Posted on 04/07/2006 5:53:07 PM PDT by SteveMcKing
TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUE. — As Ghyslain Raza recalled, whenever he walked by his high school's common areas, other students would jump on tables and chant, "Star Wars Kid! Star Wars Kid!"
There would be a commotion as they shouted and poked at him, trying to get a reaction. "It was simply unbearable," he said.
An otherwise ordinary teen in this Quebec small town, Mr. Raza had become a worldwide object of ridicule when schoolmates put on the Internet a video of him clumsily pretending to be a Star Wars character.
Three years later, Mr. Raza and his parents this week reached an out-of-court settlement with the families of three former schoolmates they had sued for $351,000 in damages.
The settlement annuls a civil trial set to begin on Monday that would have scrutinized one of the world's first and most-publicized cases of cyber-bullying.
However, documents filed in the case at the Trois-Rivières courthouse give new details about how a mean-spirited high-school prank turned into a global Internet cause célèbre.
Specifics of the settlement remain confidential.
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
How strong did he have to be to carry that heavy light sabre?
he looks like the guy in the wheelchair from the 'little britan'
Air Force brat here - reading since I can remember. As far as fighting, I was usually carrying a backpack full of books. Dad was a Marine in Korea before he went to college and got his commission, and one thing he taught me was that in a fight, you used whatever came to hand. Usually, I'd get jumped by a bully, and he'd catch a face full of books and go down. After that, there'd be no problems.
Lifting weights? More like lifting Ring Dings.
I've seen "numa numa" before love it. There are some clever homemade videos out there.
"Well let me tell you the story of another loser."
I, state your name, pledge allegiance to the frat...
(and congrats on your Gators)
They are freakin' hilarious. I remember when this first came out but I didn't know the kid was so touchy about it. I like the 'embrace it' idea that other posters have had. You'll always be out there on the web, might as well make the most of it.
Maybe having settled, now, he'll do just that, too.
"Lifting weights? More like lifting Ring Dings."
Hey now, those Little Debbie boxes can be HEAVY. 8)
Tell me about it!
I went to 4 different high schools and 8 different schools total in 12 years and I'm okay....
No you're not.
Yes, I am.
Seriously this kid will have a hard time in the real world on his own if he can't handle a few bullying jabs in school.
Let's see: "Little Boy with Tea Party" won him the money to find out his mother was a hermaphrodite, and then there
was Scott Tenorman's parents...
Oh, and the Butters/Robot video tape epi.
Excellent post.
You mean he is no longer in "fighting trim"? LOL.
I had not watched those in a while...still funny stuff.
Can't believe he sued....he should have been able to turn it into celebrity status.
It is very funny! Looks like he settled the case and became a celebrity to boot! Not bad!!! :-)
I was wondering about a lawsuit when I saw the video. But I must confess, I laughed my head off when I saw it.
Thanks for the ping. Funny stuff.
I've heard thess are hilarious. too late tonight for me to watch though
I admit, I've laughed myself silly watching this kid. But, I feel for the kid, I really do. I'm one hell of an air-guitar player, and I'd DIE if clips of some of my better solos appeared on the 'net.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.