No Sympathy, Really

The police want you to stay out of Oniontown.

Some teenagers decided it was a good idea to visit a small upstate NY town and make fun of the poverty and general squalor there, then post this video of their 'Adventures' on the internet.

But Oniontown residents, while poor, are 'American-poor,' and apparently do have internet access.
As well as a sense of shame and humiliation.

State police at Dover said two teenagers from Mahopac drove into Oniontown Monday and were attacked by a group of youths throwing stones. A female passenger suffered injuries to her head and face, and the male driver also was injured.

Both were treated for their injuries at a local hospital and released.

Wonder what these kids from Mahopac were up to?

Police said this is not the first time visitors have been attacked.

Videos depicting the neighborhood in a derogatory light, posted on the Internet site YouTube, have attracted visitors.

"The biggest recommendation at this point is for everybody to stay out of there," Investigator Erich Schaefer said. "Anybody that doesn't belong there, anybody that's not a resident, just stay out of Oniontown."

My emphasis.

In another unknown news organization's take on the story, Mahopac residents expressed anger and shock that the kids from their town were attacked by Oniontown residents.

OK; slumming just to feel good about yourself is shitty, but harmless to others.

It might even be a helpful family exercise when your kids get spoiled and demanding, as long as you keep the visit brief and emphasize that you're showing them what real life can be like, how good they have it and essentially to put a cork in it about how 'everybody else' has a whoosie-gadget but them. I know a family that did that, and it worked.

But what these kids did, turning it into a party and posting it on the net....there's an important qualitative difference here. A technological leap in the Art of Assholery, if you will.

YMMV.

posted by Laura. at 02:02 PM

| Access Comments