Star Wars Kid & Episode III?

samsarajr writes "Many of you would have seen that homemade yet ever so embarressing video of 15 Year old Ghyslain jumping around with a pretend lightsabre. Well - he's back and I think we all agree that Lucas should put the kid with the lightsabre into Star Wars III." I tell you this is the story that just won't die. But in all fairness, some of those re-edits were hysterical.

Comments

Petition

[Psychic Burrito]

If you wish to sign, too, do it here.

Re:Petition

[jellomizer]

Lets hope this post will stay on top of the messages for most people. Actually it would be really cool to put that link in the main story as an update (or a dupe)

Re:Petition

[Blue Stone]

Well I certainly won't be signing it. All my sympathy evaporated when the word "litigation" entered the fray.

Re:Petition

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't you want to sign it then since his family doesn't want him to do it? No signing it kinda supports the family. The interesting thing is that they did violate the kids copyright.

Re:Petition

[cethiesus]

Most stories have his parents doing the suing on their own accord. I haven't heard a word about how the kid actually feels or if he even wanted to take legal action. My thoughts are that he didn't, because it would give his already-trampled private life that much more public exposure.

I could very well be wrong, so anyone have any info about the kid?

Re:Petition

[stuntpope]

Yes, the lawsuit by the kid's parents made me roll my eyes at first, but you know what? (quick IANAL here) - there's such things as photo releases, and the parents may have grounds for action here. I was at a festival where a photographer took a pic of my kid and then approached me to sign a release in case they wanted to put the photo on their website. If you aren't a public figure, you can take legal action if a photo of you is published without your consent (and in the case of minors, a parent's consent). Especially if the photo is embarrassing, or someone is profitting of the use of your picture. Makes me wonder about the validity of those porn sites whose angle is "we fooled these girls to have sex then put the pics on the Internet against their wishes."

Re:Petition

[azzy]

> Makes me wonder about the validity of those porn sites whose angle is "we fooled these girls to have sex then put the pics on the Internet against their wishes."

OMG, good point! I'm gonna ask for my subscription money back!

Re:Petition

[Spunk]

Makes me wonder about the validity of those porn sites whose angle is "we fooled these girls to have sex then put the pics on the Internet against their wishes."

Come on now, it wasn't blatantly obvious to you that they were faking?

Re:Petition

[stuntpope]

Well, I dunno, someone told me the word "gullible" was removed from the dictionary, and I reached for my Webster's...

Re:Petition

[krs-one]

Read all about it on waxy.org. They managed to raise a surprisngly large amount of money for the kid (something like 3grand). Pretty interesting. They even got in contact with the kid.

-Vic

Re:Petition

[BoysDontCry]

I wonder how this law affects all of all of the public webcams that are popping up. Aren't they taking pictures of children without the parents' consent and putting them on the internet?

Re:Petition

[ComaVN]

Really? Since what edition?

Re:Petition

[dave420]

The kid made a tape of him pretending to be a jedi. It's something we can all relate to (I mean, how many of us at one point in our lives wanted to be jedis? :)). Then, he put it in a locked filing cabinet.

Some kids then stole the video, digitized it, and put it on kazaa.

Now, please tell me, where those kids haven't done anything wrong? They stole a PRIVATE video and released on the internet, for the purpose of embarassing the kid (who, is now receiving therapy at a mental health institute.)

Sure, the kid got an iPod and some money, but he's going to be affected by this for a long time to come. Those kids deserve everything they get.

Re:Petition

[inicom]

Not at public events in the context of news reporting.

Re:Petition

[canajin56]

From what I've seen, the kid runs a "Ninja" website, where he goes on and on about how Ninjas rule, and his awesome skills in Ninjitsu. Somebody asked him to prove it, and he posted that video, showing off his skill with the "bow (sic) staff."

Re:Petition

[Mooncaller]

Another Canadian Comedian on US Airwaves? Will the conspiracy continue? Stay tuned for futur developments.

Re:Petition

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, also notice that the anonymous donor who gave an amazing $500 to the cause, asked for his/her money back when news of a lawsuit came out. I agree with them.

If the kid stopped being a baby about it and accepted the fact that he's a celebrity and most people love him, then I'd love to see him in the new Star Wars movie. However, since he obviously doesn't know how to deal with it and because his parents are suing, I will be very disappointed if he shows up.

He's not the first person to be publicly humiliated in school and not be able to avoid the taunting...

Re:Petition

[dave420]

To quote the BBC:

"Ghyslain made a video of himself as part of a school project, but when some of his classmates found it they put it on the internet."

I'm not calling you a liar (far from it), but most people seem to think that it was unlawfully (and most definitely unethically) removed from him and distributed. Do you have any URLs? I'd be most interested to get the whole story.

Re:Petition

[canajin56]

The BBC is right, I was mistaken. The site where I saw the ninja thing recently (as in somewhere between right now and 5 months ago) printed a correction. He did it for kicks using the school studio. Some friends found it and put it on Kazaa. And I guess the ninja guy found it and posted it as himself for a joke, or something.

Re:Petition

[Zathras11]

As his legal guardians, the parents are not
required to have his permission or cooperation
to file on his behalf... They are acting in
what they feel is the best interest of their
child. Who are you to question that?

Re:Petition

[ProtonMotiveForce]

Umm, a sentient being with an opinion.

Now for another daring expression of opinion: You're an ass.

Re:Petition

[wing03]

He likely won't get anything out of it.

Even though it's Quebec, it's still the Canadian legal system he's dealing with here.

Lawsuits like this might make the 6 o'clock news but they hardly get off the ground.

Re:Petition

[Illbay]

...such things as photo releases, and the parents may have grounds for action here.

Er, the dopy kids who originally uploaded the video to KaZaa aren't "professional videographers," so why would they have the kid sign a "release?"

So what is it with you people? If the kids are uploading someone else's professionally-produced intellectual property, they're "striking a blow for freedom of self-expression," but if they upload a goofy amateur video, they should've had him sign a release?

This place is through the looking glass, and no joke.

Re:Petition

[humandj]

if you do sign the petition. please delete the movie first from your shared folder. really, though. im surprised how many people that feel "bad" for this kid watch the clips of him. i have never seen the clip. out of pure respect for that kid. it can be hard enough going through school, without a widespread video you would rather people not see of you.

Re:Petition

[stuntpope]

Er, the dopy kids who originally uploaded the video to KaZaa aren't "professional videographers," so why would they have the kid sign a "release?"

Er, so they couldn't get sued. Not that they would have even thought of that, but then, people get themselves into legal trouble unknowingly all the time. So what is it with people who lump all Slashdot posters together with having one opinion, and also assume that someone who brings up a point to ponder is actually advocating something?

Re:Petition

[ConceptJunkie]

No, they are completely free to be complete asses on his behalf. As his parents, they have every right in the world to take a humorous situation and make it a pathetic situation.

And we have every right in the world to criticize.

Re:Petition

[Illbay]

Er, so they couldn't get sued.

I'm guessing here that the kids did NOT consult their attorneys before uploading.

Stupid kids! ALWAYS consult your family consigliere before you EVER upload ANYTHING to the Internet!

Re:Petition

[Cplus]

Not the same guy, but Real Ultimate Power is funny as hell.

Go for it!

[RinzeWind]

That would really improve the quality of the new series!

--
I joke, therefore I am

Re:Go for it!

[Channard]

That would really improve the quality of the new series!

Doubly so if there's an out-take in which SWK decapitates Jar Jar Binks.

Weird Hat?

[[vmlinuz]]

Is this the Blender animation done by the Weird Hat kid?

Better Him Then

[betanerd]

N'SYNC

Re:Better Him Then

[mobets]

But weren't they suposed to get blown up or somthing? I would have enjoyed seeing them reduced to ity bitty pieces.

Re:Better Him Then

[YetAnotherDave]

Maybe they _should_ bring N'Sync back to ep3. If I knew I'd get to see them sliced up by SWK, I might actually pay to see it...

While we're on the subject (sort of) how many other guys thought that the best part of Titanic was seeing Leo drift down under the icy water? C'mon, admit it...

Re:Better Him Then

[thetelepath]

haha. i remember my geometry teacher making a kid in my class stand in front of the window on the door while he enacted his "favorite scene from Titanic", which happens to be that one.

If he gets in...

[xTBDx]

It would be, and probably only should be, a short cameo appearance, maybe as a young jedi in training.

Re:If he gets in...

[Anonymous Coward]

Or maybe a young Porkins?

Re:If he gets in...

[dave420]

I'm not being rude, but obviously. I mean, he's not exactly going to be playing Yoda, or be the Millennium Falcon now, is he?

Re:If he gets in...

[Lord_Dweomer]

" It would be, and probably only should be, a short cameo appearance, maybe as a young jedi in training."

Perhaps of him flailing around with a double ended lightsaber and crashing into the walls like he does in his video! If he makes it in, I give him 1 week until its clipped, remixed, and put on the web all over again.

Re:If he gets in...

[richy freeway]

I dunno, have you seen the size of him? I reckon he's built for playin the part of the Millenium Falcon ;)

Re:If he gets in...

[tetra103]

It would be, and probably only should be, a short cameo appearance, maybe as a young jedi in training.

I honestly hope he does get a part. Not because I feel sorry for him, but because he's become an overnight celebrity. I saw the videos and most of the remixes and I was rolling on the floor. Yeah sure. Maybe the kid is the high school dork, but that's not why I laugh. I laugh because his not so friendly friends were playing a joke. That joke has given the poor kid instant fame. Then on top of all that, you have all these other folks making these truely harlarious remixes. I don't see the kid as a dork. I see him as a regular kid. It's the situation of his fame that so humorous. If I'm laughing at anyone, I'm laughing at the kids who posted the initial video and all that time spent on the remix (some very professional) versions. Just the phenominon of transporting an ordinary kid into instant fame.

Hell yeah, I think he should have a part in the next SW movie. The first two movies were pretty much jokes in their own right (spaceships that sound like prop planes FLYING THROUGH SPACE!) I'd love to see this kid with a significant role in the next movie. Maybe not a lead, but an Oracle of some sort. He's an unknown hero. That's how I'd like to see him in the movie.

As far as the court cases go, the parents should stop trying to milk the situation. The kid's famous thanks to his unfriends. Being sue happy would only ruin his fame. Let the kid enjoy his 15minutes while he can.

Before anyone asks

[Jesus IS the Devil]

Here's a link to the original video and a later-remixed video:

http://www.bitflood.org/filelist.pl?terms=star+w ar s

Video?

[germinatoras]

Does anyone have a link to the original video? I'd like to at least see the kid's talent before signing anything.

Re:Video?

[sonicattack]

I find your lack of faith ... disturbing.

Re:Video?

[Golias]

Funniest comment today. The good ones always seem to come by when I lack mod points. Thanks, sonic a.

Yeah...

[Kai_MH]

I've signed the petition and had all my friends sign it. The poor kid... I really hope he gets into Episode III. After all the embarassment he's gone through, something like that needs to happen...

I don't think it's going to improve his reputation

[azaris]

I hear he's going to be cast as Jar-Jar Binks.

Casting call

[Faust7]

I think we all agree that Lucas should put the kid with the lightsabre into Star Wars III.

As what? Anakin's metabolically-challenged clone?

Re:Casting call

[Absurd Being]

Metachlorian-challenged! At least be a geek properly!

Re:Casting call

[Anonymous Coward]

He was saying the kid was fat, not unable to use the force, dumbass.

Re:Casting call

[evilviper]

Being a proper geek means you must completly and totally despise anything from the SW prequals... (With the notable exception of Natalie Portman)

Re:Casting call

[kelzer]

As what? Anakin's metabolically-challenged clone?

For those not familiar with Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series of SF books, this appears to be a reference to Mark Vorkosigan, Miles's clone, who had the metabolism of a full-sized adult, making it difficult to keep weight off his surgically shrunken body. His body was altered to duplicate Mile's stunted growth, which had been caused by the poison used in an assassination attempt while he was still in the womb.

This was necessary so Mark could be secretly exchanged for Miles and gain access to and kill Emperor Gregor in revenge for Barrayar's conquest of the planet Komarr.

Geez, why don't I just write the Cliff's Notes for you!

The Jedi are all Killed

[Anonymous Coward]

Won't the majority of Jedi be killed off in EpIII? Doesn't that imply that the SWK will die a horrible death? How will this make him feel better?

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[UberQwerty]

It sure would make me feel better. Why not bring back the kid who played Anakin in episode 1 for a cameo as another young jedi, so he can get killed as well? Maybe Jar-Jar could be a jedi too!

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[imsabbel]

Well, jar jar must die, because he isnt there in episode 4.

My dream scene of episode 3 is yoda facing jar jar before going to dagobar:

"For passing the law making palpatine emperor, suffer you will!" -> zaaaappppp.....

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[Anonymous Shepard]

Oh, but Jar Jar is indeed in episode 4.

That is, he will be, as soon as George Lucas is finished with the new version. He will replace the Han Solo character.

He is also going to replace Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones 4.

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[Golias]

Bad news... Episode 4 is set about 18 years later, which might be plenty of time for Jar Jar to die of natural causes or retire or whatever, depending on what the life span of Gungans is.

Therefore, we have no guarantee that Jar Jar will die... Apart from the old war-movie cliche which says "the black guy is always one of the first to get killed." Since Jar Jar talks kind of like a Jamaican, he's probably doomed as long as Lucas follows Hollywood convention.

On the other hand, Lando survived the original trilogy and went on to sell Malt Liquor, so you never know.

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[WormholeFiend]

well, after Count Dooku gets killed with garlic, holy water and a lightsaber stab through the heart, Palpatine recruits SWK as his new hatchetman, who kills most of the Jedis until Darth Vader kills and replaces SWK, who in an ironic twist of fate, is revealed as Anakin's father.

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[Brainboy]

Since Jar Jar talks kind of like a Jamaican

I've never heard a Jamacian whose voice was that hi in pitch.

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[dknj]

I've been to the islands and, sorry, Jar-Jar may sound like Ms Cleo but not like anyone from the caribbean.

-dk

Re:The Jedi are all Killed

[Brainboy]

Well I guess my point was that Jar-Jar sounds nothing like any Carribean island accent. Being related to a bunch myself.

83000 votes

[fredrikj]

83000 votes, that makes this matter 1/3 as important as the question of software patents in Europe.

Re:83000 votes

[Anonymous Coward]

No, it just means that 1/3 as many people want Star Wars kid in Episode III that want no software patents in Europe.

The issue is important, it's just that not everyone is on the same side. Hence why it's an issue; duh.

Re:flaming trolling oftftopic

[NineNine]

... but was i the only one that got really frustrated because there were only .wmw versions of the starwarskid movies around?

Yes. Yes you were.

Give him the ultimate prize

[acehole]

Let him be the one to take the head of jarjar

Re:Give him the ultimate prize

[ndogg]

And at least one kiss from Princess Amidala all covered in Hot Grits!

Re:Give him the ultimate prize

[IM6100]

Fuck all the 'movie star' drivel. Mae Link Mak is a real person!

Re:Give him the ultimate prize

[IM6100]

I don't know why I always reflexively spell it link instead of ling.

'Mae Ling Mak, naked and petrified' was the message on Slashdot long before all the Natalie Portman drivel. I mean, Star Wars is the crap they print on cups at McDonalds, people....

Re:Give him the ultimate prize

[Cplus]

Mae Ling Mak is pretty damn fine...

Just Fixodent and forget it

[Faust7]

So far more than 83,000 people have put their names to an online petition that they're planning on sending to Star Wars director George Lucas.

Yes, and how many people do you think petitioned Lucas to put the original versions of the trilogy on DVD?

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[Nodatadj]

7

Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
Reason: You can type more than that for your comment.

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[shione]

He's doing it but he said it wont be until hes finish with 1, 2, + 3.

But hey, at least Lucas has ditched 7, 8 + 9 so we won't have to wait that much longer.

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[mraymer]

You can buy the original Star Wars movies on DVD off eBay, including copies with very pretty cover art. ;)

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[squiggleslash]

I don't see anything in that auction to suggest they really are the original versions of the first trilogy. I think that's what a lot of people want - the "remastered" versions were remastered a little too early for some of us, and the computer graphics are fairly obvious and in-your-face.

Episode II seems to be the first SW film I've seen where the graphics were for the most part unobvious.

People looking for the original version might find obsolete media to be the best way to go - I'm not sure the remastered trilogy was ever released to Laserdisc; the other option is CED (a CED player will cost about $75) but be aware that the quality is generally a little sub-new-VHS on those things, and of course, widescreen is non-existant.

I went the latter route a while back so I could make the comparison; I came to the conclusion the original affects, while good, were not as great as I'd remembered them. But then, when I originally watched ANH, I was 7...

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[dswensen]

Which he said he'd do after he finishes the prequels. Complete with tons of special features etc. that he doesn't have time to oversee now (because yes, love him or hate him, he is a control freak).

Besides, I don't think the fans have quite exhausted their complaining about "having" to buy multiple versions of the VHS version yet. He probably wants to wait a couple years before he kicks off the Great DVD Whine.

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[Galvatron]

Really? Where did you hear this? Everything I've heard says he's ONLY releasing the Special Edition on DVD, and that the original edition will never see the light of day again.

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[bakes]

I picked up the original editions of eps 4,5,6 on DVD some time ago, so I'm quite sure you are mistaken. I got them when I was visiting Malaysia...

ahem... Never mind.

Re:Just Fixodent and forget it

[shione]

I thought by original you meant just 4, 5 + 6.

You can get the original versions of 4,5 +6 on laserdisc (non boot legs) and copy them to dvd. The quality will be better than tape but it might cost you a bit since the laserdisc version has become a collectible. Otherwise I dont know... I prefer the original over the special edition too. The 'enhancements' just make the movie more aged.

Karma Whore

[Bakajin]

The remixes

Found it, links included

[germinatoras]

Nevermind my earlier post, I found the video here:

The Original Video

See this video in context

Re:Found it, links included

[crhylove]

that's the first i've seen it.
that is SERIOUSLY disturbing.

it almost doesnt matter

[WormholeFiend]

i was already debating whether or not to see episode 3 at all, considering my disappointment with Ep 1 and 2...

i guess i'll still go see it just because it s the end of that trilogy, and on the off chance that Lucas might save the day with an incredible movie, but i'm not holding my breath.

having ghyslain in it would be great poetic justice for the ppl who made fun of him, i suppose, but that would require ghyslain to actually want to be in it too...

Re:it almost doesnt matter

[dave420]

Surely ILM could put him in there using cgi :)

He should be glad

[SerpentDrago]

Poor Kid ? !

He's famous , hell I wish i could have done something to make me that famous. If it was me i'd be having a hell of a good time with it . sure its embarrassing at first , but hell just have fun with it !.

I'd agree It would be great if he got the starwars3 cameo.

Re:He should be glad

[Giggerotta]

He's famous , hell I wish i could have done something to make me that famous. If it was me i'd be having a hell of a good time with it . sure its embarrassing at first , but hell just have fun with it !.

He should just have fun with it... have the kids who initially did it gotten any recognition (beyond a lawsuit)? I haven't heard mention of them... Yes it was embarrassing... but he's gotten more from it than he probably ever thought he would.

Even if he is in StarWars Ep.3, I probably won't go see it still... lingering disappointment from Episode 2 makes chances of that slim to none.

Re:He should be glad

[FingerDemon]

Just to clarify, I heard that this kid did this in the privacy of his own room. Then put the tape away somewhere and some "friends" from school stole it without his knowledge and put it on the school website or something.

I am as sick of litigation as the next person, but I can understand this kid being upset, if that is how this all went down. I mean did you see how many videos have been spun off of his almost all of them making fun of him in some way? Sure, I know... we don't dislike the kid, we think its great because we were all like that at some point. But he's what fourteen years old. Do you remember how sensitive you were at fourteen years old??!? Remember, how it seemed like every time you did something embarrassing the whole world seemed to be looking at you? Well for this kid, it is really true.

Well, I hope he finds peace with it and can enjoy his fame a little. I think a lot of people are laughing with him and not at him. A lot of us geeks anyway.

Re:He should be glad

[yomegaman]

That's just what I was thinking, the kid probably feels like he'll never be able to go out in public ever again without people pointing and laughing. Hopefully he can keep in mind that Internet fame is a fleeting thing and soon enough everyone will forget all about it, just ask Mahir Cagri if you don't believe me. :-)

That's not all...

[pdaoust007]

The guys at waxy.org also used donations from the public to buy the guy a 30G iPOD and $3600CDN worth of Future Shop gift certificates.

Pretty likely,

[stephenry]

I think it's pretty likely that he'll get a place in Star Wars 3. I mean, he's got about as much talent as anybody else in it.

I'm just waiting for the action figures!

Re:Pretty likely,

[IM6100]

Me, I'm looking forward to the artwork on Burger King cups. Or will this one be with McDonalds?

Re:Pretty likely,

[magarity]

Methinks you're confusing acting talent with direction and script quality.

I don't think he'd do it

[IIRCAFAIKIANAL]

To appear in episode 3 would undermine his whole lawsuit, no matter what his motivations (whether he truly is suffering or if he is greedy).

Re:I don't think he'd do it

[stuntpope]

To appear in Espisode 3 would overwhelm any potential proceeds from his lawsuit.

Re:no way

[mOoZik]

My disagreement automatically makes me a troll? Well whoop dee fucking doo.

Poor kid?

[rikkards]

It sucked what happened to him but since then he has had some good things happen to him:
1. He got an ipod from sympathetic souls which was nice and
2. His parents are suing the family of the kids who uploaded the movie to the net for everything they've got
3. He learned something Pam and Tommy should have learned: be careful what you video tape because someone could end up exploiting you for it.

I think it would be nice if he got a walkon but I don't really feel sorry for him anymore

Re:Poor kid?

[rikkards]

Someone mod parent up. This is insightful

Re:Poor kid?

[MMaestro]

'Another said: "Let's make the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to this kid, the best thing as well."' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_ 3083000/3083122.stm]

The most embarrassing thing, yes. But make it the best thing for him? Isn't that like throwing gasoline on napalm? The kid wants the publicity to GO AWAY not to skyrocket him into a virtual movie star. I really don't feel sorry for him anymore since there are so many mindless drones who think fame is the greatest thing in life.

A little privacy is nicer than a glut of unwanted fame.

Re:Poor kid?

[ProtonMotiveForce]

Yeah, that's what the world needs - more jackass lawsuits.

"Quick, there's an injustice in the world, sue!"

Re:Poor kid?

[morie]

Who's Sue? Why didn't you Capitalise her name? What is she going to do against this injustice?

But what about Dr Who?

[adeyadey]

(Brian Blessed enters the cave stage left, dressed in primitive leather tunic. He stands in front of a group of jobbing actors, also in leather tunics. He speaks.)

"I, for one, welcome our new overlord, the Star Wars Kid.. (Slaps his thigh and laughs heartily)

(Dr Who (Tom Baker) enters to the right)
"Not so fast, Zogdor.."
(Laser flash hits just above the Doctor's head. Pan to a Dalek with the Star Wars Kid entering stage left. Dramatic close up of horrified expression on Doctors face. Cut to Dr Who theme/playout.
Finish...)

Oh well I was bored..

"Sponges grow in the ocean. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen" - Steven Wright

Nah.

[TragicAnt]

Maybe if he hadn't gotten lawsuit happy, I'd still have an ounce of sympathy for him. As it stands, I couldn't care less about poor little Star Wars Kid's hurt feelings. If acting like a retard made one eligible for a Star Wars cameo, I'd be popping up the the background of nearly every scene.

Re:Nah.

[Jibber]

It wasn't him that initated the lawsuits, it was his parents. Now I can't speak for him but I know if I was in that situation I wouldn't want the extra attraction generated by my parents starting a lawsuit or the extra embarasement of having to let my parents take care of me. Remember, he's 15, I'm sure he didn't want that.

Jib

Re:Nah.

[glassesmonkey]

If acting like a retard made one eligible for a Star Wars cameo

Isn't that how Jar-Jar made it into the script?

Re:Nah.

[Lord Apathy]

Bah, screw jumbo and his dance with the golf dohicky. He did something stupid, got busted, and now the rest of us are laughing at him. Cruel? Maybe but that is the way the world works

The real talent I see is in the remakes of some of these clips. Some of these are pretty good when you think of what they had to work with, a dancing dork.

Or maybe we shouldn't

[Bakajin]

Instead of collecting money to buy this kid an iPod or signing petitions to put him in the movie, we should be collecting money to buy him a therapist, some cool clothes, and a personal trainer. I suffered a lot from 6th grade to 8th grade. I always felt very awkward and unpopular, painfully afraid of girls, and never having more than 1 or 2 friends at a time. Some kids picked a nick-name for me I really hated. As stupid and silly and not really all that bad as it was, it still ate away at me, and I wasn't at the disadvantage of being overweight and the center of a world-wide joke. The kids in his school are probable calling him the Star Wars kid. As much as we empathies with this kid, I'm sure there is no way this joke is helping him. Getting in the movie isn't going to help either. It will just help reinforce the joke further. Hopefully Lucas will let the kid *privately* visit the set and meet the stars and get some value out of this phenomenon. But it is shortsighted to expect the kid to become fond of this attention anytime soon. Lets be honest, we don't want the kid in the movie to help him, we want him in it to further our own ejoyment.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[Mitreya]

Some kids picked a nick-name for me I really hated. ... The kids in his school are probable calling him the Star Wars kid.

I admit that I am not really familiar with the story... but if he is 15 and overweight, when "Star Wars kid" is a big, big improvement over *any* nickname he originally had.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[Bakajin]

but if he is 15 and overweight, when "Star Wars kid" is a big, big improvement over *any* nickname he originally had.

First of all, I don't know if they are calling him names or not. Whatever the actual name is, is only secondary. If a nickname is meant to belittle and alienate, as apposed to the more friendly kind of nick-names, then that is all that matters. I was called "slave" because I cleaned up the tennis courts and grounds at my public pool for some cash. I certainly didn't need the money, it was just something to do. I could have quite at anytime no problem, but it wasn't the name itself, it was the way I was being singled out for mockery that ate away at my confidence and ability to enjoy life every single day that happened.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[Tim C]

No it isn't, it's just a different name. It's not the name itself that's hurtful, so much as the intent behind it.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[swillden]

The kids in his school are probable calling him the Star Wars kid. As much as we empathies with this kid, I'm sure there is no way this joke is helping him. Getting in the movie isn't going to help either. It will just help reinforce the joke further.

Oh, yeah, kids are really going to look down him for being the only kid in school to appear in a blockbuster movie seen by a significant fraction of the population of the PLANET.

Are you nuts? Although they may still think he's a dork, he'll be a *famous* dork, and in modern western culture famous == successful, regardless of why. The other kids are going to be wondering if they can get similar mileage out of acting stupid in front of a camera.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[trudyscousin]

"The other kids are going to be wondering if they can get similar mileage out of acting stupid in front of a camera."

If so, I hope they choose carefully. What you say brings the MTV program "Jackass" to mind. Kids have been doing exactly as you say in response to that, and all they've got in return is being hurt or killed.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[StillAnonymous]

Serves 'em right! I firmly believe we should have more of these types of shows/games so we can weed out the morons in our population quickly... Before they become managers, lawyers, and politicians, where they can do FAR more damage to others than themselves.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[nordicfrost]

Oh, yes. He get a minor role in the movie for being so pathetic and for acting like a dork in front of a camera. That's going to make it better.

If Lucas himself went out and said: "Hey son, that's some fine handling of the ol' lightsabre. We could really use someone like you in the movie!", that's one thing.

Getting a role because someone let out a video of you, being a complete dork and then whining all the time is not the way to get the respect of your peers. He could have dealt with this in a self-ironic way, thus getting more respect and handling it better than he did. But no.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[broohaha]

Ever read articles or watch those shows about people who grew up as celebrities? Many of them had a hard time adjusting in a normal school environment because kids would treat them badly. I imagine it is out of jealousy and envy that they would do whatever it took to put the kid in his or her 'place'.

Now given how kids are at that age, I don't think it's implausible that in spite of the well-meaning sympathies of the general public OUTSIDE his school, the social environment within may have just gotten more unbearable with each wise crack he hears in the hallway.

Sure, it's some consolation to get the iPod and stuff like that, but does it change his overall image among his peers at school?

We don't know for sure, but it would be wrong to only assume that he's riding the gravy train here on out.

Are you nuts? Although they may still think he's a dork, he'll be a *famous* dork, and in modern western culture famous == successful, regardless of why. The other kids are going to be wondering if they can get similar mileage out of acting stupid in front of a camera

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[dswensen]

Yeah, nothing bolsters self-esteem like having the WHOLE WORLD come out and say, "Kid, you're so fat, we took up a collection to get you a personal trainer." He'll have so much confidence he won't know what to do with it.

And really, what does any young Star Wars geek dream of more... being in the Star Wars movie, or exercising regularly?

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[gaudior]

The other kids are going to be wondering if they can get similar mileage out of acting stupid in front of a camera.

They should ask Johnny Knoxville.

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[mechugena]

"I suffered a lot from 6th grade to 8th grade." And I suffered a lot in third grade during November. Yeah, but you were 30, so you deserved it

Re:Or maybe we shouldn't

[quikgrit]

This post is insightful and mature. I wish we could see more of a similar calibre here on slashdot.

new geek status symbol:

[Artifex]

forget your Slashdot user number; what's your SWK petition signature number?

Go on, sign it already.

When you're done, go sign the Battlestar Galactica petitons, too! Support the remake, oppose it, it doesn't matter. Just let them know the fans still exist.

I sure as hell don't

[Savatte]

I think we all agree that Lucas should put the kid with the lightsabre into Star Wars III

why? Whether you like it or not, episode 3 isn't going to be like a Kevin Smith movie where he casts his buddies and friends and has them smirk and mug up a storm. Despite what the end results show, George Lucas takes movie making very seriously, and putting the Star Wars kid is only going to hurt his chances at recovering the respect he lost for episodes 1 & 2.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[Herrieman]

Jar Jar Binks was worse enough, we don't need more fake actors.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[EpsCylonB]

I know its not quite the same thing but I watched ep2 with the directors commentary the other day and apprently there is blink and you'll miss it shot during the coruscant chase sequence of an xwing being chased by three tie fighters. Course their is other stuff a bit like this, in ep1 there is some ET's in the senate, and wasn't mark hamhil's son in TPM as well ?.

Obviously this kid is not going to get a major role, but I don't see the harm in sticking him in the background somewhere just so long as he actually wants to do it...

Re:I sure as hell don't

[tedrlord]

He was seriously going to put N'Sync in the last movie, I believe. They filmed it and everything. If he'll go that far with them, I don't see any problem with adding some little kid that loves Star Wars into a small scene in the film.

Anyway, little guest appearances and director's-friend-cameos happen all the time in major films. They're just not played up like they are in Kevin Smith movies.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[AbRASiON]

I completely and utterly agree with this post.

As "cool" as it is to throw him in - it's also "cheap" (sorry can't think of a better word)

Sweet jesus this is the final movie - this makes or breaks the trilogy people - and if lucas gets it right we might forgive him for Episode 1 (I didn't MIND ep2)

This cameo = cheap and nasty and I for one don't want to see it happen.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[EpsCylonB]

He was seriously going to put N'Sync in the last movie

I call bullshit, it was never comfirmed by lucas AFAIK. Just cause n'sync's pr person said it was true doesn't make it so.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[CommieOverlord]

Have there been any real actors in the recent star films? Well, except Jackson.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[tedrlord]

It was confirmed by Lynne Hale from Lucasfilm, actually. Here's an article I found about them being cut. The geeks didn't like it, apparently.

Re:I sure as hell don't

[Stuart Gibson]

Christopher Lee?

Goblin

Um...

[Distinguished Hero]

from the to-stupid-for-words dept.

Right...

Re:Um...

[tedrlord]

I think they mean "to-stupid-for-the-correct-words dept,"

Re:flaming trolling oftftopic

[Jeremi]

Nope, I was frustrated as well. Is there any way to play .wmv files if you aren't running Windows?

My Favourite Remix...

[wo1verin3]

Has to be the 'Matrix Agents' remix....

http://www.jedimaster.net/matrix_agents.htm

Re:My Favourite Remix...

[wo1verin3]

Why not? Just install MediaPlayer

Jedi in Training?

[Anonymous Coward]

The force seems to be strong with his stomach. The kid is a little heavy to be a Jedi, no?

Naive

[Ironpoint]

I can't believe people are so naive. Give him a part in a movie? Are you sure just because that is your fantasy that it is everyone else's fantasy? You already think of the guy as someone to be pitied, which is easy since you've already had your fun and yucked it up with your friends sitting around the monitor. You think that once he makes it to the set, dressed up in glorious Star Wars regalia, standing next to Mace Windu, it will be a euphoric triumph of this kid's narrow starwars themed universe. Why don't you just send him some fucking Han Solo underroos instead. Save the Star wars part for some mental patients.

If I were that kid, I would want nothing short of revenge. I would sue the hell out of their parents, take their house, make them live in a shitty aparetment. I would buy a porche with their money and drive it to school everyday, passing by the kids new getto digs just out of spite no matter how far out of the way. I would buy a video camera and set it up across the street from their apartment, and put the video feed on the internet. I would start a corp and hire a team of lawers to sue the fuck out of every radio station that so much as mentioned the video on the air. You would do all this too, this is real retribution.

Re:Naive

[EpsCylonB]

Retribution for what? He jumped around like a retard, filmed himself and somebody uploaded that to the net. I would have done the same if I found such a hilarious video myself. Of course, suing everybody for damages is the new American Way.

Isn't this guy canadian ?, who's the retard now...

Re:Naive

[Anonymous Coward]

Much anger I sense in this one. Ready for the Jedi, he is not.

Re:Naive

[Mitreya]

I would buy a porche with their money and drive it to school everyday, passing by the kids new getto digs just out of spite no matter how far out of the way. I would buy a video camera and set it up across the street from their apartment, and put the video feed on the internet. I would start a corp and hire a team of lawers to sue the fuck out of every radio station that so much as mentioned the video on the air. You would do all this too, this is real retribution.

Aha... and that, no doubt, will help in becoming the most popular person. A condescending prick in a porche is the most popular guy around, right?

I bet he could use all that fame to his advantage instead... I mean so many actors started from various forms of porn, so what could be more embarassing than that...?

Re:Naive

[EpsCylonB]

I bet he could use all that fame to his advantage instead... I mean so many actors started from various forms of porn, so what could be more embarassing than that...?

Maling the same film 5 times in a row and then seriously thinking about coming back for a sixth ? (yes I am talking to you mr stallone).

Re:Naive

[tedrlord]

I don't understand your logic here. I mean, the kid is famous on the net for taping himself in his basement pretending he was some Jedi knight or something running around with his lightsaber. Then he brought this tape of him flailing around to his school to show off to his friends. If you need to refresh your memory on this, download the video and watch it again. Then tell me what makes you think this kid wouldn't absolutely love being in a Star Wars movie. Hell, I think it would be pretty cool to be in a Star Wars movie and I hate Star Wars.

And if I were that kid, I wouldn't tape myself pretending I was a martial arts master from a sci-fi movie then bring it to school so everyone can see it. At that point, you're pretty much asking for whatever you get.

Re:Naive

[matticus]

I bet he could use all that fame to his advantage instead... I mean so many actors started from various forms of porn, so what could be more embarassing than that...?

Maling the same film 5 times in a row and then seriously thinking about coming back for a sixth ? (yes I am talking to you mr stallone).

Freudian slip, anyone?

Re:Naive

[EpsCylonB]

so when the orginal poster said that suing everyone was the "american way" he was talking about everyone on both american continents ?, including those countries in south america where most people are so poor they don't have a pot to piss in ?

retard.

Re:Naive

[Ironpoint]

So the whole goal of life is to achieve popularity? Maybe in a teen's world.

You have to pick the lesser of two evils. Would you rather be a condescending prick with cash , or a poor laughing stock for the rest of your life. Would your rather people view you with disdain or mockery?

Keep in mind that this video has generated millions. Radio stations and web sites are using it to drive traffic to their web sites. This kid doesn't see any of that.

Re:Naive

[Ironpoint]

"Then tell me what makes you think this kid wouldn't absolutely love being in a Star Wars movie."

I think the kid has learned a lot about the world in the past year. I think it would be pretty safe to assume he now hates starwars seeing as how it was used as a tool to ridicule him for the entertainment of hundreds of thousands of people.

I don't recall the part where he showed the tape off to all his friends or authorized its exploitation for profit on the web.

Re:Naive

[Dun Malg]

Of course, suing everybody for damages is the new American Way.

Isn't this guy canadian ?, who's the retard now...

True, people use "America" when they mean "USA", but everybody knows that Canada is "America Junior", so his point still holds.

Re:Naive

[tedrlord]

he gets the offer and turns it down, that's fine, but That's a big assumption on your part. The video is pretty solid evidence that the kid was a pretty big fan of Star Wars. He hasn't come out and said that he doesn't like it anymore, so there's no serious reason to believe that he's stopped liking it. He may have been ridiculed a lot, but if that automatically makes a kid drop his unpopular interests, then we'd have no computer programmers now. Plus, he'd be in a major motion picture. As I mentioned before, that's pretty cool anyway.

I never said he authorized the video's exploitation on the internet, but I checked it again and you're right about the school. I had heard that he took it to school, but apparently it was filmed there and he left it in the video camera.

The main point I'm trying to make, though, is that the kid probably does still like Star Wars, and may want to get into the movie. It would certainly be an experience. If he doesn't want to, he can turn the offer down when he gets it, but it's still a good effort on the part of the people involved in the petition.

Predestination ?

[JackJudge]

Lemme see now....

The SW Kid is French Canadian, and in EpIII the Jedi lose horribly...

Re:flaming trolling oftftopic

[Space]

mplayer

like watching a car wrek

[yoshi1013]

It's so weird watching the video and the remixes. On one hand I feel so bad for him, especially after reading about him dropping out of school because of all the ridicule. But then again...

IT'S SO GOD DAMN FUNNY!!!!

Plus the SWK 2.0 one where he's deflecting all the blaster fire makes him look so incredibly badass, especially with the behind the back deflection.

But really, this kid should be cashing in on this if he were smart, 'cause people are making T-Shirts and stuff with his likeness on it.

Not going to happen.

[MongooseCN]

I don't think Lucas Arts is going to ask a kid that sues his own friends for unwanted attention to be in their movie. What kind of attention do you think the kid is going to get if he's in the next Star Wars movie? Never mind a little quicktime video clip on the net. And if he can sue his own friends, a commercial corporation worth 100's of millions of dollars isn't going to want anything to do with him.

Re:Not going to happen.

[EpsCylonB]

And if he can sue his own friends, a commercial corporation worth 100's of millions of dollars isn't going to want anything to do with him.

I've got a feeling that these people were probably never his friends...

Re:Not going to happen.

[freeweed]

And I've got a feeling a 15 year old kid can't file a lawsuit in Canada.

You really have to wonder just what kind of example his parents are setting for him: someone hurts your feelings, let's sue!

Maybe the kid is being groomed for CEO of SCO.

Re:Not going to happen.

[Music To Eat]

Alledgedly the video was stolen out of a filing cabnet at school. The "friends" conspired to hide the fact they stole it. Then even tried to scheme to have the iPod and money that was raised for him be sent to a different address, so they could keep it. Some friends, huh? Actually in a phone interview when asked "I guess it wasn't a friend who did this, more of an enemy?" He replied, "More or less. It was someone I knew.". He should sue them, and I still want to see him in Ep. III.

More Petitions!

[Spackler]

If we are going to do this, we need a petition for Libby Hoeler! She is WAY more famous on the internet than some punk with a lightsaber. Get her into a scene with Natalie! Heck, Darth can watch.

Re:More Petitions!

[Brainboy]

Libby Hoeler

Who?

Re:More Petitions!

[glassesmonkey]

If Libby brought me one moment of joy, I might agree. As it stands, however, I can't get enough of the SWK remixes. There sometime brillant in the original SWK video. The stuff AFV is made of. God bless you Bob Saget.

Re:More Petitions!

[TheNumberSix]

Libby Hoeler is an "accidental" internet celeb.

There's a write up about it at kuro5hin.

Psychiatric care

[upmufa]

Apparently the kid is under psychiatric care and his parents are suing. I wonder if being in the star wars movie would help. Here's the story.

What about from HIS point of view?

[rikun]

I don't believe there was any mention of how the kid felt about being in the movie in that entire article. I'm curious if he has even been informed that such a petition exists or not. But how do these people know he doesn't just want to put it behind him and move on with his life?

Honestly, I feel bad for this kid, but I don't think that he should be in the movie. I think it'd be appropriate if he were to go and meet the cast, whoever suggested that, but that's it. Here's something to think about. If he gets into the movie, how many die-hard fans do you think will intentionally try to do something similar so THEY can get into the movie of their dreams?

Oh, I dunno about that.

[StarKruzr]

I'd be surprised if he *wasn't* fond of it already at this point. He got an iPod and a ton of cash out of it. This whole thing has probably been a tremendous growing experience for him.

I would not be surprised, either, if Lucas did precisely as you suggest. He will more than likely not violate the "sanctity" of his movies, lame as they are, but some exclusive private visits would definitely be in the spirit of making the kid feel better.

Re:Oh, I dunno about that.

[stefanlasiewski]

He got an iPod and a ton of cash out of it.

That doesn't change the fact that he's still the butt of a cruel joke that has gone internet-wide.

I'm sure he would gladly trade in his iPod and cash to get rid of the humiliation.

My friend was first

[zdzichu]

Hi did his light-sabre fight in June 2000! Later he did with friends whole new SW episode.

Link to movies

[MoogMan]

Suprisingly, the actual link to the website containing the movies has been left out!

It would seem unfair to link straight to the movies, because the poor kid wont get his compensation money ;)

Why? I've done this?

[nuggz]

So what he did something.
I've fought with lightsabers when I was 10 years younger, and 10 years older.

Okay not lightsabers, but thin PVC pipe we'd break on each other, and it bruised like a bitch.

This really isn't a big deal, he shouldn't let it bother him. And if he does, no amount of pity from the world will make it better, it will just emphasize it.

I hate this guy....

[botzi]

"Let's make the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to this kid, the best thing as well."

Yeah, cause we can't imagine even for a minute that this "kid"(Now 15 anyone??) may actually have a life and starring for 14 secs in Star Wars movie will not get on top of his CV....Whatever.

Re:4. Profit!

[Guysdrinkingbeer]

I have gotten this a few times. I hit the reply button and tell them that as a sign of good faith to put five thousand in to my Paypal account. No five thousand yet. HHHMMM, their email must still be messed up because of the blaster worm.

Re:flaming trolling oftftopic

[derch]

Strange rumors are whispered in the land of a power called "Mac & Tosh." Users of the power can see these WMV demons you refer to without the use of a box with windows on it. Practicioners of the "Mac & Tosh" though face a hard road costing much moola and derision from others.

Online petitions?

[patro]

Is there really a point in online petitions? Only a name and an email address is required and one can come up as many false names and free mail addresses as he wants to.

Why should Lucasfilm take this petition seriously? Is there any method to test the validity of the signatures?

Re:Online petitions?

[TwistedGreen]

It's funny. Laugh. :)

moreover

[WormholeFiend]

not only would this require ghyslain to WANT to be in the movie, since he's still a minor, he would also need his parents' permission!

Just imagine if Lucas put Ghyslain in Episode 3, and then Ghyslain's parents decided to sue Lucas for making fun of him!

On preview, bootleg Ghyslain action figures made in Taiwan.

Anyone got a video camera I can borrow?

[tgd]

I'll put frilly panties on my head and jump around naked with a fake lightsaber if it'll get 85,000 people to sign a petition for me to be in a scene with Natalie Portman.

In fact, lets get 85,000 people to sign a petition for me not to dance around naked.

Fatakin

[donnacha]

They should cast him as Anakin's long lost brother, Fatakin.

Re:Fatakin

[tommertron]

I generally find a lot of things get modded funny that aren't really that funny, but I have to admit, even though your joke may have been in poor spirits, I was laughing out loud pretty hard at it.

Good work.

Re:Fatakin

[Lord_Dweomer]

" Wow, you're a true asshole. Congratulations."

And you have no sense of humor, congratulations o' great anonymous one.

There can be only one.

[FatalTourist]

Let him be the one to take the head of jarjar

"Mesa no feel da quickening!"

could the movies get any worse?

[matchboy]

Put the kid in, it's not like its going to hurt their plot. IMHO, they need a international star like the Star Wars Kid to help pull the story together. Portland Linux User Group STAR WARS!

download

[SirOliver]

Download it

...and also...

[uptownguy]

ever so embarressing video

Sigh. Doesn't anyone at least take 10 seconds to proof their own submissions?

Re:...and also...

[Art Tatum]

They probably do. But since they can't spell anything in the first place, they don't notice any problems.

Ack! High school!

[stefanlasiewski]

This treads the line between laughing with somebody and laughing at somebody.

When I was in high school, the biggest school nerd was elected homecoming king (In a high school with 2000 students). It was all a big joke put on by some of the jocks & cheerleaders.

During the Half-time show during the big game, as the King & Queen walked across the field, half the crowd was laughing and jeering at him-- including the very people who put him on the ballot.

What horrible humiliation.

This is just to similar. Leave the poor kid alone. Yes he got an iPod and a nice gift certificate, but why make fun of him any further.

Use the Force, Luke.

[Wiwi Jumbo]

This is lame, but I thought it fitting that the tag at the bottom of the page says "Use the Force, Luke."

Nothing to see here folks, keep moving...

Re:I think we all agree?

[Axess Denyd]

I agree with that.

You know, somehow I don't think that this got mentioned (unless it was just modded too low):

Remember, this freaking kid has already made well over $4000 off of this. Being put on the internet is the best thing that's ever happened to him. Somehow I fail to have sympathy for someone who is laughing all the way to the bank.

Sure, I was in the same situation myself, roughly. I wasn't fat in high school, but I didn't have a great deal of friends (my personal nickname was "Star Track" (no, not "Star Trek", kids are stupid, remember?)). Personally, I could have put up with the other kids making fun of me somewhat easier if people around the world decided to send me lots of money.

Possible relevance ...

[WCityMike]

Back in late July, I submitted (and had rejected) this story:

Possible "Star Wars Kid" cameo in SW3?
10:30 PM -- Friday July 25 2003

WCityMike writes "One of Lucasfilm's official webcams caught the Lucasfilm crew watching the infamous "Star Wars Kid" video (who, coincidentally, just filed suit against the bullies at school who posted the video to the 'Net). Fourteen minutes into the feed, the crew held up a sign that said, "We Love Ghyslain. You Rock!! Jedi Kid." A moment later, she held up a sign that said, "Ghyslain 4 Episode 3? C'est possible, non?" Wouldn't it be hilarious if something originally intended to humiliate the kid instead landed him the role of his dreams? (Hey, if Lucas filmed N*SYNC in Clones ... )

no pity

[Zed2K]

This kid aka little shit lost all my pity when he turned around and sued the kids and their parents for some ungodly amount. This kid could have milked this thing really well but instead his parents got all lawyered up.

Great lesson they are teaching their son. Someone is mean to you so you turn around and sue them.

Surprising he hasn't crossed over to the dark side

[NeuroManson]

By joining forces with the MPAA in their attempts to shut down KaZaA, et al, since that video's the easiest one to get using P2P.

Best possible scenario

[buddha42]

Y'know what would rock? If they didn't just give him some little background/cameo part, but if they took the video footage of him, edited it deftly to put him in the proper costume, and then just spliced him into some fight scene flailing about like a fattard.

Like the part where he trips and slams into the wall, I want that to be him giving a shoulder-but to some bad guy.

First, an important question...

[La Temperanza]

Has anything started on petitiononline.com actually been successful before?

I recall an Internet petition convinced the Princess Mononoke DVD producers to include Japanese audio and subtitles, but I think that was on Usenet.

Let him in!!!

[terradyn]

You made us suffer through Jar Jar; this will work towards your restitution.

METAchlorians

[GQuon]

You seem to be ignorant of the difference between midichlorians and metachlorians.
Methachlorians doesn't have anything to do with the Force, but rather the metabolism. :-)

Are all lawsuits evil?

[Music To Eat]

Are all lawsuits evil? According to this article these kids did a lot more than just hurt this kids feelings. They stole the video from a school filing cabnet. Posted it to the internet with messages encouraging people to make fun of it. Conspired to hide the fact they stole the tape from school officials. Plotted to have the iPod and money that were raised for him sent to a different address, so they could keep them. Ghyslain was so widely mocked at his private high school that he dropped out. He had to finish the session at Pavillon Arc-en-ciel, a ward specializing in child psychiatry at the Trois-Rivieres Regional Hospital Centre. They didn't just hurt his feelings, the tried to ruin his life. Surely theres a lawsuit in there somewhere. I hope they take these punks to the cleaners.

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[TheOldFart]

An catholic priests are catholic priests... what's your point?

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[pizza_milkshake]

sure, the kids who uploaded the video are probably assholes, but, well, that's what high school's all about.

the moral of this story is: don't videotape yourself doing anything you wouldn't want everyone to see.

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[Music To Eat]

Right now, that is the moral. Hopefully they can change it to: Don't try and humilate the school nerd, it can come back to bite you in the ass.

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[hesiod]

> If this kid had played along with the joke instead of turtling, not only would he be fine mentally, he'd be more popular.

As the AC said, "Did you GO to high school?" I don't caer if it's the coolest fucking thing in the world, he's gonna get made fun of because he's smarter than the other kids (Hell, I still couldn't do any video editing). He was laughing at himself when he made the video, but when others publish it and try to steal his money & equipment, then there is something wrong. I agree lawsuits aren't the answer, I think revenge would be appropriate. Kill them. If I were that kid and people like that did that shit to me? I'd be in prison the rest of my life because they'd be dead.
Very. Fucking. Dead.

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[rifter]

> If this kid had played along with the joke instead of turtling, not only would he be fine mentally, he'd be more popular.

As the AC said, "Did you GO to high school?" I don't caer if it's the coolest fucking thing in the world, he's gonna get made fun of because he's smarter than the other kids (Hell, I still couldn't do any video editing). He was laughing at himself when he made the video, but when others publish it and try to steal his money & equipment, then there is something wrong. I agree lawsuits aren't the answer, I think revenge would be appropriate. Kill them. If I were that kid and people like that did that shit to me? I'd be in prison the rest of my life because they'd be dead.
Very. Fucking. Dead.

Which makes you out as even more maladjusted than this kid's parents. Jesus, you are going to kill someone because they published a video you made in which you made an ass of yourself out on the 'net? Even though it made you the most famous kid in the world and gave you a shot at a movie career?

The fact of the matter is that this kid is not a "cool kid" and apparently neither are you. But being able to laugh at yourself, having a good attitude about something like this, is the right, and cool, thing to do. Yes, this was probably the most embarrassing thing to happen to this kid, and I feel his pain. But it is probably the best thing to happen to him because it is a good lesson for life and stands a chance of turning it around for the better. I agree with the original poster that if this kid laughs it off and does not make a bigger ass of himself he will seem cooler. Maybe then he will actually learn something applicable to life in High School. :P

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[hesiod]

> Which makes you out as even more maladjusted than this kid's parents.

Even I can see absolute truth when spoken to me.

> you are going to kill someone because they published a video you made in which you made an ass of yourself out on the 'net?

No, I would kill them because they made a very concerted effort to ruin me, to steal my equipment and work, and to attempt to steal money that was intended to go to me. THEN, they make sure that my name and image is splattered all over the media so that every Joe Shit walking down the street could potentially identify me as "That pudgy kid who thinks he's a Jedi" and laugh & point. Just what he needs, thanks.

> But it is probably the best thing to happen to him

Aaaah, excuse me, I didn't realize having to quit school and spend "an indeterminate amount of time" in a psychiatric ward was a "Good Thing."

He doesn't want a movie career, so the fame part doesn't enter into it at all.

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[rifter]

Aaaah, excuse me, I didn't realize having to quit school and spend "an indeterminate amount of time" in a psychiatric ward was a "Good Thing."

No one said he was in a psych ward. They have said he is undergoing therapy. This is never a bad thing, and I think the parents' overreaction to all of this is the biggest trauma of all. He also has not quit school. Honestly, this whole thing is being blown out of proportion by the parents.

So the kid is being made fun of at school? This may be a News flash but he probably was being made fun of before. Not only that, but millions of kids get made fun of in school. Even the popular kids get made fun of; this is part of the rite of passage. Very few become psychologically damaged as a result, and those are just not getting it.

He doesn't want a movie career, so the fame part doesn't enter into it at all.

How do you know what he wants? Clearly no one has asked him. His parents' complete disregard for his feelings and what he wants weighs in here as well (and is incidentally probably the more damaging aspect of his life). Besides, he has already shown that he likes acting like a jedi for the camera, so who's to say he won't like replacing jarjar?

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[hesiod]

> No one said he was in a psych ward.
> He also has not quit school.

Please RTA, it says he had to quit school and that he was undergoing extensive therapy for an "indeterminate amount of time."

> > He doesn't want a movie career,
> How do you know what he wants?

It said in the article that he didn't want any fame or any movie career.

> Clearly no one has asked him

No, but they have suggested it and his parents made clear his lack of desire.

> His parents' complete disregard for his feelings

They disregard his feelings? Is that why they are suing on his behalf? Unless they are completely greedy people (which is just as much speculation as saying "they are suing for fame"), they are suing because their son was hurt.

> he has already shown that he likes acting like a jedi for the camera

For a camera, yes. Not for an audience. It was for a school project that he HAD TO DO, he just chose that because he likes Star Wars, not because he wants to be an actor. Most likely, even if he was going into films, he would probably want to be a director or cinematographer, since he filmed it & did the graphics himself.

Re:Are all lawsuits evil?

[mlush]

The statement of claim includes lengthy excerpts that it says come from Internet chats in May between the pranksters.

Complete with misspellings, bad grammar and cyber-style acronyms, the exchanges are used in the statement of claim as evidence that the boys lacked remorse. They also brag in them that they evaded attempts by school officials to find the culprits behind Ghyslain's misfortunes.

I think we all learned valuable lessons today... Keep your home movies in a safe place and don't discuss your crimes by IRC

A waste of effort

[RandomDesign]

Lucasfilm, who make the Star Wars films, told Newsround: "Obviously there has been a tremendous show of support for Ghyslain with tens of thousands of fans rallying around him. "However, we are deeply saddened by the current situation and any difficulties this unwanted publicity might be causing him and his family."

Sounds like a polite way of saying "No way in hell".

Has anybody asked the kid if he WANTS this?

[ymgve]

What use is there in putting thousands of names on a petition if the guy doesn't want this at all?

no pity for parent poster

[Music To Eat]

Yeah, some punks steal your personal property. Post it to the internet without your permission. Encourage people to write insulting remarks. Plot to steal the iPod and money sympathetic people have raised for you. Basicaly, try to ruin your life. Then when you stand up for yourself you have asshats like you condemn them for it. Great lesson to teach your son.

Re:no pity for parent poster

[Zed2K]

1. It wasn't his property. He made it on school equipment and the kids stole it from school. That makes it a theft against the school.

2. No one encouraged anyone to write anything. People modified the movie as they wanted to and it rolled from there.

3. There is no proof they planned on stealing the money or ipod. They joked about it, but hey...we all make comments about "oh I could just kill that person" but we never do that either.

The point is this kid had an opportunity to use this event in his life to his advantage but instead he just made things worse.

Re:no pity for parent poster

[Music To Eat]

1)The school I went to supplied the equipment, but you had to provide the video/film. Making the videotape his personal property.

2)According to the lawsuit, the video was sent out along with messages inviting people to make insulting remarks about it.

3)In the excerpts from Internet chats filed in court, the four appear to be plotting ways to get the gifts sent to another address so they can keep the iPod for themselves.

You can read more about it here

The point is that this kid was humiliated so bad he dropped out of high school and finished the session at Pavillon Arc-en-ciel, a ward specializing in child psychiatry at the Trois-Riviyres Regional Hospital Centre. I'm 32, but I remember when I was his age, a zit was the end of the world. I can't even imagine what this would be like. It's not like he could just change high schools to get away from it, or move to another town, or province, or even country. This was humiliation on a worldwide scale. Who are you to criticize how he handles it? He can't walk in to Barnes and Nobles and buy a "Handling Worldwide Humiliation in High School for dummies" book. I think he's handled it fairly well. It's not like he's going around suing everything that breaths, or the people with the deepest pockets. He could be suing the school and the websites that hosted the file, but he's only suing the four kids that actually caused his injury.

Re:no pity for parent poster

[Zed2K]

This kid is no different than millions of kids around the world. EVERYONE gets picked on. Some worse than this. I was picked on, I bet you were too. We all were. Its how we pick ourselves up and deal with it is where we are different. So this kid gets ridiculed at school so he basically has a breakdown. Whats going to happen when he faces critism in the work place? Is he gonna snap again and kill his boss? I think he needs to toughen up. His parents should have told him to stop crying, pick himself up and get back in the fray. Sitting in a corner crying because you were made fun of is not the way to solve the problem. Thats what this kid is doing. This is a good lesson for him, life is hard. You suck it up, and deal with it. You don't turn around and sue people because you don't like them. Its a dangerous precendent that they are trying to set here. Today its crying about being picked on...tomorrow its sueing because billy put gum in susy's hair.

Its a bs lawsuit by a greedy lawyer and parents that shouldn't be parents because obviously they don't know what they are doing.

Re:I think we all agree?

[eyeye]

So... mr empathy... what wouldnt you do for money?

Too bad this didn't happen a few years ago

[bogie]

He could have started up a dot.com gone public and cashed out as a millionare.

His fans demand satisfaction...

[Lodragandraoidh]

I realize he is 15 - but come on...it should be water off a duck's back.

Many kids his age lied about their age, and were fighting in WWII - I don't buy the 'pain and suffering' he is experiencing from this. The litigation sounds like greed to me.

That being said, I think he should be in the movie, or at least give him a tour of the set. He is an internet icon now - his fans will enjoy seeing him on the big screen.

Re:His fans demand satisfaction...

[Lodragandraoidh]

Col. David H. Hackworth entered the service at that age. From his web site:

"Biography

Hack's military career as a sailor, soldier and a military correspondent has spanned nearly a dozen wars and conflicts, from the end of World War II to the recent meltdown in the ex-Yugoslavia.

He enlisted in the merchant marine at age 14 and the U.S. Army at 15. In almost 26 years in the Army he spent over seven years in combat theaters, winning a battlefield commission in Korea to become that war's youngest Army captain. ..."

That is probably the most well-known instance that I am aware of.

I know

[geekoid]

he can be storm trooper #12983

Re:I know

[Thjorska]

Isn't he a little short for a stormtrooper?

lazy person's link

[corbettw]

Here's the link from the text.

Re:Litigation

[FFFish]

They should sue LucasFilms, for making a movie that encouraged the kid to act like a dork, just like other parents sue game makers!

petition for what to do with Ghyslain' parents

[LostYouth]

This has always bothered me when parents try to go this far with protecting their little boy from humiliation. Everyone has to deal with it so deal with it. This kids situation might be a little different from us, but in a way it isnt. This will go away in a very short time now just like everything everyone has had to deal with, unless of course he's offered and takes a movie part. The fact that this kid's parents are going after everything the posting kids families have is NOT justifiable. Anyway, maybe Im the only one who feels this way. Someone should be hired to video tape something embarassing that the parents are doing and post it the day the parents lose in court.

Re:petition for what to do with Ghyslain' parents

[DeadScreenSky]

Do some reading, buddy. This isn't just a practical joke pulled off by some friends. The posting kids broke several laws, and actively tried to ruin this kid's life. Jesus, they even tried to figure out a way to get that iPod for themselves. Punish the bastards, and their incompetent parents.

Re:I don't think it's going to improve his reputat

[dswensen]

Well, look on the bright side, he can do nothing but improve the role.

I can just imagine the scene...

[Salsaman]

Crowd: The Star Wars kid! Show us the Star Wars kid!
Mother: Now you listen here! He's not the Star Wars kid, he's a very naughty boy! Now go away!
Crowd: Who are you?
Mother: I'm his mother, that's who!
Crowd Behold his mother! Behold his mother! Hail to thee, mother of Ghyslain! Blessed are thou, Hosanna! All praise to thee, now and always!
Mother: Well... Now don't think you can get around me like that! He's not coming out, and that's my final word! Now shove off!

Re:I can just imagine the scene...

[agm]

Heh. Life of Brian. Funny stuff.

I'm sorry, can someone tell me what .wmv stands 4?

[MickLinux]

These file endings have me confused. Is .wmv the ubiquitous "Windows Meta Virus"? Should I simply install it to my boot sector, or is it enough to open the file with Microsoft Outlook?

Re:flaming trolling oftftopic

[mrjohnson]

I had good luck with mplayer on ppc linux.

most poorly written. article. ever.

[jay-be-em]

Seriously, was this written by a 12 year old?

episode 3 will probably be more embarrasing

[LordBeaver]

considering how rubbish episode 1 and 2 were (with the exception of yoda), i think appearing in episode 3 could be more embarrasing!

If you liked this video

[duckpoopy]

there is an equally stupid --- um, I mean great show. It is called America's Funniest Home Videos. Watch this show for a few minutes and you will see how tired and boring --- um, I mean great this video is.

It's obvious

[falsification]

It's obvious. Ghyslain should be cast as the young Wedge Antilles.

Re:It's obvious

[holzp]

Just another Wedgie in his poor life.

Re:GOATSE!!!!!!!!

[AchmedHabib]

Says the "star wars kid", hoping and no one will download the movie of him

Interesting idea

[Lord_Dweomer]

I know this kid doesn't have the confidence and self-esteem to run around going "yeah, i'm the starwars kid, and i'm/was the biggest thing on the net, what have you done lately. Perhaps though, if he did, he could have the time and enthusiasm to finish whatever movie he wanted to make, get people to help with it, get it distributed all over the net, and perhaps, JUST MAYBE, beg George Lucas to get it to play at the beginning or end of the movie. Who knows, it would probably be better than the real movie anyways.

The original and a slew of remakes

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.jedimaster.net/swk_videos.htm The Matrix Agents.... man... who has that much time on their hands!!! Hilarious.... This kid should suck it up and have a good laugh.

He might need to finish psychiatric care first

[AchmedHabib]

Ghyslain will be under psychiatric care for an indefinite amount of time

wrong movie

[Coneasfast]

he would be better placed in a movie such as 'spaceballs 2' as lord darkhelmet's nemesis.

Young Jabba?

[mechugena]

I think this kid would make a great young Jabba the Hutt. You know, before he got TOO fat, he was the first Hutt Jedi trainee. Then, all the other padouins got some video of him practicing, sent it around the galaxy, and humiliated him into a life of extortion and bloated sadness!

Re:Litigation

[mechugena]

That means CowboyNeal should sue the makers of "In and Out" and "The Birdcage" for making him a flaming fag, right?

Star Wars Kid as Steve Ballmer

[irishkev]

I was shocked to find no Steve Ballmer rendition of the Star Wars Kid Masterpiece. So I made one myself:

http://www.cryptogon.com/SWK_Ballmer.wmv

Other link to movie...

[MrSeb]

http://tom.madoka.be/stuff/funstuff/movies/starwar skid/

The other one someone posted was a BitTorrent link that had no seeders :)

Only on Slashdot . . .

[kelzer]

sure, the kids who uploaded the video are probably assholes, but, well, that's what high school's all about.

. . . does a statement like this get moderated up as "informative".

Re:PS

[Zed2K]

$225k per kid. To a family that is it. Game over.

Its Pretty Pathetic

[mzkhadir]

Putting the kid in the movie would demean the movie.

No it's not

[Teahouse]

We all did something stupid at 13. A few days learning Kendo with Lucasfilms fight master, and a bit part where he gets to fight in a big battle and get's like ONE closeup won't hurt the film, but it may make this kid's life a little better. Besides, it's the least we can do considering we all had a laugh at his expense. Sign the petition you monkey!!! LOL!

Re:No it's not

[mzkhadir]

I am not signing the stupid petition. The kids parents are retarted for suing. The kid is fat, he should lose some weight and his life will be better in the end, not appearing in some movie.

Re:No it's not

[Teahouse]

Sheesh, apparently you never had a physical fault in your life.

Yeah! It's the KID's fault he's fat. Nevermind his parents have been probably shoving food down his throat since childhood. Who cares that he's a teenager, and puberty will take care of most of his problems. Even if he had been slim, this tape would have travelled so long as the sword moves are lame.

Give the kid a break, he's fat, but no one deserves the crap he got. Now sign the damn petition you monkey!

I've got a solution...

[telstar]

Somebody give the kid a copy of GTA3 and a mirror.
Obviously the best way to deal with all the attention this kid has gotten is to file a lawsuit about it.
People are so stupid...

Do you *read* the front page?

[SamTheButcher]

I tell you this is the story that just won't die.

If you try, you can think of another story that won't die, I bet. C'mon. Try.

*cough*SCO*cough*

Nah, I guess you're right. I can't think of one either.

get your equals right

[euxneks]

famous == successful

Society returned FALSE

Ever hear of Gary Coleman? Right. Everyone has. He's not successful by any means.

Re:get your equals right

[yack0]

> Ever hear of Gary Coleman? Right. Everyone has.
> He's not successful by any means.

Oh, you just wait til after the election, then Governor Coleman will come around and kick your ass! :)

heh

Re:get your equals right

[euxneks]

Oh, you just wait til after the election, then Governor Coleman will come around and kick your ass! :)

Watchoo talkin' bout phyllis? =P

Re:get your equals right

[swillden]

The exception that proves the rule.

Re:get your equals right

[euxneks]

_partially_ true is still not true.
Something in classical logic is considered false when it is not true. Of course there are statements like "This sentence is a lie" that can't be defined in convential logic, but == uses classical logic in all senses.

Re:get your equals right

[swillden]

And in classical logic, infinite sets exist -- think about the implications of that statement for a while.*

In literature, including expository writing and rhetoric, metaphors, allusions, allegories and various other misapplications of symbols and facts are fair game because they serve to clarify in spite of their imprecision, and even outright inaccuracy.

Re:get your equals right

[euxneks]

Are you saying then that using "==" is valid english? Aren't these missapplicated symbols ones are normally used in english literature, ie. punctuation symbols?

I'm curious to see a poem with a missaplication of computer programming or logic symbols. I think it would make for an interesting read. =) Maybe I can even tie in some sort of english poem writing with my computer programming. =D

Re:get your equals right

[swillden]

Are you saying then that using "==" is valid english?

Nope. I'm saying that language is flexible. In this case, most of the audience is familiar with the notation and meanings in the world of programming and can easily generalize to understand my usage.

For that matter, "==" isn't all that well-defined in the area of programming languages. Consider its meanings across programming languages, or across types within a language. Even in C, the meaning of "==" varies depending on the types to which it's applied. Consider the case of "p==0", when p is a pointer (keeping in mind that there exist platforms on which the representation of a NULL pointer is not all-bits-zero). Or comparisons of integers of different sizes and signedness (which even differs subtly between traditional and ANSI C). Then of course there's C++ where "==" when applied to user-defined classes is a real "humpty-dumpty" equality.

Of course, in programming, the meaning of "==" is very precisely defined for any given statement in any given context, but in nearly all cases the precise definition is simply an attempt to formalize the higher, fuzzier notion of equality appropriately for the context.

In the real world, nearly any application of the notion of equality will be fraught with exceptions, because the real world is an inherently messy place. Therefore, I can use "==", even in the face of exceptions.

I'm curious to see a poem with a missaplication of computer programming or logic symbols. I think it would make for an interesting read. =) Maybe I can even tie in some sort of english poem writing with my computer programming. =D

There's quite a bit of this sort of thing floating around. Google for "perl poetry", for example. Perl poetry is interesting because on of the requirements is that the code/poem must parse and execute without error (though it needn't do anything useful -- however, it's exceptionally cool if it does, and downright awesome if it produces/does something that adds materially to the theme or message of the poem). There's also plenty of poetry around that uses programming symbols and constructs but would never run.

Spend some time with google and you'll find all kinds of interesting stuff. I quite like this one.

Re:get your equals right

[euxneks]

I see your point of view.

Of course I still reserve _my_ point of view. =D From what you are saying, you're basically accepting the fuzzyness inherent in society and affording a reasonable amount of difference and still calling something different. But, I still think that == should be reserved for programming and it's precisely defined rules. =D

Although, I don't necessarily think that the "higher" notion of equality is fuzzier than what is defined in programming, to me equality in logic is something used to explain the fuzzier notions of equality, but to have valid statements in logic we need to have rules that are solidly defined. I think you are getting into the fuzzy logic realm in which I have no experience, so I'm gonna clam up right now. =D

Thanks for the added experience and knowledge!

Re:get your equals right

[swillden]

to have valid statements in logic we need to have rules that are solidly defined.

The problem that arises when you apply such logic to social issues is that it means your set of axioms and provable theorems is miniscule. The set of sufficiently consistent human behaviors is so small that the result is simply not useful. However, there *are* plenty of useful rules to be had if only we permit a bit of looseness.

It's neither an accident nor an aberration that we have that saying "the exception that proves the rule". The statement seems paradoxical on its face, but it makes sense if you understand it. An exception that proves a rule is such because it is the one counterexample to the rule (or one of a small set) that immediately comes to everyone's mind when trying to refute the rule. The fact that there are so few counterexamples that can be used is the evidence that the rule is generally accurate and useful.

I think you are getting into the fuzzy logic realm in which I have no experience, so I'm gonna clam up right now.

Fuzzy logic is cool.

A Freaky Journey Through The Collective Mindset

[donnacha]

This may seem, at first, to be a tad off-topic but actually relates directly to the matter under discussion: whether laughing at this kid is just plain wrong and we shouldn't do it, if it's kind of wrong and we should buy him ipods to assuage our guilt or if it's fair game and the kid should get the Hell over it and enjoy all the resultant opportunities that seem to be heading his way.

I'm of the latter opinion and was one of the first people to sign the petition to help him on his way. Seriously, this whole thing is not only going to pay his way through college but will probably get him his first blow job too.

I genuinely wish him well but, yes, I did make the Fatakin joke. I thought it was funny and, you know what, I still think it's funny.

I have now, HOWEVER, received the moderation record for that post and it's clear that not only those who posted the follow-up posts but also the Slashdot moderators are somewhat split on this whole "humour" thing.

As an interesting testament to just how subjective humour is, I list the mod results for your delectation and viewing pleasure:

1. Starting with a +1, it gets modded up three times, +3 FUNNY, bringing the total up to 4.

2. Some anal retentive mods it down, -1 OVERRATED, bringing the total down to 3.

3. The Karmic balance re-adjusts as some decent soul mods it up, +1 FUNNY, total 4.

4. Spitting in the face of karma, some other anal retentive, possibly connected in some foul and perverted way to the first, mods it down, -1 OVERRATED, total 3.

5. A sudden flood of well-balanced and non-perverted moderators mod it up twice, +2 FUNNY, total 5. Woo HOOOOOO, jackpot!!!!!!

6. My sudden gain is unexpectedly HALVED as one of the post's FUNNY mods is withdrawn "..possibly because the moderator nullified his moderation by posting to the discussion himself". Sadly, we are reminded once again that free speech has it's price. -1 UNMOD, total 4.

7. Never mind, another FUNNY mod, +1, total 5 mo' fo's!!!!

8. AAAAAAhhhhhh, two flaming S.O.B.s, possibly with Al Queda funding, rate me down, -2 TROLL, total 3. What the heck? I can see how this post might be seen as a troll (speaking your mind usually is) but that post was obviously a JOKE.

9. +1 FUNNY, total 4. Although, there's a possibility that this mod was just trolling.

10. -1 FLAMEBAIT, ?????, total 3.

11. +2 FUNNY, total 5.

Of course, now that it's at 5 for a third time, a thousand mods could see it and laugh but be unable to mod it up whereas just one wandering Anal Retentive can take a dislike to it and mod it down accordingly, all while farting in a high-pitched whistle.

Cheers,

Donnacha

Mainstream coverage

[bobobobo]

Well there are other news outlets reporting it to the mainstream public. Not all geeks on the sympathy bandwagon.

Everyone has to deal with it so deal with it

[phorm]

Not everyone has to deal with it. A lot of us had to, but maybe less people would in the future if more people did about it. Little Billy's parents might look the other way when he harrasses the sh*t outta another kid at school and gets a short detention... but if they hear that little Tommy's parents just got sued for $50,000 because of severe harrassment and mental anguish mayhap it would sink in a bit more?

Unfortunately today you can beat people with a bat about rights and wrongs, but it doesn't come home 'till it comes out of their wallet.

I agree here

[Andy Dodd]

While I'm not a fan of frivolous lawsuits (For example, if the parents were suing Lucas to give them the role would be ridiculous.), I think that this is one of the situations where litigation is perfectly legitimate.

Yes, the legal system in the U.S. (And Canada too?) is way too open to abuse, and is abused frequently.

That doesn't mean that it's not there for a legitimate reason. This lawsuit is NOT an abuse of the system.

Better role for him

[Hoi Polloi]

Make him the new Jar Jar Binks. Oh wait, we are trying to make him feel BETTER, forget it.

Land of the Free, Home of the Multiple Homicide.

[brakk]

we should be collecting money to buy him a therapist, some cool clothes, and a personal trainer.

Or like any self-respecting mistreated American kid, he just needs some FPS games , a trenchcoat, and some guns.

They just don't know how to cope in the great white north.

Highly unlikely

[Savatte]

does he look like someone who would ever have sex?