Bullies & Victims: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight on 360°, we're looking for answers in the suicide of a Massachusetts high school student. Prosecutors say bullies drove Phoebe Prince to take her own life. Some are saying the school completely missed the trouble. You'll hear from the principal. We're keeping them honest. Plus, Pres. Obama's new plan for offshore drilling. Is he flip-flopping from comments he made on the campaign trail and we continue our week-long series 'Scientology: A History of Violence".
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
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2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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Scienthology are more a cult than a church...a brainwashing cult!
David Miscavige NEEDS to speak up for himself!
What a coward!!! IF he has Nothing to hide.... & is SO proud of his religion... Anderson is giving him a platform here...what is he waiting for?
Tam............there are other choices for your son. Local private schools and boarding schools have more authority and are not afraid to use it. If one doesn't work, try another, but never give up on helping your son. He is counting on you!
To win claw game: find a small child who can crawl inside. 😉
@JoAnn...you're absolutely correct. However do we think any of them would have ever gotten elected if not making promises? I wonder.
Anderson you totoally called them on this... it's crazy... that they "handle" this matter internally... it's crap..
@Anderson, I think it would help to explain to viewers the problems with leaving the church of Scientology. This may account for why these guys waited so long to leave.
Having said that, I cannot believe someone would inflict pain on another person because some nut in the church told him/her to. Don't they have any basic understanding of right and wrong?
is punching, beating and other types of violence part of Scientology
"auditing"? I doubt it. And why do they wear a uniform?
Did she just say it was dealt with internally? Aren't they compelled to report it to police?
hello,
wow great show tonight and last night , thank you ANDERSON, AND YOUR STAFF, you all are HERO'S.
you bring the real stories to life. stay honest.
Scientology sounds more and more like a cult. Everyone is so overly defensive there even when the questions are being asked. It explains Tom Cruise's behavior
I think that beatings are against the law.
Who lying???? I don't believe what he saying at all. I don't like Scientology church...... YIKES!
Scientologists are strange to begin with but now letting other people beat you up and not telling anyone about it is just the icing on the cake
Bullies need to be EXPELLED. End of story. They can find other people in society to torment so they end up as juvenile delinquents. Then the law will deal them.
Evening Anderson, team 360 and bloggers!
Anderson thanks for the work you do to keep us intuch
Tommy Davis keeps burying himself deeper and deeper he's jsut a joke...
Those upper level SO chumps could not keep their flawed stories straight. And the crazy eyes don't help.
No one called the police...not a shock to me. Some 'families' and some groups really have their members scared.
Those in the "sea org"... they look like they are wearing Military Uniforms.
I thought that was illegal! I guess that's true only for the Police?
I believe most of the ex-member's of the church.After all many of them gave a huge portion of their life to scientology. Why would they leave if there wasn't a reason?
Hi Anderson! again thanks for adressing this! Loved your `keeping them honest´ about `the church` yesterday! So good, what an investigation. It´s like an thriller book. Be careful next week in Haiti! And give Sean Penn a hug.. he needs it..
Hope your reporting will bring a move for the Haitian people..
Where is the money?
Anderson, back then Obama said "we cannot drill our way out of our problems". Today he is advocating drilling. There's no contradiction there. Two different things. Is your reporter suggesting Obama said he would not drill oil?
I don't understand the meaning of the Navy-theme costumes worn by Scientologists.
The more I hear about this church the more it sounds like basic gang behavior. Loyalty or else.
@Megan,
Hi Megan, 🙂
I agree..The Beat360 was very funny tonight.
Seems like Scientology really tried to go after South Park over Tom Cruise and other well done jokes they put together in typical South Park fashion. They sound like a gang of thugs.
@Anderson, nice to see you on the blog.
Yes, there are a large number of stories on the blog from victims of bullying.
That's why i thank you for reporting on this story and hope you will continue to do so until it stops.
The adults in our communities need to be adults and call the bullies out for their behavior: teachers and parents. Regretfully, we live in a society where being mean and acting badly seems to cool. Maybe that's always been true. The difference between "the good old days" and now is that bad behavior wasn't as easily accepted. Parents knew kids could be cruel and their kid was no exception. If a bullied child feels there is no one to turn to then they feel trapped. A trapped child sees few choices. Adults need to stop looking the other way.
@Anderson, We should not paint all teachers with the same brush, but we should be aware that teachers, just like students, want to be liked and do not want to end up being the target of these same bullies. It is a big problem when teachers want to be accepted by the so-called "popular" cliques. Believe it or not, it happens more than you think.
Anderson,
Hi!
The descriptions of physical violence in the Church seem credible–they have a common thread, but are not really identical.
Jeff Hawkins is not credible because he protests with other critics?
lol
my violent stepfather was a scientology member. he flexed his muscle around the house. full out decked my little brother to keep him in line. My experience with the church is that of unwavering ego ridden members who love confrontation.
My wife was bullied at her work and was later fired in retaliation after filing a grievance. My children have been bullied on the bus for over 2 years. I finally stepped up and said it was enough and it was not going to happen anymore. I spoke with the schools and the family of the children. When the laws don't support you, you have to decide to take a stand or the worst case will happen sooner or later.
Anderson,
Yeah, Me too, That was so sad for them. This was breaking my heart for boy!!!! 🙁 I agree with you. I know how parents felt, too.
Hello Anderson, thank you for joining us! Yes, I agree it's really heartbreaking to see such a wonderful child end his own life and literally destroy his parents lives over bullying issues.
Hi! Anderson 🙂
We get a few weeks worth of oil AT THE MOST from additional off shore drilling. The US uses a lot of oil compared to other nations.
We did not win the fossil fuel lottery, so if we want to be independent for foreign oil, we have to be independent from oil, period. That will not be easy, but just sayin'.
Anderson,
Who do you believe??
@Anderson-Their pain is unbearable. I really hope schools wake up and start to do some urgent interventions.
So much chatting tonight!
Starr, I was bullied as a young adult. I think that we all need to speak up and fight against this dreadful behavior.
I'm a parent of a child that was bullied in school.Needless to say she experienced stomach aches and other health issues which kept her out of classes.School officials just brushed it off and said it was just the age and that everyone gets bullied and gets through it. As long as it doesn't get physical there wasn't much they could do.I'm glad to say that she has her GED and is a CNA. As time goes by this problem seems to be getting worse.Maybe this needs to be addressed early in grade school.A conflict resolution panel made up of students,teachers and professionals should be in place where needed.Being bullied should not be apart of childhood.Enough is enough!
@Casey Jones – Palm Springs, CA, " When I look back I see every President changing course."
That is why they should not "promise" anything.
Oh yes!!!! Nice one!!! I do love beat 360!!! LOL!! I like Tom's caption is best caption I read!!!!! Congrats Tom and Adam! 🙂
evening everyone, sorry im late.. just been reading the chat... amazing how widespread bullying is.. and i agree with the teacher who said we shouldnt paint all teachers with the same brush...
my heart breaks for the carmichaels...a 13 year old boy hanging himself in a barn.. it's unthinkable.
@ Tamara... Well there's two sides to every story.. the church seems to deny any and all allegations.. which is suspect in itself.. the people coming forward are admitting to their part in it but also saying enough is enough David Miscavaige the head of the church is a cowrad for not speaking for hiimself..
Hi Anderson,
I teach the 5th grade and deal with bullying on a daily basis. Sometimes I feel helpless, and what I do is not working. Consequences often seem like a band-aid., and I desperately want to help my students. How can I really put a stop to this in my classroom and on the playground?
Thanks for bringing light to this issue!
I never believe what politicians say, especially when they promise the kinds of things Obama promised. They always find ways to change their minds after they get elected that is why they should never promise anything, they should just lay out their platform and say they will do what they can to fulfill it.
My 18 year old college student was threatened with arrest today for stopping an assault. A Scottsdale, AZ police officer told her in front of some 50+ students that she should have let the fight between two other girls happen. The aggressor outweighed the victim by an easy 60 pounds. My daughter told the officer that what he said lacked logic and was absolutely insane and she would do it all again regardless of the threat of charges. So here we have men in Police uniforms telling young adults to work out there issues with their fists...brilliant.
When I was young, I was bullied and teased on a daily basis for my weight. It was very painful for me at the time and still is just lokking back. Fortunatly, I have worked on my self-esteem issues and doing very well as a young adult. Tonight after watching the segment of Anderson's interview with the parents of the 13 year old boy whom committed suicide after being bullied by classmates. I weep for all those poor kids whom suffered from the taunts of the bullies to the point of taking their own lives. I weep for the familes and friends for their loss. I weep for the bullies, who can't seem to understand that words can kill. But most of all, I weep for my younger self who was put down but eventually thrived. And to Scott, I'm glad you survived as well! Thanks Anderson and all the staffers for bringing these stories to light.