Suspects in Clementi Suicide Should Be Treated as Adults

Agreed that these people need to be treated like adults and punished for what was clearly trespass. I think the root of all of these issues, though, is the government-mandated and funded school system, though. When you force individuals to interact with each other on a daily basis, you're going to get unpleasant things like bullying and these awful pranks. Having more options to educate ourselves outside of 'schooling' would be a huge step forward. I think the "School Sucks Podcast" does a great job of pointing out how these problems arise in our school systems...

These scum should be punished to the full extent of the law, I am so tired of these kind of people, real funny setting up your secret camera, they are cowards, this kid had a right to his private life...........they make me sick, poor fellow, I wish people would realize there are always better days ahead and things pass eventually. Sad for his family.

Its time that young adults learn that there is consequences to their actions . I see kids all the time acting up and the parent sets there and does nothing . I was in a resturant the other night and a young man around 10 - 12 years of age set there and screamed at his mother she was a lying Bi##h . If I would of done this to my mother one my Mom would of beat my a## and then my Dad would of done worse . These two young adults should be taken out and horse whipped in public . Maybe if we went back to some public hangings and public punishments , people would think about what they do to others.

I am so sad for the parents of this young man, these two idiots pushed him to this, they had no feelings for him, they thought it was a big joke, they should go to jail for a long time so people would think twice before doing such a stupid thing; if you were a girl would you want a video of you changing a tampon for all to see; this generation sinks

Haven't anyone done something stupid in a college dorm? I'm sure the intention were not for this to happen, besides who is not to say that it was a payback prank? No one knows what really went on but them, also to commit suicide???? something was not right in this young mans head, not wort killing yourself over it.

This is an exceptionally confused and poorly organized editorial. First of all, I think that you are misunderstanding the comment about infantilizing young people. Yes, the world is tougher than ever, but "helicopter" parents are keeping their kids on tighter and tighter leashes as well. And spending an excessive amount of time online gives people (I don't care the age) a feeling of unreality about what they are doing there. I don't think anyone is arguing that these individuals be treated as anything but adults; they are just trying to explain why they are acting so childishly at the age of 18 (or older). I find that kids of this age (16-20s) are much closer and more attached to their parents, due to the omnipresence of texting, cell phones, e-mail, etc. They also seem less empathetic and more detached than ever before, i.e., narcissistic. If your kids are not this way, great. But there is obviously an increasing problem with bullying and cruelty. Why do they so easily dehumanize others and seem to lack empathy? That is the question here.

I think it's important to treat these suspects as adults because of the situation. Age doesn't affect a person's knowledge of crimes and morally wrong things to do. These suspects are the reason this young boy is now gone, and there is no way they should be let off easy. This case of Invasion of Privacy became so serious that it cannot be played off as a simple matter because of age. If a fifteen-year-old, for example, committed this crime, I would still agree that he or she should be tried as an adult. Age should not be an issue in certain serious cases such as this one.

As a card carrying homosexual since middle school, I wish these kids would understand that it really does get better. I was lucky enough to grow up in a liberal beach town in California and had a older, bigger, meaner, brother who discouraged most attacks on me in elementary and middle school and by high school no one really ever bothered me. Being gay is NOT something you wake up and decide that you want to make your life ten times more difficult, you are born that way and there is no way to change.

My privacy was invaded when unknown to me, a camcorder had been set up and was recording me in my apartment. The responsible parties were a 45 year male and a 58 year old male. To date, they have yet to be brought to justice. I don't know where the contents of those recordings have gone. My personal feeling is that these older individuals should given at least 3 years of incarceration. However, when it comes to 18 year-old's, I balk. Yes, they should be punished, but I think a home sentencing for 2-3 years may be sufficient. I also think that they should make a public apology. Nothing will bring the young man back -- and, I feel for him as I know what it is like to be tormented in this way. The universities also have an obligation and need to restrict any camcorders, recording equipment, etc. in the dorms. We need for someone to invent a inexpensive special device which can detect such equipment and everyone should have access to this new technology. Again, anyone involved in a setup that involves invasion of privacy should be prosecutable and brought to justice. However, I do hope that the age is considered but again, I can fully understand the horror of being the victim in this type of situation and we need to set a new precedent for establishing the safety of an individual's privacy and enforce it!!!

My privacy was invaded when unknown to me, a camcorder had been set up and was recording me in my apartment. The responsible parties were a 45 year male and a 58 year old male. To date, they have yet to be brought to justice. I don't know where the contents of those recordings have gone. My personal feeling is that these older individuals should given at least 3 years of incarceration. However, when it comes to 18 year-old's, I balk. Yes, they should be punished, but I think a home sentencing for 2-3 years may be sufficient. I also think that they should make a public apology. Nothing will bring the young man back -- and, I feel for him as I know what it is like to be tormented in this way. The universities also have an obligation and need to restrict any camcorders, recording equipment, etc. in the dorms. We need for someone to invent a inexpensive special device which can detect such equipment and everyone should have access to this new technology. Again, anyone involved in a setup that involves invasion of privacy should be prosecutable and brought to justice. However, I do hope that the age is considered but again, I can fully understand the horror of being the victim in this type of situation and we need to set a new precedent for establishing the safety of an individual's privacy and enforce it!!!