14-year-old girl sues friend over missing iPod
By Peter Rojas 
posted Aug 23rd 2006 4:48AM
posted Aug 23rd 2006 4:48AM
You gotta love the litigousness of youth -- especially when there's an iPod involved. A spat over a missing iPod resulted in a lawsuit in Wheaton, Illinois, when 14-year-old Shannon Derrik sued her (now former) friend Stephanie Eick for losing her brand new iPod. It seems that Shannon made the fool mistake of lending her iPod to Stephanie, who decided it'd be a good idea to give back the iPod by leaving it on Shannon's desk rather than waiting for her to return from the restroom to hand it over in person. The iPod managed to disappear -- apparently someone in that classroom had some sticky fingers -- and so Shannon sued for $475 in damages and court fees (she says she did a LOT of babysitting to pay for that iPod). The case was initially tossed because of an improper filing, but it looks like the two girls will finally square off in court in about a month (the word on the street is that they're gearing up for a serious showdown in the cafeteria when school starts up again). Ryan and I will be headed to Wheaton next month to liveblog the entire trial, we really have no choice to put all our resources into coverage of a case of this magnitude.[Thanks, Ricardo]
Yes, because 14 year olds really need an iPod.
yes, we do. I though suing, she's probbably going to end up spending more on court costs than she'll gain. unless she includes court costs in her suit
Well, it really shows the 'monkey-sees-monkey-does' effect on little prats like these girls.
"Oh, my iPod is nicked. You've gotta pay, cause you left it uncontrolled, you stupid leech. I'm gonna call my lawyer first thing in the morning. I think you better should do it too...."
I can remember that these things first went up to the parents, but this article reads like it's up to the girls and the judge alone?
- Unomi -
alright silver, what is the appropriate age to get an ipod? no one need an ipod, necessity certainly isnt obtained at some random age you decide.
If she worked hard to earn the money to buy her own iPod, who are YOU to judge whether or not she deserves one? If she's mature enough to even work at that age, why not an iPod? The situation is far different than if some parent bought one for their spoiled adolescent.
I had an iriver H320 when i was 14... i used it all the time but there was never a need, there isnt a need for anyone.
Sueing thing just seems stupid to me though, i would expect the person to pay for it anyway without going to court.
lol... I yearn for the day when a 6 year old files a suit against the bully who takes his/her lunch money.
Also, it would be just fan-freakin-tastic if you guys actually DID liveblog the whole thing. lol...
HOLY HELL!!! I live in Downers Grove Il, about 20 minutes from Wheaton, and my little sister actually knows Stephine Eick! My Cousin Lives in wheaton and also knows the girl. How strange it is that im hearing of this news on a world wide gadget site and not from my gossipy sister's mouth! I am SO going to this trial and witnessing this!
Do you really believe the supposed "friend" really gave it back to her by putting it on her desk? I am not ignorant, that is a lie. Thieves always lie to avoid consequences.
This will teach others not to be so fast to ask others to loan things to them. Accountability, baby.
You guys are actually going to wheaton to live blog this trial??? GET A LIFE!!! Why not spend your time doing something better? First it's some ripoff superbowl commercial, now some lame trial?
;)
Hah. This sounds exactly word for word what happened in my High School Economics class. Some girl on the other side of the room lent her friend an ipod, who returned it by setting it on her desk while she was in the restroom, it was stolen blablabla. It was pretty intense *rolls eyes*. The girls actually got into multiple screaming fights in the middle of class over it, resulting in the teacher separating them in opposite corners of the room & forbidding anyone from speaking while security arrived. It was completely out of control... haha when I first read this article, if it wasn't for the age and location I would have sworn this was how the whole debacle ended up. Just goes to show ya, iPods make people crazy. Long Live Vinyl ;)
Hey Matt, maybe you should liveblog it for Engadget ;)
@rdrkx80
I suppose that at that age an iPod would be overkill, or any other mp3 player that packed 30+ GBs of storage. It's not about iPods specifically, but can you really see why a 14 year old would need that much space?
I think they're both retarded, but really, who the hell would leave an iPod on someone's desk in a classroom? I went to a small school with virtually zero crime, and I still wouldn't do that. Hell, I left my Rio in the library for ten minutes once and someone stole it. Small electronics are just too tempting of a target.
LOL
Wheaton sucks. It figures someone sues over a lost iPod in DuPage County.
Michael... Obviously your sarcasm, if it was indeed sarcasm, doesn't carry over when you put 'lame' in your comments. Might wanna think your wording next time...
But then again, a liveblog of the trial would be freaking awesome.
And this is news worthy for what reason exactly?
Oh yeah, it mentions the iPod.
"Girl sues over lost iRiver" would make the news wouldn't it?
Of course it wouldn't. This is yet another non-story but it mentions the iPod so it's "news"....
Although no one really *needs* an iPod, why the hell should a 14 year old not have one?
The iPod is just the walkman/discman of the 21st century. I got my first Walkman when I was 10 or so in the early 90s. Sure iPods can hold a crapload more of music, but it's the same damn thing.
Long Live the U.S. of America. (no, this is not sarcasm for those who know nothing)
Well, my first walkman did not cost as much as the latest console. Actually, no walkman was that expensive. Who does let a 16 year old carry a 500$ device to school?
And iRiver would not get the attention because quality does not necessarily create social trends. Just look at Paris Hilton -whose first and let us hope last record probably was on the missing iPod-.
Maybe if Americans gave as much attention to things like global warming as they do to lawsuits we'd all be saved a lot of trouble. Don't see it happening though. Bluddy selfish Americans
Only in America...for now...God really needs to bless America.
What are the parents doing, btw?
What are "global warming" reports going to do? You think the 290 million Americans can stop the pollution from the other 7 BILLION people? Get smart, people are not going to stop buying packaged food and goods because of one article, a trillion articles, or more awareness efforts.
Welcome to reality.
Wow, if this had happened when I was 14, the principal would've marched both of them into his/her office, then systamatically gone through the school until someone fessed up. Someone was responsible and it was only a matter of time before they were found out (because, you know, kids do like to brag...).
Besides, what idiot lones their i-Whatever device and then walks away, and what idiot thinks leaving it on a desk out in the open is a good idea?
Guess things have changed. Nobody is accountable nor responsible, nor do the schools or the parents take any role in this process to teach children. So we have to waste valuable court time with a case like this. I hope the judge has a few good words to say. I'd love to see this on Judge Judy. I shudder to think what the prosecuting girl will be like when she grows up.
Sorry, that should be *systematically*
I agree with betty and Fred.
Fucking Selfish Americans Will Rot in Hell. Jesus said that if someone takes your jacket from you, you should give him/her also your shirt. You found courts and you think that everything will be solved through lawsuits. You are such an idiots, everyone around the world hates your guts, but how will you know, the propaganda in your stupid country does not show you the real news, they only
tell you what they want you to know(this article is a perfect example of what they consider "news"). I have a lot more to say but this is not the right place. Fuck you all, I hate you for all the problems that you cause to humanity
Anyone, use my email if you want to contact me, I have no problem to answer you.
to Silver R. Wolfe
I do not think it is enough space or more than enough space for a 14 or 16 year old. Waaay back when I was 14, back BEFORE CDs, I had audio tapes and I used to record my favorite songs from the radio (now you can just download them) or my friends would create mix tapes for me. I had tons and tons of audio tapes of variouv music that were hard to manage. Then came cds and burning cds. So I can totally understand a 14 or 16 year old having a 30g ipod, because, probably in your mind, it is 1985 and not that many people carry around so much music, but in 2007 people do at all various ages. With so many places to download music it is a wonder how some people manage it all, i guess an ipod would be better than trying to manage all that music on audio tapes.
to Michael:
I agree with you. Had the girl told her teacher, perhaps this would not have escalated to such a degree as in going to court. A simple search of the class and everyone's desks would have turned up the ipod. Frankly it is a big no no to lend friends high priced items like ipods, psps, cell phones, because you do not know what kind of person you would be dealing with. Personally I hope the girl wins her case and gets the money back for her ipod, though it would not teach either girls any lessons in dealing with others.
i still do not like america.
Glen Ellyn, IL.
Right next to Wheaton. I'm quite shocked to see this break from traffic, curfew, and parking tickets in the legal system for such a serious case. Not much happens in these Western suburbs, so I'm not too shocked. But I wouldn't be surprised if our one homeless woman was the thief.
On another note, I'm 16 and have 26 gigs of music on my iPod and more on my computer.
Well i am actually 15 and do have a Creative Zen Sleek, and it is pretty full of music, but people are a little crazy when it comes to iPods (in my mind overpriced, in the UK a 30 Gb model is £209, yet for my brand new Sleek 20 Gb was £109! and yes i know mine doesn't play videos, but if i really wanted to do that i'd buy a pda with usb host (like my poor old Loox 720 RIP) and then just plug it in and have a half decent screen! anyway, back on topic), you have to remember that iPod ownership is a status symbol, i know people that buy an iPod just to have one for their 20 mp3's, or buy the headphones to look "cool" (muggable more like!), and i'm sure that was the very reason why she lent it out, but tbh i don't blame here for sueing, if it is the girls fault its gone then she needs to pay, and if her and her parents are being unco-operative, then threatening legal action is the next step (and yes i have had experience, ive lost a pen drive after some **** kicked it, but his parents bought me a shiny new 2 Gb one so i ain't complaining), and the same with my poor Loox, who got replaced by a Dell X51v FOC
i dont know what the fuss is about really
oh and btw, i have left money on a teachers desk (£10 for a CHARITY no less, after school when no-one was around, the teacher appeared 5 mins later and it was gone - and this is at a tiny, quiet UK school
Now let’s look at these comments. We are so clueless on why the “World” hates us, in fact lets just drop some bombs on anyone that hates us, that will resolve all our problems.
I wish to thank those willing to speak up from outside of the USA, your thoughts are not falling on deaf ears.
It’s my understanding that anyone underage in the US can’t enter into a contract or bring a lawsuit, so I can only assume this means the “Girls” parents or guardians are really behind the lawsuit and that makes this story even more pathetic.
What's up with y'all? America is teh best, and I love being American! Racist fools...
I think she is well in her right to sue. My little sister used to baby sit for money and sometimes the kids were the worst kids you can imagine, and she never used to get paid all that much either, so I can just image what she had to go through to acquire that much money to afford that. Also it took her time to copy her cd’s or maybe she used her own money to purchase songs off Itunes, either way her friend was careless and she need to compensate her for her purchase.
My iPod was stolen right out of my dorm room, but I didn't go around suing everyone in sight.
Ktino
I am an American who has lived in Europe for the
past two years.90% of the people I have met have had nothing but kind words to say about Americans (other than we are all fat). What they have to say about our government is quite a bit different though(and I don't dissagree with them). Please don't confuse the two. Sorry we are not all perfect.
hahaha
love it!!!
what will they sue people over next eh?!
talk about waste of money and time!
But why $475? Why not just $300? She's charging $175 extra just for not having an ipod for a few days, what a brat.
By the way, it was an ipod Nano
If I was the judge:
"You stupid girl. What were you doing lending an ipod to somebody. Stop wasting the time of the court, srsly." Then give her a print out of: http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1141/1152827182058oy2.jpg
I live in Wheaton but really don't care about two 14 year olds arguing over an ipod but if you guys do come to Wheaton and need a place to stay let me know.
pissed off about the age of an ipod owner or the legal venue with which the owner pursues justice?
pissed off at america?!?
sounds like simple class envy to me... which is how important to who? stop being so jealous of the U.S.!
if you want the way of life that we have then TAKE IT LIKE WE DID or continue to piss and moan globally while we decide who to give some of our EXTRA money to...
STOP BITCHING AND DO SOMETHING!
The comments from the (obviously) anti-americans are pretty staggering. If someone lost something of value, regardless of wether it is the little white love-it-or-hate-it MP3 player, would you just accept the loss?
Just because it happened in the US, and everyone hates the US; and just because it was an iPod, and everyone hates the iPod - doesn't overshadow the fact that a relatively (2 weeks old) new item of value (US$475) was loaned to someone in good faith and stolen before it was given back to the rightful owner.
I would have to assume that the owner of the iPod told her parents, or from what the article suggests, both sides' parents were probably called from the school. So since we assume the parents know, it isn't too hard to assume that the parents of the girl with the iPod asked the other parents to reimburse their daughter the purchase amount of the iPod and they refused.
What else can they do? Beat them up? Slash tires? Other vigilante justice?
THIS IS WHAT SMALL CLAIMS COURT IS FOR!
If someone borrowed something of value from me and managed to lose it or have it wind up stolen, you can bet your ass that if I couldn't get them to replace the item in the exact condition or give me its equivalent value in cash I would drag them into small claims court and let a judge hear about it. $475 is a LOT of money for a 16 year old to save up and assuming (the article doesn't say otherwise) that she paid for it without any help from her parents, she has every right to sue for compensation.
Engadget: you missed the BEST part of this suit.
(and this partly answers the "Why $475 for an iPod question")
Part of the damages saught include a $60 case (who buys a $60 case, when they're 14 anyhow?... but the creme de la creme... she's suing for $50 in iTunes store songs that were on the ipod. LOL.
Geez, I didn't know Apple invented an iPod that went straight to iTunes bypassing one's computer. Dumbasses, resync and save the world some grief. Fucking rich brats.
to me i think its the parents fault
they r the ones that let her sue
y not just go to the other girls parents and ask them to make her pay it off and buy their daughter a new ipod
I second Jjeff's comments - this is small claims court stuff, no legal fees aside from the filing fee - usually $35.
There is a principle here - you borrow something, you're responsible for it until you return it to the owner. It isn't returned until she actually has receipt of it, so its her friends responsibility.
I'm amazed at how many people are pissed at the girl who filed the suit! The blame goes on the other girl (and her parents) for not owning up to the responsibility and paying for it.
hahah this is awesome. I live in Wheaton. This is hilarious. Stupid teenie boppers. Learn some responsibility, and don't lend something that is $500 to a friend. At least make sure you have $500 worth of something of hers before you lend an ipod.
Hey, at least she bought it with her own money from babysitting. Wheaton (DuPage County) = bunch of rich kids where mommy & daddy buy them cars, clothes, electronics, and anything else they want.
"everyone around the world hates your guts"
Ktino - possibly, but in the same way that people in coach resent people in First Class. :-)
I agree that the anti-american comments are astonishing. If you had been working for weeks/months when you were 14 to buy an expensive item and your friend loses it (intentionally or not), then you would be mad, right? $475 is a lot of money for a young girl to raise. Put it in perspective. As an adult, if someone borrowed an expensive item of mine, I would expect them to either bring it back in the same condition that I lent it to them, or have them pay me back for the item. This girl's friend was negligent, and owes damages.
And ktino, sorry but we can't e-mail you without your e-mail address.
Also, the engadget guys were kidding about the liveblogging of the trial. There were lots of jokes in the article. Get a sense of humor.
I heard about this on WGN yesterday.
What takes the case is that the girls have FUCKING ATTORNEYS...
Trust me. Hiring an Attorny will cost 10x what that Ipod costs...
Wow, didn't expect a post on 14yr olds and a missing ipod getting so many comments (most of which are somewhat anti-american), but hey, whatever float your boat. At least I get a little insight as to what Wheaton is like from people who live round the nabe.
WHEATON IS MY HOMETOWN!!!
Hasn't anyone read the linked article?
Not only is it the mother (and NOT the daughter) who is taking things to court, the girls involved don't actually seem particularly bothered by the whole thing.
In fact, I get the impression that both children have lost out as it looks like they want to remain friends but the parents have pretty much screwed that up. Well done; your child's friendship for the sake of a few hundred dollars. What admirable values.
To skaht: Naturally, people won't tell you to your face that they dislike Americans. People are cowards. The fact that you are blaming your government instead of taking responsibility for the inbred, egocentric culture that basically keeps America on its feet today is sad. You do not live in a dictatorship, you (the white population, at least) are not being oppressed and systematically murdered by your government.
I'm sorry, but you can't blame your government. After years and years of ignorance there is no longer one single point of responsibility to unload all this crap on. You, Americans as a group, are responsible, and you as a group are and should be hated for it.
But I'm glad that you have moved to Europe. How does civilization feel?
Smudley, would you care to enlighten us poor foreigners were this EXTRA money you speak of comes from? Did you know that the U.S. national debt is over 28 thousand dollars per capita? If you have so much extra money why don't you just pay some of your debts and stop calling us.
You seem really angry considering you seem to feel like you're in paradise.
rdrkx80 you moron it says right there in the article she is suing for cost of ipod PLUS court costs. Dumbass
It's a fight between two kids. If they can't hash it out it should not go to court but to their parents.
You said it betty, Fred, Ktino.
If you make a mistake to lend your iPod to somebody, and they lose it. It's your fault, not theirs. fucking idiots.
America, land that I love.
Like, what-eh-ver.
*sighs, rolls eyes*
For all the people out there that hates America! No one out there could change your opinion about our great country. I have lived all over the world and I chose to live here, and you can’t blame the population for what is happening in the government, it might not be a dictator ship but unless you vote you have no say and most of the intellectuals do not vote, why? Give a candidate with intelligence and I will stand in line and vote until then it’s a work day and I am busy and hey this thread is about a case pending keep on topic and realize it makes no sense hating someone and the cold hearted people who cheered over the dead on 9/11 I think that was messed up and it didn’t show there hate for this country it showed there lack of respect for life.
iPods belong in the restroom. Sad to think it all coulda been solved with a simple, relatively cheap, Traveller's Edition iPod toilet dock.
just adding that I am also in Wheaton. And I had to hear of this on the internets.
Go to Shane's Deli
When I was 14, it was much harder to steal a portable music player in a classroom because they were much too large to easily hide within the classroom. Even taking them from the classroom was difficult. Although technically portable, they took six or seven people to transport--eight or nine if some of them were particularly small--and even then, they had to walk very slowly, so you could tell there was a theft in progress by the huddle of teenagers moving slowly through the hall.
Of course, back then, theft seemed a small risk for the joys of modern life; when I was 13, electricity had not yet been discovered and when I was 11, music had not yet been invented. When I was 12, we knew about music, but since we had no music players, we used to just carry rocks and sticks around and beat them together to fashion crude melodies. Of course, we could not do that in most classes because there was no way to confine the sound to headphones.
stupidity STRIKES AGAIN!!
@Vilppi
im well aware of the fact that the u.s. borrows money from other countries all the time. with that in mind we are also the first ones to be asked for money in a time of need. im sick of my tax dollars going all over the world. i dont care if another country likes mine... what exactly is that worth anyway? with all we do to help those around the world we still are blamed for all the worlds injustices... i work my ass off for what i have and i was fortunate to be born where i can do just that. am i guilty of something that denies me a sense of pride and patriotism for my homeland? do not all corners of the globe have national skeletons in their closet? someone want to illustrate for me where it is that honest hard working people can go and live without constant global scrutiny and distaste? which people or country have the unquestionable right to their national pride??
that we bicker amongst ourselves within our borders is not proof that our form of government is a failure... nor is the unpopular result of an election. what do you think would really happen if the u.s. was ganged up on and overthrown??
another u.s. would pop up so fast your head would spin!
or better yet do you think it not possible that the american people, if easily swayed to "empathize", could also agree to "not care" if pushed hard enough?
try and imagine what its like to go to work all day and be constantly reminded that there are those who hate you who have never met you.
we are not superhuman over here... it is possible for us to hate too and i hope that day never comes because if it does then we may just become all those bad things that people say
Excellent parenting going on here. The current generation of parents are the worst freaking human beings on the planet, and their "raising" legions of even worse little brats.
Holy ding-dang i live in wheaton, and im not really surprised this is happening. its all the rich people and all the poor people in one town.
She worked hard to earn that iPod all by herself. Her friend who mistakenly put that iPod on the desk should pay back to her.
actually, we have quite a theft problem here at wheaton north...
but thats beside the point.
At everyone who is making anti-American comments because we spend our time in lawsuits like this: Yes, it's stupid. But I'd rather have the biggest issue be a stolen iPod instead of living in a war torn country or below the poverty line. I personally feel blessed that we're so bored and have so much money. It sure beats risking death every time you go out.
I love reading all this big talk from people in little pissy Eurotrash countries. Perhaps the reason American's can walk with our head held high is that we have had to bail europe out so many times already.
I revel in the fact that so many people in other countries hate us. It shows us that we're fighting the good fight. We're taking our fight around the world while europe tolerates riots from the Jihadists over a friggin cartoon!
So, keep up your bitching, we'll keep stacking up dead terrorists while Europe keeps preaching about tolerance and wonders why there economies stay in the dumps.
nice Saluki...
i salute you! (couldnt resist)
Being an American who understands and sympathises with the ones posting about their grievances with America, it's hilarious to see the idiots trying to "defend" the US.
Smudley: regardless of what the capitalist aristocrats up in Washington want you to believe, it's not "how we live" or any type of jealousy that makes people dislike/distrust, or down right loathe American foreign policy.
Bill Maher had a great line in one of his books that said: "the reason [people in other countries] hate us is because we don't know why they hate us."
first off, this is just disgusting that it went to court. but hey, a lawsuits a lawsuit. ive heard worse
second, im annoyed at the person who said "a 14 year old doesnt need an ipod."
a 14 year old is typically a 9th grader.
I got my first tape deck probably when i was about 6. It cost me $40 at Bradlees. I got my first CD-player when I was 7 - the same year i got my Playstation. It was $100, and I also got a blink-182 cd and a will smith cd.
anyway - the fact is, just because shes younger then you doesn't mean "Oh no, shes too young to have an mp3 player." think about when you were that age. you wanted that same thing.
i started downloading mp3s when I was probably about 11. By 12, I was on IRC hosting my own FTP with at least 60gigs of music + other stuff. [now, i dont have any of this stuff anymore, nor do i ever even use irc]
14-year-olds are people too, and they have feelings too.......just like any other older person. Why do you think that they deserve less just because they are younger??? And also what is the problem with having money?? People say **** rich people and spoiled rich kids..but what is wrong with making money and spending it the way you want?? They worked for it...
Also, if the girl lended the iPod and her friend "lost" it and then refused to cooperate and return or repay the iPod, then the girl has every right to sue since it is the best way to settle the argument in a legal way. What do you want her to do?? Use violence...firearms...
Instead of hating America you should use your time and energy more wisely and do something productive
for reference:
girl 1 = prosecutor
girl 2 = defence
if girl 1 worked so hard to buy the iPod girl 2 should pay the money. if she is poor and cant pay it back, which i doubt, she should work for the money. its terrible that the parents of girl 2 are letting this get to court and that the parents of girl 1 are taking it there. girl 1 should get an ipod and girl 2 should pay for it. Unless the family 2 is poor, the parents should pay for the ipod and punish girl 2 in the way they see fit, and make her work to repay her parents. also, she must be the world's stupidest 14 yr old for leaving it on a desk. In my school you cant even leave stuff in your locker cause those get broken into.
please post your opinions on my comments.
To all the people with the anti-American comments: I say sour grapes.
Those who have not are often content to despise those who do rather than bettering their situation.
Instead of complaining about things that are really none of your business and don't affect you (like how our legal system is run) and judging Americans by our government, take a look at your own. You probably don't have the freedom of expression we do. You surely don't have the freedom of being presumed totally innocent until proven guilty. You don't have the economy we do (by which I mean relative to your nation's size), because most of you have chosen a socialist, bureaucratic black hole of a government.
Like smudley said, we are not a rich trust fund baby of a populace. We fought tooth and nail at enormous cost to rip freedom from the jaws of tyranny, and we have continued to send our young men to die in those jaws in order to keep that freedom and preserve a hope of it for those unable to to overthrow their oppressors.
Don't dare to talk down to us until you have clear to your governments that they are subject to the will of their people, not the other way 'round.
This lawsuit is total bullshit, and the girl should be fined for court fees and required to do some community service, and her parents likewise for allowing it.
But she should have the right to bring suit. She's wrong, but if we put it in the hands of the government to decide whether she has the right to make her foolish grievances heard, don't we also give them the go-ahead on deciding who else can be heard? Does that not set a precedent for deciding whose politics are acceptable, or what can be said in the media, or, carrying this line to an extreme end, deciding who is allowed to elect the government?
Freedom requires the right for fools to be foolish.
Ok everyone,
Although I don't want contribute to this off topic discussion I feel someone has to say this. This back and forth hate about why each others country is bad is complete and utterly stupid. This is why there is hate in the world, few people can just sit down with there neighbor (other countries in this term) and get along. Yes I admit, coming from an American too, America does have it's problems, but you know what, so does every other fucking country in the whole world, except the continent of Antarctica, gotta love them polar bears... What is right to us may seem wrong to others but you know what, what is right to others may seem wrong to us. Until we can accept all of this, we are going to have ridiculous situations like this.
As an American I firmly understand that we might be part of the problem, but we are also a part of the solution. This goes for every other country in the world.
In conclusion, problems make solutions which in time lead to more problems. No one will ever be perfect, except those polar bears... and until we can all except that no one is perfect and just get along, here we are folks, doesn't look like an ideal world to me. But I live on and make the best of what I have.
P.S. Damn kids and there Pokemons and IPODS and such...
Peace :)
Ktino,
What do you get from bashing America? You seem to be putting all Americans into one group, which I think you titled, "Selfish Fucking Americans." I think lawsuits are getting incredibly stupid and meaningless too, but I don't make hasty generalizations about entire countries. I would be incredibly pissed off by your comments because every generation of my family in America (including myself)risked our lives to protect our country and its people, but I just don't let the ignorant rantings of children strike a nerve.
Ryan Smith,
I apologize for posting a possibly inflammitory post after yours. Your words strike a chord and are a perfect closure to this flame-fest of a discussion.
To everyone who thinks the girl shouldn't sue, ask yourself this: If someone you knew lost something of yours worth hundreds of dollars and refused to pay, what would you do?
Honestly, if this story were about a 24-year-old suing their friend over a similar issue, it wouldn't have made the news. The girl's age affects nothing, property has been lost and someone is accountable.
The article says lending the iPod was a "fool mistake", how so? People lend things to their friends all the time, it's not unusual or ridiculous. The only "fool mistake" made here was Stephanie putting the iPod on Shannon's desk in (what I assume was) a crowded class room.
The way this sort of thing normally works is the property is the responsibility of the lendee until it's been given back to the lender. Putting it on her desk while she was in the bathroom doesn't count.
I do disagree on the actual charges. Suing for damages is always questionable, and if the story about the $50 in iTunes songs is true it's obviously unnecessary.
Hahahahaha, yeah actually Shannon goes to my school.
I think because of her, we're not allowed to have ipods in school, so thanks a lot Shannon. She goes to Waubonsie Valley High School, but the Freshman Gold Campus so I guess we'll miss this showdown.. lol
Zero,
What you stated wasn't inflammatory in any way. What you said is absolutely true. It is unfair that generalizations are made about our country. But it is likewise about every other country. Europeans are doing the best they can as well as other countries. Like I said, we all have problems and until we can stop arguing and concentrate our efforts on solutions, we will be bickering.
What I like about your comment Zero is you didn't flame back. We need more of that. Cyber high five to you!
Peace
That is an assload of money to raise.when I was 14 my most expensive posession I had bought on my own was my PIII computer. It cost me about 500$ and I would have been Pissed if I lost that
I love how people are using this as an "Americans are bad people" example. I'm going to go rob each and every one of you, and when you get upset about it, I'm going to call you selfish and make dumb assumptions about your entire country. So what if you bought your stuff. It's mine now, and you're selfish for not wanting me to own things you worked and paid for. Jerk.
But seriously, you start insulting an entire nation and we're the bad dudes? Please. Pull your head, neck, shoulders, and entire upper body out from inside your own ass.
ahahhahahhah This is so stupid it's hilarious!
I don't get why the girl who lost the iPod didn't just buy her friend a new one! Or at least, the person who stole it give it back once he/she heard about the suit.
This whole thing is stupid. Freaking rich kids with mommys and daddys with deep enough pocket for lawyers, but not a new iPod.
Man, I love being an American. *facepalm*
Phrases Shannon or Stephanie are unlikely to say:-
"Let's still be friends"
"Ooh look there's a brand new ipod, do you want to borrow it?"
"Now I think about it, 14 really is too young to have an ipod"
Hahahahaha... Fantastic! Keep us posted! :-D
They are sooooo not BFF anymore. :)
What's amazing to me is how everyone manages to turn this simple and amusing subject of human greed to a political discussion on how America sucks.
keeps the americans happy sueing, its why its known as the great american pastime! Why listen to music when you can just sue someone to pass the time!
"$475 is a lot of money for a young girl to raise."
Or for just about any third world adult worker as well. Here in South America, if you can hit $20K or more per year, you can safely consider yourself a millionaire.
Which is the average U.S. wage for, say, hauling things at a supermarket? Like, five bucks an hour? Compare that to the two bucks A DAY (and in 14-hour work days) that some guy in China gets for doing far more skilled work assembling electronic components, including -of course- your $400+ iPod.
Also, the extra American income allows for diversions you won't see anywhere else, like suing in court for a fancy gadget.
Oh yes, all of us Americans sue one another on a daily basis, it's so much more intriguing than our daily lives, Court TV notwithstanding.
This is SMALL-CLAIMS. Come on now, say it with me...
S-M-A-L-L-C-L-A-I-M-S. The plaintiff worked hard to pay for her iPod, and I can sympathize. When I was 17 I worked 3 jobs all summer to purchase a laptop, because I wanted one. I worked hard and earned it. It lasted me a long time because I took good care of it.
This girl loaned it to her friend out of trust for that friend. The friend was either careless with the device or is flat-out lying (keeping it for herself), and now does not want to be held responsible.
So I ask you, what would you do, if you were in the same situation? To the folks in other countries, since you scoff at us sue-happy Americans, what do you do that is so much more enlightened? Seriously, I may be naive of the legal systems of other countries, but I am not ignorant, please inform me.
I say let her have her day in court, it is only fair.
To Silver R. Wolfe: As already stated, you don't need a fucking iPod either. Before you spew idiocy, please make an attempt to think.
To Elora Ranma: mp3 players are not consoles. You fail at electronics. Also, before commenting on an article, try reading it. The girls in question are not sixteen, but fourteen, and the iPod nano isn't $500. And as far as that? A lot of parents who are just as irresponsible as their children. Who lets sixteen year olds drive? Yeah...so someone is responsible enough to operate a vehicle, but not to have an mp3 player? Makes tons of sense. And not ONLY that, if they were good-natured parents, they wouldn't tell her what to do with her iPod because she worked to buy it on her own. But of course, I'm sure they didn't forewarn her of anything, "Because that could never happen to her!" And it's unfortunate about the iRiver. Fucking teenagers and their poor taste in gadgetry. And the Paris Hilton comment was empty; she isn't really a trendsetter, she's just rich. And not all teenage girls like Paris Hilton's auditory abortion; so as goes for Wofle...before you spew idiocy, please make an attempt to think.
To ktino: Actually, according to the Bible, ANYONE who is selfish will, not just Americans. Last time I checked, America was LONG to be founded when the Bible was supposedly written. That comment about Jesus was HIGHLY irrelevant. You? Oh, all Americans? Has it not occured to your stupid ass that perhaps not every American is pleased with America, or other Americans? Some of us don't really have much of a choice but to be here, you know. And the generalization that every American thinks that everything will be solved by a lawsuit is...poppycock. Really. You know, most idiotic Americans don't think that, really; they just want an excuse to get money out of something. It's not American; it's human. IMO, I dislike the country too; but at the same time, I don't care what the foreigners think because I'm NOT responsible for the travesty that is the US, and at the moment, there's little I can do, being only fifteen. Every human causes a problem for humanity, yes, you too--so cease yours and stop breathing. :)
To Joe Smith: Hating America is not Racism, dumbass.
To everette powell: You're a moron, because she DOESN'T have the right to sue, she is fourteen, and as a minor, she cannot enter contracts or lawsuits without parentalguardian involvement. Oh, waah, poor baby had to get a job to pay for her toy that she didn't need. Poor thing, that's just so terrible. Oh wow, time to rip a CD. How long does that take? Two minutes, if that? IF she ripped all her music, then she can't sue for money in lost songs, because she has the goddamn CDs. Her friend doesn't need to compensate for a damn thing; She carelessly gave an expensive possession to a friend who was obviously not responsible enough to use and care for it...so they're both idiots and that's that simple.
To smudley: She. Can't. Pursue. Justice. She. Is. Fourteen. Also, technically, she didn't own it; minors can't own property in the US; so regardless of how she worked and bought it, it is, in the eyes of the law, her parents'. America sucks right now, if you didn't know, way to watch Fox News. Being frank about a little twit and her failure at life isn't being jealous of the US. Please die. We have no right to trot around, high on a horse. America is nothing that it was. We don't have extra money, we're in one of the biggest deficit's we've been in since the Great Depression itself, you fucking moron.
Now. I am fifteen--ooh, astonishing. I have a 30GB Video iPod; I didn't want one, it was a gift. Even if my parents HADN'T being psychotic in ensuring my responsibility with it, I would be anyway. My family is nowhere near being rich, and even if we were, I wouldn't be a skittish twit with it. I know how petty people are, I know what assholes they are. [Especially since tons of kids' iPods have been snatched at my school.] And as far as taking it to school, what is she taking it to school for? She obviously isn't very bright, she needs to spend her free time studying, not listening to her mp3 player. On the rare occasion I might tote it to school with me, it wouldn't leave the depth of my pocket--a front one--let alone out of my sight for someone else to use. If a friend wants to listen, they can sit next to me and take an earbud and listen to what I am.
It's just idiocy. There's nothing you can do, short of outlawing stupidity--which you can't do; all of us are guilty of it at some point or another--and making the penalty death.
Like Ktino, I welcome and anticipate responses, and here's my email if someone wants to be pickity. mmsacrilege@gmail.com.
Can't put out a fire with more flame fellas.
I also would like to add the dollars we have today aren't the same as the dollars yesterday. We get around 5 bucks an hour because we've had to produce more money to meet demand. The more bills, the less value it has. So 5 dollars today is like 1 dollar in the past.
A simply, friendly engadget debate has turned into flaming back and forth.
If you feel power from flaming errr...thats a problem.
Lets create solutions for problems not more problems in an attempt to make solutions.
Peace
THe only question i have is this, Why, if the ipod was so important to her in the first place, would she let her friend barrow it in the first place, I know if i had to do alot of work for something i sure wouldn't let it out of my sight LOL but thats just me i guess, I wasnt lucky enough to have things gave to me I had to work for the things i wanted, maybe thats why i was always so protective over them LOL, I would like to know how the trial turns out, so i give your guys 2 thumbs up for wanting to cover it
Ugh, I live in Wheaton. I gotta go to the courthouse to see this one.