Everbody’s a tough guy on the internet

1. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010
Is a popular
new Q-&-A
forum on the
Internet a
harmless pastime?
Or a dangerous
cyber-bullying tool?
By ZACH HEINEMANN
NESHAMINY HIGH SCHOOL
H
ave you ever wanted to tell
somebody something com-
pletely anonymously?
To ask a question that you’ve been
dying to know the answer to, or maybe
just to express an opinion without your
name attached?
Well, perhaps the new trend among teens,
formspring, is the answer.
But can something as seemingly harmless as
this become a hurtful tool?
Formspring.me was introduced last
Thanksgiving by John Wechsler and Ade
Olonoh, and the site has quickly taken off among
the public.
The company bills itself as a way to “connect
people using questions and answers as the primary
form of expression.”
According to the company, formspring attracted
50 million unique visitors during a 30-day span over
February and March, and, as of mid-March, 300 mil-
lion questions had been answered on the site.
At first, it seems harmless, a way to ask your friend
a simple question, maybe a chance to get something
juicy out of someone.
But when people are given the power to say whatev-
er they’re thinking to whomever they’re thinking
about without an easy way to trace it back to the speak-
er, what could happen?
Let’s take a look at a recent incident at Central
Dauphin East High School in Harrisburg.
Over the course of a number of snow days in
February, police officials allege a group of girls created
an Internet conflict, using the anonymity of form-
spring as their weapon.
A fight — police called it a near-riot — broke out
in the main hallway the day school resumed. Seven
teenage girls faced rioting charges for continuing to
fight ruthlessly even after being vigorously restrained
by police officers.
Formspring also has been connected to a much more trau-
matic event.
On March 21, 17-year-old West Islip (N.Y.) High School
graduate Alexis Pilkington, a star athlete and well-liked hon-
ors student, committed suicide.
After her death, officials searched through her many social
networking sites, including formspring.
The days before, and, shockingly, after the tragic
event, the Long Island teen had dozens upon
dozens of nasty remarks made to and about her
from anonymous posters.
Although the reason for her suicide remains
unknown, many officials involved with the
case, as well as friends and family members,
are wondering whether being a victim of
cyber-bullying might have pushed this
poor girl over the edge.
On March 25, the New York Daily
News reported on its Web site that
police are investigating whether cyber
bullies contributed to her
suicide.
A reader responded to
the story on the Daily
News site and wrote: “I am
not surprised that form-
spring.me is a factor.
See BULLY, Page D2
Caught up in the chaotic quest for an iPad
By SARAH MCNAB day it became available for preorder. floated to his car.
ARCHBISHOP WOOD I woke up early, and my Mom and I Another guy proudly displayed his
L
ast Wednesday, ABC’s hit show went along for the ride with Lisa to get over his head walking through the mall
“Modern Family” featured one hers at the Apple store in King of Prussia.
family’s struggle to get an iPad. while his family looked on — embarrassed
The entire experience was completely
They went to different stores, waited in foreign to me. I’ve never waited in line for — behind him.
ridiculously long lines and did everything any sort of technology. I have my phone, When we got to the line, I was relieved
possible to get Apple’s newest creation. iPod and laptop and never thought there that it wasn’t nearly as bad as the ones I
I thought the storyline was a bit overly was a need for anything else. saw on the news earlier in the morning.
dramatic — that is until I went and expe- Apparently, I was wrong. Then we realized there was a break in the
rienced the Apple chaos first hand. My first sign that the iPad was not line and most of the people were around
On Saturday, Apple launched the iPad, your average device came as I walked into the corner.
which the company calls “a magical and the mall. There was a man, about 30, After 10 minutes in line, I grew restless
revolutionary product” — and the world walking out with his new toy. And when I and had to take a shoe-shopping break.
certainly took notice. say walking, I mean skipping, practically One boot purchase later, I went back and
Sarah shows off her One of those people was my Aunt Lisa, jumping for joy. Lisa was still waiting patiently in line.
— well, her aunt’s
— coveted iPad. who reserved hers on March 12, the first If it weren’t for gravity, he would have See IPAD, Page D2
REALITY EDITOR ANDY VINEBERG: 215-949-4135 ARTIST TOM RASKI: 215-949-5744 E-MAIL BACKTALK@PHILLYBURBS.COM WRITE REALITY, C/O COURIER TIMES, 8400 N. BRISTOL PIKE, LEVITTOWN, PA 19057-5117