I was a kid, country school bus drivers were still in the habit of dropping misbehaving kids off 10 miles from home.

Today, these little bastards KNOW with near absolute certainty, that they are imune from almost all meaningfull consequences in the short term, no matter what might happen months or years away. And it may be all well and good that something like this, or sexting, or bragging about getting shitfaced on FaceSpace will/might/may come back to bite these kids on the arse when college acceptance time rolls around in four, five, six years time, but RIGHT NOW it's all about counting coup/popularity one social media "hit" at a time.

[mzmolly]

139. My thoughts as well. The kids involved

should lose the privileged of tax payer funded bus rides, for a very long time. Let their parents get them to school.

[joeybee12]

48. Jesus Christ...if that's your biggest concern...

What are you priorities? I can see being concerned that she wasn't prepared...but these are fucking little monsters and THAT isn't your biggest concern...amazing.

[Downtown Hound]

83. That's more than a little fucked up Lionessa.

And if you had bothered to do any research on this topic, you'd know that the reason the woman was crying was because her son killed himself 10 years ago, and they were telling her to do the same. I'd ask you if you had any idea what it was probably like to lose a child to suicide, but I'm willing to bet that if you did you'd know to extend a little bit of fucking compassion, which apparently you don't.

[JonLP24]

97. That kind of thing is a hell of a lot easier with some(or most?) people

I don't have the connection to watch videos so I'm speaking more generally.

I personally find it nearly impossible to respond to that sort of thing, I don't know how she reacted but I just stay quiet and let it ride. It doesn't bother me because I know what I am but I'm not a very social person and it isn't something that is easy to overcome with some people. It is like there is "wall". Another thing, with those sort of comebacks you have to be quick on your feet. I always think of the perfect things to say much latter.

Whether that makes her unqualified is a reasonable question to ask. I personally disqualify myself for any customer service type of job.

[obamanut2012]

116. Props for your empathy

[justiceischeap]

173. For fuck's sake

What was she supposed to do? She didn't just sit there, if you actually watched the entire video and listened, she did defend herself. At one moment, near the end of the video, she states that she knows where they all live and will talk to their parents. I believe that is where one of the boys threatens to beat her ass if she does that.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN is that these kids' parents aren't doing their jobs. I'm guessing this isn't the first time those idiots have harassed Karen, it's just the first time they taped it. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way these kids are being raised if they think it's okay to behave this way. It's not the bus monitors fault, it's not the school's fault, it's not the bus company's fault. Stop trying to shift the blame where it doesn't lie.

[TheMadMonk]

92. Why wouldn't they? How often do kids today suffer true consequences?

And how often do "consequences" befall victims who fight back?

The problem is not the education system. It's all of fucking society.

Look at how TV glorifies petty cruelty and the whole getting ahead by being a ruthless prick meme. Days of our Drearies, Young and the rootless, Dallas, Suits, Scrubs, Revenge, and on and on and on. Plush pastel ponies really don't cut it when competing with Mummy and Daddy's realistic TV dramas.

[Luminous Animal]

229. My daughter would have been washing that woman's windows, taking out her garbage, & mowing her lawn

for a year.

[Hotler]

178. They're learning to be republicans. n/t

[MADem]

3. Wow. I wouldn't blame that woman if she had a small nostalgic yearning for the days of

corporal punishment.

I think they need to go to reform school. Pity they don't have many of those, anymore.


Who raised these little vicious assholes? Wolves? These are MIDDLE SCHOOL kids--I can't believe they are such hideous little jerks. This is a whole new level of mean.

I think the district should just expel them. Save a ton of money, let the wolves' parents home-school the little monsters. Or pay for military school--that would fix their little red wagons.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I've worked with a lot of unruly kids in 33 years, but this shocked me.

And I teach special ed, and have had many emotionally disturbed kids. But these kids are just cruel. I haven't seen that too often.

As for punishment, they need to be kicked off the bus - for a year maybe. I also noticed that someone posted their names and phone numbers at the youtube link. That should produce some consequences for these little darlings.

The article also mentions possible criminal charges. I normally don't support that, but in this case I would.

[MADem]

6. You know, if the whole "anti-bullying" thing is going to have any traction, these little shits need

to learn that it's not OK to bully anyone, and age is not a consideration.

I hope their parents get an EARFUL of phone calls from curious citizens wanting to know how the parents are correcting this behavior.

I don't think getting kicked off the bus is enough--I'd suspend or expel the little jerks. That'd probably nip that kind of shit in the bud, permanently.

Kicking them off the bus just means that the Little Monsters' parents have to organize a carpool. It's not strong enough of a punishment--I'm betting the parents will blame the school for having to do driving duty once or twice a week.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. I agree.

But I'd want to know what was in their school district code of conduct before recommending a punishment beyond being kicked off the bus.

And the police may just take care of it anyway. They wouldn't be looking at it unless they thought there were some charges they could file.

[obamanut2012]

118. +1

[bluestateguy]

15. This was an adult, imagine how bad they are to other kids who don't fit in

Mm Hm.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. If she hit any of these kids, she'd lose her job in a heartbeat

And she would be risking criminal charges.

She did the right thing by remaining calm and not engaging them much. I admire her.

[obamanut2012]

119. Exactly -- they were baiting her

They thought they would get to post a video of her going crazy and cussing and hitting them.

Please keep us updated. This is very upsetting to me.

[freshwest]

221. $347,425 now... I hope she gets a million and the kids get expelled. As someone else said,

Imagine what they do to kids that is not filmed. This is like being surrounded by a pack of dogs, tearing one's flesh away. Do we wonder why people homeschool their kids? Why people enter cults to escape this nihilism?

The disdain and hatred the voters of tomorrow showed this working class woman, was for being poor. I've heard people say anyone who is overweight is stupid and poor, thus should be shunned. Weight and poverty are temporary issues, not moral ones and should not be a subject for abuse.

The Rush Limbaughs and Simon Cowells of the media have seared the conscience and destroyed empathy. This is the tip of the iceberg, would never have been known if the juvenile had not posted it to get credit. Bet she got a lot of 'likes' for this. Haha, yes, she wins!

Much social networking is toxic. We've seen Facebook used to mock a child fighting cancer, by neighbors who felt entitled to do so and even drove their vehicle around the neighbor with displays to torment her for a long time.

The good part of this story is the outpouring of concern and funds for this woman. I hope she makes a fortune off this.

[MADem]

140. She should have called 911 and had a cop come to the bus.

Tell the bus driver to pull over, have the cops take those kids off in cuffs. Let their parents pick 'em up at the station. They were creating a public nuisance at a minimum....threatening and intimidating a public servant...and the little shit who touched her? That's battery! Hey, let the little fuckers get an early lesson on just how it's done.

Or she could have had the bus driver drive straight to the police station and have a cop come out and arrest those little bastards there.

Perhaps calling their parents from a cell at the police station would knock some sense into those little shitheads.

I hope these kids see some real consequences.

[HiPointDem]

171. i don't know if she knew they were filming her, but if she'd done what you suggest, it would

have been her word against the kids' words. and there are always parents (especially in a white, middle-class district like greece) who will take the kids' words over other adults' words in every case & persecute adults who dare suggest their kids are less than perfect.

it's a he-said/she-said situation without the evidence. & the lady doesn't look like she's the tech-saavy kind. the kids wouldn't have been locked up or arrested in a white suburban district. the parents have the power in those districts.

[XanaDUer]

243. Absolutely

What is she supposed to do? Obviously, at 68, she's not in this for the pay. Is this a privatized, outsourced bus company, btw?

Probably.

Yes, she could get all sassy with these Clockwork Orange wannabees mini-sociopaths, but they'd probably burn her house down.

Blame the victim. Sheesh.

[obamanut2012]

117. Kicked off the bus for good, and criminal charges

Especially for the ones who touched her. Assault and battery for them, and assault for the other budding sociopaths.

I'm sure this woman needs money desperately, which is why she is doing this, which makes it even worse for some reason.

[HiPointDem]

170. she isn't the one who started the fund-raiser. it was a guy in toronto. she doesn't want to press

charges, either. she said she didn't feel threatened.

i don't think she's doing "this".

[obamanut2012]

186. I meant having to work at a 15K job at 68

[obamanut2012]

219. I know that -- why do you keep telling me this?

I have never said she started the fund drive -- I know she didn't.

The school can discipline re: their assault.

[HiPointDem]

236. i don't think i posted that more than once. in fact, i know i didn't, not in this thread.

your post about needing money/that's why she's doing this was a bit unclear.

[mzmolly]

142. Special ed kids are often the targets

of bullying vs. the perpetrators.

I agree. Kick these kids off the bus for a long time. Some of the "children" threatened to stab the woman. Yes, criminal charges are appropriate in such cases. In fact, bullying should be subject to some sort of criminal statute. I'm sick of the soft support for it, as a society.

I noted these are nice suburban kids.

[proud2BlibKansan]

148. They can definitely be charged with assault.

And should be.

[Lionessa]

12. Don't you think before f'ing hitting someone she should at least open her mouth and say something?

WTF. So to teach not to bully, or harass, she should hit someone and prove she's the bigger bully. Wow. Stupid.

[MADem]

21. Don't YOU think you might try reading what I actually wrote before commenting?

It would aid conversation.

What part of longing for an antiquated practice translates into actual action in your mind?

You sure like to make logic leaps, it would appear.

[Lionessa]

23. Back peddlin' huh? Okay, I accept that.

[MADem]

27. Not "back peddlin'" in the slightest. Learn to read before you embarrass yourself further. nt

[Marr]

61. You don't think punching a kid like that in the mouth would help?

I do. Not from her, of course-- they'd probably kill her. But I think those kids would greatly benefit from a good beating, and if they didn't, well, at the least the people around them would enjoy it.

[MightyOkie]

98. My gosh. Are you still talking?

You remind me of the male boss that might say: "Hey, you know what, sweetie, next time don't wear anything sexy and I won't get sexually harass you tomorrow at work." Blame the victim.

[Lionessa]

227. Only because you misconstrue what I typed.

And I'm not still talking because I never was, I was typing.

I've clarified over and over that I blame the company who hired her, but you can keep lying if you choose. Harms me none at all, but apparently ruins your day.

[dionysus]

226. something sure is stupid. your post.

[AverageJoe90]

36. Sad truth is, corporal punishment is what makes a majority of bullies.

And I DON'T mean spanking, btw. I am strictly talking about the use of belts, switches, etc. intended to cause physical and/or mental harm.

I just have this horrible feeling these kids would make horrible dads when they grow up; probably beating on their 5-year-old boys for being 'wimps' or smacking their girls around for being 'whiny', etc., if what they did to this bus aide is any indication.

[MADem]

40. I don't disagree--I'm simply speaking about visceral, un-acted upon, inclinations in the moment.

I think these kids' PARENTS need to do a serious gut check and nip this shit in the bud.

I guess they're getting more attention than they counted on--that Facebook page is getting a lot of traffic and no one is praising those little bullies.

[AverageJoe90]

160. True.

Well, at least, there's been plenty of outcry, it seems.

[MADem]

162. I think the outcry has been fantastic--those kids are going to wish they never pulled this "stunt"

for the rest of their lives, I think.

[HiPointDem]

172. i doubt those kids -- from a white, middle-class suburban district -- get a lot of corporal punish-

ment.

child-rearing for that demographic leans the other way.

[Puzzledtraveller]

176. My dad would have blistered my ass, something like this, unthinkable.

I don't mind the spankings I got, not at all, they were appropriate and it hasn't made me violent or aggressive, or sheepish and shy. But that's just me.

[obamanut2012]

185. At least some of the parents were shocked and angry at their kids

While one said no way her son would do that -- his friends forced him to. That kid was probably the ringleader.

I read that on a Huff post article via the Rochester news earlier today. I as surprised at least some were ashamed of their kids. Good!

[AverageJoe90]

202. That could be true, especially since it IS New York.......

But we don't know for sure. Some middle-class homes can in fact, be terribly screwed up, even in Yankee land(no offense meant, of course).

In any case, I should point out that I did point out the fact that CP isn't the only thing that can cause such behavior. It's always possible these kids could just have had certain attitudes rubbed off on them.......remember Mittens and his attack on that kid in '67 because he thought he might be gay?

[Scootaloo]

7. I just can't watch that

I hope the kids that are poking and prodding at her are brought up on assault charges. 'Cause... that's what that is.

[Initech]

8. Every time I get a chance to think good things are going to happen...

Something comes along like this that completely destroys what little faith I have in humanity. All these little twerps should be expelled - not only were they dumb enough to tape the crime - they uploaded it to fucking YouTube!!! Seriously I hope the principal and/or school board lays the smackdown on these disrespectful brats.

[DrDan]

11. how sad that is to watch - she tries to do the right thing in volunteering - and what does she get

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Does it say somewhere she is a volunteer?

I missed that.

Our bus monitors are paid.

[DrDan]

28. you may be right - ours are volunteers. . . .but, regardless . . . .

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Yes. It doesn't really matter.

These kids were absolutely horrible.

[bluestateguy]

13. She showed remarkable restraint

Even though she would have been well justified in giving the ring leader here a big slap across the face. Had she done so, I'm sure she would have been blamed and the children absolved of all wrongdoing.

Instead, she showed restraint, and these future Rhodes Scholars posted the evidence of their bullying for the world to see.

A few weeks in juvenile hall will straighten them out, I think.

And for heavens sake, don't make the kids write those stupid forced apologies, that wouldn't even be sincere anyway.

[Lionessa]

17. Really?? You think she should slap and her restraint is remarkable?

Really dumb. She should be able to handle the situation, not sit there and cry like a child, and she shouldn't have to touch anyone. The bus company has put an unqualified person in a position of authority who doesn't behave authoritatively at all. If they had been bullying another student, would you think her restraint good or not? I say not.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. If they had been bullying another student, she would have had more choices as to what to do

At least where I teach, we can restrain a kid to keep them from hitting another kid. If they hit us, we can push them away but we can't hit back. And restraint is seen as a last resort unless the kid is really pounding on us.

Usually the best thing to do when a kid is hitting another is to try to get in between them. That's also dangerous though.

It's really best to not touch them at all in these situations.

[Lionessa]

26. Again with the physical. No wonder our kids are so f'ed up.

The altercation didn't start with any touching, she should've had it handled well before the touching started with proper verbal responses whether with her or for a student.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. Her options are pretty limited.

The kids should have assigned seats on the bus, keeping the gang of bullies from sitting together. I'm not sure what a proper verbal response should be in this situation, because of the gang mentality of the kids doing the bullying. The group would have reacted to almost anything she said.

I'd also like to know if she had been on this bus long enough to establish any kind of relationship with any of these kids. That's the best way to prevent this kind of nonsense. I always work at building trust with kids, especially the bad kids. And they generally don't try to bother me.

[Lionessa]

39. I agree the whole thing stinks of poor mgmt at least one level up from her position.

It seems there was no foresight in bus procedure or training.

[tinymontgomery]

47. Sounds like poor parenting

Maybe the parents should have taught their so called children how to behave and not abuse other human beings. No one is to blame here but the kids and parents. IMHO.

[obamanut2012]

125. 100% -- this isn't the school's fault

Nor the bus monitor's o driver's.

[Downtown Hound]

85. Actually, it stinks of overly indulged little brats not being taught an ounce of respect for others

And your posts stink of somebody who has their priorities completely out of whack. Congratulations on being the most vile poster in this thread. Republicans have nothing on you.

[EOTE]

135. +1. A ridiculous amount of victim blaming.

And then enormous outrage when people suggest that those little Hitlers be put in their place. I hope and pray I'm never stuck on a bus with one of her children.

[AngryOldDem]

151. +2

I thought the woman handled a very difficult situation with a lot of strength. I'm not going to say "restraint," because from what I saw she appeared to be a bit intimidated by the kids. Understandably so.

There is no way in hell that I would ever work with school-age kids again, in any capacity, and my hat is off to those who do. The entitlement attitude, the attitude that they can do no wrong, and --yes -- parents who feed into that mindset by reinforcing those delusions have created the Little Monsters that were on that school bus.

If they indeed poked her, then I would be looking into battery charges. Teach the little bastards a lesson by tying them up in the legal system for awhile. Maybe THAT will get the message across that they ain't all that special after all.

[Scout]

67. so miss perfect, what would the proper verbal responses be?

and if they didn't work, then what?

[Lionessa]

196. It's MRS. Perfect to you, sir. LOL. Anyway...

there are many quality, non-violent ways to approach being teased/bullied about things that are accurate, in that she is overweight and she was hot and sweaty. If they don't work, next would be restraint as mentioned above, then of course, if required violence.

Silence and crying isn't and never has been a successful response to bullying.

[Lionessa]

232. No I'm just being a snark.

If it's Mister for an adult male vs Master, I don't see why women it's based on marriage instead of age.

Otherwise I was just being snarky in the "it's MR. blah blah to you." Except all I could grasp for was Mrs. as an upgrade from Miss.

[Lionessa]

234. You ask a question I answer. Why does that bother you?

Would you prefer I lie and not admit to being snarky? You confuse me.

[obamanut2012]

123. Honest question: you have stated before you hit your children

With a wooden spoon, as well as spanking them. What would be the difference between that and if she slapped one of those little sociopaths?

I am not snarking at you, I am serious. Knowing this about your background, and reading your posts like this in this thread, are confusing to me.

[EOTE]

136. Corporal punishment is for me, not thee! NT

[Lionessa]

141. Good catch. Yes, when necessary, I have used physical force on my children.

However, it was never, never before words were attempted, and it was never spontaneous or in anger. After all was done and said, they got a choice of disciplines, one was spanks with a spoon, one was room restriction (no music, phones, tv, reading, nothing).

Additionally they had to right their wrong. So if they lied to a teacher, they got to also write a letter of apology to the teacher, to the students, and to the principal, and all had to be read aloud to the classes involved. (yes, this actually happened, the administration and teachers thought I was GREAT, though if they'd been around the eve before for the 10 swats I'd probably have been in jail these days.)

Never did I, have I, or will I consider striking or touching another person as the best or primary way to resolve immediate in your face issues, like bullying.

PS: It seems also important to mention re: the above example, the teacher believed my son, I'm the one who caught the lie, and though most parents berated me for not just letting it lie (no pun intended), I simply couldn't let my son feel he got away with lying, not just as a discipline wherein lying was one of the three INTOLERABLE things in our family, but those he lied to had a right to learn he had lied even though, or maybe especially because it would be so humiliating for him after he thought he'd been so slick.

[obamanut2012]

145. You stated in this thread hitting kids is why they are so "effed" up

So, you still didn't answer that.

It also wasn't a "catch."

[Lionessa]

154. OIC, It should read, "physical first", I have no problem with it after

speaking, standing up, and NOT CRYING like a two year old because kids rudely recognize some facts about you.

I'm sorry, I just don't see that as reasons to hit, or slap, or corporal punishment. She had plenty of time to be the adult on the bus before any poking or prodding happened and to end it. Instead she reverted to child younger than those she's supposed to be attending.

I get that she's not qualified and that's not her fault, but I am way angrier that EVERY child on that bus could have been the one being bullied and the ADULT on the bus that's supposed to be monitoring wouldn't be able to handle it, diffuse it, and calm it, but would instead cry for the bullied student.

If this idea that she was at least part of the problem, and since buses with well behaved children don't have monitors we must assume some problems were known about, we must realize that it's the bus management company's error, probably due to poor employee training and pay and not choosing the right folks.

If we keep going after the kids, not much will change, they aren't the root of the problem we see here. Or better said, the things that encourage behavior like that (I'm thinking most of tv these days, especially Simon Coward on Idol, and those types) are not going away, the kids can't be held even 50% responsible, hell, to them it's just entertainment, and seriously who can blame them for believing that?

[Downtown Hound]

194. Yes, thank you, your lack of a heart has already been duly noted

No need to keep shoving it in everybody's face.

[Lionessa]

195. So not striking someone unless other options are exhausted is heartless?

Well, don't mind me if I don't adopt that perspective.

[Downtown Hound]

197. No, your repeated contempt for the woman crying

is heartless. As well as your insistence that she did nothing to defend herself, which isn't true. She did say she would talk to all of their parents. So what more do you want? She did the whole verbal thing, and it didn't work. What do you want her to do, all knowing and extremely judgmental one?

Also, your comment about how "crying because some kids notice some facts about you" seems more than a little heartless. What facts would those be? That she should kill herself? That she's poor? That she's fat? Well, gee Lionessa, I'm sorry that other people in the world have emotions and are sensitive about some things. I guess not everyone can be unfeeling and cruel like you.

[Lionessa]

198. I have contempt for the mgmt that put her in a position she can't handle.

I do not have sympathy for her, that's correct, but I have no contempt for her. All of my "blame" has been to her bus company and the management therein.

I lack empathy, and therefore sympathy, it is part of my PTSD and it ain't likely going to cure anytime soon. That said, it allows me to look at things logically and analytically, and in that vein, she is un-qualified which could have ended in true harm to a child, and her bus company is at fault and should be paying a heavy price.

[Downtown Hound]

200. It's quite apparent that you lack empathy

So let me teach you a little about it, since you claim to be unable to feel it. Most of us out here that can feel empathy wince with pain at seeing what that woman is going through. So when you come here and completely ignore it, and don't even see or much less care about the suffering that she's going through, it's not only crude, it's offensive.

So there, you've been told. Maybe you can't understand, or maybe you're just hiding behind PTSD as an excuse, but you've been told. So kindly do us all a favor and go away and stop polluting this thread with your bullshit.

[Lionessa]

201. Empathy cannot be taught, try as you might. I'm sorry my PTSD symptoms bother you however

#1- Empathy cannot be taught, and if that's the only thing left of my PTSD that bothers folks, we'll all have to deal. My brother's PTSD has made him a lifelong junkie, perhaps your empathy to my situation would have preferred that.

#2 - Noticing the analysis of empathetic people vs my own, I choose my own as it shows me analytically where the problems need to be addressed, which is at the bus mgmt level.

[Downtown Hound]

203. I wouldn't rely on your dysfunction as an accurate diagnoser of social problems if I were you

Remember that PTSD is a problem, not some magical gateway into seeing solutions that everybody crippled by emotions misses.

[Lionessa]

204. Right, so when you lack empathy it's not a problem. Got it.

[Downtown Hound]

205. Oh, are you crying for empathy now?

Are you saying that I should show you empathy for being cold and cruel? Oh right, you have PTSD. Guess what? So does my girlfriend. And she's not completely heartless like you seem to be. So stop crying like a two year old.

How does it feel? Welcome to empathy 101. First lesson, treat others as you would have them treat you. Because it really sucks being on the receiving end of cruelty.

[Lionessa]

206. Nope just noticing the hypocrisy.

Don't want it and don't need it. You're the one trying to claim its worthy of having, I never have.

[Downtown Hound]

207. No hypocrisy here Lionessa

I never claimed to be tolerant of the cruel people of the world.

[Lionessa]

208. I have done nothing cruel, but of course you need to exaggerate to excuse your BS.

There's nothing cruel in recognizing that the bus mgmt needs to improve their hiring, training, and probably pay scale to put people in those positions that can handle them without reverting to tears and making matters worse.

[Downtown Hound]

209. Your attitude towards the woman is cruel

And since you claim to have PTSD which you say hampers your ability to feel empathy, you might just want to trust not only me but everybody else on this thread on that one.

[Lionessa]

211. It lacks empathy or sympathy, but it isn't cruel. You throw that word around so carelessly as to

make a mockery of it's seriousness.

I know cruel, I've not been, no where near.

[Downtown Hound]

213. Yes, you have Lionessa

Seeing the pain this woman is going through and to have the reaction of, "Stop crying like a two-year old" and blaming everything on bus management and nothing on the kids is cruel.

Must be your PTSD talking due to the fact that you are unable to recognize that. Or, you're just a mean person.

[Lionessa]

215. Well then we disagree on many points, too many to continue.

I have no respect for hype of any kind, and you're full of it on this matter.

[Downtown Hound]

216. One thing I can assure that I'm not gong to lose any sleep over

is that I don't have your respect. Have a nice day.

[Lionessa]

217. Now why would I want you to lose sleep?

It would only make you even more cranky tomorrow.

Sleep well.

[FedUpWithIt All]

238. I have PTSD and a lack of empathy is not an issue.

Logical and analytical is also not a real common sign of PTSD.

Your previous post about this woman was highly offensive.

[FedUpWithIt All]

237. + + + + + + +

What a repulsive post you're responding to.

[Lionessa]

155. As for the "catch"

I actually wondered if anyone would recognize two things

1. I am one that openly advocates for some considered corporal punishment within the family unit. (Never outside, heaven help anyone who would lay hand on my child but me.)

2. That I was consistently noting that it was the hit, slap, corporal punishment as a first response to the video that really irked me. There are quality, non-violent techniques for handling bullies, if they fail, then sure, but not as a first thought, and certainly not a first action.

[MADem]

144. I wouldn't even waste your time in conversation there if I were you.

There's no attempt to understand what others are saying, as evidenced throughout this thread. In fact, there's delight in misinterpretation--which is curious, in itself.

[obamanut2012]

147. You're right, MD

[MADem]

166. This additional information makes any vicious and obtuse "cry baby" remarks even more callous.

Klein said the comment that hurt the most was when the kids said "you're so ugly your kid should kill themselves." Her son took his life 10 years ago.

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/School-bus-monitor-bullied-in-web-video-speaks-out/r307vrpIDkeYHcvKmuUL7Q.cspx

I'll bet ya a button those little bastards knew her child had committed suicide, too.

I don't like bullies, and I don't like cruel people on the internet, either. They've got even less guts than the weaselly bullies, because they hide behind a keyboard.

[obamanut2012]

184. I bet they did, too

[MADem]

24. You need to read what other people write, and stop making assumptions about what they mean.

You got it wrong AGAIN and you're calling others "really dumb?"

Look in the mirror. Good grief. Reading is fundamental.

[Scootaloo]

25. Are you fucking serious?

No, really, are you being fucking serious? How exactly do you propose she "handle the situation," Lionessa? I mean aside from your taunting about how she shouldn't "cry like a child"?

Which voice is yours on that video?

[bluestateguy]

30. You missed the point of everything I said

And I'm not inclined to re-explain it to you.

[MADem]

41. Happened to me, too--totally.

Right over the old head, your actual meaning!!! And mine!

[sabrina 1]

84. And what happens when the same little bullies do this to someone who is not a bus monitor

but an old lady walking along the street? How SHE handled them is not the issue, the issue is THEM. How did they get to be such monsters with zero human emotions, and who else have they been doing this to that was not on tape? And if they are not dealt with now, what are they capable of doing next?

SHE is not the issue. She did exactly the right thing. She gave these little psychopaths NO out. They cannot, as they surely would had she tried to stop them, claim it was her fault. The case against them is clear and unhindered by any attempt by her that could have been misenterpreted, that these are treats to society and now need to be dealt with that way by the proper authorities.

The proof of her success in handling the situation is that not a single person I have seen so far has even tried to defend their behavior as would have happened had she tried to stop them. And no one has anything but sympathy for her. They created a hero instead of the victim they thought she was. Now they are the reviled, shamed, despised little monsters they surely deserve to be.

I see there is a fund-raising drive for her. This is victory, society has shunned them, and have taken to their hearts the person they were hoping to continue to harass on Utube. NOT what they expected when they posted their video.

She won. They lost, badly.

[Scootaloo]

102. +1,000

You said what I wanted to; I couldn't get over being too flabbergasted to say it myself.

How SHE handled them is not the issue, the issue is THEM

EXACTLY THAT. Thank you.

[hifiguy]

113. Excellent post, sabrina

But that something like this happened at all is sad beyond words.

[oldhippie]

124. Well said. nt

nt

[obamanut2012]

126. Exactly -- they wanted her to cuss and hit them

So they could post it and then run to their mommies and daddies about the mean lady.

Punks and bullies. I feel sorry for the other kids on the bus.

Link to the fund drive info?

[MADem]

164. +1,000 -- if you go to the OP link, there's a Facebook link at the right to a support page. nt

[qanda]

133. Thank you so much for this response!

When I read what that poster wrote I thought that I had stumbled into a different reality. Were they truly taunting the elderly victim by saying that she sat there "crying like a child"? Wow! Just Wow!

[suffragette]

168. Exactly so, sabrina

They were clearly trying to provoke her to respond verbally and/or physically and if they had succeeded, her response would likely have been the only part of the video posted.

And their attempts to do so escalated as the video went on, including vicious comments on her weight, economic status, and threats to stab her and attack her at her home.

They are the issue and their behavior is what needs to be addressed. At minimum, they should be assigned to closely supervised community service which they should have to do at separate places.

This made me think to something I saw a couple of years ago which was in direct contrast of this.

I had sat down on a bench in Occidental Square to check my bus schedule. It was mid morning and a bit after New Years. There were quite a few people there though it was not crowded and some of them were clearly homeless. A family of a dad, mom and two kids arrived and the parents handed the children boxed meals. The children then asked the men on benches if they would like a boxed lunch, then gave them to the men. I had the sense this was something they did at least yearly and they clearly had given thought to doing this in a manner which included dignity and choice.

[obamanut2012]

189. What a nice story!

Giving the receivers dignity and choice, and having the givers, the children, not only learn how to be respectful of everyone, but also having them be hands-on, not just have mom and dad write a check and send it to a charity.

[suffragette]

192. It was a powerful and positive action and I'm glad I was there to see it

Compassion, respect and community - all in a simple act and a life lesson and direction for the children by ensuring they're directly engaged..

[obamanut2012]

193. +1

[sabrina 1]

223. That's a beautiful story, Suffragette.

What excellent parents they are, teaching their children how to give without demeaning the receivers, and developing what I believe are the natural instincts of children, compassion and responsibility for those less fortunate.

We should hear more stories like this as it is easy to think that the bad outweighs the good sometimes, when it really is not the case.

Thank you for your comment, stories like this restore faith in humanity, especially after stories like the one in the OP.

[suffragette]

228. It was beautiful to see.

I found an article that notes a father of one of the sons has apologized to the bus monitor and he also states he is going to seek professional help for his son to address the issue of why his son behaved as such a bully.

Let's hope some transformation can occur there.

And wow, just looked and the fund for her has reached $396,454.
http://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein

[sabrina 1]

235. Yes, two of the fathers have now apologized, and two of the kids have

also apologized. I did see how big the fund was growing, and she has also been offered to take nine members of her family to Disneyworld by one of the airlines. She is a grandmother of eight, so maybe she will take her grandchildren.

I agree, I hope this results in those boys learning to become better human beings. At least it's good to know that two of the fathers have stepped forward and done the right thing.

She may end up being able to retire although she said today she would like to stay in her job.

[FloridaJudy]

179. Brava!

It goes some way toward redeeming my faith in humanity. So far, they've raised $124,000 for granny, and nothing for the little toads. I hope she enjoys the hell out of her vacation - and posts the high points on YouTube.

That would be the best revenge!

[XanaDUer]

244. How much you wanna bet they were "filming" her to tape her reaction

of screaming, rage, anger, or whatever they thought she would do? In stead, she pulled a Gandhi and they were dumb enough to, not only film themselves, but to fucking post it on the internetz.

[obamanut2012]

120. What do you keep blaming the woman, you know, the VICTIM?

Unbelievable.

[backscatter712]

210. She should have laid down the law.

When I was a kid, the tools available for that purpose started with the dreaded "pink slip", a writeup that you had to take home and return with a signature from the parents. From there, came suspensions from riding the bus, school disciplines like detentions, etc.

If she had asserted her authority, she could have put a stop to this in a heartbeat.

Sounds like she's a sweet old lady, and that was the problem. Middle schoolers can be little shits, and there comes a time to stop being nice.

[Lionessa]

214. Hence the bus company's fault for misplacing, lack of training, perhaps more, and why the OUTRAGE

should be directed at the bus company, imo.

[DrDan]

42. not only blamed, I am 100% certain lawsuits would have been filed

you just don't "touch" . . .period

[ForgoTheConsequence]

45. Disgusting.

How many people did you bully in school? You mocking the victim for "crying like a child" and blaming the victim for well.... being the victim shows a complete lack of class and character on your part.

[bluestateguy]

53. I am assuming this reply was for Lionessa

The "cry like a child" line was hers and not mine.

[AverageJoe90]

31. Simply fucking awful.

These kids.....if you want a genuine example of real brats, then these kids are IT. I do have to wonder how many of these kids have uncaring, unfeeling assholes for parents? (Truth is, that's usually where most bullies come from, is families like that......some are beaten, and otherwise abused, but not all. Some can, in fact, be the 'favorites' of asshole parents, too, and in some cases, may participate in abuse alongside the parents.)

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. Don't forget about peer pressure, especially at this age.

Sometimes kids from wonderful families make really bad decisions because they are following the crowd. I've seen that many times.

[AverageJoe90]

161. Sad, but unfortunately very true. nt

[HiPointDem]

175. +1. i joined some other kids in taunting a teacher when i was in middle-school. i didn't have

anything in particular against her, i just wanted to be part of the gang.

[cabot]

37. Freaky little shits

This is why abortion should be legal until the fetus is 15. (just kidding) Honestly, though, this incident should follow them around for a long while. You don't speak to an elderly person or any person this way. Spoiled rotten little bastards. And get off of my lawn!

I hate bullies. Always have - it doesn't matter their ages. I hate seeing people pick on the defenseless.

[kiva]

38. According to this story Klein had 20 years experience

as a school bus driver and monitor: http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2662463.shtml?cat=566.

In her 20 plus years as a bus driver and monitor with the Greece Central Schools, Klein has never ran into this kind of behavior.

Klein said, “Everything started out as usual. I don’t know what happened.”

Klein explains the four kids in the video often misbehave, but what happened Monday was taking things to a whole new level.

Sounds to me like the kids planned this so they could have a video to post.

[Tsiyu]

54. My take on it is the same as yours

She appears shocked more than anything. I applaud her restraint and believe she honestly wasn't believing what she was hearing.

They piled it on thick for their Billy Bob and Bubba's Bully Show (there are dumass hicks in NY as well as anywhere else - but notice no knee-jerk bigotry against the Northland? Hmmmmm... ) film extravaganza.

She was probably stunned, but at least she didn't do anything impulsive. She let them go on and now they are known worldwide as pond scum.

One of my sons was kicked off the bus for a while for cursing. He was warned. He hated that bus driver. But they became the best of friends, and when we were really poor one Christmas she brought him a bike and some other goodies courtesy of the Sheriff's department's Christmas fund.

These kids are being raised by absent or abusive parents, or they are tools who do whatever some "leader" tells them. Sad for all involved.

[MADem]

149. "Sounds to me like the kids planned this so they could have a video to post."

I agree with that theory completely.

[complain jane]

44. SEND HER ON A VACATION!!

An Indiegogo fundraising page was set up to send her on vacation!

And some FB pages too.

http://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein?a=498597

https://www.facebook.com/Karen.Huff.Klein

And this HuffPo page has updates to the story too:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/greece-school-district-bullied-footage-causes-outrage_n_1612925.html?show_comment_id=162680659#comment_162680659

[ForgoTheConsequence]

46. The things you read on a "progressive" board these days.

Someone who's son committed suicide crying because she was told her kids SHOULD commit suicide is "crying like a child? I remember when the progressive movement was about compassion and human dignity not just a label that you paraded around.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

52. I'm not going to spell anything out for you.

Its all right in this thread. We as a culture have become quick to blame the victims for everything, this movement which use to stand apart is quickly giving into that. Its easier to blame the victim than it is to look at the problems that are blatantly systematic and ingrained in our society.


Thanks for the crude response though. I'll be sure to shove the "broad brush" up my ass.

[WildEyedLiberal]

70. Given that this is the only discussion forum I've been to where someone has attacked the poor woman

Then I think his post about DU's low standards are justified. I read the Huffington Post, Reddit, and various local/national news(Rochester newspaper, MSNBC, US News and WR) stories about this incident and none of those commenters accused the poor woman of "crying like a kid" like DU's esteemed Lionessa, so maybe you should read through the thread and realize that DU doesn't take too long to make an ass of itself before you leap to its defense.

Yes, this will get deleted for calling out a DUer, but I just needed to say exactly why I find your shocked "but but but HOW DARE YOU IMPLY THAT DU IS LESS THAN SAINTLY" post a bit incredulous, considering that Lionessa has made her vile opinion very clear all throughout this thread.

[obamanut2012]

127. Lionessa' posts in this thread

[obamanut2012]

212. Check out the other thread about this

It's continued.

[smokey nj]

225. This one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=839113

A few other victim blamers have posted there as well.

[complain jane]

87. ?

Honestly I hadn't even noticed Lionessa's posts and had to go back and look for them just to find out what the heck you were talking about.

I don't agree with her.

Now I'll go back to focusing on the fact that there is a lot of good will in the world as demonstrated by this outpouring empathy for Karen Klein, and continue to ignore the posts here and anywhere else that I don't agree with.

There. That's that. See? Easy. Why pay attention to the folks you don't agree with on this subject? They are vastly outnumbered.

[Tsiyu]

60. This

I think this is what she was refering to:

"Really dumb. She should be able to handle the situation, not sit there and cry like a child,"

The woman's child comitted suicide apparently, so the taunts of the little unstable creeps made her cry. How fucking human.

It's above this in the thread. And it's a cold hearted response, but one to which the poster is certainly entitled.

[savalez]

107. It's obvious to me who the poster is referring to.

[savalez]

224. Oh I know. I said it was obvious to me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. What?

I don't think you understand this at all.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

69. FYI... (Jury Results)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240113334

[MADem]

134. Why are you ascribing the conduct of one to everyone here? Hardly "progressive" if you ask me.

And then you've got the brass to bellow on about "compassion and human dignity" after you've just insulted every single subscriber to this forum? What MOXIE!

You just might want to check yourself--your unmentionables (as well as your broad brush) are showing.

[unreadierLizard]

50. These worthless piles of excrement

need to get a belt, and HARD.

I know that's harsh but with the way that I see the next generation behaving, I fear for this planet's future.

Corporal punishment did me good. Giving them a belt or a wooden spoon will do them good too. But nope it's "child abuse".

[ieoeja]

132. And THAT is how most bullies are made.

Yes, you get the Menendez types as well. But they are a drop in the bucket. Most bullies come from very strict families using authoritarian practices. Their parents "bully" them because, in the childrens' minds, "they can". So they do the same when they can.

And when they have children? They will do the same to their children. And the cycle continues.

[laundry_queen]

169. hitting causes that shit.

Jesus, studies show kids who are hit are more violent. Kids who are bullied at home WILL bully others. And yes, getting a belt or a wooden spoon is abuse and bullying and teaches kids might makes right. It also teaches kids that there is no such thing as empathy. Lack of empathy is ALWAYS the problem in these cases. If I child isn't shown empathy and instead is beaten, what makes you think they are going to automatically show empathy to someone else? They don't even know HOW. Or they learn to appease the bully to not make THEM mad, and you get gang leaders and their followers (appeasers). Corporal punishment is always a good way to create these situations.

[unreadierLizard]

174. So what?

Last edited Thu Jun 21, 2012, 02:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Should we let these little shits off the hook? A slap on the wrist?

As a victim of bullying I want to see harsher measures against bullies. Considering my bullying was not only tolerated but ENCOURAGED by my 8th grade teacher and his racism I'm a bit skewed in favour of harsh measures.

I'm done caring about the rights of sociopaths.

[laundry_queen]

183. That's not what I said and you fucking well know it

just because I don't advocate beating the shit out of kids, doesn't mean I don't advocate for harsh punishment if/when they grow up to be sociopathic bullies.

Jesus. I never said I cared for the rights of sociopaths, I never said they shouldn't be punished, I never said that they only need a slap on the wrist.

You need to get your reading comprehension checked out.

I was simply pointing out the root cause of this shit. If you would prefer to never address the root cause, and instead advocate coporal punishment for school kids when the inevitable results of ignoring said root cause rears its ugly head, then you are perpetuating the problem in a different, and damaging, manner.

[obamanut2012]

190. +1

[Blue_Tires]

51. These students and their parents need to be named and shamed

at the bare minimum name and shame the one with the YT account

in another time and place, those offenders would have had a belt on their asses once mom and dad got home...

[-..__...]

58. They already have (assuming the info is accurate), on Pastebin.

Facebook accounts (most are removed already).

Kids names...

Parents names, where they work, phone numbers...

School contacts and phone numbers, etc.

I'd post the link, but it's most likely a TOS violation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. I chose not to post them because these are kids

and their contact info is all over the internet already.

[FrodosPet]

55. Abusing the overweight? That happens HERE all the time

"Klein remains calm during the incident, as students continue to mock her, calling her fat and suggesting she commit suicide."

Any kind of food-related post here always seems to include at least one insult towards larger people.

[proud2BlibKansan]

56. This video is a lot worse than anything I've seen here

by a mile.

[FrodosPet]

62. I have no doubt about that, but still

For a site based on inclusion and tolerance, there seems to be this streak of meanness towards people who don't comply with regulations on waist (small) and penis (large) size.

[Le Taz Hot]

122. Yes it does and it's allowed 'cause, you know,

fat people DESERVE it 'cause the only reason they're fat is that they eat junk food and never exercise!

Oh, and old people. I've been informed by several DUers that we "stink."

[FrodosPet]

128. I guess everyone has got to hate someone

In which case, the aging and the overweight are fashionable to hate. And if you are from south of the Ohio River / Atlantic City and NOT from Cali - you are evil incarnate.

[Le Taz Hot]

138. Well, you have to be from the

RIGHT part of California. Anything outside of San Diego, Los Angeles, and "The City" (:puke and, well, you're just not part of the "real" California.

[RebelOne]

63. I could not watch the entire video.

It was too disturbing. That poor lady.

[smokey nj]

71. I could only watch a few seconds of it myself.

[morningfog]

66. I can't even watch. I feel horrible for the lady and sick for the kids.

What a fucked up country we live in. I hope the kids are identified and suspended for what they did.

[Liberal_in_LA]

68. horrible

[Odin2005]

74. Ugh. it seems like too many kids are like sharks.

If they smell "blood in the water" (a figure of authority that perceived as weak) it will get really ugly. This reminds me of 8th Grade Earth Science, the poor 4ft 8in teacher was driven to tears by many in my class.

[Downtown Hound]

220. Nah. Sharks are a vital part of the food chain and have been for

hundreds of millions of years. They only eat when they're hungry and never kill out of malice. These kids are just wastes of air.

[FLAprogressive]

75. Like I said, poster children for abortion.

[Douglas Carpenter]

76. one more reason to stay in the Asia/Pacific region - Children NEVER behave that way here

[Lyric]

77. Fat hate in action.

Sounds exactly like some of the shit I heard practically every day as a fat kid.

It's the biggest reason why I still have almost no self-esteem and no sense of basic self-worth.

[complain jane]

88. Me too.

I'm guessing it was extra hard to watch for me and others who know what it feels like to be in her shoes.

That kind of hostility can be scary.

[oberliner]

78. Vacation of a lifetime pledged for bus monitor bullied in viral video

Karen Klein, a school bus monitor of Greece, N.Y., depicted being verbally bullied in a video gone viral, may have the last laugh.

By late Wednesday on the fund-raising site indiegogo.com, nearly 1,300 donors had pledged almost $25,000 in a campaign called “Lets Give Karen – The bus monitor – H Klein A Vacation.”

The fund-raising was set up through a reddit.com member, identified as Max Sidorov of Toronto, Canada.

An Indiegogo spokesperson told msnbc.com that the website was working to make sure Klein would get the money raised through its site.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/20/12323893-vacation-of-a-lifetime-pledged-for-bus-monitor-bullied-in-viral-video?lite

[proud2BlibKansan]

86. OMG when I looked earlier today, they had raised $16,000

and now it's already up to $25K!!!!

That's awesome.

[demmiblue]

90. $83,847

[oberliner]

91. That's going to be one hell of a vacation

I wonder what her yearly salary is as bus monitor. I would imagine this total exceeds it. Maybe she can take a year off.

[demmiblue]

93. According to indiegogo, $15,506.

Above is a video of a 68-year-old bus monitor named Karen Klein being verbally harassed by a group of middle schoolers on their way home from Athena Middle School in Greece, New York. Throughout the ten minute video, you can hear the kids verbally berate the woman, calling her a bitch, fatass, poor, ugly, and various other words of the like. At one point in the video, you can hear one of the kids yell, “You’re so fuckin poor you fat ass,” in which Karen responds, “I try to live by some of these words, I try and it’s really hard,” referring to the words on her purse. Now, I don’t know about you, but that broke my fucking heart. There’s even a point in the video where one of the kids touches Karen’s arm in an attempt to make fun of her. I’m not sure why these kids would want to bully a senior citizen to tears, but I feel we should do something, or at least try.

She doesn't earn nearly enough ($15,506) to deal with some of the trash she is surrounded by. Lets give her something she will never forget, a vacation of a lifetime!

http://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein?c=home


I'm thinking she may be able to retire before all is said and done!

[joshcryer]

241. And then some. Almost $500k. May reach a million since it has 29 days left.

I'm going to get flamed bad if anyone super sensitive reads this, but I'd gladly take 100x that abuse for that kind of money.

[oberliner]

242. I wonder if she will donate some of that money

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[proud2BlibKansan]

150. I can't find her page now but my friend just told me it was up to $200K!!

[joshcryer]

240. Almost $500,000 now.

Not sure how it works, if the site takes 30% or what as is typical in digital stuff.

[Proles]

79. Pycopathic behavior! They have the makings of future republican politicians.

Seriously though, that's pretty messed up, and I feel really sorry for her. No one deserves to be verbally abused like that, no matter who you are.

I hope these kids are taught a real lesson and aren't given a simple slap on the wrist. At least in the age of the Internet, stuff like this doesn't go unnoticed... of course they were stupid enough to film it.

[Brigid]

80. Here's what I wish could happen the next time these evil little shits get on the school bus:

They are greeted by two beefy cops, batons in hand. "Hi, we're your new bus monitors. Now everybody sit down and shut up. The first one of you that makes a sound or moves a muscle, gets one upside the head. Any questions? No? We didn't think so. Now let's get to school." I just think that at that age, if they don't know any better than that, only drastic measures will have any effect.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

81. That doesn't work anymore

These little bastards know the score, and that they can't be touched.

[Blue_Tires]

110. If I could dream up a punishment

I'd have the offending kids watch a similar video with their own grandmother as the "star"

Only then would they begin to 'get it'

[Nye Bevan]

146. You assume that these kids love and respect their grandparents.

I would venture to suggest that this is not necessarily the case.

[Downtown Hound]

82. I made it about 3 minutes into this video and had to stop

It's pure torture. I sincerely hope that those kids will be haunted for the rest of their lives by this video.

[Lisa0825]

89. Me too. It mad eme so sad.

I just don't understand. Is the problem parenting alone, or is it more complicated? I was taught to respect adults unless they gave me a reason not to. I would never ever have spoken like that to an adult and I never witnessed such a thing either.

[flvegan]

94. Potato stick arms sitting behind her...Lord help us when that sort is a bully.

"I get my hair cut at a dry cleaner and I have no clue what a gym is, but I'll jump in when another bunch of idiot douchebags gang up because that's the only time I can."

Ms. Klein did a good job dealing with such miscreants. Had she done otherwise, little bitches would have cried to mama that she was terrible to "potato-stick arms cuz I'll never be a man" kids.

*thwup thwup thwup* I hear the sounds of helicopter parents lording over their precious snowflake (miscreant) children).

Those idiots? Your future. Embrace it or deal with it.

[Go Vols]

96. .

Kids are a direct reflection of their parents.

[Canuckistanian]

99. Since when did "Lord of the Flies" become non-fiction?

If there isn't a serious investigation and disciplinary actions against these students.... there's little hope.

[Zalatix]

101. It never was non-fiction. Art just imitated real life.

[Whisp]

100. that poor, dear woman.

Those aren't kids, they are animals.

[exboyfil]

103. For anyone who wants to stop school choice

this is Exhibit 1. I am thankful for the Homeschooling law that gives me the option of protecting my children. Also we have pretty good open enrollment that places the burden on the school district to correct problems like this. This is an adult they are treating this way. What happens when they turn on a defenseless kid?

This reminds me of an incident in High School. I was standing near the bike rack with my 9th grade English teacher when I observed bullies like these burning the seat on my bike. I informed my 9th grade teacher who can see this going on as well. She did absolutely nothing. That convinced me I was locked in a cage with wild animals, and I vowed to never have my children experience this.

[StarryNight]

105. teachers face the same thing; they have no real authority and the kids know it.

they know that the more of them get involved in any particular misbehavior, the better, because "they can't suspend/flunk us all." the parents are the problem.

[mfcorey1]

108. If she had yelled or even hit one of them, especially when on touched oher on the back

of her head, she would be on the news for child abuse. What these little s**** need is a good old fashion punishment.

[BlueStater]

109. What could possibly turn 14 year olds into such sick, demented little fucks?

I was bullied when I was in school but NONE of my tormentors, let alone the ones I had in fucking middle school, ever encouraged me to kill myself or threatened to stab me.

I'm impressed with her restraint. I don't know if I could resist the urge to sock one of the little turds in the face if I was in the same situation and then end up getting myself charged with child abuse.

[laundry_queen]

188. I think a lot of people would be shocked

at the amount of dysfunction that goes on behind closed doors of people that appear 'normal'. I belong to a group of people who grew up with parents that have different PDs and the stories are completely shocking. Couple that with the whole 'needing to belong' a la Milgram, and Lord of the Flies group think that can be prevalent at that age (14 is the WORST for it), you are going to get some fucked up situations.

Not excusing it, but pointing out where this stuff comes from. "nice house, nice clothes, nice school" doesn't mean shit if you are emotionally abused and manipulated by depraved, empathy-devoid parents from the moment you are born, all while putting on a perfect face to the outside.

I was impressed with her restraint as well, if that was me, I'd be in jail right now for punching a few kids.

[kirby]

111. One thing that really got me...

One taunt that particularly hurt, Klein told a local television reporter, was when a student said, “You’re so ugly, your kid should kill themselves.’’ Klein said her son committed suicide 10 years ago.

[kiva]

112. "All kids aren't bad"

Hurrah for Karen Klein.

Now, she would like an apology: "They could write me letters. ... I don't know if I want to see them face to face again. I doubt it." She wants to hear that "they won't do it to anyone again."

And will she return to bus monitoring next year?

"Yes. ... Because all kids aren't bad."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/06/21/155491802/bullied-bus-monitor-wants-apology-but-still-believes-all-kids-arent-bad?ft=1&f=1001

And I hope she enjoys here vacation enormously...the fund is now up to $140,000.

[obamanut2012]

130. That is wonderdul! Almost ten years of her salary!

I hope she can take a vacation AND retire! That would be so great.

How do taxes affect something like this fund?

[kiva]

218. I don't know about the taxes,

but hopefully the hit won't be too bad...I still just so happy that people have responded to this story with sympathy, sort of does that restoring hope in people thing for me.

[mzmolly]

143. "....the fund is now up to $140,000." I hope she retires!

On edit - $185,126 is the new fund total.

I love a happy ending.

[obamanut2012]

114. Those little effing creeps

They make me sick. I wish they could be expelled.

[4th law of robotics]

115. Teens ought to come with shock collars.

If it's ok to do to a dog that's annoying you (but doesn't know better) it ought to be fine for a kid who is being quite intentionally evil.

[mzmolly]

129. A case for homeschooling,

if I've ever seen one.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

131. What's the point of having a school bus monitor?

The job doesn't seem to have anything to do with keeping the riders in line.

Anyway, hats off to Karen Klein. No way I could do that job. I'd have the driver stop the bus, let me out, and I'd walk home.

[HappyMe]

137. What a bunch of fucking little monsters!

Kids today know that the adults can't really do or say much, lest they face a lawsuit from the little darling's parents.

[uponit7771]

152. Around the end of the vid the kids were threating to stab the monitor, WTF is up with that?!!?!?

[MADem]

153. That's a criminal offense, is what it is--an opening to involve the police and charge the little

shitheads.

[4th law of robotics]

157. Mob mentality plus the certainty of not facing any real punishment

as they're minors.

Take anyone and declare them to be immune from punishment, even social scorn, and they will act terribly.

[proud2BlibKansan]

158. Just trying to rile her

Waiting for her to go off on them.

Now, thanks to her restraint, someone bigger and meaner and in a uniform will be going after them.

[HiPointDem]

177. i think they hadn't gotten the response they hoped for so they were upping the ante.

[obamanut2012]

191. They need a psych eval and some weekends in Juvie for that

And about a million hours of community service.

Threatening to kill someone should have some consequences at their age. They aren't five-year-olds. They knew what they were saying.

[proud2BlibKansan]

165. Update

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002838337

[TheManInTheMac]

167. Someday, when these kids are grown up and serving time for their first felony as an adult,

I hope they look back on the crazy daze of middle school and realize that the woman they tormented got $190,000+ from total strangers on the internet and is now laughing at their sorry asses.

[slackmaster]

180. The little pricks are dumb enough to record their nastiness and post it on the Internet

For all the world to see, forever.

Good luck getting jobs after your names are published, assholes.

[XanaDUer]

245. Oh, I don't know about that

the GOP may be scouting for up-and-coming Young Republicans in about 15 years.

[Skidmore]

181. I watched that clip and thought that these young people could very well be posting on DU

in the future pushing the bullyboy threads we get here mocking people who don't have "perfect" bodies. Little bullies grow into big bullies.

[proud2BlibKansan]

187. Well, in all fairness, I've never seen anyone threaten to stab anyone here on DU

[FedUpWithIt All]

239. I commend her for her restraint. I am also very sad for the kids who have to endure this

type of thing on a daily basis, often until they snap. They typically endure it alone and with little real support from the world around them.

Something is VERY, VERY wrong with us.