I wonder if we're going to see an exploration of the "eggshell skull" legal principle here, but with a harassment / cyberbullying angle instead. That would be interesting.

For those not in the know, "eggshell skull" refers to one being responsible for the extra damage one inflicts on a victim through battery because of pre-existing conditions, even if those conditions are unknown to the parties. If you deliberately punch someone to cause injury or indignity (not in self-defense), in most cases they won't die and you'd be guilty of simple battery. However, strike someone who has a defect or unexpected weakness in their skull such that their head caves in and they die, then you are guilty of manslaughter.

The idea is the offender knowingly engaged in a course of action that caused harm and broke the law. Just because the magnitude of the harm was unexpected to the offender does not mean they are not responsible for the outcome, since they willfully and deliberately caused illicit harm in the first place.

This victim may have been predisposed to suggestions of suicide or to the negative effects of harassment because of her mental status. If that played a role in her killing herself, some Redditors may be complicit from a legal standpoint. Reddit may be complicit.

I wonder if we're going to see an exploration of the "paper skull" legal principle here, but with a harassment / cyberbullying angle instead. That would be interesting.

For those not in the know, "paper skull" refers to one being responsible for the extra damage one inflicts on a victim through battery because of pre-existing conditions, even if those conditions are unknown to the parties. If you deliberately punch someone to cause injury or indignity (not in self-defense), in most cases they won't die and you'd be guilty of simple battery. However, strike someone who has a defect or unexpected weakness in their skull such that their head caves in and they die, then you are guilty of manslaughter.

The idea is the offender knowingly engaged in a course of action that caused harm and broke the law. Just because the magnitude of the harm was unexpected to the offender does not mean they are not responsible for the outcome, since they willfully and deliberately caused illicit harm in the first place.

This victim may have been predisposed to suggestions of suicide or to the negative effects of harassment because of her mental status. If that played a role in her killing herself, some Redditors may be complicit from a legal standpoint. Reddit may be complicit.