I'm gonna delete those threads because some of their comments went downhill and I don't think it followed this sites guidelines. Anyway, I found a story from their comments.
What parents can learn from James Dungy's website
an ABC Action News report 12/23/05
TAMPA - Just hours after Tony Dungy's son was found dead, Action News learned of a website that James Dungy supposedly designed as his personal profile.
Due to its controversial content, we wrestled with whether to publicize the site out of respect to the family. But after talking to a clinical psychologist, we learned there are benefits to discussing the site, such as getting a closer look at signs of trouble that you can watch for in your children.
The first thing that popped up on James' site was a menacing picture of the 18-year-old with a bandana over his face. That photo -- along with the rap song, praise for the D.C. snipers, and images of weapons and drugs -- do not represent the image many saw as Tony Dungy's son.
"This is a very troubled, very troubled young man. A young man who has a potential for some form of destructiveness," clinical psychologist Dr. Sidney Merrin observed after looking at the website.
Analyzing the site, Dr. Merrin said there were a number of signs of violence and deep-rooted anger.
The site was filled with images of football, weapons, and drugs.
"It could be anger because his family disagrees with him or they challenge him or they criticize him, and he has developed a defense mechanism over the years in direct opposition to what he views as being their values," Merrin offered.
The site, created on MySpace.com, prominently featured guns; even the user's cursor turned into a weapon.
"The guns represent a form of power. Its a way to tell the world, 'I am not a weak individual, look how powerful I am,' " Merrin explained.
James apparently spent Wednesday morning posting messages on his friends' sites. One of those final messages read, "Can't talk to nobody n e more," a clear message despite being written in online teen shorthand. Was that a final cry for help?
"It, too, depicts a very sad phase in his young life. When he says 'I can't talk with anyone anymore,' he's reached the end of the line," Merrin added.
There's no way to tell for sure whether any of the problems Dr. Merrin discussed were factors in James Dungy's death. But as his family tries to make sense of this tragic loss, his website might begin to give them some clues while also offering other parents a reminder to be watchful over their kids' activities online. What they're writing about themselves may offer early clues of problems.
In fact, James' father may have said it best himself in an interview back in 2001.
"Even that family that you look at that seems like everything is great, it's not always that way. It's hard work, it's trial and error, it's ups and downs. So don't think that you're any different," Tony Dungy said.
After word of James' death spread, friends logged onto his site to share their sorrow. A visitor named Melissa wrote, "I can't believe your gone (sic) ... you'll always be in my heart."
By Thursday evening, meanwhile, the site appeared to have been taken down by MySpace.
The site was filled with images of football, weapons, and drugs
http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2005/...bsite.shtmlWhatEdited by: Bear-Arms