My dead friend had his terrible Facebook picture published

[Baal]

This is my ex-coworker, and friend, Alex Lambert. He was killed in a supposed street racing accident one week ago last night. This picture was used as his profile picture on Facebook, and it is clearly not the best picture of him to see the light of day, so to speak. When he added me on Facebook, my first thought was "wow, that is truly a terrible picture." When I found out about his death, and saw this picture in the paper, I nearly cried.

The worst part is, Alex, supposedly street racing with another vehicle (the opposing driver, just caught by police yesterday, one week later), crashed into oncoming traffic and killing a 23 year old girl.

The media decided to run with it. I'm sure everyone can picture the headlines:

Sinister looking street-racer kills innocent scholar

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words; well in this case, those thousand words were on the tip of everyone's tounge to begin with, and the picture just materialized them.

The father's response to the bad press

News report of the funeral, which I attended

Third driver identified

I'm not sure what this thread will become or what I expect, as it's mostly therapeutic for me at this point, because think of having one of your friends die in a tragic accident, and in such a way that your entire city thinks they're a spawn of Satan; it really isn't very fun. I'm really not trying to rant, or whine about anything, this just feels like a very unique situation that may of be some interest to people here. It may even be a lesson, as we all are aware that nothing is safe on the Internet from anyone, but maybe it might make you think twice about the pictures you post of yourself on Facebook. I'm not saying this is something to worry about; you dieing and having a drunken picture of yourself published, but you really never know when something you put on the Internet will come back to hurt you, or, in this case, the ones you love.

 

[losttheskyagain]

I'm not entirely sure what to say. Death is a touchy thing, but I want you to know I sympathize.

It's horrible they used that picture. Reporters are supposed to go to the parents first. It's... it's a shame. But the important thing is that you know who your friend was, and that you remember him, not that picture being plastered everywhere.

You're in my thoughts.

 

[Stucco]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him. And you are crying because he had a bad photo in the paper? You are a moron.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

(Edit: Message to Stucco) I think I speak for everyone on the forums when I say we're fed up with your crap attitude. There is no need to have such a negative view on everything and everyone, treating them all with utter disrespect. You're banned from the forum. Don't even attempt to sign up again, you are not welcome here.

 

[Gray Fox]

Pretty horrible for your friend, but especially for the girl.
But the main lesson to be learned form this is that when you race illegally you do not only put yourself but also other innocent people in danger.

 

[AntiAnto]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

You're an ass. Just because he decided once to race someone at an intersection doesn't mean he's a total screw-up. He made a bad decision and it returned against him and against a woman who was at the wrong place at the wrong moment. Accident happens sometimes, and I'll give you that this one could have been avoided.

Hell, I raced once and if it had happened to me, I wouldn't want anybody to judge me from this bad decision.

**** off.

 

[Dan]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him. And you are crying because he had a bad photo in the paper? You are a moron.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

Dude, you don't have the cred to talk like that here. STFU

BTW, is his facebook still around? Dead peoples' facebook pages are really creepy, especially when every now and then they get random wall messeges from people that don't know they are dead or don't read the other posts.

 

[Kevin]

Speak for yourself Stucco. YOU are by far the biggest retard, i have seen in these forums.

So unlike ^^^^SOME PEOPLE(stucco)^^^^ i feel sorry for you.

Edit: Zoundz! 3 replies in one minute!? Dang...

 

[Baal]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him. And you are crying because he had a bad photo in the paper? You are a moron.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

Wait, what? Who are you?

I'm not crying, I'm just trying to have a discussion about what I think is an unusual situation I am indirectly involved in. I knew it would come off as whining, but I really am not trying to.

I'm still waiting for all of the facts to come out, so you presuming to know exactly what the situation was is ridiculous at best.

 

[Insano]

No offence, but Stucco has a point.

 

[AntiAnto]

No offence, but Stucco has a point.

To judge and insult someone from one bad decision he made that led to an unfortunate situation?

 

[Baal]

Oh, he does have a point, racing is wrong, I know that. I just hated the way the media portrayed my friend in an evil way. It happens all of the time, and I understand how the media functions, but just the way it happened - regarding the Facebook profile picture that I was familiar with. I thought it was thread worthy and would create an interesting discussion. It still might - actually, it is interesting so far.

As you were, gentlemen.

 

[Asknoone]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him. And you are crying because he had a bad photo in the paper? You are a moron.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

Behave Shasta.

 

[MiccyNarc]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him. And you are crying because he had a bad photo in the paper? You are a moron.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

Shut the **** up.

 

[Pulse]

My condolences to the innocent girl who was killed.

 

[Uriel]

So what is your point? Your friend was an idiot boy-racer that couldn't drive to save his life (literally, apparently), and during one of his attempts to validate himself to his equally stupid buddies, he screwed up (what a surprise) and killed himself and some innocent person that was just walking down the road. Right so far?

Just because he was your friend, and wasn't "evil", doesn't mean he wasn't a retard screw-up that caused his own early demise, and took the life of an innocent bystander along with him. And you are crying because he had a bad photo in the paper? You are a moron.

If you are looking for sympathy for him, you came to the wrong place kid.

In a terrible and painful situation like this, you don't start pointing the finger. It's a tragedy for both sides and you fail to see that. You do not call the other person a idiot, moron, etc. Everyone does something stupid one time or another, we all have. Unfortunately something really bad happens sometimes, but he did not kill this girl intentionally.

You really are an ass to make comments like you did. Kudos for Baal for keeping a cool head about your idiotic remarks. If I just lost a friend, no matter what the situation was, I'd be extremely sensitive towards any negative remarks toward my deceased friend. Baal has just lost a friend, and fail to realize that. You are a ass Stucco, please refrain from posting your idiotic remarks.

 

[Glirk Dient]

Wow man that really sucks. It must be hard seeing that happen to one of your friends. Whether it was right or wrong doesn't mean it won't hurt to see this happen. It is terrible what the media does to people like this but they aren't worried about that.

 

[taviow]

I feel really sorry for you. It must be really hard to lose a friend like that.

 

[Llama]

That's terrible. Especially since they used that pic, people will get a bad impression from a picture and it won't be changed from now - It was terrible that they did that, to tarnish his memory.

Oh, and Stucco / Shasta - You are the most despicable piece of slime I've ever met.

 

[CyberPitz]

Behave Shasta.

Oh so true.

Sure he made a BIG mistake...everybody knows that. but hell, that's what makes us human. To err is human. It's just when you keep making those mistakes is when you're a dolt.

 

[Llama]

And let's be honest, the OP posted this because he was distraught, he didn't do it for some self-centered ego trip. The guy (Baal) deserves our sympathies, not abuse from someone.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Munners has dealt with him. \o/

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Gray Fox]

But wait, just portraying at as an accident is not right.
If he was driving by the rules, it would have been accident. But he raced knowing full well it is illegal because it increases the chance of an accident, and he did it on a normal street where there are other people, and he knew that. He recklessly endangered other people, thats pretty terrible.

 

[Llama]

Yes, it is.

However, he clearly paid for it.

Also, about damn time someone banned him.

 

[Ennui]

That's one of the first people who have been Munrowned in a very long time.

Baal, I'm sorry about your friend. It's tragic that he died at 20, and even more tragic that it was the result of a stupid accident that killed someone else.

It was obviously a dumb move, but you can't really judge him for it, we all do stuff like that sometimes... he obviously wasn't planning on or thinking about the fact that he could lose control and die.

 

[Baal]

That really was Shasta? What a retard, christ.

Thanks for the support guys, it certainly is a rough one. He was an only child too

It's just such a frustrating situation. If I lived in a bigger city this would be nothing but an after thought. But living where I do, it's front page material for nearly a week now. The funeral was very well presented though, my friend (his girlfriend's brother) made an incredible eulogy, particularly considering what he had to deal with.

We all make bad choices, but most of the time they don't end in our own deaths, or worse, the death of someone else. It was a stupid move for anyone to make, but this guy wasn't a street racer (ie: organized street racing on the weekends) by any stretch of the imagination, and the media played it as if he was.

I've lost grandparents before, and even one guy I knew in High School quite well who died in a car crash as well, but their deaths weren't front page in the newspaper, nor were they presented as killers. I haven't talked to a single person yet that didn't know about his death, whether they be someone in my office or someone I know more personally.

 

[Robert-]

Shouldn't they refer to the family for pictures and not just surf the internet? That's really horrible.

 

[mastag]

Baal, I'm truly sorry to hear that. The press is just stomping on his grave it sounds. Best of luck.


@ Stucco/shasta: you truly are a piece of filth. I can't believe i stuck up for you once.

 

[Insano]

To judge and insult someone from one bad decision he made that led to an unfortunate situation?

I definately don't agree with the agressive tone from his post, lets make that clear. But a "bad" picture of the guy published in the newspapers doesn't even compare to the fact that an innocent girl was killed.

It was no accident, 'cause when you race, you know you're a danger for yourself and the people around you. As the result shows. I believe Baal when he says that he was a nice guy, but the fact remains that it was a serious idiotic thing to do.

My condolences to Baal, the guy's family, and to the girl's family. These things just shouldn't happen.

 

[AntiAnto]

I was not trying to defend what he did. I simply said that it is not an appropriate reason to completely define him as a person. His act was dumb, but this doesn't mean he was to the same extent.

 

[CyberPitz]

(Edit: Message to Stucco) I think I speak for everyone on the forums when I say we're fed up with your crap attitude. There is no need to have such a negative view on everything and everyone, treating them all with utter disrespect. You're banned from the forum. Don't even attempt to sign up again, you are not welcome here.

Munrowned. I really missed that.

People saying that if you street race, no pity for you when you die/kill someone. Can't that really be said about alot of things? Someone sky dives, dies because his parachute didn't deploy. Can you say he was an idiot for endangering his life for some 5 minute thrill?

 

[Muffin Man]

I think the main difference is that, unless you're skydiving over a crowded walkway, you're not endangering anyone else by skydiving. If one of my friends were injured or killed by somebody on motorway who was being reckless, I honestly wouldn't care if it were a "one time thing," to be honest. But it sounds like the media is completely ripping into your deceased friend which is wrong.

I really feel for you, man. I could see a few of my friends dieing in car accidents, and I don't know how I'd deal with it. Especially if the media were playing them like some satanic street racer...

 

[Insano]

People saying that if you street race, no pity for you when you die/kill someone. Can't that really be said about alot of things? Someone sky dives, dies because his parachute didn't deploy. Can you say he was an idiot for endangering his life for some 5 minute thrill?

First of all, you don't bring anybody else in danger by skydiving. Second of all, skydiving isn't illegal. Third: when you skydive, you respect the security rules. What rules are there for street racing? Last, and most obvious: skydiving isn't near as dangerous as street racing.

 

[Evo]

Damn

Sucks that the media have portrayed him as they have while from your account Baal he made one mistake and two people paid dearly for it

Munrowned btw Shasta.

Stay away, you ain't welcome.

 

[Markdude]

I definately don't agree with the agressive tone from his post, lets make that clear. But a "bad" picture of the guy published in the newspapers doesn't even compare to the fact that an innocent girl was killed.

It was no accident, 'cause when you race, you know you're a danger for yourself and the people around you. As the result shows. I believe Baal when he says that he was a nice guy, but the fact remains that it was a serious idiotic thing to do.

My condolences to Baal, the guy's family, and to the girl's family. These things just shouldn't happen.

Agreed. The fact that the man is dead does not change the fact that what he did was careless and idiotic.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

But people make mistakes. Everyone has moments of poor judgement, and we learn from them. This dude just lucked out, it would seem.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Mr-Fusion]

Street racers deserve everything they get.

No ****ing sympathy for these scum endangering the lives of innocent drivers.

Get the **** out of society.

 

[Link]

I'm sorry, has anyone here seen any evidence, other than the tabloid media saying so, that he was in fact street racing? Maybe he was just speeding, and an actual street racer happened to be there. Don't get me wrong, if he crashed from speeding, then he was going to fast for himself/his car, but thats a different ball park to street racing.

And before anyone starts, tell me you never broke the speed limit before.

 

[Mr-Fusion]

Who knows. I'm just speaking in general.

A street racer killed an elderly couple the other week here in Sydney. Disgraceful. I hate street racers. Moronic assholes.

 

[xcellerate]

this guy wasn't a street racer (ie: organized street racing on the weekends)

lol...organized; street races are never organized and they're always populated by drunk morons ready to fight at the drop of a 'vtec sucks' comment.

But, was your friend's car modified? Because I know somebody who had a pretty large wreck in a modified car and it ended up on the news and the reporter was talking about how he was driving his modified car well above the speed limit and all this stuff, when in reality he was driving normally in traffic and the dumb bitch pulled out right in front of him. The news just likes to make people believe nonsense, and they jump to ridiculous conclusions such as 'modified car = street racer.'

However, if he was actually street racing, then it's just a shame he wasn't mature enough to know better. Every street race I've seen is just a drag race and why risk your life, your car, and the life of somebody else when you can go to the drag strip and run all night for $10.

Either way it's terrible that he lost his life.

 

[Jintor]

Hooray, media ****ers.

Street racing... glorified nowdays. Odd.