A “What Would You Do” moment if ever there was one
Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 04:49:05 PM PDT
We here at MT try to espouse the "judge not lest ye be judged" mutual detente parenting line when it comes to things that happen in families, save for certain situations (Hello, Lori Drew!). Well, I think Ms. Drew may have some company soon, because I’d like you to join me in contemplating the Curious Case of Corey Worthington. Worthington, 16, has the dubious distinction of being the first tabloid wreck in Australia of 2008. The teenager threw a party last Saturday in his home in suburban Melbourne (as you do). He advertised it on his MySpace account (uh-oh). News spread via internet and SMS (getting worse) Five hundred teenagers showed up (OMFG). Take it away, The Age:
POLICE are investigating how social networking websites, email and SMS messaging may have been used to draw a crowd of up to 500 teenagers to a house party, hosted by a 16-year-old boy while his parents were interstate.
Neighbours called police to break up the party in Galloway Drive, Narre Warren South, after revellers spilled onto the street about 10pm on Saturday.
But some partygoers gathered at a nearby reserve and started throwing bottles at two police vehicles, causing significant damage. Police were forced to retreat until back-up arrived.
Senior Sergeant Russell Patten of Endeavour Hills police said two police cars had to be reinforced by a helicopter, two dog squad units, a critical incident response team, Operation Sarazan (police from Noble Park), transit police and divisional van crews from surrounding suburbs.
Police said several nearby letterboxes were smashed as the crowd dispersed
The damage bill from this Saturday Night rave? A$20,000, including police presence. And the police are seriously considering making kid (and obviously by extension, considering his age) his parents pay back the bill.
Bad enough, right? Well, Corey has been making the rounds of radio shows and has, thus far, been totally unrepentant and is even looking to make a profit from the incident. From The Herald Sun:
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Corey said he had enjoyed the notoriety his party has achieved.
"People have been saying, 'You're a legend', 'Your mates are legends', 'Your party was mad'," Corey said.
"All the parents have been saying, 'I can't believe you went to that party', or, 'You're not getting to know that kid'.
"But for us teenagers it happens every week -- just not as big as mine."
In addition to the reported $750 the teenager received for a Fox FM radio interview yesterday, Loud Promotions agent Danny Grant, 21, confirmed a deal was struck with the Narre Warren teen on Tuesday night.
Mr Grant said he hoped the gig, to be named "Not So Narre", would go ahead on a week night next school holidays, pending underage event licensing.
He said Corey would earn one-third of the night's profit as the face of the event.
"We still have to sit down, and we're having a meeting on Sunday to decide the finer details. But 33 per cent would be fair, seeing it's all because of him," Mr Grant said.
Oh, Christ. On the plus side, maybe he can pay the bill himself.
You may ask yourself, well, where were the boy’s mother and stepfather (the owners of the house) in all this? Fair enough. They were on vacation in Queensland. For those of you not too familiar with Australia’s geography, it’s as if the family home was in, say, Boston and the parents flew for a vacation in Floria. We’re not talking a short distance, folks. While devastated, the parents didn’t even make it home until Monday afternoon.
This is where I’m trying desperately to rein in the judgey side of me, which has been screaming since Sunday (when the coverage broke) "Who the EFF leaves a bloody 16 year old alone for a week???" My parents didn’t go away on a mini-vacation leaving my sister and I on our own until I was nearly 20 and home for Spring Break and my sister was 14. Who does this!?
So, ladies, what’s your reaction? Is this a "there but the grace of God go I" moment, a "idiot parents" moment or a "judge not lest ye be judged" moment? I’d love to hear what you parents of teenagers have to say on this.
