Woman "Murdered For Facebook Status" -- Or Because Her Estranged Husband Was Nuts
from the when-reality-isn't-as-interesting-as-your-headline dept
"Wife murdered for Facebook status," screams the headline on the BBC News site. "A man murdered his estranged wife after becoming 'enraged' when she changed her marital status on Facebook to 'single'," it goes on to say, after a man in England was convicted of killing his estranged wife who wouldn't respond to any of his attempts to contact her. Apparently changing the Facebook status was the final straw, but to say she was murdered because of it seems like little more than an overly ambitious attempt to craft a really juicy headline. This woman was murdered because her estranged husband went nuts; Facebook was hardly an accessory. While this may not seem like a huge deal, it's these sorts of stories that spring politicians into action against technology, blaming it for society's ills while ignoring the real underlying problems. I mean, if people are getting killed for their Facebook status, surely we need to ban Facebook statuses, right? To protect the children?Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Yep
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Re: Yep
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Re: Yep
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Except...it happened.
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Re: Except...it happened.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2167796.ece
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Re: Re: Except...it happened.
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I have no problem with the article's headline. The problem I have is with how people will interpret it. I've seen headlines where someone kills someone over something stupid and its in the headline. The reason those aren't a problem is that its already accepted that the reasoning for the killing was stupid. Here though, I feel like some people might misinterpret it and put some blame on Facebook.
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Re: Except...it happened.
But, Brittan has an idiotic law called the Anti Social Behaviour Act of 2003. It has the power to make individual behaviours, and not the act of the crime, illegal.
It's not difficult to imagine this being positioned for political theater, with goals to expand the legal definition so it covers behaviours or actions to Facebook profiles.
After all, if we accept that the murder wasn't committed by a mad man, but by anti-social actions brokered by Facebook, well, Facebook will need to be regulated, and let's not even start with what that means.
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Re: Re: Except...it happened.
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The problem is those laws are like DRM. Your sociopaths always find some other thing to go crazy with. Meanwhile, the regular citizens have their freedoms and choices taken away.
Obviously, hackers aren't sociopaths, since hacking often benefits society, but in relation to the law, I think the analogy works.
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Perhaps these silly titles are designed to encourage people to read a non-story - shocking isn't it ?
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Kids these days.
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Re: Kids these days.
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Re: Kids these days.
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the real reason...
We can't ban everything that is going to set off a person who is looking for an excuse to vent rage.
Giving lip-service to his excuses is deplorable.
Let's look at banning domestic violence in stead.
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Re: the real reason...
lol...True. Then we would have to ban Techdirt.
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I Don't Agree
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Seems you've strayed a little away from your usual stomping grounds. So let me get this right, you're 11 years old, getting beat up by your GF, while also dropping the F'ing C's?
Well, whoa, Big man. Slow down. I feel bad for you, because someone let you down. It may sound weird, but you need someone to look up to. Have you found a role model, or someone who you feel can help you sort things out?
Geez, I know this sounds corny, but years ago, I found that school's retired police officers were full of great stories if you you ask them. They were nothing like the stories my old man had, who had been with the force for 45 years.
"Duni, akwe tu" my friend.
To those so-called "Men" out there-
I won't even begin to start with where so many have been let down. Whatever happened to the idea of having a positive male role model in our kids lives? My my my. Things have changed, haven't they? If you can't be a positive role model in your own kids lives, then how do you expect anything other than Government Intervention in everyone's personal life?
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Too much bandwidth
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"Aliens invade United States" vs "Mexicans invade United States"
Which would you rather read? =P
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I banned domestic violence three weeks ago, are none of you people paying attention? Maybe I'll have to make it illegal, now, too.
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Problem Solving
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Re: Problem Solving
While I agree to a point with your ideology, I believe that there is a point where people need to "let go". Do you not agree? Understanding that most American families have a Good Male Role model, which helps to create a balance during K-12 development. Your comment seems a little odd, and out of place, especially for a website called "TechDirt" where we discuss techology issues.
I would highly recommend speaking with a counselor who can provide better ideas than any of us can provide here. IANAC but sometimes there is a need is left unmet.
Outside of this and more importantly, I am curious at which point should a Victim Mentality be considered a negative to the raising of the child?
Vae, understand that at the same time, there are thousands of kids that grow up without a father figure and are able to be good people in this society. But some times, people are unable to play the dual-paternal role, and some necessities are left unfounded. Is there some secondary or tertiary need that's unmet?
Please consider taking this discussion to a site that specializes in this and is better equipped to provide you with proper answers.
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harrassment...restraining order maybe
More needs to be done to recognize those at risk and how to take steps to protect them.
The fact that he repeatedly tried to contact her even though he knew his attentions where unwanted is a red flag that his wishes took precidence over hers (in his mind). This type of behaviour almost always escalates.
Had she sought out a restraining order? Was this taken seriously by the police?
Facebook would do well to use this as an opportunity to educate.
"The PR industry has an important role to play in helping companies identify and manage risks that could damage their reputation." Nick Purdom of PR Week
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall02/Susi/tylenol.htm
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Re: harrassment...restraining order maybe
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Re: Re: Re: harrassment...restraining order maybe
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Eyes are off of video games
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Can't blame facebook
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Re:
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It just happens the facebook status set him off. Just could have been his morning bacon and eggs talk to him. It is impossible to know what might set off a nut job like this.
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Fiona Cortese, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Richardson became enraged when Sarah changed her marital status on Facebook to single and decided to go and see her as she was not responding to his messages.
Note that Fiona Cortese, a female law enforcement official, factually states that Richardson became enraged when his wife changed her marital status. The "media" did not "blame" anyone, but reported what law enforcement official reported to them. Enraged appears to indicate the man succumbed to loss of personal control, allowing his emotions to over come his logic. Seems like an indication that he had some issues to me.
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Blah,
It's for the children,..
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Re: Blah,
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BBC Says: Women Never Learn to Accept Their Place
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Re: BBC Says: Women Never Learn to Accept Their Place
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thy woe b able 2 gt ne ideas or wotevaa...thy cor c wot thy wrote... status updates am 2 do wid wot ur doin ryt nw etc.,
i mean i knw bare ppl me included hu r in a relationship n my geeza has gt his facebook set 2 single mines in a relationship so fukin wot!! i doe care it ay 2 do wid chatin up ppl online....
n yeee kids these days thyr all bad enit... fuk me man gt a lyf... kids r followin violence n wot nt thru how the world is 2day bcuz the elder ppl (20s-30s) r gtin thm in2 this kinda shit 2 strt havoc on the streets... it isnt all dwn 2 drugs its wot thyv learnt frm ther elders.. so ye bollax 2 tht, thy wudnt knw neway bout lyf if thy didnt luk up2 ne1
n if thy ay gt no1 2 luk up2 thn thy obvs learn ther own way in stealing or woteva kids hu ay gt family or home do...
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this
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bbc bullshit
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