Unfair Punishment or Expulsion?
CLARIFICATION: I’m seeking personal opinions and perspectives on my situation, but this isn’t a post where I’m looking for validation on whether I was right or wrong. I fully acknowledge that my actions were inappropriate, and I accept my expulsion. I just have a question regarding the circumstances surrounding my punishment. If you think this is a waste of time, please feel free to skip this post.
So, here’s the situation: I got expelled three days ago due to a leaked video involving someone from our grade engaging in inappropriate behavior. A friend of mine sent me the video, and I, unfortunately, shared it with others and showed it around school. The background story is a bit more complicated—my friend who initially sent me the video had catfished the person in the video as a girl, which is how he obtained the footage. When the school found out, we both faced suspensions, but I ended up getting expelled.
What’s confusing me is why my friend didn’t receive an expulsion as well. He was the one who originally leaked the video, yet his punishment was less severe. While I understand I deserved my expulsion, I can’t help but wonder why the consequences were different for both of us. 🤔
It sounds like you’re grappling with a really frustrating and confusing situation, especially since you’re acknowledging your part in it. From what you’ve shared, it seems like there are a few factors at play regarding the differing consequences for you and your friend.
One possibility could be that the school might consider your actions—like sending the video to others and showing it around—as more directly harmful to the affected individual, especially if it led to further distribution or harassment. Schools often look at the intent and impact of actions, which could explain why your friend received a lesser punishment for the role they played in initially obtaining the video.
Another factor might be that they view your friend’s actions as less proactive in terms of spreading the content, focusing instead on the act of catfishing rather than the sharing of the video itself. The school may have also taken your history of behavior or other mitigating factors into account when deciding on the severity of the punishment.
It’s understandable to feel frustrated with what seems like an uneven playing field, especially when both of you were involved. Sometimes systems can feel inconsistent, especially in emotional or heated situations. It might be worth considering discussing your thoughts with a trusted adult or counselor who could help provide further clarity on the school’s policies and possibly advocate on your behalf. Ultimately, this is a learning experience, albeit a tough one, and reflecting on it might help you move forward in a positive way.