Gossip site stirs up Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Published 5:34 pm Thursday, March 20, 2008
MARYSVILLE — A gossip Web site that encourages people to post anonymous criticisms about each other is creating a furor at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, where students have posted photos and rumors about each others’ private lives, that include allege sexual experiences, abortions and drug use.
Two parents complained to school administrators earlier this week, saying their children are being teased because of rumors posted on the site. The students are afraid to come to school.
Assistant Superintendent Gail Miller responded by posting a letter on the district’s Web site this afternoon, urging parents to talk with their kids about the gossip site. The district is also blocking the site from school computers.
“While the writer of the gossip remains anonymous, the victim of the gossip is named — first and last name,” Miller wrote. “I have visited this site and read some of what is posted there — it is mean, vicious, and hurtful.”
Some of gossip posted about Marysville-Pilchuck High School students has been viewed thousands of times.
“This kind of gossip is really vile and vindictive and serves no legitimate purpose in our society,” said Bob Steele, Journalism Values Scholar at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla. “It feeds the prurient interest of individuals who either create the gossip or read it – and it leaves a lot of road kill in terms of people who are harmed.”
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com
