"Orange is the new black," or in the case of Ms. Carter, she can seek redemption in a year or so via talk radio, a speaking tour, the inevitable book, perhaps with coaching from the contrite, misunderstood Monica Lewin-what's her name-sky?
1
How is what she did different than our president inciting violence at rallies? Do we need to do a better job at linking his words to the actions of his followers? Do we, really? How much discord currently happening can he prevent by altering his tone and behavior?
10
What she did strikes me as immoral but not illegal. I don't think I would have convicted.
6
I believe Michelle Carter was let off the hook for being "young and mentally ill." While it's true she will have to live with this remorse for the rest of her life, just imagine how Conrad Roy's family feels? They will never have the chance to see their son grow up because this girl devised his suicide plan, helped him carry it out, and later admitted she probably could have prevented it.
19
She is lucky he wasn't my son.
12
Can the appeals court increase the sentence?
It should be a minimum of 10 years before parole.
It should be a minimum of 10 years before parole.
7
Ah, to be a blond, white girl...
42
Probably with a good (expensive) defense attorney.
However, how many convicted teens get the judge to be concerned about the impact of 'jail' on their young developing minds?
I wonder if she shouldn't be in a psychiatric hospital where doctors might be able to work on her to develop some 'empathy'.
However, how many convicted teens get the judge to be concerned about the impact of 'jail' on their young developing minds?
I wonder if she shouldn't be in a psychiatric hospital where doctors might be able to work on her to develop some 'empathy'.
8
If a person has so little empathy by the age of 20, i don't think this will change.
18
There is no excuse for her actions. She should get the death penalty. No anti depressants make a b1tch of you. Depression, anti depressants are no excuse.
8
Liberalism: The will to embrace and make hypocritical excuses for a society filled with low class deplorable immoral filth.
Being a modern "liberal" has nothing to do with fighting for the little guy or anything to do with loving and respecting one another. The current state of affairs for our entire society is disgusting. And the uber conservatives need a wake-up call as well. Too much hate, and too much INJUSTICE in our country, a country that has so much potential to be beautiful.
Being a modern "liberal" has nothing to do with fighting for the little guy or anything to do with loving and respecting one another. The current state of affairs for our entire society is disgusting. And the uber conservatives need a wake-up call as well. Too much hate, and too much INJUSTICE in our country, a country that has so much potential to be beautiful.
6
This imposes a kind of comparative negligence standard that I'm not sure works in a criminal case.
She may have contributed to his death, but I suspect he was primarily responsible. And I suspect there were other factors in his life that contributed as well: should is parents receive a sentence for all that they did (or didn't do) to shape his attitudes? How much of the blame should be apportioned to them? What about his teachers? Anyone else that might have abused him?
Either what she did was illegal or it wasn't. If it was, she deserves an appropriate sentence. If it wasn't, she shouldn't be held responsible.
I don't want to defend her behavior, but the law is the law.
She may have contributed to his death, but I suspect he was primarily responsible. And I suspect there were other factors in his life that contributed as well: should is parents receive a sentence for all that they did (or didn't do) to shape his attitudes? How much of the blame should be apportioned to them? What about his teachers? Anyone else that might have abused him?
Either what she did was illegal or it wasn't. If it was, she deserves an appropriate sentence. If it wasn't, she shouldn't be held responsible.
I don't want to defend her behavior, but the law is the law.
8
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Remember saying that on the playground? On another aspect, I think the verdict and conviction creates an troublesome precedent with the possibility of wrongful interpretations. I feel for all involved, but a person being held responsible for someone's death for words used could lead into anyone and any form of media being held responsible for a person's actions just because advice or suggestions were followed. Why shouldn't people accept total responsibility for themselves?
6
I predict that, in the future, she will have trouble getting dates.
24
Ridiculous... she is a rotten person but sending her to jail or prison is dumb.
7
While I am pleased she was convicted and received jail time, there is nothing to celebrate. A young life is lost and second one permanently damaged. Her heinous acts can never be excused - but this case highlights the critical need for mental health care and the extreme suffering mental illness inflicts.
15
She was 17 yrs old. A minor in the eyes of the law. He was 18 yrs old. The adult in the incident. Both of them had mental issues. He was not compelled to do what she told him to do. It was his choice. She was miles away and could not force him to go through with it. As far as the judge basing his decision partly on his believing that she had a moral obligation to intervene and stop him; while that may be true, under Mass. law she had no legal obligation to do so. It will be overturned on appeal.
19
While I think the verdict is problematic I also think there aren't any good answers on what to do for this young woman.
6
And the concept of free will?
Anyone who supports jail time for this young woman is a bit self-righteous for my taste. He took his own life and appears to have been troubled for years before they met.
A tragedy, but no more.
Anyone who supports jail time for this young woman is a bit self-righteous for my taste. He took his own life and appears to have been troubled for years before they met.
A tragedy, but no more.
10
I'm afraid I have little sympathy for this young woman. My empathy goes to her victim. My compassion bottomed out at the point that she heartlessly ordered him back into his carbon monoxide-filled truck. Up to that point she was only a catalyst or accomplice in his death-by-suicide. At the point of telling him to get back into the truck, she proved herself to be, in my mind, a sadistic and I humane young woman with a severe personality disorder (formerly known as a sociopath) from which she cannot be rehabilitated.
She's broken and no amount of glue is going to put her psyche back together. She is a danger to those in society are vulnerable. She may even get worse.
She's broken and no amount of glue is going to put her psyche back together. She is a danger to those in society are vulnerable. She may even get worse.
24
This girl is either very sick or a heartless sociopath. Nonetheless, making what she said a crime may run afoul of the First Amendment.
11
I do not agree with this sentence. outrageous that this grown women gets a slap on the wrist. What's next, more deaths only to be looked upon as bluff and cavalier behavior. Absolutely wrong. That poor man's family must be in shambles this afternoon.
8
Did you actually read the text transcripts? If you did you would realize how silly your analogy is.
Mosaic law visited sins of fathers on future generations--which could not possibly prevented it. It might have deterred, but just proves just penalty is more than deterrence. It's vicious vicarious liability.
Jeremiah--almost a century later--said Don't say that anymore--rather Let he who eats sour grapes have his own teeth set on edge. This is individual responsibility/liability--punish or otherwise hold liable (as in involuntary compensation only those causing the crime/harm.
Ezekiel adds just vicarious liability. If you could have prevented it (with out self harm) but failed to do so--you didn't DO it but you LET IT HAPPEN and so are justly liable. Bartenders who help drunks their cars--just one obvious example of "brother's keeper."
But that applies to societies and polities too--who fail to provide due care--for education, health, civil engineering and public service. This is the folly of the GOP Jeremiad about personal responsibility.
Aiding and abetting are crimes too. And polities as well as individuals can do it.
Jeremiah--almost a century later--said Don't say that anymore--rather Let he who eats sour grapes have his own teeth set on edge. This is individual responsibility/liability--punish or otherwise hold liable (as in involuntary compensation only those causing the crime/harm.
Ezekiel adds just vicarious liability. If you could have prevented it (with out self harm) but failed to do so--you didn't DO it but you LET IT HAPPEN and so are justly liable. Bartenders who help drunks their cars--just one obvious example of "brother's keeper."
But that applies to societies and polities too--who fail to provide due care--for education, health, civil engineering and public service. This is the folly of the GOP Jeremiad about personal responsibility.
Aiding and abetting are crimes too. And polities as well as individuals can do it.
No legal obligation in Massachusetts. Besides, he was an adult and she was a minor.
4
To those who think Michelle Carter's age excuses her vicious act, I would point out that until recently young men were considered mature and responsible enough to serve in the military at 18, when they were only a few months older than she was when she committed her crime. She is now older than many who died in Pearl Harbor or Vietnam.
14
What do you mean, until recently? It still is 18.
5
I think she (at any age) & others who do crimes like this should on conviction (no appeal to this part of the sentence) be sterilized. Permanently. She would be a danger to anyone of weaker will she comes near. Like her own children. Also, someday it might be found out that those who do these crimes have a genetic predisposition to them, & so should never be allowed to become a parent.
After she serves her sentence she should be banned from coming close, or using any electronic device where someone under 21, or psychologically fragile may come in contact with her. Prison will not lower her dangerousness. I can imagine her saying at a parole hearing that she would like to give back to the community for her 'childish' behavior by working with children, the mentally ill, or the elderly. Sounds good, until you remember she pushed a fragile young man to commit suicide. She must never be allowed near anyone who is too young, too fragile, or too old, to combat her need to control.
After she serves her sentence she should be banned from coming close, or using any electronic device where someone under 21, or psychologically fragile may come in contact with her. Prison will not lower her dangerousness. I can imagine her saying at a parole hearing that she would like to give back to the community for her 'childish' behavior by working with children, the mentally ill, or the elderly. Sounds good, until you remember she pushed a fragile young man to commit suicide. She must never be allowed near anyone who is too young, too fragile, or too old, to combat her need to control.
2
On one hand, I can remember oh so clearly, even after so many years, the mean girl cliques in grade school and high school who told me that I was stupid and worthless and said that I should just kill myself. I think that what Ms. Carter did was certainly bullying and at the very least she is an accessory to Mr Roy's suicide.
And on the other hand I can remember an unstable college boyfriend who repeatedly threatened to kill himself if I broke up with him. At the end of my rope, my response was to say "fine, you go ahead and do that" and dump him anyway. No, he didn't hurt or kill himself.... but would I have been considered an accessory if he had?
What I take away from this trial and its outcome is that first we need to have better support for mental illnesses so that it is easier to get treatment and so that access to long term support is available. Second, we need to more clearly define bullying and cyber bullying, and be aware of how such actions can adversely impact people, especially people who are already suffering from mental disorders. Do we need to go so far as to determine legal penalties for bullying and cyber bullying? It seems we do. Ms Carter certainly bears some level of responsibility for what happened, even if people are not in agreement on exactly how much responsibility or what her punishment ought to be.
And on the other hand I can remember an unstable college boyfriend who repeatedly threatened to kill himself if I broke up with him. At the end of my rope, my response was to say "fine, you go ahead and do that" and dump him anyway. No, he didn't hurt or kill himself.... but would I have been considered an accessory if he had?
What I take away from this trial and its outcome is that first we need to have better support for mental illnesses so that it is easier to get treatment and so that access to long term support is available. Second, we need to more clearly define bullying and cyber bullying, and be aware of how such actions can adversely impact people, especially people who are already suffering from mental disorders. Do we need to go so far as to determine legal penalties for bullying and cyber bullying? It seems we do. Ms Carter certainly bears some level of responsibility for what happened, even if people are not in agreement on exactly how much responsibility or what her punishment ought to be.
17
Can minors legally bully adults?
4
You would not be responsible in the scenario that he says he would kill himself if you broke up because he would be the one manipulating you. I get the feeling that you may have not read the entire article.
I would say that this is not so much of a case of your run of the mill bullying but manipulation. She explicitly told him how he should kill himself and when he started to back out she talked him into going through with it.
If you did not read the whole article please do if you did, then I would say that manipulation is where the line is drawn and that you have to have the power to influence others directly with your words which you may not see very often when the words come from a stranger that you don't have a relationship where trust has been established.
I would say that this is not so much of a case of your run of the mill bullying but manipulation. She explicitly told him how he should kill himself and when he started to back out she talked him into going through with it.
If you did not read the whole article please do if you did, then I would say that manipulation is where the line is drawn and that you have to have the power to influence others directly with your words which you may not see very often when the words come from a stranger that you don't have a relationship where trust has been established.
7
What you did was nothing like she did. You didn't get with your 'boyfriend' help him to plan on how to kill himself, help him research ways, & then get on the phone with him to verbally push him back in the truck when he got out, so she could have the rush of being the 'poor girlfriend who lost her adored boyfriend to suicide'. If you can't see the difference, well, maybe you should see a councilor & work through that telling a bully to get lost is not the same as being a bully so you can get attention. If her boyfriend had told her to go off herself, he would have been like you. If you had helped him to work out how & when to kill himself, you would have been like her.
2
The extension of the thought process leading to this conviction is disturbing. If I know my son is disturbed and he commits suicide in my card, should I be convicted? If a person does not run to stop someone from jumping off a bridge or try to talk someone down, should they be liable? If a group of people are doing opiods and one dies are the others liable? The list goes on.
3
Sustained direct cruelty with a "mean girl" privileged streak?
What happened to shades of grey? She could have gotten him help. The examples are not comparable, and the result is hes he's dead, that's final.
Privileged people rarely serve out their full sentences, and if she spends 7 or 8 months in jail, that would be a corrective for the idea she seems to have that she is not responsible for her actions, and need exercise no tolerance or kindness towards someone close to her. She would find out that her freedoms are not absolute, and other people exist.
In addition, it might discourage other privileged young women from refusing to take responsibility for the harm they do.
We all suffer from handicaps, mental or physical, at times (most of us, anyway) and overcome these things and get on with life. Her destructive sustained acts should not go without punishment.
What happened to shades of grey? She could have gotten him help. The examples are not comparable, and the result is hes he's dead, that's final.
Privileged people rarely serve out their full sentences, and if she spends 7 or 8 months in jail, that would be a corrective for the idea she seems to have that she is not responsible for her actions, and need exercise no tolerance or kindness towards someone close to her. She would find out that her freedoms are not absolute, and other people exist.
In addition, it might discourage other privileged young women from refusing to take responsibility for the harm they do.
We all suffer from handicaps, mental or physical, at times (most of us, anyway) and overcome these things and get on with life. Her destructive sustained acts should not go without punishment.
11
Ms. Carter was a minor at the time of the call. I am puzzled by this prosecution. Yes, if she was driving a motor vehicle negligently and killed someone, an involuntary manslaughter charge might be appropriate even though she is a minor. But, cars are dangerous and motorists, adult or child, are permitted to do so with the understanding that they obey the rules of the road and drive safely.
Yes, she was "armed" with a cell phone, but, that is not what one ordinarily considers to be a deadly weapon. The cell phone use doesn't require a license. Kids will say stupid stuff on phones. Whatever her moral guilt, do we really expect that children should know how to deal with a potential suicide?
I am not sure that society really benefits from having her placed in jail for 18 months.
If this is to caution other minors from being stupid or careless in their speech, I suspect the effort is wasted, especially as applied to those like Ms. Carter who have mental disorders of their own.
All in all, one has to think that the resources of the justice system could be better employed, by for example, actually trying cases of real adult criminals rather than offering a plea bargain with a light sentence just to clear the docket.
if the family of Mr. Roy wish to pursue a civil wrongful death action, that is their choice, but application of the criminal law seems inappropriate.
Yes, she was "armed" with a cell phone, but, that is not what one ordinarily considers to be a deadly weapon. The cell phone use doesn't require a license. Kids will say stupid stuff on phones. Whatever her moral guilt, do we really expect that children should know how to deal with a potential suicide?
I am not sure that society really benefits from having her placed in jail for 18 months.
If this is to caution other minors from being stupid or careless in their speech, I suspect the effort is wasted, especially as applied to those like Ms. Carter who have mental disorders of their own.
All in all, one has to think that the resources of the justice system could be better employed, by for example, actually trying cases of real adult criminals rather than offering a plea bargain with a light sentence just to clear the docket.
if the family of Mr. Roy wish to pursue a civil wrongful death action, that is their choice, but application of the criminal law seems inappropriate.
7
She was an accomplice in his death. Whether she was on the phone or not. She had mental control over Conrad Roy and helped plan and carry out the suicide. I don't see how you think that's legal? Justice should be served.
7
I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for yelling at a jumper to go ahead and jump.
4
All stimuli are negative.
Calling this woman a "friend" is not appropriate.
12
I doubt it's against the law to be a nasty person. Nothing would be a good outcome in this case. I fail to see how she has criminal culpability. Just hope she gets some help.
5
This is obviously a very disturbed and horribly misguided young person clearly in need of serious therapy and counseling but here in the great US, she'll be shipped off to prison and almost certainly not get the help she needs. Enriching the prison industrial complex will be served through, if nothing else. We're really in an ethical dark age and if we survive as a species, I'm betting our ancestors will look back and wonder how we slept at night.
23
I agree, our mental Healthcare is abysmal and often doesn't see enough drive of support. I would say that it is easily one of the top 5 issues that needs to be addressed.
She should be punished but the emphasis should be on rehabilitation and providing a healthy environment to bring her back as a stable citizen.
She should be punished but the emphasis should be on rehabilitation and providing a healthy environment to bring her back as a stable citizen.
2
You're obviously not following the case. She is not going to prison unless she loses on Appeal. She has already had extensive therapy and even an inpatient stay - that did not stop her from telling her BF to get back in the car that killed him. She is likely a Sociopath and counseling won't help her.
8
When she gets to prison, she will meet a lot of other mentally ill people. They all need help, and perhaps the presence of a high-profile young white middle-class inmate will draw attention to this failing in our justice system. If so, at least something good will have come out of this mess.
3
Is it just me or is the convicted Michelle has the look to run away with the next casting for the Rosemary's Baby lead? Are we sure she isn't mentally challenged on some spectrum?
2
Ms. Carter displays evidence of a personality disorder and those are not amenable to treatment. I'm a psych nurse and I deal with this every day. She needs a 'time out' which a jail confinement will provide.
20
If you are mentally disturbed and attempt suicide unsuccessfully, can you get sentenced to 15 months in jail?
If not, why is that fundamentally different from being mentally disturbed and encouraging someone else to commit suicide?
If not, why is that fundamentally different from being mentally disturbed and encouraging someone else to commit suicide?
I don't understand why being "mentally disturbed" would make a difference in either situation. Regardless of what your answer is, would her NOT being "mentally disturbed" whatever that means change your answer for either situation?
This is a travesty of justice. The young woman should be freed on appeal and her parents put on trial instead. Once found guilty, they should join hands with the other parents and sue Facebook and AT&T for enabling the corrupting of young minds. Also the ACLU for distorting the concept of free speech. The jury should grant hundreds of millions in damages but limit lawyers fees to $1. And ban any and all attempts to make a regular or TV movie or documentary, unless similar stuff is first released on misfortuned black families. Justice! We want justice!
Sadly, won't happen. Especially the filmy stuff: the tear-jerker movie, the HBO documentary full of lost white characters, the Emmys, the wins, the red carpet walks, the effusive thank-you speeches. That, sadly, WILL happen. This is, after all. America. It ain't over until Hollywood says it over.
Hellooo PBS. The check's in the mail.
Sadly, won't happen. Especially the filmy stuff: the tear-jerker movie, the HBO documentary full of lost white characters, the Emmys, the wins, the red carpet walks, the effusive thank-you speeches. That, sadly, WILL happen. This is, after all. America. It ain't over until Hollywood says it over.
Hellooo PBS. The check's in the mail.
2
Perhaps something a little longer with a good dose of treatment for her mental condition ....indifference to life and depravity to the extreme is a mental condition or indicates a mental condition, right?
4
First of all, as a lawyer for many years, I do certainly understand the need for enlightened approaches to sentencing. Mandatory sentencing guidelines tie judge's hands and prevent them from exercising their discretion on a case-by-case basis and limit alternative approaches that may be dictated by the particular defendant and/or circumstances. That said, the sentencing of Ms. Carter is, in my opinion, exceptionally light for the heinous act she committed. She knew what she was doing. Indeed, it would appear that she was enjoying a perverse pleasure in pushing that young man over the edge.
This case presented a badly needed opportunity to impress upon young people that their cyber-behavior will have consequences, much like texting and driving. Hopefully, the relatively short sentence will do at least that much.
I am mindful of the age of the defendant, and have argued it as a mitigating factor in the past. I do agree that the sentence should be less than might have been imposed upon an adult. However, a longer sentence in a rehabilitation facility was certainly in order.
I certainly can empathize with Mr, Roy's family at the relative slap-on-the wrist Ms. Carter received. The boy death just as surely her fault as if she started the engine of his truck.
This case presented a badly needed opportunity to impress upon young people that their cyber-behavior will have consequences, much like texting and driving. Hopefully, the relatively short sentence will do at least that much.
I am mindful of the age of the defendant, and have argued it as a mitigating factor in the past. I do agree that the sentence should be less than might have been imposed upon an adult. However, a longer sentence in a rehabilitation facility was certainly in order.
I certainly can empathize with Mr, Roy's family at the relative slap-on-the wrist Ms. Carter received. The boy death just as surely her fault as if she started the engine of his truck.
20
I totally agree with you. I think it should have been a more severe sentence.
3
Life is life and death is death. Entitled women and girls need to recognize the hard truth of this. There is no excuse for encouraging a young man with all his life ahead of him. And she bullied him when he had second thoughts.
There are way too many privileged pretty women who think their excrement don't stink. Sorry if she has problems but she's still alive; he's not.
There are way too many privileged pretty women who think their excrement don't stink. Sorry if she has problems but she's still alive; he's not.
19
From my Boston Globe:
"Conrad Roy died slowly, painfully, three years ago as his truck cab filled with carbon monoxide from a water pump, and as Carter listened to his last breaths on her phone some 40 miles away in Plainville. He was 18."
"Conrad Roy died slowly, painfully, three years ago as his truck cab filled with carbon monoxide from a water pump, and as Carter listened to his last breaths on her phone some 40 miles away in Plainville. He was 18."
7
I don't think a minor can "bully" an adult. She spent a lot of time trying to get him help. She was and still is just a teenager with mental problems herself. My guess is that he either used his suicidal tendencies to control her, and she got fed up with it, or she really thought she was helping free him of his demons by encouraging him to kill himself.
1
What a devastating outcome for the two families. Both were kids and suffered from depression. And, Conrad attempted suicide several times prior to his death. I hope that Michelle will receive the mental health treatment she badly needs. There are two victims here and I did not think this way when I first read about the case. Can we help our children when we see they are very troubled?
5
The guilty verdict and the sentence assumes that a person can, by remote control, influence someone else to take his own life. That's just not true. Mr. Roy was not a robot or a computer that could be programmed to destroy himself. He was a conscious person who chose death.
5
Agreed. The verdict will be overturned on appeal.
I agree, the conviction basically says that suicidal adults (including adults with mental health problems like depression, anxiety, etc) need guardians appointed to them because society doesn't believe they can make rational decisions or have complete autonomy over their body.
It's weird that a huge chunk of our country believes in heaven, and that belief isn't medically considered a mental illness or delusional, but people who want to kill themselves (to get to heaven) are considered mentally ill.
It's weird that a huge chunk of our country believes in heaven, and that belief isn't medically considered a mental illness or delusional, but people who want to kill themselves (to get to heaven) are considered mentally ill.
2
I am trying to picture the type of person living in a privileged, narcissistic, adolescent bubble who would do this depraved act, step-by-step, thinking somehow that it was right. But, I am at a loss. Never in my troubled adolescence would I have conjured a scenario where doing and saying all those things was not evil, selfish, or criminal. I pride myself on having a certain amount of empathy, but this is totally beyond my ken. How does a person get to that point?
66
Hopefully you were never a depressed teen aged girl who was being manipulated by her mentally unstable suicidal boyfriend.
3
Assisted suicide is illegal in most states. What is the punishment for that?
4
My mother has been in a nursing home, unable to do for herself, stuck with the end of all her accomplishments in a waste of dull endurance. We are lucky to be able to afford good aides and help, and my father has been able to companion her, and we show her daily movies. I do what I can. She's 91, he's almost 94. It has been difficult to watch her suffer for eight years (so far) while we help her any way we can. If we couldn't afford all the perks, it would be much much worse.
There is no comparison of her suffering with this entitled young woman with her pretty hair and makeup whose boyfriend's self-torture she encouraged.
It's kind of like the preference for the unborn who are abandoned at birth by "pro-lifers" who are perfectly willing to throw mothers and families and born children under the bus and deprive them of affordable health care.
A life is the sum of its days. This woman deprived a young man of support in his darkest hour, and he is dead.
There is no comparison of her suffering with this entitled young woman with her pretty hair and makeup whose boyfriend's self-torture she encouraged.
It's kind of like the preference for the unborn who are abandoned at birth by "pro-lifers" who are perfectly willing to throw mothers and families and born children under the bus and deprive them of affordable health care.
A life is the sum of its days. This woman deprived a young man of support in his darkest hour, and he is dead.
14
Assisted suicide is for the terminally ill. This case is totally not that.
15
15 months for urging your mentally unstable friend to commit suicide? This woman deserves a life sentence. This is not justice.
33
Many murderers have received lighter sentences because of their mental health being a factor. Do you not consider Ms. Carter's own troubles as even a mitigating factor?
4
If A encourages B to rob a bank and B does so, did A rob the bank? I don't think so. Is it illegal for a civilian to advise someone else to break the law? I don't think so. However, the law aside, I would not want to have that foul deed on my conscience.
10
If person A plans a murder and convinces person B to carry it out, isn't person A guilty of being an accessory to that murder?
4
It is obvious that Ms. Carter needs to be in some sort of a mental hospital or facility more than a prison cell.
She is in need of seriously intensive psychological help.
I wonder what her and Mr. Roy's families were like. They were all friends and knew each other from early childhood. What went on in those families? Highly dysfunctional? Abuse? Did not anyone see anything wrong from within this toxic relationship? I think the parents ignored their well being and weren't positive role models.
She is in need of seriously intensive psychological help.
I wonder what her and Mr. Roy's families were like. They were all friends and knew each other from early childhood. What went on in those families? Highly dysfunctional? Abuse? Did not anyone see anything wrong from within this toxic relationship? I think the parents ignored their well being and weren't positive role models.
12
would you say the same thing if she were black? Or if the she were he and he was black?
1
Justice would be 30 years, she encouraged him to take his life....that IS evil.
10
The whole truth is rarely as simple as just the one sentence in which you have summed up the whole story. I doubt that you read more than one sentence of this news story.
8
Carter fits the definition of sociopath, a disorder of personality. That is not the same as depression or anxiety, which can generally be treated. Nor is it the same as adolescent immaturity, which can be addressed and passed through.
As negative as this thought might seem, I would advise anyone who can to never be involved with her. I could be wrong; she may indeed change someday. I would not be the one to gamble on that.
As negative as this thought might seem, I would advise anyone who can to never be involved with her. I could be wrong; she may indeed change someday. I would not be the one to gamble on that.
10
There is a great potential for rehabilitation of Michelle Carter and putting her behind bars for 20 years doesn't benefit society as much as giving her a chance to turn her life around does. She is paying for her actions and going to prison for them, which is right.
What about the fact that this sentence is far longer than for many of the college student rapists in the US? And what about the fact that their victims, who are also teenagers, often attempt suicide as a direct result of the rapes? No courts are punishing any of the rapists for these suicides or, in many cases, even for the rapes. In fact, we have institutions protecting rapists, and judges showing them great sympathy. Yet, this young woman is being tried by media and treated in a much harsher way. What does that say about justice for those who commit suicide after being pushed too far by their peers? Seems very sexist, if we're really concerned about suicide prevention, that this happens.
What about the fact that this sentence is far longer than for many of the college student rapists in the US? And what about the fact that their victims, who are also teenagers, often attempt suicide as a direct result of the rapes? No courts are punishing any of the rapists for these suicides or, in many cases, even for the rapes. In fact, we have institutions protecting rapists, and judges showing them great sympathy. Yet, this young woman is being tried by media and treated in a much harsher way. What does that say about justice for those who commit suicide after being pushed too far by their peers? Seems very sexist, if we're really concerned about suicide prevention, that this happens.
28
If you and a friend came to my house, and the friend stabbed me while you held me down, you'd only get 15 months?
5
That's not what happened.
10
Nor is it anything close to what happened even by analogy.
5
Following this closely and seeing the persistence in those texts she got off lucky and I am not sure the appeal will be worth it
15
Shes guilty of two things lack of empathy and common sense. I hope she wont grow up to this its ok to be mean to look cool.
6
My opinion is: if you're trusted enough to hear a loved one's suicidal thoughts, common sense would say to stop them, not goad them on.
41
A violation of common sense doesn't consitute a crime. The suicidal teen asked for her emotional support in ending his life. She provided it. To say she "should have" called the police is to deny that he had the right to request her moral support for a difficult act.
No restrictions on free speech should be biased based on perspective. Is speech designed to aid a person who wants to commit suicide to be banned. If I want to kill myself, do I endarger the safety of a friend if I ask him to encourage me? Do I have no privacy rights to discuss these decisions with others and enlist their moral support? The decision is a gross violation of free speech and privacy rights.
The liberal state of Massachusetts has produced a decision worthy of Mississippi. The fact that life for many today seems scarcely worth it today doesn't mean that a progressive response is to punish those who agree.
The blood curdling vindictiveness of the relatives speaks only to their own self-inflicted remorse for not seeing the kid's problems. Scapegoating is always the way of reactionaries.
No restrictions on free speech should be biased based on perspective. Is speech designed to aid a person who wants to commit suicide to be banned. If I want to kill myself, do I endarger the safety of a friend if I ask him to encourage me? Do I have no privacy rights to discuss these decisions with others and enlist their moral support? The decision is a gross violation of free speech and privacy rights.
The liberal state of Massachusetts has produced a decision worthy of Mississippi. The fact that life for many today seems scarcely worth it today doesn't mean that a progressive response is to punish those who agree.
The blood curdling vindictiveness of the relatives speaks only to their own self-inflicted remorse for not seeing the kid's problems. Scapegoating is always the way of reactionaries.
5
I think you're confusing the issue. he can ask for anything he wants. that's free speech. when she offers and goads and cajoles and finally orders him back into a carbon monoxide filled truck cab, that is not free speech. That is shouting fire in a crowded theater
2
He acted on his own free will. She was miles away from him doing what HE wanted to do. She took advantage of his vulnerability, no doubt she is a despicable monster, but he ultimately made the decision. This is a terrifying precedent to set in the court.
7
She's lucky not to black. Otherwise, she'd be getting a lot more than a slap on the wrist.
20
Is this some weirdly misplaced white guilt emanating from a loft in SoHo? Why try to make this something that it isn't?
4
This sentence is an outrage. A mere slap on the wrist. This defendant has shown that she has preyed upon a vulnerable and disturbed person. At least armed robbers have a motive to profit from their actions. This woman just wanted to hurt someone. To me, that is pure evil.
42
She was (and probably still is) a vulnerable and disturbed person herself.
3
Disturbed, yes. Vulnerable? I read predatory. I read sociopath.
5
Roy probably preyed on her, he probably used his suicidal tendencies to manipulate and control her. She attempted multiple times to get him help, and he refused every time, and continued berating her with his suicidal thoughts and ideas.
3
She is a poor, sick kid, who harms herself. She is mentally ill and not responsible for her actions.
7
and the victim? are we to dictate to the bereaved how they should think?
1
I believe during the trial and in the press it was noted that she was speaking to him on the phone while he was in his truck, where he committed suicide by carbon monoxide. She did not call the police. At one point he got out of the truck. She told him to get back in the truck.
18
She attempted to help him multiple times, to no avail. I am guessing that he was either using his mental problems to manipulate her into staying with him, or she really loved him and was tired of seeing his demons control him, and wanted him to be free of that.
2
monstrous.
the article mentions many factors, and certainly the mental development of the defendant plays a large role. but there's one factor in the sentencing that neither the players nor the article mentions ...
the article mentions many factors, and certainly the mental development of the defendant plays a large role. but there's one factor in the sentencing that neither the players nor the article mentions ...
5
Two comments. First, the sentence seems unusally light, but the focus should be on rehabilitation, and not punishment. She will have a lifetime sentence in her mind regarding what she did.
Next, what intervention did both parents do given the state of depression of both kids. Her parents need counseling
Next, what intervention did both parents do given the state of depression of both kids. Her parents need counseling
7
I have been mostly appalled by the one-sided and misogynistic coverage of this case, so thank you for at least noting Ms. Carter's age and the complicatedhistory of the relationship. The legal precedent set by this case is also very troubling. The whole situation is far more complex than the "lock her up for life" screamers seem to think. So sorry for both families
13
her conviction is a perfect example of the misogyny running rampant in our nation. Does it have no limits?
5
Yoda? Are you kidding me? Is this comment supposed to pass as wisdom?
3
Jim, you clearly are not a feminist. otherwise you would understand this travesty of Justice, as do so many comment or on this thread do.
1
It is time for social media behavior to be recognized for the damage it does. Written messages should be no different from what the writer would say to someone in person. Whether this particular verdict is right or not, I hope that as a society we will find a way to hold everyone to that standard, from troubled adolescents to irresponsible presidents.
39
There have been other cases of cyberbullying in which teens have urged other teens to kill themselves. Sometimes this bullying has been successful, and a handful of kids have killed themselves as a result. If Ms. Carter's conviction stands, it will set precedent and other bullies who take to social media to urge disturbed and depressed kids to suicide could also end up in court. A new area of criminality is opening up. Bullys need to be careful. Their words could hurt them, as well as their victims.
28
This is a joke. People of color get longer sentences for selling pot.
67
Agreed. If she'd been black she probably would have gotten the maximum sentence.
8
Yeah! Race always! Race forever! No sympathy for whites! Whites are pure evil and this girl is white so that proves it.
Lol.
Shes a priviledged jerk who deserves to rot. She is evil. But race has nothing to do with this. Two white people destroyed their lives. No blacks were involved.
As for the pot charge comment, white people also go to jail for longer on pot sentences than this girl will. I know some that are doing that right now. I think that says that pot should be legal. If pot was legal then blacks and whites wouldnt be going to jail longer than this woman because they smoke weed.
Lol.
Shes a priviledged jerk who deserves to rot. She is evil. But race has nothing to do with this. Two white people destroyed their lives. No blacks were involved.
As for the pot charge comment, white people also go to jail for longer on pot sentences than this girl will. I know some that are doing that right now. I think that says that pot should be legal. If pot was legal then blacks and whites wouldnt be going to jail longer than this woman because they smoke weed.
2
She is eligible for parole/probation at 15 months. Her sentence is several years longer.
5
Getting 15 months for egging a human being to kill himself, and 10 years for possession of illicit drugs for self use? As far as justice can get. No wonder they say that justice is blind.
52