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An innocent bystander who was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time was beaten to death. What was going through your mind when you saw the beating caught on video? Why do you think teens and young adults choose to become involved in gangs? Do you think there has been an increase in gang activity or do you think we are just hearing more about gangs in the news? Do you think the media plays a role in gang activity? If so, how?
38 comments:
As I was watching the video, I couldn't believe what was happening. I think teens and young adults think it's cool to be in a gang, but it's really not. I think there has been an increase in gang activity. We often see stories on the news about gang initiations. Media has definitely made gangs become more popular by giving them publicity on the news.
--Brittany Oliver =)
When I saw this video it gave me chills, to be caught at the wrong place at the wrong time is one thing, but to be an innocent person killed in the just of a moment is another thing. I think some teens become involved in gangs to get attention they are lacking from their home lives. I think that the news is just catching up in the gang activities. Gang activity is not increasing, just more gangs are being discovered. I also believe that the media has a big role in the gang activities, the more they talk about the gangs, the more the gangs will act out.
-Brooklynne Davis
When I saw the video I felt kind of sorry for the boy and anyone else who was hurt during the incident. I think that people become involved in gangs for protection or to guarantee other people protection. Some people join gangs because they want to be cool or “fit in”. In my opinion I do not think there has been an increase in gang activity, I think that the news is just covering it more now than before. If you ask me, I do think that the media plays an important role in gang activity. The media sort of exposes them and lets everyone know what is happening, and one thing that a gang wants is to be publicly known.
-Muhammad R.
I think what happened was wrong. I was thinking that the gangs responsible should be busted. I think teens and young adults choose to become gang members for attention, and to try and beat the system. I think the gang activity in Virginia has decreased. What we hear about gangs are just from the news. I think the media plays a significant role in gang activity.
Wow. I don't even know what to think. I can't believe that they would do something so horrible to someone. I think teens become involved in gangs because they have nothing else better to do. They may think it's cool to be involved in a gang. I think we are just hearing more about gangs in the news. I definitely think that the media plays a big role in gang activity. Some teens may think it's cool to be involved in a gang, so they may go out and commit something like that. Others could take it in a positive way and stay away from such activity.
-Taylor Gay :)
I think that what happened in this video is terrible. The boy hadn't even done anything and he was beaten to death. I think that teens and young adults choose to become involved in gangs because they think it makes them look cool and whatever. I don't know if there has been an increase in gang activity, but we have been hearing a lot about gangs in the news lately. I think that the media does play a role in gang activity because when kids see things like that on the news, a lot of kids want to be involved in it too.
-Jessica :)
I fault, why would they do this to a incent boy who didn’t harm them. The teens and young adults fell being involved with a gang will give them respect to people in there community. I fell gang activity has gone down but you still have some gangs still around. Yes because media show what the gangs can do to you. Also, it makes them feel like they have to show off too.-Alia H.
I think that the boy was not in the right place or at the right time. because if he have not being there he woulden have gotten beaten to death. He still would be alive today. So I feel really sorry for the family. I hope they get better. This is why i don t understand why young teen want to hurt other people. brittanyeley
When watching this video I wasn’t shocked to see what was going on. What this group was doing was wrong. This young innocent man was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and he ends up with death. I believe that one of the main reasons that teens get in involved in gangs is because they think its “cool”. When they see all their so called friends in gangs they decided that they want to join. I personally believe that if a friend is pressuring you to join a gang that they are not really your friend. Yes, I think that the media plays a big role in gangs because the media is like their ignition.
~Sherrell A.
When the video was playing I was wondering why it started. I'm not sure why teens and adults get involved with gangs in the first place, maybe to fit in, protection, drugs, or money. I think there is an increase in gangs throughout the years and I think it will continue to increase. I think the media has a part in the gangs’ activity, being that the gangs can show that they are better and not “scared” to come out and show what they can do.
When i saw the video I was shock to see how many people was beating this boy. I think teens and young adults choose to be apart of gangs is because of peer pressure and they want everyone they think they go hard. I think it has been an increase in gang activity. No I dont think that the media as a role in gang activity. R.I.P. honor student.
-Schatese Cherry-Collins
I was shocked when I heard about this story. I first heard about this incident on the Steve Harvey Morning Show. When I saw the clip of the teen being beaten on camera, the only thing i could think of is "Why". I do not understand the importance of gangs, it is nonthing but a group of people heading for trouble. People join gangs because of friends or because they have no one they can depend on. I believe gang activity is increasing as we speak. I do not believe that the media plays a role in gang activity.
-Bryce L.
Gangs have been around for forever. What ever the cause for them may be I don't know. One thing I do know is that they do not need to be around. They are way to radical and violent. The news does publish the event of the gangs but it is only their jobs. Unfortunatly because some think its cool to be a criminal they take it as a praise to be on the news. My step-brother was in a gang when I was smaller. His dad never wanted him around and even though my dad took him in and tried his best, Russell never thought he understood him. He got into the gang through some friends and did numerous crimes. Now he sits in prison and will not see his 6 year old son until he is 40. All I can say is don't get involved in something like that. It will not only ruin your life but your loved ones as well. I've lived without my brother for over 8 or 9 years. My mom even told him that unless he straightened up the next time he would see her they would be shoveling dirt in her face. Its a hard thing to go through with; for anyone. If you feel alone or that no one understands you just remember your not alone and you don't need to resort to violence and crime to be heard.
What went through my mind was how can someone just beat a person to death. What motivates them to do so. I believe teens go in to gangs because they believe they got to fit in, that they have to be like the people around them. Another reason is because they want to be protected by the people they think they know ,but now knowing that they can turn just as quick as they can become. To be honest I can't say. Yes we have gangs everywhere ,but I blieve we hear about them less now than we did before. Well I do think the media has a little to do about it. In gangs the people stand up for other people in their gangs. So when you see people talking about it and certain people will tell people and at the end of the day it will be big deal with more people.
~GIGI~
This is such a tragic story. It's amazing what happens in this world. When I saw the beating caught on video, my heart honestly felt so much pain, not just for the boy, but for all the teens that were involved. It hurts me to think of what makes people do these things. I think that so many teens and young adults become involved in gangs is because they need a place of acceptance.
Mallory
When I saw the beating caught on video I was thinking a lot. I was thinking why someone would want to beat a person so bad that they get hurt badly to the point where they might die? Teens and young adult become involved in gangs because of many reasons. Some reasons might be that they are looking for love and that’s where they think they find it. In some cases that’s they try to get away from problems. I think that it has been an increase in gang activity. Media plays a role in gang activity. When a gang sees themselves on television I think it’s a good thing for the gang member. Nobody should be involved in a gang.
Qautesha Harris
That was really bad, the kids who did that should get in jail for a long time. I think kids get in gangs because they just want to feel important or involved. There is definitely more gang activity going on around the world. The media kind of promotes it because all the kids taking part of gang activity may feel privileged that they're on the news and they may want to keep it that way. Newspapers and the news on television all play a role on how kids act and it's not helping.
Erica Owens
Caleb Stowe
When I saw this video, I was surprised that an innocent boy was killed simply by being there. I believe that teens and young adults become involved with gangs because they want to fit in and/or be strong in society. I believe that gangs are becoming more popular among younger and younger children each year. I believe that the media plays a big role in gang activity because if the media didn't show every bit of gang activity on the news then the gangs probably wouldn't do as much bad stuff. The gangs like the publicity and just want people to be frightened.
Chelsea Hedgepeth
It's so sad. I don't know what was going through my mind. My mind was thinking a whole lot of things. I personally think that teens and young adults get in gangs so they have someone to protect them. I myself am not in a gang, but that's what I think. I'm not sure about gangs, because I don't really watch the news that often so I honestly don't know.
I think that’s really sad that an innocent teenager was beating to death. The kids that were beating others should go to jail for the rest of there lives. I think that teens become in involved in gangs because they are having troubles at home or they think it's cool. I think that there has honestly been an increase in gang activities everywhere. I don't really think that the media plays a role in gang activity.
~Kayla(:
That is crazy, how could something like that happen wothout anyone stopping it. I think people choose to be in gangs because it makes them feel more powerful and accepted. I think there has been an increase in gang activity because more and more stuff like this happens, I don't know why it's increasing. The media plays a big role I think because when a gang gets shown on TV they feel like they have been recognized unlike many other gangs, like they are well known. That causes them to do more illegal activities to get their gang back on TV.
~Danielle C.~
When I seen the fight It hurt my feelings. Nobody deserves something like that to happen to them ever. The thing that really bothers me about this video is that someone took the time to actually video tape it, I mean come on. I really don't have a clue why someone would want to be in a gang other than maybe because their friends or family members are involved too. I think that people just pay more attention to gang activity now. I mean there has always been some form of gangs somewhere. To me the media plays a bug part in gang activity. Putting the stuff they do all out in the public view, kind of makes them feel like they're getting attention for what they did, and then some kids think its cool.
-Amber Bass
The one thing that was going through my mind is that why didn’t anyone stop them from beating the boy. I understand that some people don’t want to get in but if they were to get in a larger group and stop the bulling boys. I think teens and adults choose to gone gangs because they want to prove themselves to their friends, and they think it makes them look cool. I do think that there had been in increase in gangs because now a day teens are just out of control, and they want to do what they hear rappers talking about in the songs. I do think that the media plays a huge role in gang activity, because like I said before young boys idolize rappers, so when they hear about them being bloods and krips and stuff, it makes them want to go out and do it so they can be like the rappers.
-Roielle T. <3
Well so much was going through my head when I saw that. I was so like that was crazy because who would do something like that to a kid.I feel that they choose to be in a gang to say they go so hard when came to other people.Yes I do think it have increase a lot in the world. Really I don't think so because kids make their own choose now days. But as far as it go I think it came from the back in the days when people was treated different.
Jesmine Murphy
While watching this video my heart went out to the family of the victim. I just couldn't believe that teens are doing things so horific. I guess that gangs are what is popular in certain places. It shouldn't be that way because innocent people are being killed by just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't watch the news that often anymore because of reasons like this, it is ridiculous the amount of gang activity we have in this country. something needs to be done about it, starting with television because I believe that the things children are watching on t.v. are playing a role in what children do outside of their homes. I think they should start with the music first because the lyrics in alot of the music we listen to is not a good influence for children and teens today.
Brittany Posey
I thought that was wrong. Why do people beat up and kill people for fun? It makes no sense... I think teens and young adults join gangs cause of there home life and at school. They think there stronger and bigger than other people. Also the gangs make them feel welcome, so then once there accepted there is no way out. I don't think there are more gangs, there have always been gangs. I just the activity increases because of the new and politics making them feel angered, then they get more aggregated than they were... Yes I think the media plays a bad role in gang activity, because if they hear something about there gang or about another gang they get more involved. So yes Gang's are well affected by The Media...
©-Craig St.®
I cannot believe someone would beat an innocent person to death just because you are in a gang. What I do not understand is how can you sit there and video tape someone being beaten to death. I think that some teens turn to gangs because it is a sense of family to them when no one else cares, but WHY, I think it so that it is the dumbest thing ever created. Gang activity, I think has increased because now days there are so many schools who cannot wear certain colors just because of the gang activity in the area. I do not think media plays a role in gang activity because if the did they probably all be dead by now!!!! I know I would not want to be a part of it; I do not want to be walking around everyday looking stupid with a black eye!!!! SORRY, that is just my opinion if you disagree.
~Andrea Johnson
It is so ridiculous that people can not even walk down the street anymore. I was basically thinking that it is a shame that they beat that boy up like that for no reason at all. Teens and young adults get into gangs because they think that makes them safe and think that they are loved when they are really not. Honestly, I think the gangs have increased and we are just now hearing about them in the news. They have always been around just not acknowledged. The media does not play a role in gang activity because they do not advertise for people to go and join gangs. People join gangs because they want to.
~Shaquii G.
When I was watching that video it kind of shocked me to see how mean and cruel some people can be now a days. I have no idea why some people choose to be in gangs I guess that maybe its because they think they are tough and that it gets people to pay more attention to them but actually it just makes you look like a bad, evil, and insane person. I don't think that there has been an increase in gangs as much because gangs have been around for the longest time and its not a new trend. I just think that the media is just putting it out there more to show people how real and how dangerous it can be and what can happen if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.There is more that I could say about this situation but it's really sad and shocking so I rather just leave it alone.-Cadeja Wilson
I was sad when I saw this video because the boy didn't do nothing wrong. Teens and young adults choose to become involved in gangs because they are popular adn tough. And probably they never had good childhood when they growing were growing. I think we are just hearing more about gangs in the news. No, the media doesn't plays a role in gang activity.
Tyrell B
I was think what in the world. Like wow only a person who was a punk and had no life would jump somebody. Like for real you ain't all that and it ain't cute! Obviously they deserve whatever happens to them. I think people become in gangs for like a sense of friendship or for it to take the place of something that's missing in their lives. I think that now people are just starting to realize that yea this gang stuff is real and its like no joke. I think that if the media kinda does cause if they're not helping catch the people in gangs then it just gives them a sense of 'oh we're bad. we made our story worldwide and they still can't catch us'. But seriously if the story isn't helping anybody and you ain't got no names or photos then why try to make it newsworthy?
-Summer Wilson
♦ The video surprised me the most because there were no authority figures anywhere. I understand that something like that can happen and police sometimes can not make it in time, but someone should have done something. If you see something like that going on, do not record it with a cell phone. At least run away from the situation if you are not going to do anything about it; do not sit back and watch a fellow human being get beat death for no reason. I do not know why students and adults choose to become involved in gangs. The media does play a role the showing of gang activity I think, because they show everyone what horrible things people will do and try to warn everyone that something bad can happen at any time.♦-☻♦Nick Powell☻♦™
I was thinking what in the world? Like really, I’m not use to that kind of stuff. The most violent situation I have been is Hurricane Isabella. Although, I think that’s a good thing. I have to agree with Nick where’d the wooden post come from, ha-ha. Well if I were involved in a gang I could probably tell you why, but really not quite sure. Because I not into the whole being in a group and fitting in. But if I could guess I’d say because they feel like they have no one to turn to except people that are facing the same exact situation but sometimes some people just get caught up with the wrong people at the wrong time. I think the media is a huge part of gangs too they pretty advertise it!
_DLE<3
The beating caught on tape made me think of how stupid people have become. I think it's so stupid that these "street gangs" have to fight one another to get reputation and an image, when really all they doing is turning society against them and there image causes them to become black labeled if the member is caught and put down as such. I think teens and young adults become part of gangs because they got no one watching them or because they feel weak and need someone to help protect them and many different reasons but the main reason is because the are to afraid to face anything as an individual. I think that it is gang activity that is increasing, and we are hearing more about it on the news. Yes I think that the media is part of the problem because it shows movies that influence and promote gang activity, and many other illegal activities. The media promotes this by publishing movies like ATL, Gangland, and Grandfather Series; these types of movies make the illegal parts of society because of how they center the whole movie on the activities.
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