Everyone's seems to be so wrapped up in the fact that the Drews "caused" this suicide so they call for punishment they forget that the Drews are already Public Enemy #1. They have to go into hiding, they can't look another person in the eye and their company is closed. Is this not punishment enough? Throw in the fact that they have to install a camera in their house and not answer phone calls.
They've been forced into hiding through vigilantes, something no one can suport.
Legally, they did nothing wrong. Morally, they did a lot wrong. You don't get punished for doing something "morally wrong."
Then why do laws exist if not to punish those who do something morally wrong? If everyone here feels that something morally wrong has taken place then doesn't that justify criminal charges? Other crimes are crimes because everyone knows that particular act is immoral. I don't actually believe that criminal charges could be brought forth, I'm mainly playing devils advocate on this point, but I do feel the family should be able to sue the Drews.
This is partly Megan's fault. She had her computer privileges taken away for a reason and even when she got them back, her mother was still watching her. She didn't know this guy in real life and maybe she should have set up a meeting (Her parents going with her) before she started trusting him and "loving" him.
She was a naive 13 year old. A vulnerable one at that. Can you really expect any 13 year old, nevermind Megan, to take these kind of steps? She sure won't be the only 13 year old on myspace as in general, its fairly normal to have a social networking site and safe. Tell me, did you never watch an 18 year old only film (don't know what its eqivalent in America is) before the legal age?
However, that doesn't mean Lori Drew did anything less wrong. She went to extreme measures to try and find out what Megan said instead of walking over to her house like a real adult should.
No, a real adult wouldn't be petty enough to argue over rumours of such a small case of verbal abuse. Not on the first instance anyway.
Sure it's not a pretty story, but people are too blinded by the actual death to notice Drew had no intention of causing suicide. Would another girl have committed suicide in Megan's place? Hard to say, but they probably wouldn't if they were more mentally strong. I'm not exactly sure if Drew knew about Megan's mental weakness, but she sure didn't act that way when she thought of this idea.
I could tell from the rest of your post that you hadn't read the arguments already mentioned in the thread, which is forgivable its rather long, but i expect you would've read the article. Lori Drew knew full well Megan was on anti-depressants.
The bottom line is although Drew had some indirect involvement in this suicide, you can't forget about Megan and that's exactly why Drew is not in jail already.
13 year olds are minors pretty much everywhere, I can't blame Megan over (or even equally to) this dumb adult.
