High School Reporter Fights School to Publish Story on Choking Game

[RamboLiberal]

Note a kid in a neighboring school district died of this game recently. It's a big story on local TV news and talk radio. I say let the story be published.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06071/667880.stm

A 1988 U.S. Supreme Court ruling makes it legal in many cases for school officials to block publication of a student article in the high school newspaper.

But Canon-McMillan High School officials are facing a constitutional tongue-lashing from a sophomore who's proclaiming violations of her First Amendment rights after her article about a dangerous choking game was blocked from publication in the C-M Times, the high-school newspaper.

Danielle Hibler, 15, of Cecil, a member of the C-M Times staff and high-school journalism class with goals of becoming a journalist, decried the decision to censor her article, "A Dangerous Game Exposed," which detailed the death of Kimberly Wilson, a 15-year-old girl from Lawrence, Kan., who opted to undergo oxygen deprivation as a means of getting high. Her story can be read online at www.kimberwilson.com.

"The vice principal cut the story from the paper. She put a big X on the first page," Danielle said. "I was upset about it."

Danielle Hibler's Story

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06071/668364.stm

Why would a fun-loving, popular 15-year-old student want to commit suicide? That is exactly what Kimberly "Kimber" Wilson's mother thought as she found her daughter slumped below her dresser with a plastic bicycle chain attached to the dresser with a belt wrapped around her neck.

The "choking game," also known as the pass-out game, fainting game, dream game, space monkey, American dreaming game, tingle game or simply "blackout," is a dangerous game that is on the rise among teens. Teens looking to get a cheap "high" temporarily deprive themselves of oxygen, forcing themselves to pass out. These teens are alarmingly unafraid of the deadly consequences and will do anything, anywhere, anytime to achieve this high.

These same teens believe that because they are not using illegal or controlled substances to obtain the "high" that they are in no danger and are not doing anything wrong. This is not true at all. In fact, according to connectwithkids.com, Dr. Ashraf Atala, a child psychiatrist, says this behavior is "a very dangerous play where that person deprives his or her brain of oxygen. By reducing the blood pressure the brain basically starts an irreversible process of dying." He also adds that if he or she does survive, they will be left with permanent brain damage.

Teens are participating in the choking game at many places and in various ways. The game, which was once known only as a group activity, has been around for many years and has now become a dangerous practice that teens will try on their own. Though trying the game with friends is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted, trying the game alone is even more dangerous. When teens trying to play the game alone achieve their goal of unconsciousness, they are unable to loosen whatever is blocking their airways. As a result they remain in an unconscious state and, according to wikipedia.com, they may also experience strokes and cardiac arrest.

[Book Lover]

1. She should xerox her article

and distribute it otherwise; in the bathrooms, etc.

[SmokingJacket]

2. It's a good article. She'll be an excellent journalist.

Are the principals afraid that kids will learn how to do this and imitate it and sue the school? One would think that freedom of the press would cover that situation.

Anyway, if I -- a square middle class mother -- have heard of this, then the kids have certainly all heard of it too, and could use some good information about the risks involved.

These are the same people who would prefer that kids not learn about birth control, in case the mention of sex instantly makes them want to do it.

[NYC]

3. Experts say: Take away the mystery.

...And that’s why experts say- take away the mystery. Teach your kids that this is no game. “It’s a very, very dangerous practice,” says the doctor, “and I think the community and parents need to know about this.”

[tom_paine]

5. Sadly, this means she will have a difficult time getting a job

Imperial Amerika wants stenographers and propagandists, not journalists.

Poor kid...would that she had come of age when America was free.

[Peanutcat]

4. "The choking game"?

Why won't they call it what it is: Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation.

[yurbud]

6. If you called it that, they'd stop doing it--sounds like homework for bio

[Peanutcat]

7. Well then--

An even better reason for calling it what it really is!

[Nailzberg]

8. A little censorship would have been good here

The "choking game," also known as the pass-out game, fainting game, dream game, space monkey, American dreaming game, tingle game or simply "blackout," is a dangerous game that is on the rise among teens. Teens looking to get a cheap "high" temporarily deprive themselves of oxygen, forcing themselves to pass out. These teens are alarmingly unafraid of the deadly consequences and will do anything, anywhere, anytime to achieve this high.

That first sentence makes me wonder if there is a shortage of red ink out there?