Comments on: 'Bumfight' Videos Inspired Joy-Killing

Florida Teen Tells Ed Bradley He Killed Homeless Man 'For Fun'

[medium_messa]

Excellent story. What is most frightening is what the judge in this story said. That is, the youth from the case he ruled on had one thing in common. They had all be treated like dirt thier entire life, and needed someone one peg down on the ladder to pick on. They were simply repeating behaviour they had already seen. What are we teaching the youth of America?

[bike4life2]

I had never heard of Bumfights before I watched 60 Minutes. However, the Bumfight story reminded of a scene in the recent hit comedy movie, Date Movie 2006. Alyson Hannigan and Adam Campbell are romantically walking down the street when they come upon a homeless man. They run up to the homeless man and proceed to beat him up like it was some game. Maybe it was just another takeoff on Bumfights but it left me wondering how this could even be remotely funny.

[laurnyc]

I was horrified watching this segment on 60 Minutes. I am disgusted that these movies exist and that teens would then repeat what they see. What is wrong with these kids? And what's wrong with the retail stores to sell such filth? I wish someone from a big corporate chain would take a stand and stop to selling these videos. Maybe if someone speaks up, this madness will stop.

[boudiciadark]

The young man interviewed in prison was asked why he did it, why he thought it was "fun", and he couldn't answer. I wonder if he felt that way because he did not see that elderly homeless man as a human being, but rather as a piece of trash.

The young man who filmed and produced the original "bumfight" videos refered to himself as a "kid" with a video camera. Since when are 23 year old men considered "kids"? At 23 you've been eligible for the draft (if it ever comes back, and it should) for 5 years. Been able to legally drink alcahol for a couple years, and probably finished your undergradute college education.

It's horrifying to realize we really live in such a world where the most vulnerable humans are considered nothing more that the rubbish they sleep in.

[faeryedark]

All I can say is, I was horrified. The people who committed those crimes and made those movies (besides being locked up) should be made to serve the homeless in soup kitchens and learn the names and personal stories of the people who go there. Maybe then they'll realize not only are the homeless human but alot of people aren't that far away from the "street" themselves.
I know, because 8 months ago my family was homeless (priced out of our rental unit by a new landlord). We were blessed to live in a shelter but alot are not so lucky.Prior to that I'd volunteered at a shelter and made quite a few friends.
By the way, there are a number of homeless that are armed (gee, can you blame them) and one of these days these "bum-fighters are going to get seriously hurt or killed themselves. Then what?
Bum- fighting needs to be recognized as a hate crime, in and of itself. Before thiongs get even worse.

[ainventor]

As I watched the 60 minutes article on this subject, I noticed one shocking thing about the young man who was in jail. Never once did he say that what he did was wrong. All he said was that he didn't know why he did it, or that he thought it was fun or exciting. But after looking back at it, he never said it was wrong. All he said was, "Look where I am now" like he didn't understand why he was in jail. As I see these new and shocking events take place in our world today, I am convinced that young people today don't seem to understand Right from Wrong. When they do something wrong for instance, they don't feel anything. No remorse, no nothing. I don't understand this trend.

[aggiebob46]

HAVE WE REACHED A NEW LOW? I was watching "60 Minutes" last night and was shocked at the segment about the "Bum Fighting." I could not believe that these young people who were participating in this activity considered this to be a thrilling "sport," because they were bored with their lives and had no respect for their fellow man. Being an old person, myself, my first thought was "Where are their parents?" "What have they been taught about the rights of others?" My conclusion was: "It's their parents who should have been sent to prison to have raised children who could end up like this." Jo English, Dallas Texas

[juliehg-2009]

I was appalled as I watched this, especially the continuous smirk on Ryan McPherson's face.

I forwarded the segment URL, my contact information, and my comments to the State of Ohio Attorney General's Office. I encourage you to do the same in the state where you live.

[hermit22]

PROVERBS FOR TODAY 24:11-12

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Psalm 72

[rudy654-2009]

When are we going to learn that "freedom of speech" doesn't include the right to promote violence or murder? People like Ryan McPhearson need to be in jail for the rest of their lives. They're no better than people who hire someone to commit murder. Hopefully someone will file a civil suit and wipe that nasty smirk off his face.

[forfreedom1]

A lot of teens act-out parental values. Supposing a parent says while driving with his teen to the ballgame, "Look at that homeless person with his cup out at the stop sign. They are lazy bums. They should get jobs!" Is it surprising the teens "act out" the parent's probably erroneous conclusions?

Now think....With all the anti-muslim and anti-Mexican fear being promulgated by Fox et al...the next attack WILL be on these parties.

Rest assured..this is the effect when fear and misunderstanding are cause.

[onemagyver]

I am appauled, but not shocked, by the flagrant disregard for humanity and compassion undertaken by the teens (and film maker) in the random harmful acts against helpless homeless people.

What they and others like them (who commit such malicious acts) do not know is that they themselves could, 10 years from now, become the very homeless person they are beating and exploiting. A lot can happen in 10 years, as these kids will learn in prison.

Many homeless indivuduals have severe psychiatric and physical problems that led to their situation. Many can be ruled disabled, and disabled people are afforded certain protections under the law. Just as the law forbids physical abuse of children and the very elderly, homeless people COULD be afforded similar protections.

I believe the film maker, and the youths that follow them, commit these cowardly and vicious acts of violence because they lack family and community foundation to grow to competant adults. Youths who are never caught will live with these actions forever - weighing heavily on their lives to surface in other ways.

The right type of community service can enlighten these youths - preferably before they embark on sick behavior.

[her3455]

As a 20 year old woman I'am ashamed that the creators and viewers of Bumfights are considered represenatives of my generation. Their behavior, exploiting and degrading the people in our society who need our compassion the most, disgusted and horrified me. The fact that the creator couldn't even find the words to defend his sick site says it all. He knows it is wrong and completely morally reprehensible. I visited the site to leave a negative comment and realized it would be of little help. They have over 2,000 comments from people all around the world commending them for their videos and anticipating more being released. This is not entertainment, it is vicious, heartless, cruel, and criminal. It saddens me to see these people who have for so long been discarded, have to suffer further humiliation in front of a videocamera and a world of people laughing at their misery. I hope I'am not the only young person who realizes how wrong these videos truly are.

[terryabowyer]

What has become of civilized society? I was sickened when I watched the segment on "Bumfights". A high percentage of homeless people suffer from mental illness and substance abuse issues. Targeting defenceless people who are obviously very ill is a tragedy that is beyond comprehension.

What's next? Throwing people with cancer and other diseases into the street for more of the same? I find this to be an unspeakable crime. Marketing video tapes of this nature should be punishable by law. And, the perpetrators of this crime against humanity, including Ryan McPherson, should be jailed for life.

[kiwiak]

That Ryan McPherson has profited by inciting foolish children to follow his lead is a crime for which he should pay. I suggest that he should join those doing "time" for their crime and forfeited his profits from the sale of this obnoxious idea. So to the present promoters / owners of the name.

[mmales-2009]

What shocks me more than anything in this video are the attitudes of Ed Bradley, 60
Minutes, and many of the commenters here. Why do you hold %u201Cteenagers%u201D and %u201Ckids%u201D
collectively responsible for brutality by a tiny fraction of their number. That is exactly the
hate speech and dehumanization of an entire group--teenagers, in this case--the segment
deplores as the igniter of bigotry and violence. Instead of their regular teen-horror tales, I
challenge 60 Minutes and other news media to spend the next six months depicting
middle-agers the same as they do teenagers. Every time some aging grownup shoots up a
school, mows down gradeschoolers in a drunken rage, blows away his entire family,
commits massacres at the office, violently or sexually abuses children, or commits some
unspeakable act--as happens hundreds of thousands of times every year--the news media
should assign collective guilt to everyone ages 40 to 60. %u201CMiddle-agers killing, taking
hard drugs in rising numbers...%u201D %u201CWhy are more and more middle-agers brutalizing their
kids...?%u201D %u201CWhat makes middle-agers...%u201D (repeat 90 times in accusing tones during video).
(You want statistics? The only group showing increased serious violence in the last five
years is age 40-64). Never happen. The larger principle that the powerless are safe to
stereotype and attack stems directly from adults%u2019 and the news media%u2019s own examples.

[calistudent]

This is one time I can honestly say I am disgusted with this counntry. To know that I live in a country which someone has a society that believes, on some ludicrous level, that killing bums FOR FUN is is anyway acceptable, makes me incredibly ashamed.
People don't think shooting dogs is funny. Or drowning babies.
How is this really any different from that?
I'd say I hope the offenders get what they deserve, but I honestly don't think 35 years in prison can make up for such a terrible injustice.

Laura Smith

[frankmas1]

I can not find words of how it feels to be Jewish victim of Hate Crimes and not be able to get any media attention and then to see homeless people get attention from 60 minutes. My website www.american-justice.us shows a spectrum of hate crimes with unedited videos. Stalking, verbal hate, physical attacks but does not demonstrate how this vicious hateful money sucking government has persecuted my extremely law abiding family. Please ask 60 minutes to investigate this matter. This single situation is very important to the future of this country.

[frieda9]

If a video depicting the rape or beating of a woman or even the brutalization of a dog were sold in stores, the producers, the sales people, the purchasers would all be arrested and face criminal charges.

These are videos of assaults, not high school antics or "SKITS!" These were violent and illegal activites captured on video and prosecution should begin immediately. Can someone please explain why charges have not been filed?

The Brown Shirts are back and this time they're not in Nazi Germany. And they're quietly condoned by a government who prioritizes care of the rich, the beautiful and the privileged.

[at93314]

This from the bumfights.com website:

"The purpose of these videos, through satire and sensationalism, is to call attention to the global epidemics of poverty, violence, addiction, and lack of education. Fighting and violence of any form is ignorant and pathetic. Although the images we capture are often shocking, we do not believe these aspects of society should be kept hidden or ignored. You%u2019ll see grown men trade blows on the streets, chick fights, stunts, sick pranks, crime caught on tape, crackheads, supermodels, and the most hardcore ruckus ever filmed. But please do not miss the point of these videos! Educate yourself. Help those who are less fortunate. Spread love not hate."

All that said, T-shirts are $14.95, hooded sweatshirts are $34.95, and the complete Four DVD set of "Bumfights" is $44.95

They seem to be saying, "It's some really bad stuff and it's our job to make sure everyone knows about it. Also, we're going to jump at the opportunity to make a few bucks. Spread love not hate. And spread a little cash our way."