I think both are to blame media and parents, we should be more responsible as parents to know what is going on with are children, I think the lack of open communication with our children lead them to follow the wrong behavior, they see. The internet does not help either, shouldn't they be held accountable for making kids think that this is accepatble behavior, the kids think it is great to be on youtube and other internet services that promote this kind of wrong doing. We as parent should come together to help prevent these actions of violence.

Yes, absolutely yes, the parents are responsible. We need to stand up and be parents, not best friends, or roommates, and we need to teach our children responsibility and values.

I believe the parents should take blame. For one the parents home it happened in, were were the adults? As for the other parents, did they even know where there child was?
I believe these girls are at the age to know right from wrong and should face charges as adults.
As a parent of 3 younger girls, I am sick to see what our society is raising. This could of happen to any ones child.

The brutality of the crime is despicable. Obviously the parents are to blame. Where did the kids learn that beating someone like that was ok? Also, did their parents not teach them any common sense? These kids are extremely stupid. Why would they post evidence of themselves committing several felonies on the internet? I would be happy to see these girls tried as adults and receive prison time for this brutal crime.

I believe that girls are becoming more violent as time goes by. I see it
in my daughters friends.
Respect is non existent and
I think the movies/videos
epidimize the whole atmosphere of the "ME" syndrome. Teenagers are
nacasistic by nature, but
since we give them alot
more than what we received,
they act spoiled. They
think everything they do
is ok. Notice one of the
girls was joking around in
jail saying she would probablly miss her cheerleading practice! No
conconsience.

Jeff may be on to something.

We should use this incident as a way to rally parents into making sure their children know right from wrong, and have the self confidence to take a stand.

I also agree BOTH child and parents are to blame. Unfortunately, these days there are too many kids that don't give a hoot if they're parents get in trouble or not. All parents are to take FULL responsiblity of where their children are at all times (no matter if they're 7 or 17) and teach them not to be so violent. There is way too much unsupervised internet here today. I see way too many parents that take the rap for something their children did and then the kid in turn does whatever they want or feel like doing all over again ... KNOWING they won't get in trouble for it, just their parents will. The kids should be detained and the parents should be highly fined and/or jailed and/or community time. If not all 3. Nobody should get away with such a violent act. It's just not human. The only one I feel sorry for is the girl that got the beating.

Yes, parents have to answer
for their childrens foybles, but remember, parents must earn a living.
You cannot be with your
children 24/7. At the end
of the day, the children at
that age know right from wrong. Also, don't you
notice, shows like "Jack---" and all the street fighting you see on TV only
helps to influence their
daily lives. When you don't
make kids answer for
their behavior, they take no responsibility and expect their parents to get
them out of trouble.

I can't even watch this video of what these kids did. It is disgusting to see them hitting this poor kid over and over in the head. I blame both the parents and the kids. After seeing one of the parents on TV I can see where the daughter got her violence from. One of the boys fathers said he wasn't a lookout. Well then what was he standing outside for. He is 18 and in a heap of trouble. I hope this young girls family sues all involved.

I think it's absolutely horrid that the Sun-Sentinel posted a clip of the video on their story. Isn't this exactly what the teens were seeking - media attention? The Sentinel has extremely offended me by posting this. It is extremely poor judgment of them to have posted this video. I am mortified thinking about it, and I have not watched it and have no desire to. Regarding who is to blame - the kids, the parents, AND the media.

AJ: Your disgust at Sun-Sentinel.com making the video available is understandable.

However, we are just reporting the news, and giving all the details we have for the public to make a clear decision about what happened.

Right now we have major problems on hand where society is not accepting it real status. The government is making a very poor judgment on the external matters and not paying attention to real internal matters.
For example, I recently check a news where it was stated that 1% of American society is in jail right now. This is a very disturbing stat, adding the fact where law enforcement is being targeted as seen in last year events, it makes matters worst.
RESPECT has been lost from the roots of our society. I don't see why these girls will behave better or rightful if we as society (Including government) don't take in consideration the violence created outside and inside of the country. There is too much violence in Media, in video games and even at school. Commercially speaking violence is acceptable in the video games. It is good to be a crook... This doesn't make any sense.
I saw below the option to make a stand. My question will be "What stand?". Any suggestions, ladies and gentlemen...
I just saw today another news about an art teacher in Baltimore being beaten up by student during class hours. The violence episode was recorded in a cell phone and published in "youtube". The principal only said: "...that telling a student that I was going to defend myself was a trigger word...". Does it make sense???
Violence is spread everywhere and no one has made a stand. Any person is able to go and buy a weapon. How you are supposed to condemn violence and stop it if the weapon are accessible.
People this should be happening but we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Nobody want to show the complete iceberg...

To the one above called "mother".

Yes, you have to earn money...but how about education, well-maners, difference between right or wrong?. I'm wondering how much time you spend "QUALITY" time with them?

Don't give me that BS.

Parents need to be held RESPONSIBLE.

"Parent": Personal attacks will not be tolerated in this forum.

We are having a dicussion about how to better raise our children without resorting to attacks -- verbal or physical.

What values did these kids learn growing up?

I realize that these children are responsible for their actions, but how do "responsible" parents raise these types of children? Thes is some disconnect here.

This deporable incident has made national news, when I saw it on the news last night, I had no idea it had taken place in Lakeland! I grew up in South Florida, and though now live in Colorado, I read the Sun-Sentinal online to see what's going on down there. More and more the paper is filled with such stories horrific violence, this just being the latest. The parents of those children are absolutely to blame. As 'mother' stated above, seeing the reaction of one of the mom's of the accused and hear her say that "if she(the victim) was going to say bad things about the other girls, then she better have to nerve to back it up", it proves where these girls learned this behavior. I remember as a teenager what it felt like to hurt others with words, and to be hurt with words, but they are just words. Parents need to be teaching their girls that life does go on, and that they will survive teenage-hood. I also have to wonder what kind of parents these teenagers will one day become, because these actions don't bode well as a foretelling of the future.
It's sad, and I hope these kids are held accountable, because if not then what will that teach others?

Victim at fault? No. She trusted a friend, got abused and beaten and detained. That is like saying a date rape victim is at fault for allowing the man to pay for dinner.

Media at fault? No. just because they were going to post this on Myspace does not make it Myspace's fault. This could have been still photos, videotape, or even an old cassette recorder instead of digital video, but the media is not to blame for this.

Parents at fault? 20%. They raised these children, saw who they hung out with, left them unsupervised, and not one of them was taught to have empathy for another human being.

CRIMINALS at fault? 80% These kids had no foundation to stand on, but even with that, from their childhood on, they were shown the difference between right and wrong, even on the dreaded internet and TV, and chose to do wrong, join others that were doing wrong, and TAKE JOY in doing wrong.

Place the blame squarely and mostly on the criminals themselves, and spread the stimuli (passive parents, internet access, a girl that ALLEGEDLY said something to one of the girls that led to this premeditiated gangland beating) way down on the blame ladder. My kid makes a mistake, I get upset that I had not prevented it, but the BLAME still goes squarely on his shoulders.

When that changes, and the criminal is not responsible for the crime, then we lose the ability to hold ANYONE accountable for their actions. Maybe Osama saw a myspace video or read a Tom Clancy novel that gave him the idea to attack America, but he is still RESPONSIBLE for his actions, and so are these criminal kids.

OF COURSE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, and in my opinion the girls MUST be treated like criminals, stupid is an adecjtive that has nothing to do with the horrible thing these girls did. I hope authorities will do the best they can to blame them.

i hope the eight girls burn in hell for beating up that one girl. how do u have the guts to beat up a poor girl who just wants to live i blaim the parents for being fagets.

First, the beating was premeditated since there were strategies in place and objectives. Second, whatever the victim did to anger the others, didnt warrant the beating she got. I wish the victim a speedy recovery. Third, the parents of the accused obviously didnt have their finger on the pulse of their children. What bothers me is that none of the arrested's parents had a clue what their children were up to. They are to blame the most. Fourth, I hope the arrested are tried as adults and are severely punished. They were stupid to think of doing such a thing and even more stupid to execute it. Fifth, I hope the classmates of those arrested realize just how serious this incident was and how stupid their peers were. Hopefully, they will walk a straighter line. Sixth, I pray the parents of the victim get past this traumatic experience and remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, both criminally and civilly. Their pain and emotional state is something I cannot even begin to imagine.

I don't believe that you can hold the parents responsible unless they knew of the incident while it was occurring or they were in the vicinity. As a young adult who was once a problem child my parents were rarely aware of what I was up to. I was sneaky and let on nothing. My parents as most did the best they could, children do not come with an instruction manual, and some are absolute nightmares. What about blaming society and television? We have no morals, ethics or values in this country anymore. If society accepts violence and public humiliation as we do on TV than it only figures that these types of things are going to happen. On another note have you seen the children or their parents? They look like white trash to me. I expected video from inside a trailer.....

The video eerily resembles the “Lord of the Flies” – where children became increasingly violent, primal and even animalistic as time went by – losing any since of civilized behavior or human consciousness. The propensity for violence is within all of us, but unfortunately, some of us don’t have enough internal psychological barriers in place, to stop us from doing what most of us only “THINK” of doing from time-to-time… Ultimately, responsibility goes to the individual. Teenagers or not – those individuals who brutalized that poor girl should be punished to the limit of the Law! People – that includes teenagers – have to start being “ACCOUNTABLE” for their own actions AGAIN!

I know most don't agree but this is my view.. When I was growing up, we had consequences, we screwed up we were punished and yes spanked, not beaten. We learned right from wrong and parents now adays act as if they are afraid to really do anything to the kids to make them mind in fear that they will be arrested for abuse. Well look what happens when the parents aren't given the right to correct their children. Parents need to take control of their children and be able to set boundaries for these kids now and stick to it. Society is making these kids into little monsters. Their needs to be some sensorship as to what these kids do and see. I do feel that the parents are at fault too. But to me these girls new right from wrong and should be tried as an adult. I hope they throw the book at them.

OUR KIDS FROM TODAY SOCIETY CAN FIRST NOT BE THE VICTIM OF BULLLIES OR BEING BULLIES BY FIRST BEING DISCIPLINED AND PARENTS NOT LETTING THEM DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. AND THINK THAT ITS OK FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.THE VICTIM OF THIS SITUATION KIND OF BROUGHT IT UPON HERSELF BECAUSE, SHE WAS THE ONE ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE. IF SHE HAD SHUT HER MOUTH TO BEGIN WITH, SHE WOULDNT HAVE GOTTEN HERSLEF INTO THIS MESS. BUT, IT STILL DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT WAS RIGHT FOR THOSE GIRLS TO DO WHAT THEY DID TO HER. "SO CALLED FRIENDS THEY CALLED THEMSELVES". SO IN THE END WHEN IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IT, THEY ALL PAID THEIR CONSECUENCES FROM THEIR ACTIONS: THE GIRLS ARE NOW FACING CHARGES WICH MOST LIKELY ARE GOING TO BE PUT ON THIER RECORDS PERMANETLY AS ADULTS AND GOING TO JAIL. THE VICTIM, SHE GOT HER BUTT WHOOPED CUZ SHE OPENED UP HER MOUTH. BUT SHES VERY NOT SMART AGAIN BECAUSE,AFTER SHE GETS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL, SHE THEN GOES BACK ON MY SPACE AND TALKS MORE TRASH SAYING "HA HA HA! U GUYS R GOING TO JAIL!"..... LETS JUST SEE WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT....(TO BE CONTINUED.)

The girls (and lookout boys) who planned and then carried out the assault are to blame. End of conversation. Let's have some personal responsibility. This wasn't a little negligence based on a moment of bad decision making. This was pre-meditated assault. Hopefully the parents will feel a little ashamed and will do what they have to do to correct the situation. (Responsible or not, I'd be ashamed if my child was such an objectionable punk.) As for future events and escalation, everyone of us (most of the previous posters) who accepts that "it's someone else's fault", or society's fault, is letting this behavior continue and escalate. Stop it! Hold people accountable. Some of these "kids" are allowed, sorry entitled, to pilot a 3000 pound motor vehicle at 50 mph. Yet, the majority of people seem to believe they can't determine it's wrong to attack someone else for their own enjoyment.

I believe that the parents are not always to blame. As a parent I can only teach my children what is right and what is wrong but I cannot be with them everywhere they go. At some point in their lives they are going to have to be held responsible for what they do. I am not saying that the parents were not aware of what their kids were up to or that they played active roles in their lives but what I am saying is that when you send your kids off to school you have no idea what they incounter or what they are up to while there. They can log on to Myspace from school or the library or a friends house. The only thing we can do as parents is TEACH or children but it is up to our children to listen and follw what is right. As for the girls being punished they need to learn a lesson. You do not jump on someone because of a comment made on the web, and my question is if they were so "big and bad" why did they have to jump her? Why not be "big" enough to handle it one on one? Any group of people can jump someone but what about handling it individually? That alone proves that they were a bunch of scared kids "trying" to play hard!!Sounds to me like a couple of days around kids who really are hard would do these kids some good. Let them see what it feels like to be put in a situation where they are helpless and defensless and see then how they react. They should all be seperated and put in different facilities for a little while and then they should have to do work at a facility were victims of violence get treatment/help. Let them see what it feels like and then let them see just how bad it can really get! They need to learn now before they become another statistic!

My guess is that these girls come from very dysfunctional families and are allowed to do whatever they want without question. These girls are basically animals and demonstrated that in the video - this is how wild animals weed out the unwanted members of their group. The parents and girls are both to blame - the parents for poor parenting skills and the girls for lacking any decency and morals. They have expressed concern for their chances of getting a fair trial - I don't think that should be a consideration since the beating victim didn't get a "fair trial" at that home. The courts need to come down hard on these girls as an example to others - this type of behavior cannot be tolerated - it must be condemned. I am just glad these girls are a very small minority of today's youth - most are great kids with bright futures. At least my kids didn't have to come into contact with these sorry excuses for human beings. My sympathies go out the the poor victim and her family.

I see alot of posts about blaming these kids parents. I have a teenager these girls age who is exactly like the girls involved in the beating. She was raised right, in a good home, in a great neighborhood, and a loving family. However she fell into the wrong crowd. I have gone as far of having her put in Secure detention due to her behavior. However speaking from expierence, the system you go to for help is worthless. I begged and begged for help with her. They do nothing, Hell she violated her probation 27 times in 30 days before they would take any action. So before you go blaming these parents I think everyone needs to take a look at OUR society. All of us are at fault. These ARE the kids of today. They knew right from wrong. They are not babies anymore.

Rebecca - although there are exceptions, kids do not become terroristic animals all on their own - something triggers it, and in a distressingly large number of cases, it is because the parents did not parent when the kids were young, and kept up on it during the teen years

I can't even look at that video. Not one of those teens had any compassion to put a stop to it? I feel so bad for that girl.
A beating like that because she "trashed" them? Cmon....If that was my daughter, upset someone said something about her... I would tell her..and I have told my kids....Move on..talk is cheap! I pray this poor girl and her family can move on with their lives. The only thing..I wish she could go back to school, go to her prom,,,graduate with her class..while those low life's are in jail...

What is even worst than the beating is Dr. Phil posting bail for the ring leader. What kind of message is his staff sending to teens. Do something bad enough and we will bail you out so Dr. Phil can yell at them on TV. What these girls need is to stay in jail. The show helping that horrible girl out is like punching the victim in the face again. His show should be boycotted till her bail is revoked.

I agree with ppstorm..Parents need to be held responsible for their kids and their horrific actions against this young girl. People need to quit making excuses by wanting to blame myspace when these girls had NO RIGHT to touch that girl at all. They knew what they were doing was wrong when it started and they should do the time for committing the crime. They should go after the parents to..where the hell were they at??

Older Bullies Beat Up a 10-Year-Old Girl, Breaking Her Hip
Is it just me, or have there been a LOT of stories about child violence lately? Maybe it’s just that the media is reporting more after the whole 3rd graders’ murder plot, but regardless… in Erie, Pennsylvania, a couple days ago, 10-year-old Rikki Triana with her younger sister Nikki at the the Pfeiffer Burleigh playground with 2 other friends when 4 12- and 13-year-old girls 2 10- and 11-year old girls (the police and lawyers issued statements today about the charges filed. Originally, the media had reported 4 12- and 13-year-old girls) came. Rikki told WICU-12 “I’d say they were mean to me and harsh. These two other girls were nice to us, they left because they knew probably what was going to happen so they ran home.”

The bullies threw water on Rikki and Nikki. Rikki recounts what happened next: They “pulled my feet off the monkey bars my leg went this way and I started crying. They started stomping on me.”

The cowards (any bully is a coward) ran off when two adults came, but police have been able to question one of them. They’re still looking for the others.

Rikki had a broken hip, and had to have surgery on Friday. 3 pins were placed in her hip, but doctors don’t know if she’ll need hip replacement surgery later down the road. She now prepares for 6 weeks of physical therapy before doctors assess her situation.

Personally, these 4 brats need to be charged with aggravated assault (under Pennsylvania Consolidate Statutes, Title 18, Chapter 27, § 2702 (a)(1), a felony of the first degree (a lawyer should argue that they caused serioius bodily injury, since the disfiguration of her hip is permanent, since she has pins in it). And if any of the parents know that their kids were the bullies and aren’t coming forward, not only are those parents terrible human beings, but they are aiding and abetting criminals - so I’d charge them too (only if they know that their kids were the bullies).

Still - where were the parents here? Children today are just terrible. I’m not a person for lawsuits, but the Trianas do need to sue the other families here to pay for the medical bills in my opinion. Poor little Rikki could have life long effects from this beating and she deserves some money in my opinion. And the bullies - they deserve a whole lot more than just the minimum of 5 years for first degree aggravated assault. In my opinion, they deserve the maximum penalty (which from what I’ve been able to research is 20 years - Pennsylvania doesn’t have their code online on a government website, so I’ve had to go look through some appeals cases, and it appears that the max is 20 years). That will teach kids from stomping on a little girl and breaking her hip - they wouldn’t get out until they’re 32 or 33 - and they would whole-heardtedly deserve it!

Done Ranting,

Ranting Republican

The parents, as all can see on the video clips from the bond hearing, are all white trash, caucasian garbage, and dumb illiterate red necks, just like thier animal daughters. I hope I am on the jury - life in prison for Hardcastle and Cooper, 30 years for the rest of the pigs. Beating near death a girl until unconscious, then beating her again after she regained consciousness, all the while precious Tory refuses to fight back, verbally and physiclally beaten, and not one of the little pigs has the common decency to see she is scared and hurt - what low life white trash piglets. Products of their crap parents - just like the apple does not fall far from the tree - the crap does not fall far from the a-hole.

Lets make a movie, instead of "lord of the flies", with these 6 girls we can call it "queen of the pigs"...

It is so easy to read this and look at the horrendus clips of this beating and think " let us blame the parents." Ultimately, parents are responsible for their underage children. Being a parent of a seventeen year old girl, I try very hard to keep open lines of communication with her and be involved in her life. I volunteer in her school and always have been involved in her activities. I believe that GIRLS of this age group are an " at risk" group. I have heard and seen them turn on one another with such malice. I am not sure what prompted this beating
( although there is no excuse at all to act like bullies and prey on such a small girl)I know that girls watch reality shows like " Bad Girls," a show that depicts constant conflict and encourages bad manners and deplorable conduct. I do not have any answers, but in closing will say the parents of some of these girls are no doubt as horrified as we are, perhaps more so . I cannot imagine raising a child, have them commit an act like this and wonder" what the hell did I do wrong?" Our media,their peers and a entire lack of respect for anything could have been the reason itself. These young people are going to lose much at such a stupid and vicious act. What a waste. My hearts go out to these parents , for their grief, anger and loss for what they are going to lose long term. Sometimes, bad things happen to kids with good parents.

These girls have no morals at all. When I was young, I would have gotten an ass whipping for that type of behavior. I believe we need to get back to spanking a child when they need it and make them start thinking about consequences for their actions. I'm not advocating Beating children, but making them aware of consequences. I was a troubled kid myself but I wouldn't have even considered this type of behavior. I have grown up a decent person and am no worse for the spanking I received.

Yes the girls were wrong but c'mon the parents fault? You cant watch your teens all of the time,it could have been as easy as them saying "mom I'm going to the mall" not hey I'm gonna go beat some chick senseless. In addition yeah they should be tried as adults i think, but definitely cant blame the parents kids will do stupid and unbelievable things. people can blame who ever they want (media,parents,video games etc) but in the end who was on the tape and who was throwing the punches ,think about it you can raise your kid to be the best and have respect for everyone but its usually those kids who end up in jail for a shooting or a savage beating.

Parents need to very careful in dealing with today's teenagers, any kind of relaxation might leads to this types of activities. Parents need to cautions in finding any new kind of behaviors. Parents need to communicate more often to get close to their teens in each and every things related to them. Parents need to take a professional help with discussing with other parents about various teens issues.

http://www.troubledteensguide.com/discuss-teens-problems.php