Something is desperately wrong in filming dirty deeds

There was a time when most children fought with hands and fists all while hoping their parents wouldn’t find out for fear of their punishment at home.  

On the odd occasion, someone would pick up a simple object such as a stick — and the rest of us would view that person as somewhat deranged.  

It was a clear indication to the rest of us that person was so full of anger and rage that the outcome was not evident by the decision to use a weapon.  

No matter the extent of the fight, there were always people available to help mediate the dispute between the two and in many instances the feuding parties resumed civility.  

Our parents were intercessors to our disputes and together they helped us to understand how we could have reacted differently or choices we could have made that may have avoided the fight in the first place.  

What was key was that our self esteem was protected so that we could go on and function each day without being humiliated or targeted.

Recently, I viewed yet another child-produced video of an attack by one young person to another.  It was sent to me by a concerned member of the public who thought I could “do something” about it.  

I sent it directly to the individual’s school deputy and to a trusted school counsellor and by the next day the matter was being dealt with by the police.  

Yes! The attacker was in his school uniform.  How wise is that? 

When we fought we would have never had the unmitigated gall to try filming our dirty deeds — and then post them for the public to see. 

Something is desperately wrong with that manner of thinking.  

These kinds of posted videos of our youth attacking each other seem to be an accepted norm amongst our young people to share and gawk at someone else’s misery at the hands of one of their peers.  

They have absolutely no clue of any number of ramifications the posting could have — right from them being an actual witness to the situation.  

What has caused some of our young people to feel that it is okay to inflict consistent pain on another?  

I often wonder what the atmosphere of the inner walls of these young people’s homes is like.  

In the most recent video I saw, the victim was being pelted repeatedly — even after his first set of painful squeals were heard.  

The young person who was recording was encouraging the attacker to keep going.  

Someone who viewed the video made a rather key observation.  She said, “At least the attacker had the good sense to throw the object away when he was able to get his hands on it, rather than attack back.”  

But the sound of the rage expressed as he threw it, has caused me to wonder every day about how much intervention he has received for his humiliation.   

My heart ached for him.  The other person who viewed the video cried.

Parents, please take time to encourage your child to respect themselves first – and all humankind as a result of being able to respect self.  

We are only but a tiny island in the middle of a large ocean.  We must get along.  

Shawnette Somner is a mother and educator. Email: [email protected]