# Student Records Other Students Bullying Him--then Charged with Wiretapping **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 16, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261 "2014-04-16T15:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/21 "2014-04-16T22:22:44Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Hey, **Bricker** , what about the judge handing down the verdict without the defendant entering a plea? That made no sense to me. Why does that make no sense? In Alice In Wonderland it was made clear that the sentencing comes first, then the trial. In any event, I don’t see how any of this is Bricker’s responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/22 "2014-04-17T02:21:30Z")
Well, **Bricker** is a lawyer, therefore he is responsible for the thoughts, actions, and habits of law-type people. _Ipso facto quod erratum romane eunt domum._ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/23 "2014-04-17T06:30:24Z")
I think the folks in Pennsylvania should get [these geniuses](http://jezebel.com/nebraska-school-gives-most-idiotic-advice-ever-to-deal-1564016234) from Nebraska to write their anti-bullying literature. From a bullying advice flyer sent home with students in a Lincoln school district: > [@](#): > > Rule #7: \*\*Do not tell on bullies. \*\*The number one reason bullies hate their victims, is because the victims tell on them. Telling makes the bully want to retaliate. Tell an adult only when a real injury or crime (theft of something valuable) has occurred. Would we keep our friends if we tattled on them? Follow the link for more brilliance. Unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/24 "2014-04-17T13:15:47Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Hey, **Bricker** , what about the judge handing down the verdict without the defendant entering a plea? That made no sense to me. Well, the accused cannot generally frustrate the court’s ability to try his case by failing to enter a plea. It’s not uncommon for a judge to enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of a defendant who has failed, or refuses, to enter a plea himself. I would venture the opinion that that would be one thing the trial court did correctly. I think the court convicted him without the evidence adducing the elements of the crime. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/25 "2014-04-17T15:05:20Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Spitballs are made with spit. Saliva is a bodily fluid, so it’s not far from being spat upon, with all the biohazards that implies. > > I don’t know about you, but if a coworker spat on me, I’d have their job, and I’d almost certainly file charges. That is inexcusable behavior. Were you ever a grade-schooler? Have there been any reports of death by spitball? Did I miss the part where this happened at this persons job? He was at work??? I thought this happened at school. The way I read the story was that he was a kid and it happened at school. I didn’t realize this was between adults at work. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/26 "2014-04-17T15:25:34Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Were you ever a grade-schooler? Have there been any reports of death by spitball? > > Did I miss the part where this happened at this persons job? He was at work??? I thought this happened at school. The way I read the story was that he was a kid and it happened at school. I didn’t realize this was between adults at work. You seem to have a rather odd definition of bullying. Why don’t you read [this](http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html)and think about it a bit. From the link: > [@](#): > > Emotional bullying is the most prevalent type of bullying, with pushing/shoving/tripping/spitting on someone being second. Slee ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/27 "2014-04-17T15:58:11Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Bullshit. > > ETA: You know nothing about what incidents have taken place. While I agree that being hit with a spit wad is immature and annoying and probably does not rise to the label bullying _by itself_, it could when combined with other forms of intimidation. What if he was hit with a spit wad after being called loser a hundred times? What about being hit with a hundred spit wads? > > The article says that the mother complained about bullying to the special ed teacher several times. You don’t have any more special knowledge than I do, so read the articles more closely. The article was favorable towards the mother, and the most it could dredge up was “a spitball”. No everyone who complains is effective at it, and if the author of the article, who is sympathetic to the mother and the child was unable to come up with better examples that would have showcased the story much more sensationally, then why wasn’t it done? Because it wasn’t there. There have been times on this very board when people wrote out a complaint for others to critique and the response was “what exactly are you trying to say?”, “what are you getting at?”, “what is your point?” and “what is the problem?”. I deal with all the complaints that come in at my office, and the sad fact is that most people are simply unable to clearly and simply spell out what is wrong, what happened, or what they want. Basic communication can be like pulling teeth with a large part of the population, but if you ask them, they complained effectively. What I have on my end is a rambling missive full of nonsense and made-up legalese. If I’m lucky, 2% will contain enough useful information for me to actually solve the problem right then and there. I’d bet anything that her “complaints” weren’t direct and specific like the tape was. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/28 "2014-04-17T16:12:29Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > You seem to have a rather odd definition of bullying. Why don’t you read [this](http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html)and think about it a bit. > > From the link: > > Slee I’m sorry you were so obviously bullied very badly, but that is not everyone’s life experience. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/29 "2014-04-17T16:28:13Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > I’m sorry you were so obviously bullied very badly, but that is not everyone’s life experience. Are you trying to split hairs between bullying and harassment? Spitballs are certainly harassment and should not be tolerated. The kid should not be expected to deal with it himself. Telling a school representative should mean that some sort of action should be taken. It’s unacceptable to say, “Well, that doesn’t rise to my definition of bullying, so we don’t need to do anything.” ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/30 "2014-04-17T18:11:15Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Are you trying to split hairs between bullying and harassment? Spitballs are certainly harassment and should not be tolerated. The kid should not be expected to deal with it himself. Telling a school representative should mean that some sort of action should be taken. It’s unacceptable to say, “Well, that doesn’t rise to my definition of bullying, so we don’t need to do anything.” What world do you live in that a spitball is a grave victimization instead of typical idiotic childish behavior? That a bit of drinking straw covering with kid spit is cause for being scarred for life or committing suicide instead of blowing one back? Was your childhood blinding you to what I actually said about the real bullying on the tape versus the eyerolling spitball complaint? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/31 "2014-04-17T18:13:44Z")
I doubt **filmore** was blinded by anything other than the utter stupidity of your previous post. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/32 "2014-04-17T18:28:59Z")
> [@UTejas](#): > > As of this afternoon, the charges have all been dropped, and the DA’s office sounds pretty salty about them being filed in the first place. > > [Link](http://www.post-gazette.com/local/west/2014/04/16/Charge-against-student-who-recorded-alleged-bullying-will-be-dropped/stories/201404160165) So . . .will the person who erased the video/ordered it erased be charged with destroying evidence? ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/33 "2014-04-17T18:34:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I doubt **filmore** was blinded by anything other than the utter stupidity of your previous post. Really? That people who have been bullied may not be able to distance themselves enough to see that the author of an article that was clearly in favor of the mother and child couldn’t come up with a better example of one of her complaints than he was hit was a spitball and why that wasn’t met with a scorched earth response? Or that his mother may lack the communication skills necessary for an effective complaint, complete with examples? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/34 "2014-04-17T18:53:54Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > What world do you live in that a spitball is a grave victimization instead of typical idiotic childish behavior? That a bit of drinking straw covering with kid spit is cause for being scarred for life or committing suicide instead of blowing one back? Try it in your workplace (either as instigator or responder) and see if you don’t get a reprimand in your employee file. Tell your kid to fire a spitball into his teacher’s face at pointblank range and see if he doesn’t get detention (or expulsion). If it wouldn’t be tolerated among adults, why should a kid be forced to tolerate it? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/35 "2014-04-17T18:55:17Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > What world do you live in that a spitball is a grave victimization instead of typical idiotic childish behavior? That a bit of drinking straw covering with kid spit is cause for being scarred for life or committing suicide instead of blowing one back? > > Was your childhood blinding you to what I actually said about the real bullying on the tape versus the eyerolling spitball complaint? Please expound on what you think an appropriate response is for this student when he gets hit by a spitball. And use the real-world situation where he’s learning disabled and outnumbered. If your response is “tell them to stop”, also expound on how he should respond when they don’t . And please don’t say he should respond in a fantasy scenario where he’s a alpha male, kung-fu, fighting master and he beats them into submission. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/36 "2014-04-17T19:13:10Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > I’m sorry you were so obviously bullied very badly, but that is not everyone’s life experience. Le sigh. What a weak attack. I wasn’t bullied in school. It wasn’t just a spitball. The kid got hit upside the head with a book among other things. That is assault. It can land you in jail. Why don’t you just slink away and go back to lurking. Slee ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/37 "2014-04-17T19:30:31Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > And please don’t say he should respond in a fantasy scenario where he’s a alpha male, kung-fu, fighting master and he beats them into submission. lol. You watch waaaay too much tv. How about his mom learns how to write an effective complaint, you know, one that a reporter can actually quote instead of the he was hit by a spitball quote? ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/38 "2014-04-17T19:34:31Z")
In a world where it’s a frikken felony just to record the words of a bully without his consent, do we really need to debate whether a spitball upside the head, without consent, is simple harassment? Bullies thrive where the weak can’t speak out. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/39 "2014-04-17T19:46:21Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Le sigh. What a weak attack. > > I wasn’t bullied in school. > > It wasn’t just a spitball. The kid got hit upside the head with a book among other things. That is assault. It can land you in jail. > > Why don’t you just slink away and go back to lurking. > > Slee The exact quote was “which her son explained was a book being slammed down next to him after a student **pretended** to hit him in the head with it.” So … he wasn’t hit in the head like you just claimed was he? Guess not. There wasn’t an actual assault at all, was there? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261/40 "2014-04-17T20:15:15Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > The exact quote was “which her son explained was a book being slammed down next to him after a student **pretended** to hit him in the head with it.” > > So … he wasn’t hit in the head like you just claimed was he? Guess not. > > There wasn’t an actual assault at all, was there? Nope. Sure there was. You don’t appear to know what the word “assault” means. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-records-other-students-bullying-him-then-charged-with-wiretapping/686261.md?page=3)