This is a tragedy. I have children and cannot imagine this happening. But don't see this as falling squarely on the other woman.

The woman posing as the internet boy is definitely guilty of being directly involved in the death of the girl. However, I have to wonder at the actions of the mother who not only dismissed the claims of her daughter, but then began to berate her.

It just seems to me that there had to be more underlying problems leading up to a teenager choosing suicide and a parent that would immediatly turn upon their kid when they are so distraught. I think the Dr. Phil show was slanted to take the focus away from the family in order to focus on passing internet restriction law...

This is a tragedy. I have children and cannot imagine this happening. But don't see this as falling squarely on the other woman.

The woman posing as the internet boy is definitely guilty of being directly involved in the death of the girl. However, I have to wonder at the actions of the mother who not only dismissed the claims of her daughter, but then began to berate her.

It just seems to me that there had to be more underlying problems leading up to a teenager choosing suicide and a parent that would immediatly turn upon their kid when they are so distraught. I think the Dr. Phil show was slanted to take the focus away from the family in order to focus on passing internet restriction laws.

I just cannot fathom a parent being so cold, distant, and accusatory when their own child pleads "you are supposed to be on my side!"

Passing internet laws is not going to solve this and is only going to open the doors to less freedom, more restriction and increased ridiculous rules. Swampfoxz is exactly right on that.

Every parent should see this as a wake up call. Know your children. Get involved and have an actual relationship with them that goes further than "do as I say and follow my rules under my roof". The mother was absolutely clueless at the friendless nature of her daughter's life and her involvement on myspace. Where was the father? I understand the mother daughter bond, but that does not preclude the father having an active part in her life as well.

Cyber bullying is a terrible and serious matter. But this emotional appeal towards it eclipses the real underlying problem of bad parenting.

Seriously ... when a child uses suicide as a response then there is definitely something wrong. This girl felt that she had absolutely no one to turn to and that the pain of facing that empty life was unbearable. What a sad testament. It breaks my heart to even think my own daughters could ever feel that kind of desolation.