Sense and Sensibility-ness-ing-ly

It seems everyone in Australia has an opinion on this situation - and it's time for mine.

As reported by every media outlet in Australia and working on being the same overseas, a Narre Warren South 16 year old teenager arranged a party on Saturday 12 January at his parents place while they were out of town. That in itself isn't worth the attention it has received... except he posted the details for the party on his MySpace page and 500 people turned up (I'm guess that about 470 of them, conservatively, weren't close personal friends of the kid). Havoc ensued. Neighbours understandably called Police due to the general chaos, and the intial attending officers were forced back by the sheer number of the crowd and the fact they were attacked leaving their car pretty damaged. The Victorian Police air and canine wings, along with additional ground forces, were mobilised to assist with the dispersal of the party-goers.

If the situation was left at that, surely that would be bad enough. Property had been damaged by those attending/crashing the party. Neighbours effectively stuck in their homes due to the mob outside. Police resources used where they shouldn't have needed to be to sort out a mess that shouldn't have happened. Some silly kid should have learnt you don't post details of your party on your internationally accessible MySpace page.

The situation only grew in newsworthiness and gob-smackedness when the media fronted the area the next day to film the "aftermath". Cameras were greeted with half-to-almost-totally naked teen boys running down the street for the camera's sake. The organiser of the party, when questioned by the media had no remorse whatsoever. By no remorse, I mean he was revelling in the attention he got, even posing with the newspaper article on the debacle on the front step of the house for the cameras. It only got worse through this week as more and more media wanted a piece of the teen. His parents - on holiday - were tracked down for their view. The sunglasses he wore and refused to take off garnered their own section of media attention by themselves. The Victorian Police commissioner threatened a $20,000 bill for their services over the weekend. It only gets crazier with a Sydney nightclub promoter suggesting the teen had a career opportunity with him once he turned 18.

Then, yesterday, he got arrested.  :)

Now there's suggestion that child pornography has be identified as being supplied by he or one of the other party goer.
As he is only 16, I'm guessing that the "child pornography" may be naked/near naked pics of his friends... but I'm not sure that makes it any better.

It's just ludicrous on a whole number of levels.

The kid is 16 and one would think smart enough to know:
(a) don't list your party details on the internet
(b) don't talk to the media when you're clearly in trouble
(c) TAKE THE DAMN SUNGLASSES OFF and put some clothes on!
(d) When your parents come home, it's time to face up to the music not take off with friends and avoid what's coming to you
(e) don't talk up what happened to the media like it was the coolest thing in the world and none of the bad stuff is your fault

Responsibility time, kiddo. Wake up and smell the reality of what you've done.

I was listening to Triple M's Wil & Lehmo as I drove home yesterday and they were on board too. They'd built the whole second hour of their show around him - lout or legend. Wil thought he was a legend (and put a pretty good case - who else recently has stood up to a tabloid current affairs host and basically enraged them with their "I don't care" attitude), Lehmo put a spectacular case of him being a lout. It's everywhere.

The bottom line is this - not only does the kid need to take responsiblity for what he's done, where there was cost or damage incurred he should be responsible for that, and he should also be smacked upside the head by every Australian who thinks he's a jerk. Those that think he's cool can cuddle him better afterwards.

He's a tool, plain and simple - and his parents/step-parents who are calling for him to be punished can't dodge their responsiblity either. At 16 he's still their problem. Whilst the parents possibly shouldn't be subjected to the public smack upside the head-ing they certainly need a good roasting. They let him grow the attitude that has birthed this monster. The left unchecked the ego which is now the sunglasses. They are the ones who left him at home while they went away for a nice holiday together (which I am sure they'll now not do again until he is 53).

I do appreciate that by blogging on the situation I am only building his infamy. Trust me, if I saw him walk down the street, I'd "MySpace party" him. Jerk.