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SHOCKING videos have been posted online mocking the death of
tragic teen Sam Leeson.
The disturbing clips poke fun at the 13-year-old from
Tredworth's apparent suicide which his family blames on online
bullying.
Today, The Citizen launches its 'Cyber Watch - For
Sam's Sake' campaign, in a bid to crackdown on the bullies who
torment children online.
The aim of the campaign is to highlight the problem of cyber
bullying and to find a way of enabling children to report
online attacks.
Sam's family say they are horrified strangers are choosing
to find fun in their grief.
Sam's sister Emma Cope said: “They are disgusting and they
are not true.
“The videos are inappropriate and they are sick. We will not
let it affect us. These people didn't know Sam.”
“Sam was well loved and we will not let these sickos get to
us. Bebo bullying is something the police and schools need to
deal with. Look at what has happened to us.”
Sam’s parents Sally Cope and Christopher Leeson and six
siblings, Emma, Victoria, Thomas, Katie, Rio and Milly are
backing The Citizen's
campaign.
Emma said: “We want memories of Sam to be positive and
people who didn't even know him are trying to change that.
“We want young boys to speak out about this. Sam is not the
first and he will not be the last.”
Coun Jackie Hall, Gloucestershire County Council's lead
cabinet member for children and young people, condemned the
online bullies.
She said: “I am shocked by this, I am filled with
disgust.
“If you are affected by bullying or know someone who is
don't keep it to yourself.
“Let someone know about it, tell someone you trust.”
Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda is backing Cyber Watch – For
Sam's Sake.
“It is not considered acceptable in our society to hit
people or insult them nor should it be considered acceptable to
push people around and bully them just because you are sitting
behind a computer terminal.
“It is time for those who use the internet to bully others
to face tough legal consequences and also for YouTube and other
internet service providers to take their responsibilities more
seriously.”
A YouTube spokesman said: “YouTube is a community site used
by millions of people in very positive ways.
"Sadly as with any form of communication, there is a tiny
minority of people who try to break the rules.
"On YouTube, these rules prohibit content like pornography,
gratuitous violence or the invasion of personal privacy.
"When people see content that they think is inappropriate they
can flag it and our staff then review it. If the content breaks
our terms then we remove it and if a user repeatedly breaks the
rules we disable their account.
"If the police ask us for information, we will cooperate, so
long as they follow the correct legal process that the
government introduced."
25 Comments
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by Peanut, Tredworth
Monday, June 16 2008, 2:36PM
“I think Social Networking sites are the main cause of Cyber bullying but shutting them down would punish other people that use them sensibly. Perhaps Children that use these sites should give their passwords to their parents so they can check the sites to see if their child is getting bullied, parents will know as soon as the bullying starts and they can stop it quickly. Most of the Networking sites offer you the option to set your profile to private so only your friends can see your profile, again a good way to stop Strangers trying to add you as a friend. If it hasn't already been done maybe setting up a Cyber bullying site, where anyone can go and tell someone or ask for help if they are being bullied, It could all be done privately so no one else can see what you're typing. To register, this site should make sure you have 2 e-mails 1 is the parents and the other 1 the child involved. E-mails can be sent to both parties if the child feels he/she can't speak to their parents alone.”
by Sarah, Devon
Monday, June 16 2008, 11:25AM
“I am totally disgusted by these prats mocking this poor boy's death. I had an email altercation with one of these idiots on you tube but was pointless as they have the brain cells of a gnat. Please lets all get people like these internet'terroists' checked out and never allowed access to social sites again. I intend to make it my business to help this campaign as I am incensed by the mentality of these yobs.”
by lucy, gloucester
Monday, June 16 2008, 7:54AM
“No matter what you do about websites for cyber bullying, nothing whill change. It doesnt stop bullying all together. People that mock or make fun of people that are diffrent are sick ... Because Sam is not even different hes a kid that had his whole life ahead of him. I hope these kids SUFFER like they made Sam do . Noone should ever make someone else feel worthless.
R.I.P
Sam Leeson
xxx ¿ xxx”
by Anon, F.O.D.
Monday, June 16 2008, 6:28AM
“I'd just like to say that I think we have all been bullied, but obviously this case was worse than most people have withstood.
If anyone out there is being bullied then "say something"
It is scary in itself to report this as you probably feel it will make things worse or people will call you a tell tale or whatever, but "say something"
And just remember, there is no bigger coward than a bully !!”
by Kay Powell, Tredworth
Sunday, June 15 2008, 7:23PM
“This is a tragedy. The real problem with bullying is that, no matter what happens to the victims, bullies are never punished. If these bullies are ever tracked down, their parents will probably claim that they have done nothing wrong.”