Thursday, June 12, 2008

Sam Lesson - Another Victim of Hate



News reports today and yesterday confirmed another case of bullicide just like the The Tragic Suicide of Nicola Raphael or Tempest Smith or more recently Dominic Maynard.




Bullied to death for being Emo music fan
By Geoffrey Lakeman Mirror
12/06/2008

A gifted teenager may have killed himself after being bullied over his
love of Emo culture, his family said yesterday.
Sam Leeson, a devotee of the
goth-influenced movement, had designed his own web page on Bebo adorned with
pictures and lyrics of favourite acts such as My Chemical Romance.
The 13-year-old was found hanged in his room a week ago after comments mocking his appearance and taste in music were left on the social networking site. Parents
Sally Cope and Christopher Leeson yesterday spoke of their grief as they called
for tighter regulation of such sites
Sally, 45, said: "He was an alternative dresser and I think other teens did make comments. He was quiet and very thoughtful but had a lot of friends. He was such a loving boy. We just can't believe what has happened."


Once again another alternative teen has been hounded to death. Here are other links to the story:

Investigation into Sam's death begins.Gloucester Citizen,

Bullies blamed after suicide of 'Emo' music fanIndependent, UK

Teenager found hanged was abused on website, say family guardian.co.uk, UK

13-year-old suicide over 'emo' cult bullyingTelegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 11 Jun 2008

The Guardian and The Sun seems to be the only ones to link this with Hannah Bond but none
of them link it to the wave of anti emo hate on the Internet the media's coverage
prompted. Alterophobia thinks it is no coincidence... see J' accuse - How the media lies contributed to a suicide...



Some have criticised emo culture for promoting a morbid outlook on life. Last
September Hannah Bond, a 13-year-old from Peckham, south-east London, took
her life. In May more than 100 young emo fans demonstrated in London against
an accusation by the Daily Mail that the culture was "characterised by
depression, self-injury and suicide".
Emo Sam web bully fearsThe Sun, UK - 11 Jun 2008


Nothing matches though the breathtaking hypocricy of the DAILY MAIL a good report but no mention of how their lies may have led to a child's death.:



Boy, 13, 'hanged himself after he was bullied on BeboMail , UK - 11 Jun 2008

Sam Leeson's family say the 13-year-old was picked on by other users of the
site because of his 'alternative appearance' and his taste in music.
Blaming
Bebo for his 'utterly pointless death', Sam's mother said the family discovered
the extent of the bullying only when they checked his Web page after his death.
'I'm not sure what influence these sites have - but if they are a method of expressing things, maybe they should be checked more,' said 45-year-old Sally Cope.
'He was into his appearance and often wore his black skinny jeans. He was an alternative dresser and I think other teenagers did used to make comments about that.'
Bebo users who taunted Sam on the site have since left messages apologising for their conduct.

Sam was a fan of alternative rock bands such as the Foo Fighters and Slipknot, as well as so-called Emo music, championed by bands such as blink-182 and Good Charlotte.
The movement takes its name from the word emotional - a reference to its angst-ridden lyrics and melancholy themes.
It has become increasingly popular with British teenagers since its inception in the U.S. two decades ago.
Followers see the genre as much as a fashion as a style of music. Many dye their hair black and wear dark clothing.
Sam's sister, Emma, 22, said he had also been bullied at school over his interest in the music.
'He used to laugh about it when people mocked him over his dress sense and
music taste, so we didn't realise it was anything serious.
'We saw him as always happy and smiling, but we now think there has been some name-calling about the whole Emo thing. 'We know some bullying has been going on. We do not want to attack the school, as they have been very good, but we are very
upset it has come to this.'
Sam, of Tredworth, Gloucestershire, was found on Thursday by his mother, Sally Cope, and another sister, Katie, 12, when they returned from a short shopping trip.



Tribute videos here



Rest in peace Sam I only hope you are the last.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Such a waste of a young life, I have a 13 year old daughter and of course all mothers worry about them.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad sad time.