While I feel for Megan’s parents in their time of loss, I find it odd that they either failed to monitor the online activity of their daughter or didn’t object to the situation until after her suicide.
They are quick to claim that the other mother knew what was going on, but where were they? Did they really allow themselves to be so oblivious of their daughter’s online life despite knowing of her precarious mental state?
I find much of my sympathy for them waning in the face of what looks to me like an attempt to dodge their own parental responsibilities and obligations.
Had both sets of parents responsibly monitored their childrens online activity this may or may not have had a different outcome. While Megans parents were lax in monitoring her activity, the other “mother” (acted more like a child from what Ive read) not only was lax in monitoring but was an active participant. That to me is outrageously irresponsible and a disgrace.
And what were they supposed to have been monitoring? A (electronic) pen-pal relationship with a boy?
From the earlier articles, the parents said they were monitoring their daughters online activity. They were aware of the Josh correspondence.
The parents probably spoiled their daughter beyond all recognition. The parents probably never told her “no,” and thus allowed the child to control them. This in turn helped create the weak willed, emotionally and mentally unstable girl that committed suicide.
the meiers were monitoring megan’s use of the internet.
the story was broken by the l.a. times on thanksgiving day.
the following week the new york times published a better article.
according to the thanksgiving day article, megan would sit on the living room couch next to her father and go out on my space. also, she did the same with her mother, a real estate agent who worked in the basement.
on the day megan committed suicide, the mrs meier was busy with megan’s sister; something came up that demanded her immediate attention.
mrs. meier asked megan to get off of the internet. megan disobeyed. megan read the sick stuff “the world would be better off with out you” etc., and went to her room and hung herself.
her mother found her minutes later.
read the l.a. times and n.y. times stories.
In one article I read, the girl had asked her mother if she could add this 'guy' to her friend page. So, apparently, the parents were monitoring what she was doing at least to some degree. (Apparently, they were at least monitoring who she could add to her page.) Obviously, they made an error in judgment, but we've all done that kind of thing (usually not with such dire consequences though).
I find much of my sympathy for them waning in the face of what looks to me like an attempt to dodge their own parental responsibilities and obligations.
That does not excuse what this witch, her brat kid and the lunatic 'employee' did to this girl however. From what I hear, her business had to shut down because of this. All I can say is 'that's a good start'.