For folks that haven't been following the story, this is a photo of Audrie Pott, a 15-year-old California girl who committed suicide after her alleged sexual assault went viral. Audrie hung herself, allegedly after three teenage boys sexually assaulted her, took photos, and spread them around her school.

She expressed her grief on her Facebook message to a friend saying that her life is ruined by the dastardly act. "I cried when I found out what they did," she wrote in one of such posts. And then she killed herself few days later.

The Pott family demand that the three 16-year-old boys be arrested and not only tried as adults, but be tried for murder.

However, the focus of this post is on our moral compass as a society. As a dad to a 3-year-old daughter, my heart is broken for the the Pott family. But most importantly, I feel sad because these despicable acts happen around us all the time. It's not an American problem, it is happening on every continent and most times the victims are too fearful to talk about it.

As parents, are we spending enough time with our children? Can our children be open and honest with us about anything and everything? What values are we instilling in our young ones?

I ask these questions because it was reported that Audrie wouldn't talk to her mother about what happened. I leave it to the child development specialists and the psychologist to figure out why. I want to believe that trust building starts from when our kids are little. Allowing them to express exactly how they feel without unnecessarily shutting them up goes a long way.

Through our busy schedules, it's important to let our children have an avenue to unwind after the day is over. Engage them in dialogues about their day. Children pick up a lot from daycare/schools. These talks help find out how the child thinks and provide an opportunity to correct any wrong notion.

This is not just peculiar to female, it applies to all children. We should protect our children as much as possible. Know where they are and what they do. There have been numerous instances of children being abused by family members.

Audrie's story began with a sleepover at a friend's place that led to consumption of alcohol. The boys that perpetrated this evil act are considered friends. Yet, they are accused of assaulting Audrie and taking photos of their assault. Apparently, they later destroyed the evidence in an attempt to cover their tracks.

What can we do as a society to curb these excesses?

Feel free to join in the conversation. There are lots of points that wasn't discussed in this post. I'd love to read your comment and I'll respond accordingly.

http://www.infonubia.com/2013/04/how-long-is-this-going-to-continue-case.html

It is going to continue until,ladies learn how to prevent themselves from being raped and nairaland stop the screening on the word. R,ap,e,

the case is just sickening. r.aped her, wrote stuff like 'joey was here on her v.aginia, thigh etc, took pix and posted them . God, I pray those boys rot in prison.
once you are aware your child is being bullied, talk to the school. If the school is unwilling to take action like the case above, go to the police. If bullying continue, look for another school for your child.

armyofone: the case is just sickening. r.aped her, wrote stuff like 'joey was here on her v.aginia, thigh etc, took pix and posted them . God, I pray those boys rot in prison.
once you are aware your child is being bullied, talk to the school. If the school is unwilling to take action like the case above, go to the police. If bullying continue, look for another school for your child.

Great comment armyofone. I think most parents will take action once they are aware. Unfortunately, lots of parents are left in the dark when it comes to the issues gravely affecting their children.

Also, I think the society is gradually become desensitized to some of these issues. Just go to a pre-K school, you'd be surprised at some of the things these children say/know.

A lot of these raaapes are occurring at parties after the gals have had too much alcohol - don't know the specifics of this case. Is it too much to ask that teens don't get drunk? Too many of this scenario in the news lately. By the way, who is raising these teen raaapists?

MMotimo: A lot of these raaapes are occurring at parties after the gals have had too much alcohol - don't know the specifics of this case. Is it too much to ask that teens don't get drunk? Too many of this scenario in the news lately. By the way, who is raising these teen raaapists?

That's another dimension to the story that I didn't really talk about. I would think there would be some kind of adult supervision in this 16-year old sleepover. Its just a really sad story...Thanks for your input MMotimo

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Really sad

May she RIP

This has always happened from time
The pervasive nature of the internet is just making the impact wider and stays around more


Parents have to continually watch out for their daughters and continually affirm boundaries.

It's not easy, my teenage cousin in uni spent some time with me and in her mind wanted to be fly taking so many liberties
I really wanted to handsoff but I remembered that all the rollings she wants to do can easily result in ra.pe so I had to look like the bad guy


Sleep well.. Gone too soon

...

Dainy1: during one of my visit to my uncle's house in ph, his litle daughter of 8yrs came back from sch and was looking unhappy. i dont know why her mother do not notice that. but i did and she told me she miss her male frnd who did not come to sch that day. she told me with her mouth that every day, during break time, they normaly go into the sch toilet to look at each others pants (unders) and she like it. why she was talking, her mum was coming in our direction and she told me to keep quiet cos mumy will hear. i learnt so many things that day and i promise myselv that i'll do evrything to be close to my children in future. so many mothers are so MADAMIC that they cant even understand their childrnd especially the girl child.

Wow....that's serious. Were u able to talk to her about it? We can never go wrong by spending a little more time with our kids. I understand we might not know everything that's going on with them but an open communication is essential.

It is going to end when parents start paying their boy children attention, and taking the time to teach them to be responsible. All those dumb teenagers are in trouble. As for the girl, may she RIP. Sad she could not open up to someone who could save her life.

infonubia:
Wow....that's serious. Were u able to talk to her about it? We can never go wrong by spending a little more time with our kids. I understand we might not know everything that's going on with them but an open communication is essential.

i talked to her. i wasn't hash at her at all. but i think her mum would do more beter than me if not becos she's too busy doing nothing. while her baby girl has so many qustions in her heart no one to share with. it's really a shame

True that it is important for mums to bond with their young kids but I can't see the correlation to a sixteen year old who I believe is capable of communuicating her fears if not to her mum but at least to a counsellor

baby_123: It is going to end when parents start paying their boy children attention, and taking the time to teach them to be responsible. All those dumb teenagers are in trouble. As for the girl, may she RIP. Sad she could not open up to someone who could save her life.

I think molestation is not gender specific. Boys and girls get molested, though it is more prevalent with girls.

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