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Bob Vila · 08-21-2003, 04:53 PM

LMFAO

SWK Pwns

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/08/2...d.ap/index.html

Quote:

(AP) -- It was a moment of unadulterated goofiness, the kind of thing anyone might do with no one watching: A teen from Quebec videotaped himself as he pretended to wield a light saber "Star Wars" style.

But that private moment went public, very public, when classmates at his high school found the tape in a cabinet and uploaded it onto an Internet file-sharing site this past spring.

Now Ghyslain Raza is known far and wide as the "Star Wars Kid," with a fan base that only seems to be growing -- even though he doesn't want the attention.

The video shows the slightly portly teen awkwardly twirling a golf ball retriever like "Star Wars" bad guy Darth Maul, and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. Web sites have been dedicated to the youth. Supporters have raised money for him. And several techies have created their own "clone" versions of the video, adding sound and visual effects or placing his image in any number of backdrops -- from "The Hulk" to "The Matrix."

Many teens who post their images on the Web would probably be thrilled to get this kind of attention. But Ghyslain, who made the video while doing a school project when he was 15, has said he didn't intend for it to be seen by his classmates, let alone people across the world.

"I want my life back," he said in an e-mail interview with the National Post newspaper, a Canadian daily.

Claiming that their son has been humiliated, his parents are suing the parents of the teens who put the video on the Web.

Some say the case may become a step toward setting privacy standards on the Internet, which has been difficult terrain to police. But in the meantime, Web surfers are having a field day with Ghyslain's image on any number of sites.

Elizabeth Murphy, a production manager for a Web design company in New York, says she finds herself visiting one of the sites often.

"Contrary to popular belief, I think it is not the Jedi kid's awkwardness that keeps him in people's hearts but his undeniable enthusiasm for what he is doing," Murphy says. "While I feel bad for him because he hates his new found popularity, I revisit the site anytime I am feeling down. It just cracks me up. I love this kid!"

Resonating with Web surfers
Experts say it's no wonder the video has only increased in popularity.

"It resonates because we all know what it is like to have moments like that," says Patricia Leavy, a sociology professor at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, who specializes in popular culture.

"Personally, I sing and bop along to TV theme songs," she adds. "Embarrassing, yes. But also a part of being human."

Ghyslain's lawyer, Francois Vigeant, declined to comment, citing an upcoming court hearing. He said the teen and his parents, who live in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, also were declining interviews.

Meanwhile, the teen's supporters are working on his behalf.

Andy Baio, a 26-year-old computer programmer from Santa Monica, California, helped lead a fund-raising campaign for Ghyslain -- and claims to have purchased an iPod music player and gift certificates for him.

Others have started a petition to get him into the next "Star Wars" movie, which Lucasfilm Ltd. is currently filming in Australia.

A spokeswoman at the California-based film company would not say whether filmmaker George Lucas is considering the request.

"We are deeply saddened by this current situation and any difficulties this uninvited publicity might be causing [Ghyslain] and his family," spokeswoman Jeanne Cole said. "We have no other statement."

Regardless, many "Star Wars" fans hope Ghyslain will learn to enjoy his newfound fame.

"I guess I can feel his pain because it's so big," says Joshua Griffin, editor of TheForce.net, a Web site of "Star Wars" trivia and gossip. "But part of me thinks he should enjoy this. Drop the lawsuit and embrace this."

Griffin admits that he enjoys watching the video clips of Ghyslain.

"I definitely want to respect the kid's privacy. But...," he says, starting to laugh, "It's so funny. He's the 'Star Wars Kid' in all of us."

Still others applaud the lawsuit, and hope it will help set stricter Internet privacy standards.

"We need to ask 'What kind of culture are we going to have?"' says Lynn Schofield Clark, director of the Teens and the New Media @ Home project at the University of Colorado. "I'm hoping we're able to be a society where we do provide people's right to privacy and dignity."

But Baio warns that the lesson is "if you don't want to risk being the next Star Wars Kid, you should be very careful about what you videotape and where you keep it."

**Loco Honkey** · 08-21-2003, 05:23 PM

Quote:

"if you don't want to risk being the next Star Wars Kid, you should be very careful about what you videotape and where you keep it."

And this is why the lawsuit will be thrown out.

**Tonyd0821** · 08-21-2003, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loco Honkey@Aug 21 2003, 04:23 PM

Quote:

"if you don't want to risk being the next Star Wars Kid, you should be very careful about what you videotape and where you keep it."

And this is why the lawsuit will be thrown out.

not so fast.....

this could be a groundbreaking case in terms of privacy rights, property rights, and internet law and a whole plethora of legal issues.

i dont think the judge is going to take one look at the case and immediately throw it out.....

then again, if the servers and company or whatever of the internet site reside in the U.S.....

BUT, again it is in Canada, and case precident in Canada does not hold true in the U.S....

this is going to be a VERY interesting case !!!!

**Tonyd0821** · 08-21-2003, 06:31 PM

LOL im sorry, that just reminded me that i downloaded the "BENNY HILL" version of starwars kid and i just went back and re-watched it....im still laughing so hard

Bob Vila · 08-21-2003, 07:50 PM

I said it once, and I'll say it again.
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EH?

rsaeini · 08-21-2003, 08:28 PM

i love the video. it's freakin hilarious. i would hate it if this lawsuit causes the internet to be regulated by any type of authority(police?). i bet more lawsuits will start to come up once this new spreads around.

**Tonyd0821** · 08-22-2003, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rsaeini@Aug 21 2003, 07:28 PM
i love the video. it's freakin hilarious. i would hate it if this lawsuit causes the internet to be regulated by any type of authority(police?). i bet more lawsuits will start to come up once this new spreads around.

precedent is a motherfucker ray.....

Dustin_m · 08-22-2003, 05:27 AM

That shit is funny as hell!!!
I just went on Kazaa as soon as i read this thread and i got like 10 different versions of the video. they got the star wars, freddy vs. kid, the dancing baby, mortal kombat, and a few others.
How old was that guy??

kyleirwin · 08-22-2003, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by senate_9427@Aug 22 2003, 04:27 AM
That shit is funny as hell!!!
I just went on Kazaa as soon as i read this thread and i got like 10 different versions of the video. they got the star wars, freddy vs. kid, the dancing baby, mortal kombat, and a few others.
How old was that guy??

15 fucker. read the article.

Dustin_m · 08-22-2003, 05:48 AM

didn't read it too good cuz i jsut wanted to see the video, then i was too busy laughing

08-21-2003, 07:50 PM	#5
Bob Vila aliv dod Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bristol, Ct. Age: 28 Posts: 4,351 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: A carriage Rep Power: 99	I said it once, and I'll say it again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EH? __________________ kthx ©2003-2099 SiSteve Productions The person below me is gay.

08-21-2003, 08:28 PM	#6
rsaeini Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,417 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 28	i love the video. it's freakin hilarious. i would hate it if this lawsuit causes the internet to be regulated by any type of authority(police?). i bet more lawsuits will start to come up once this new spreads around. __________________ "let those who judge me burn in hell until their Hondas are repossessed" - ME 1.6-1.8

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08-21-2003, 06:31 PM	#4
Tonyd0821 Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5,089 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 0	LOL im sorry, that just reminded me that i downloaded the "BENNY HILL" version of starwars kid and i just went back and re-watched it....im still laughing so hard

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