14 year old arrested for bringing in homemade clock

[Akmeeda]

That picture looks worse than it is. Take any electronic apart and with the wires sticking out etc it can look dodgy. Hell, take apart a dvd player, scramble the components about and you've got yourself a 'bomb' lookalike, metal casing and all.

People need to get a grip, I can't believe people here are somewhat defending the actions of the school. I think the behaviour of the teachers and the police has been absolutely shocking in this case and exemplifies the deviance to a police state culture in the US. Also, this is just one case which has gained enormous international coverage, can you imagine the discrimination that takes place everyday and goes unnoticed for poor kids in the schooling system.

This is the kind of fearful attitude that terrorist organisations want to achieve and we are giving them exactly that.

 

[Vulcan]

In the world we live in and how killing sprees can happen in schools in America it is no surprise. His parents should have known that and should have contacted the school first.

It should be celebrated but in the correct manner. Kids have been used to trigger explosives in war zones etc and killed kids with guns so quite right I think. Better to be safe than sorry.

World is under constant terror threats from anybody and he brings in something that could be a bomb - hello!?

The kid right next to him could have a bag full of explosives and the school would have never known, but you think the school officials are making the world a safer place by going for the most obvious target?

 

[helpimcrap]

The kid right next to him could have a bag full of explosives and the school would have never known, but you think the school officials are making the world a safer place by going for the most obvious target?

Sometimes we miss the most obvious - like making owning firearms legal to own. Not saying I agree just saying it is the world we are in. Like it or lump it. We don't make the rules - we simply have to live by them and sometimes this is life.

What makes me sad is that because most terrorists are Muslim in this time he immediately comes under scrutiny when something is iffy.

They simply don't want another 9/11.

 

[Vulcan]

Sometimes we miss the most obvious

Miss the obvious?

They have done the equivalent of arresting a man who looks like this:

"Well, it was better to be safe than sorry."

Meanwhile the real criminals get away because the whole point is to be inconspicuous.

Like it or lump it. We don't make the rules - we simply have to live by them and sometimes this is life.

He is living by them, he didn't break the law.

 

[thep02]

What makes me sad is that because most terrorists are Muslim in this time he immediately comes under scrutiny when something is iffy.

They simply don't want another 9/11.

But as I showed earlier their own highest officers of law think it was a wrong over reaction, so I can't understand why so many English people still think it was the right move when pretty much nobody in the USA does, is it a racist thing?

 

[helpimcrap]

But as I showed earlier their own highest officers of law think it was a wrong over reaction, so I can't understand why so many English people still think it was the right move when pretty much nobody in the USA does, is it a racist thing?

I'm not racist in the slightest. I have some very good 'proper muslim' friends who live by Islamic law and don't twist things to suit like extremists do. They are good people and Islam is a peaceful religion and I respect their beliefs.

It's an unfortunate situation that has been brought about by 9/11, jihadi john etc. I fail to see how people don't see these things in this way? Nobody was hurt were they? It's something people have blown out of proportion. I admit having just now having properly read it the teacher overreacted and the police even more so. It was something that could have been sorted in a more civil manner.

 

[antijoke]

Wait I haven't read the thread but people here in the UK are ok with this?

 

[dacads]

What makes me sad is that because most terrorists are Muslim in this time he immediately comes under scrutiny when something is iffy.

Lol what?

 

[mattyfez]

I dread to think what would happen if he'd have built one oo those DIY valve amp kits, they probably would have called in the Navy seals to take him out!

 

[helpimcrap]

Lol what?

Lol I'm going off the events and news. White, black, anything else can be rapists, murderers etc but ISIS etc 'claim' to be muslim from my limited knowledge and they are terrorists right? Muslims get a harsh light due to others tarnishing Islam.

 

[Dr Delphi]

As a teacher I'd be congratulating him on creating a clock, although I can understand the worry that he would cause other professionals who wouldn't understand the electronics.

 

[TheVoice]

But the 'box of wires' is central to the story is it not?

No, the kid and how he was treated by teachers and police over what was largely a complete misunderstanding on their part is central to the story but apparently you're not concerned by that.

Additionally, I am also perfectly allowed to have the opinion that Islam is a particularly ridiculous religion, without being labelled an "Islamaphobe". I suggest you refrain from posting any such slander going forward.

You acting the victim is genuinely classic, you invite everything you get on these forums.

 

[muon]

I thought now after the investigation he is been considered at been charged with making a hoax bomb?

To all those bomb experts on gd, if this is so obviously a clock how can he be charged with making a hoax bomb?

I suspect that if it looks like a bomb to 99% of people then that constitutes making a hoax bomb.

Lol.

The police and the school have embarrassed themselves and have not offered an apology for detaining and persisting in the a 14 year old kid who made a clock. They even thought about charging him for building a hoax device. I would love to see them in court attempting to prove that the kid was perpetuating a hoax.

I'm sure in this thread, things like the racist remarks by the police initially have been covered. Also there was plenty of opportunity for teachers and the police to realise it was nothing.

The article below seems to cover everything.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...-after-bringing-a-home-built-clock-to-school/

It is good to see that the story has ended well, with the kid getting an invite to MIT and the White House.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

I bet he was ticked off.

 

[Nevakonaza]

Hate to say it,But considering this guy is so smart..he cant be that smart,Was it not obvious to him taking a case with a clock in it full of wires + been a Muslim + school = not going to end well...as of everything that's been going on lately?

I know he had good intentions,But i agree with the School and the police here,They were doing their job..now if the kid had got a bomb and blown half the school up everyone would be complaining not enough was done by the school and police!.

 

[muon]

How do you know the suitcase isn't lined with C4?

It wasn't a suitcase. It was a small pencil box.

The pictures have lost the sense of scale.

Hate to say it,But considering this guy is so smart..he cant be that smart,Was it not obvious to him taking a case with a clock in it full of wires + been a Muslim + school = not going to end well...as of everything that's been going on lately?

That would be illegal in the USA as it would be unconstitutional. The police and school have been very careful to state it wasn't because of his appearance or religion.

It is also wrong to have such prejudices in any civilised country.

The main ciriticism is their actions once it was obvious it was nothing but a clock. Also if someone is wrong and makes a false accusation, it is respectful to at least apologise for arresting someone, suspending them, threatening to expel them. But no, nothing untoward happened here.

If I am wrong about something, even if I had good reason to (doubtful in this case given how long it took), if it causes harm to someone I will apologise as that person didn't deserve it.

 

[Thekwango]

No, the kid and how he was treated by teachers and police over what was largely a complete misunderstanding on their part is central to the story but apparently you're not concerned by that.

don't presume to know or think you know what concerns me. cherry pick my posts all you want - had you bothered to read them all or maybe you did and they just went over your head, but all I offered was a possible reasoning for the school and police acting the way you did.

and like it or not the box of wires is central to the story - without it there is no story. you can have any other kid, you can have any other school. don't got a box of wires? you haven't got a story.

but perhaps the oxygen is thin up there on your high horse so you maybe don't get what I was saying, so i'll forgive you

 

[muon]

don't presume to know or think you know what concerns me. cherry pick my posts all you want - had you bothered to read them all or maybe you did and they just went over your head, but all I offered was a possible reasoning for the school and police acting the way you did.

and like it or not the box of wires is central to the story - without it there is no story. you can have any other kid, you can have any other school. don't got a box of wires? you haven't got a story.

but perhaps the oxygen is thin up there on your high horse so you maybe don't get what I was saying, so i'll forgive you

Except he has done is bring a box with wires. Brought in to show his engineering teacher.

If the school and police don't overreact, make racist remarks, question a minor without parents/representation, suspend the kid, make accusations, deny there was anything wrong with the actions taken, you also don't have a story.

I know which is actually relevant, should be focused on and needs to be changed. Fortunately so do a lot of people.

 

[needforspeed]

He made the clock go off during the lesson to show his invention or was it an accident?

 

[Thekwango]

Except he has done is bring a box with wires. Brought in to show his engineering teacher.

If the school and police don't overreact, make racist remarks, question a minor without parents/representation, suspend the kid, make accusations, deny there was anything wrong with the actions taken, you also don't have a story.

I know which is actually relevant, should be focused on and needs to be changed. Fortunately so do a lot of people.

follow a simple 'timeline' or chain of events. Eliminate the cause - the clock - and the story never exists in the first place. The school and police don't get the chance to overreact etc etc.

But yes I do get your point. I was simply pointing out that whether we like it or not the clock/box of wires is central to the story. Though I do appreciate, what happened afterwards is of more interest to most.