Not For Sale

▲ Tina Meier, the mother of Megan Meier, displays photographs of her daughter, who committed suicide at the age of thirteen after reacting to fake MySpace postings by the mother of one of her former friends. Studying sociology provides us with new insights on problems such as suicide by making us aware that much more goes on in social life than we initially observe. His name was Josh Evans. He was 16 years old. And he was hot. “Mom! Mom! Mom! Look at him!” Tina Meier recalls her daughter saying. Josh had contacted Megan Meier through her MySpace page and wanted to be added as a friend. “Yes, he’s cute,” Tina Meier told her daughter. “Do you know who he is?” “No, but look at him! He’s hot! Please, please, can I add him?” Mom said yes. And for six weeks Megan and Josh—under Tina’s watchful eye—became acquainted in the virtual world of MySpace. Josh said he was born in Florida and recently had moved to O’Fallon [Missouri]. He was homeschooled. He played the guitar and drums. . . . As for 13-year-old Megan . . . [she] loved swimming, boating, fi shing, dogs, rap music and boys. But her life had not always been easy, her mother says. She was heavy and for years had tried to lose weight. She had attention defi cit disorder and battled depression. . . . But things were going exceptionally well. She had shed 20 pounds, getting down to 175. She was 5 foot 51⁄2 inches tall. . . . Part of the reason for Megan’s rosy outlook was Josh, Tina says. After school Megan would The Sociological Perspective and Research Process