Slog
News & ArtsThursday, September 16, 2010
News Bethany Storro Attacked Herself with Acid
Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 4:36 PM
Just in from CNN:
A Washington woman who told police that a stranger threw acid in her face admitted Thursday that her injuries were self-inflicted, authorities said.
Whole thing here. I'm speechless. (But fuck her for trying to pin this on the all-purpose African-American suspect.)
(Previously.)
9
1. Fuck one's face with a corrosive chemical.
2. Blame it on a Scary Black Lady.
3. ???
4. PROFIT!!!
We have plenty of padded rooms for attention whores like her.
2. Blame it on a Scary Black Lady.
3. ???
4. PROFIT!!!
We have plenty of padded rooms for attention whores like her.
11
Well, at least she was smart enough not to go on Oprah- seeing as that would have warranted a second appearance for the obligatory Oprah verbal smackdown, ala James Frey.
12
At least she only hurt herself . . . if you don`t mind the massive amounts of money wasted on the investigation, the increased tension in the community, the shattering of the trust of the people who reached out and donated money to her, and the victims of the two copy-cat crimes she inspired.
16
It's a terrible thing, but I just feel sad for her parents, for her community, for all the people who believed in her, and for her. You have to be a special sort of disturbed to do this to yourself.
Oh, and now I get to tell Mr. Luckier "I told you so" because I called this when I first saw the police sketch. Random attack with no witnesses blamed on minority = Shenanigans.
Oh, and now I get to tell Mr. Luckier "I told you so" because I called this when I first saw the police sketch. Random attack with no witnesses blamed on minority = Shenanigans.
21
Last time I saw someone burn themself with Acid was when the local dealer forgot that the price was $4 a tab and not 3 righteous gopher skins and a bag of gummy worms...
22
I wonder what her medical history is and if she's done anything like this before. I don't mean the racial accusations, I mean the self injury. She may have munchausen's syndrome in which people harm themselves in order to get attention and sympathy. If that was her goal, then she certainly is going to get the attention...but the sympathy? Not so much.
23
Yeah, she done bad by blaming the black woman and involving police, other helpers. But she's fucked up in the head!
What's your excuse for being a bunch of judgmental assholes?
What's your excuse for being a bunch of judgmental assholes?
24
@16 has it. There's no angle on this story that isn't sadder than hell. Yes, blaming it on the random black person is horrible, but she's MENTALLY ILL. That demands help, not censure. She's punished herself plenty already (acid burns on the face = not good). She's 28; she has to live with her actions and her face for a long, long time to come.
25
Ah, I was wondering when the "Pity the fool..." party would show up. Thanks, Dirac. I will be taking a pass on feeding the troll tonight.
26
23 dear, sometimes you have to be a "judgmental asshole" to get along in this world. This is one of those times.
Although I do wonder if she isn't so much racist as she is a pathetic soul who decided that a black woman (even within the confines of a overwhelmingly white town) would be a splendid generic villain that no one would question.
Although I do wonder if she isn't so much racist as she is a pathetic soul who decided that a black woman (even within the confines of a overwhelmingly white town) would be a splendid generic villain that no one would question.
27
Any relation to the chick in PA who carved a backwards B on her face and blamed it on a scary black Obama supporter?
28
25-Nice and mature, although I expected nothing less than the hate because most here couldn't find ridiculing a mentally ill woman for her problems reprehensible.
You're welcome, asshole.
You're welcome, asshole.
29
@dirac See how quickly the tears come when it's your face instead of hers. I have been attacked by random strangers, and sympathy for their demented minds was no where near what I felt.
32
Look, if her goal had been to discredit black people, she certainly could have come up with something better than throwing acid on her own face. It strains the bounds of probability to suggest that this is some deliberately racist act. What's more, if that had been her intent, the act would have been done alone and the story would have involved a group of black people. The fact that it was done on a crowded public street and involved immediate media appearances, plus the "pretty girl" detail all suggest strongly that her motivation was attention, which means that she is so mentally defective that she deserves more pity than scorn.
But even if she did intend to discredit black people with this stunt, the fact that she had to resort to throwing acid on her own face to get it done means that she is so mentally deficient that she deserves more pity than scorn.
I'm not even sure there's a racist element. There may be, but it's impossible to know. The imaginary perpetrator had to have some race when the cops were asking questions. If she'd said "white" or "asian," nobody here would be on the "FUCK her" train, which suggests that there's a bit of well-meaning but still wrong-headed counter-racism going on. Why is it racist to make an imaginary perp black but not racist to make that imaginary perp white? Are people really suggesting that in the Hierarchy of Wrongdoing that it's more wrong to invent an imaginary black acid-thrower than it is to invent an imaginary asian acid-thrower? I'm not sure I can get behind that.
I definitely understand the impulse to condemn her over the racial detail, but I'm also uncomfortable with it, the same way I'm uncomfortable with Affirmative Action.
And now that I've revealed myself as a crypto-racist, let the shit-storm of Mike-hate begin ;-)
More...
But even if she did intend to discredit black people with this stunt, the fact that she had to resort to throwing acid on her own face to get it done means that she is so mentally deficient that she deserves more pity than scorn.
I'm not even sure there's a racist element. There may be, but it's impossible to know. The imaginary perpetrator had to have some race when the cops were asking questions. If she'd said "white" or "asian," nobody here would be on the "FUCK her" train, which suggests that there's a bit of well-meaning but still wrong-headed counter-racism going on. Why is it racist to make an imaginary perp black but not racist to make that imaginary perp white? Are people really suggesting that in the Hierarchy of Wrongdoing that it's more wrong to invent an imaginary black acid-thrower than it is to invent an imaginary asian acid-thrower? I'm not sure I can get behind that.
I definitely understand the impulse to condemn her over the racial detail, but I'm also uncomfortable with it, the same way I'm uncomfortable with Affirmative Action.
And now that I've revealed myself as a crypto-racist, let the shit-storm of Mike-hate begin ;-)
34
#32: "let the shit-storm of Mike-hate begin ;-)"
kudos, you kind of come off as almost a big attention whore as she has... but you know-- without all the melty face and false testimony jail and/or institiution part.
nicely played & work it brother. :0-;:} *
*=melty face emoticon
kudos, you kind of come off as almost a big attention whore as she has... but you know-- without all the melty face and false testimony jail and/or institiution part.
nicely played & work it brother. :0-;:} *
*=melty face emoticon
35
"Unfortunately, more and more racist black women are doing just that. If it isn’t burning a white’s face, it’s slashing it, or committing some other sort of atrocity."
http://nicholasstixuncensored.blogspot.c…
http://nicholasstixuncensored.blogspot.c…
37
@ mike, i would agree with you that her intent was not to discredit black people. i don't believe it was an intentionally racist act. but that piece of the story was careless and damaging. we can feel angry at her for that piece of it and pity her at the same time for her mental illness. they are not mutually exclusive.
38
Do you think it could be a boyfriend who did it who she is protecting? I've known women to cover up horrible abuse, to the point where a cover up seems more likely than self-inflicted acid flinging. Would she really premeditate this and do it at a Starbucks? How did she get rid of all the evidence with acid burning her face? My money's on the boyfriend.
40
Jesus. Hydrochloric. Christ.
Failing in an attempt to convince people that someone else threw acid... goddamned ACID... in your own face is astoundingly fucked up. Holy shit! but this chick has problems.
Failing in an attempt to convince people that someone else threw acid... goddamned ACID... in your own face is astoundingly fucked up. Holy shit! but this chick has problems.
42
Just be glad she used her evil powers on herself instead of some inncocent person walking down the street.
43
pissy @34: "kudos, you kind of come off as almost a big attention whore as she has.."
You're just angry that I thought of it first!
No acid, though, please.
You're just angry that I thought of it first!
No acid, though, please.
44
See...always trust the reports of the poor/homeless. They (generally) have nothing to gain from talking and a lot to lose if the police think they're fucking up the investigation.
45
I just envision her on a blind date a few years from now shrugging and saying, "yeah, I went through this, like, throwing acid in my face and causing a media frenzy phase. More curly fries?"
46
@22 - I thought of munchausen's syndrome also, and said a silent thank you that she didn't have a baby to smother for attention.
47
Yes, poor thing, but FUCK her. Every Black woman was a suspect. Fuck her. Next time fake falling in a puddle of acid.
48
I think she wanted some work done on her face and thought she could con a sympathetic public to pay for it. It sounds wack, but hell, this entire story is wack.
49
@32: "Why is it racist to make an imaginary perp black but not racist to make that imaginary perp white?"
Because there's a notable history of characterizing blacks as more inclined towards crime/violence, because there's been incidents like this before where black villains have been invented to play towards assumptions, and because it does play a role in elevating existing racial tensions in many places and affirming people's existing prejudices.
I agree with you that it's probable this wasn't a deliberately racist act, but it's a really tired method to look at racism in a vacuum. Particular things are seen as specifically racist because they've been used *that way before* and they contribute to a longer history and wider trend.
Because there's a notable history of characterizing blacks as more inclined towards crime/violence, because there's been incidents like this before where black villains have been invented to play towards assumptions, and because it does play a role in elevating existing racial tensions in many places and affirming people's existing prejudices.
I agree with you that it's probable this wasn't a deliberately racist act, but it's a really tired method to look at racism in a vacuum. Particular things are seen as specifically racist because they've been used *that way before* and they contribute to a longer history and wider trend.
50
@32 "Are people really suggesting that in the Hierarchy of Wrongdoing that it's more wrong to invent an imaginary black acid-thrower than it is to invent an imaginary asian acid-thrower?"
Yes and it is not an indefensible position.
At issue is relative power and status.
Please note that many would have been on the "FUCK her" train, as it were, had she accused an imaginary gay, homeless or handicapped attacker.
Hopefully without engaging too much in the whole "how correct is Mike in his self-diagnosed crypto-racism", please note that you hedged your bets by going "asian", which by some measures isn't so far from "black woman", instead of "white".
I'd argue further that this would have been worse, and probably done more immediate and visible damage had she accused an imaginary black man.
Yes, she is most likely more deserving of pity than scorn, but this is playing out in the context of our society and there is plenty to be angry about here.
Yes and it is not an indefensible position.
At issue is relative power and status.
Please note that many would have been on the "FUCK her" train, as it were, had she accused an imaginary gay, homeless or handicapped attacker.
Hopefully without engaging too much in the whole "how correct is Mike in his self-diagnosed crypto-racism", please note that you hedged your bets by going "asian", which by some measures isn't so far from "black woman", instead of "white".
I'd argue further that this would have been worse, and probably done more immediate and visible damage had she accused an imaginary black man.
Yes, she is most likely more deserving of pity than scorn, but this is playing out in the context of our society and there is plenty to be angry about here.
52
I'm not surprised at this whole story. When I first heard it, I knew it was a lie. I'm not one to holler "racist," but...come on, this happened in Washington. After living there for years, I'm not surprised at this at all...some of the things I've seen and heard.
53
Gloria: "Particular things are seen as specifically racist because they've been used *that way before* and they contribute to a longer history and wider trend."
And yet if you can't ever let go of that longer history and wider trend, it never ends. The "people are always blaming crime on black people" notion becomes an entrenched narrative with its own life, and questioning the narrative can be seen as attacking the people it shelters.
In an idealistic post-racial society, nobody would be criticized for applying any race for an imaginary attacker. We're obviously not there (nor will we ever be there, I suspect), but how do you get closer without letting go of this longer history and wider trend? Where is the cutoff? I don't have an answer, but that's the source of my discomfort.
And yet if you can't ever let go of that longer history and wider trend, it never ends. The "people are always blaming crime on black people" notion becomes an entrenched narrative with its own life, and questioning the narrative can be seen as attacking the people it shelters.
In an idealistic post-racial society, nobody would be criticized for applying any race for an imaginary attacker. We're obviously not there (nor will we ever be there, I suspect), but how do you get closer without letting go of this longer history and wider trend? Where is the cutoff? I don't have an answer, but that's the source of my discomfort.
55
Oh DIrac, get off your high horse.
Things happen in the news and people have a right to express their opinions.
Not everyone's going to exercise passive neutrality at all costs like you.
The woman who hurled acid in her own face and blamed the African American woman is a selfish, demented moron.
Poooooor racist.
Things happen in the news and people have a right to express their opinions.
Not everyone's going to exercise passive neutrality at all costs like you.
The woman who hurled acid in her own face and blamed the African American woman is a selfish, demented moron.
Poooooor racist.
56
Mike, why are you discounting the racism in this act? Why do black folks have to be the ones to 'let go', when white folks are blaming them for stuff they didn't do?
What do you gain out of your apologia?
What do you gain out of your apologia?
57
This young lady is very ill. Think about the self-loathing and self hatred she felt for herself...she was beautiful and she could not stand herself for being so....she thought of herself as an ugly scarred thing.....and she did everything in her power to make it that way.
Was this for attention...probably, but not totally, I think it had more to do with wanting others to see her as a survivor....she was a survivor once, living through spinal menigitis..She recovered and become partially deaf...she overcame her deafness..Who was she when she did that?...A beautiful girl who could live through anything...
She got married, got divorced, and became another statistic who moved back in the same area as mom and dad. Major illness in children can lead them to mental illness....A child who was sick for a very long time...has a some very traumatic expierances to overcome...Not to mention, her illness probably led her to depression (being hard of hearing is a difficult adjustment)
It seems like, Bethany was suffering from depression,mild-moderate psychotic thinking and that led her to feel like any joy in her life would only come from being a "suvivor" again.
Was this racist....probably not, but it was a dumb comment and it is okay to be angry at her for it, but try and feel some sympathy for her as well (if you can)
Was this for attention...probably, but not totally, I think it had more to do with wanting others to see her as a survivor....she was a survivor once, living through spinal menigitis..She recovered and become partially deaf...she overcame her deafness..Who was she when she did that?...A beautiful girl who could live through anything...
She got married, got divorced, and became another statistic who moved back in the same area as mom and dad. Major illness in children can lead them to mental illness....A child who was sick for a very long time...has a some very traumatic expierances to overcome...Not to mention, her illness probably led her to depression (being hard of hearing is a difficult adjustment)
It seems like, Bethany was suffering from depression,mild-moderate psychotic thinking and that led her to feel like any joy in her life would only come from being a "suvivor" again.
Was this racist....probably not, but it was a dumb comment and it is okay to be angry at her for it, but try and feel some sympathy for her as well (if you can)
59
Mike @53: not for a very long time, when it comes to whites' abysmal treatment of african americans, sadly.
I just bought "Buried in the Bitter Waters," a 2008 book by Elliott Jaspin about the racial cleansing that occurred in the early 20th century in many midwestern and midsouthern towns. An excerpt from a review* of this book is apropos in the present context, I think: "Ethnic cleansing is not a term often associated with the Jim Crow South, but Jaspin's research clearly delineates that this is just what happened. The book depicts 11 different cases of racial cleansing that occurred between 1864 and 1918 in towns from Indiana to Tennessee. Often the cleansing began with an offense—perceived or real—committed by a local black person. This became an excuse for white people to drive all blacks from the area. Many times the expulsions were accompanied by brutal, torturous lynchings, many of which are documented in the text. "
By your arguments above, our country should be over it by now. With these all-too-frequent acts of white folk blaming the scary black man (or woman) for something that didn't happen, we confirm again that "the past isn't dead. It isn't even past."
*Hall H. Psychiatr Serv 59:700, June 2008.
I just bought "Buried in the Bitter Waters," a 2008 book by Elliott Jaspin about the racial cleansing that occurred in the early 20th century in many midwestern and midsouthern towns. An excerpt from a review* of this book is apropos in the present context, I think: "Ethnic cleansing is not a term often associated with the Jim Crow South, but Jaspin's research clearly delineates that this is just what happened. The book depicts 11 different cases of racial cleansing that occurred between 1864 and 1918 in towns from Indiana to Tennessee. Often the cleansing began with an offense—perceived or real—committed by a local black person. This became an excuse for white people to drive all blacks from the area. Many times the expulsions were accompanied by brutal, torturous lynchings, many of which are documented in the text. "
By your arguments above, our country should be over it by now. With these all-too-frequent acts of white folk blaming the scary black man (or woman) for something that didn't happen, we confirm again that "the past isn't dead. It isn't even past."
*Hall H. Psychiatr Serv 59:700, June 2008.
60
@53, one of the problems with this "letting go" notion is that it assumes that the standard narrative is correct: slavery was bad but ended in 1865; discrimination was bad, but ended in 1965. The fact is, slavery was widespread throughout the South into the NINETEEN sixties. It was in fact an essential component in both the industrialization of the South and the accumulation of wealth in the North (one of the biggest slaving firms was based in Pittsburgh, PA, with their plants in Alabama.
And there's the whole subject of inherited wealth, which is still today almost entirely a white phenomenon, and almost every white person benefits from it, if "wealth" is interpreted not just as "dollars" but as access to the full range of societal benefits.
Emma's Bee is right: the past isn't even past.
Specific to your question: the contrast isn't between blaming the attack on "a black woman" and "a white woman"; it's between "a black woman" and "a woman". The unmodified noun is assumed to be white. Adding the qualifier automatically adds a new element of certainty, of belief, to her story. Everyone says to themself "ah, yes" and critical thinking ceases. It's a good strategy, selfishly speaking. It didn't work because the "victim" is crazy and thus unable to maintain the lie -- but it was a better lie than "a woman".
And there's the whole subject of inherited wealth, which is still today almost entirely a white phenomenon, and almost every white person benefits from it, if "wealth" is interpreted not just as "dollars" but as access to the full range of societal benefits.
Emma's Bee is right: the past isn't even past.
Specific to your question: the contrast isn't between blaming the attack on "a black woman" and "a white woman"; it's between "a black woman" and "a woman". The unmodified noun is assumed to be white. Adding the qualifier automatically adds a new element of certainty, of belief, to her story. Everyone says to themself "ah, yes" and critical thinking ceases. It's a good strategy, selfishly speaking. It didn't work because the "victim" is crazy and thus unable to maintain the lie -- but it was a better lie than "a woman".
61
Reverse Polarity totally nailed it in the comments under the original post:
"I was a little suspicious of her story from the start. Have you ever been to Vancouver, WA? There is, what, about 10 black women in the whole county. Why do fake victims always insist on blaming a supposed black assailant? "
Kudos, my friend! The voice of reason amongst black panic!
I, for one, hope the bitch's crazy ass burns in hell, as well as the N-word and "baboon"-referencing commenters in the original news story. She is now being prosecuted for felony theft, I think, because so many people donated money to her. I don't think any of them should get their money back, though they should certainly take it away from her! I wish they could donate it to a civil-rights group or something, but that's just wishful thinking....
"I was a little suspicious of her story from the start. Have you ever been to Vancouver, WA? There is, what, about 10 black women in the whole county. Why do fake victims always insist on blaming a supposed black assailant? "
Kudos, my friend! The voice of reason amongst black panic!
I, for one, hope the bitch's crazy ass burns in hell, as well as the N-word and "baboon"-referencing commenters in the original news story. She is now being prosecuted for felony theft, I think, because so many people donated money to her. I don't think any of them should get their money back, though they should certainly take it away from her! I wish they could donate it to a civil-rights group or something, but that's just wishful thinking....
62
i don't think she is mentally ill; she probably wants to claim insanity just to get off easy and get sympathy. She either had a chemical peel gone wrong, or was in a meth lab, or she wanted plastic surgery and couldn't afford it. Obviously everything backfired and it hit the fan. If she really wanted to kill herself; she would have drank the acid, and why would she wear gloves if that was the point? She's an idiot. To rub acid on your face is your own business but to blame it on a minority is just B*LLSH*T. She should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
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