Kotylak comes across as a typical middle-class teen. The son of a doctor and nationally ranked water polo player, he had accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Calgary in September. He’s not an anarchist or one of those career troublemakers who believe window-smashing should be a national pastime. He’s a teenager who admits to doing something incredibly stupid.

With a crowd watching, he stuffed a rag into the gas tank of a police car and threatened to set the cruiser ablaze. Although he never lit the match Kotylak ignited a firestorm when his photo was transmitted around the world. But almost as shocking as Kotylak’s actions was the response that followed: anger, hatred and threats that became so intense his family felt unsafe in their home.

Many of the same people who denounced the mob mentality that engulfed the streets of Vancouver themselves got swept up in cyber mobs that flooded Internet sites with condemnations and threats. When did Canadians become such an enraged people? It is one thing to become upset when public streets turn violent but quite another to assume the role of cyber judge, jury and hangman as so many did in the aftermath of the riots. Soon after one mob was dispersed from the streets another mob, just as angry, gathered on the Internet. Kotylak used a rag, his critics used a keyboard. It was unruly all round.

To his credit, Kotylak has publicly admitted his mistakes and asked for forgiveness. He makes no excuses for his shameful behaviour and will accept whatever punishment he receives. So give him credit for that.

As far as the cyber mob goes, it remains intact to strike another day.