Student arrested / Terroristic zombie threats in Kentucky
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Ok, this is just getting really out of hand and is also a perfect example of news taken out of context. First the full story: A kid writes a story for English class about Zombies taking over a school. (not his school, just *a* school) Unfortunately he is arrested for writing it and charged with "Terroristic threatening" (didn't now that was even a word, but now it's a law): http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=2989614[^] How to report the same story in the most fear mongering way possible: http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=2998292[^] By those standards Stephen King is headed for jail as well as the entire writing department of Buffy the Vampire Slayer etc etc.
Before everyone crucifies the country, the state, the police, the school and the boy's grandparents you might want to entertain the possibility that the kid is lieing to cover his ass. I don't know if he did or not but I'd like to see the story he wrote before I condemn everyone else. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
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Before everyone crucifies the country, the state, the police, the school and the boy's grandparents you might want to entertain the possibility that the kid is lieing to cover his ass. I don't know if he did or not but I'd like to see the story he wrote before I condemn everyone else. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
Seriously mate, on what level can a kid writing a story be a crime ? Perhaps it might indicate that he needs some help, but it definately does not prove intent to do anything. There are plenty of people who watch horror movies without ever killing anyone. Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
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Just makes jokes involving Kentucky's abysmal adult literacy rates too easy, doesn't it? :rolleyes:
Shog9
I'm not the Jack of Diamonds... I'm not the six of spades. I don't know what you thought; I'm not your astronaut...
Shog9 wrote: Kentucky's abysmal adult literacy rates What, they've found a way to measure something that low? "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
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Ok, this is just getting really out of hand and is also a perfect example of news taken out of context. First the full story: A kid writes a story for English class about Zombies taking over a school. (not his school, just *a* school) Unfortunately he is arrested for writing it and charged with "Terroristic threatening" (didn't now that was even a word, but now it's a law): http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=2989614[^] How to report the same story in the most fear mongering way possible: http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=2998292[^] By those standards Stephen King is headed for jail as well as the entire writing department of Buffy the Vampire Slayer etc etc.
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Before everyone crucifies the country, the state, the police, the school and the boy's grandparents you might want to entertain the possibility that the kid is lieing to cover his ass. I don't know if he did or not but I'd like to see the story he wrote before I condemn everyone else. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
Actually, I have to admit that the first thing I thought was, "Yeah, right. A story about zombies. SURE." You would think a story about zombies would be pretty easy to differentiate from a 'story' about BLAM BLAM BLAM. So I agree - we can't really judge either side without understanding the entire context - it's already obvious that the media is going to slant the story to whichever way they feel their reader/watcher demographic will find most appealing. Still, even if the kid wrote "TOMORROW I AM GOING TO KILL EVERYONE AT SCHOOL USING MY PARENT'S GUN AND THE BULLETS THEY KEEP HIDDEN IN THE DRAWER WHOSE KEY IS BEHIND THE TOILET TANK AND I WILL DO IT DURING THIRD PERIOD" in his private journal, does that pose a significant danger that warrants TERRORISM charges instead of some therapy? The context is necessary to judge for sure. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if some little asshole on a power trip wanted to terrorize his school. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if a kid who is tortured by social pressures and bullies takes out his frustrations in what he percieved to be a 'safe' place. *shrug* - T
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Actually, I have to admit that the first thing I thought was, "Yeah, right. A story about zombies. SURE." You would think a story about zombies would be pretty easy to differentiate from a 'story' about BLAM BLAM BLAM. So I agree - we can't really judge either side without understanding the entire context - it's already obvious that the media is going to slant the story to whichever way they feel their reader/watcher demographic will find most appealing. Still, even if the kid wrote "TOMORROW I AM GOING TO KILL EVERYONE AT SCHOOL USING MY PARENT'S GUN AND THE BULLETS THEY KEEP HIDDEN IN THE DRAWER WHOSE KEY IS BEHIND THE TOILET TANK AND I WILL DO IT DURING THIRD PERIOD" in his private journal, does that pose a significant danger that warrants TERRORISM charges instead of some therapy? The context is necessary to judge for sure. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if some little asshole on a power trip wanted to terrorize his school. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if a kid who is tortured by social pressures and bullies takes out his frustrations in what he percieved to be a 'safe' place. *shrug* - T
Fisticuffs wrote: Still, even if the kid wrote "TOMORROW I AM GOING TO KILL EVERYONE AT SCHOOL USING MY PARENT'S GUN AND THE BULLETS THEY KEEP HIDDEN IN THE DRAWER WHOSE KEY IS BEHIND THE TOILET TANK AND I WILL DO IT DURING THIRD PERIOD" in his private journal, does that pose a significant danger that warrants TERRORISM charges instead of some therapy? I would have hoped that his parents, grandparents and teachers would know him well enough to be able to answer with complete accuracy if he was being serious or writing fiction / unwinding. It disturbs me that so many kids nowadays are missing interactions with the most obvious and important adults in their lives - the people bringing them up. I went overboard one time I was set a short story assignment for English homework and ended up writing a small book. It involved a man betraying his friends and having them killed one by one in intimate detail (all the girls in my class cringed when the bit about the warm intestines was read out). For my GCSE English coursework I wrote another short story about drug trafficking, with car bombs, gun running and the use of cocaine. Neither time was I reported to the police for using my imagination, nor was I picked up by M15 or the narcotics police. I dare say that now though, only eight years later, I would probably be warned not to write like that by my teachers because someone who doesn't know me might read it and misunderstand that it is my imagination not my secret life plan. In the US your kids might have access to guns and school shootings happen every now and again but over here the main problem is disruptive kids and the odd stabbing or two in inner city schools. With those levels going up, and the desirability of the teachers getting close with their pubils falling rapidly (not to mention the legal problems - you pat your student on the back and you go to jail for abuse), these things will happen more and more. It is a dreadful, dreadful shame because their imagination is a big part of who those kids will grow into, and being taught early on that it is bad to express yourself will only create zombies, and other nasty brain-feeding problems. Blame it on the parents, not the kids. Parents today are panicky pack animals who have been nicely conditioned to realise that responsibility always falls with the other guy.
Ðavid Wulff[](</x-turndown)
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Seriously mate, on what level can a kid writing a story be a crime ? Perhaps it might indicate that he needs some help, but it definately does not prove intent to do anything. There are plenty of people who watch horror movies without ever killing anyone. Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
You're assuming that he actually wrote such a story. If he did then pretty much regardless of what is says I'd agree with you. No crime. However, I'd say there is a reasonable chance that no story exists and the "journal" they mention is really a plan of action. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
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Yeah, it's pretty insane. I can't believe that it's gone as far as it has. Is America really that scared of it's young ? Does it have reason to be ? Maybe alienation of the young is what's causing so many problems ? Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
Christian Graus wrote: Is America really that scared of it's young ? Nah, most of us are just too stupid for our own good. :) Jeremy Falcon
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Before everyone crucifies the country, the state, the police, the school and the boy's grandparents you might want to entertain the possibility that the kid is lieing to cover his ass. I don't know if he did or not but I'd like to see the story he wrote before I condemn everyone else. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
You may be completely right, but we still have a thing called freedom of speach. My forefathers died for it and I sure as fuck don't like it when it's abused. Jeremy Falcon
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Fisticuffs wrote: Still, even if the kid wrote "TOMORROW I AM GOING TO KILL EVERYONE AT SCHOOL USING MY PARENT'S GUN AND THE BULLETS THEY KEEP HIDDEN IN THE DRAWER WHOSE KEY IS BEHIND THE TOILET TANK AND I WILL DO IT DURING THIRD PERIOD" in his private journal, does that pose a significant danger that warrants TERRORISM charges instead of some therapy? I would have hoped that his parents, grandparents and teachers would know him well enough to be able to answer with complete accuracy if he was being serious or writing fiction / unwinding. It disturbs me that so many kids nowadays are missing interactions with the most obvious and important adults in their lives - the people bringing them up. I went overboard one time I was set a short story assignment for English homework and ended up writing a small book. It involved a man betraying his friends and having them killed one by one in intimate detail (all the girls in my class cringed when the bit about the warm intestines was read out). For my GCSE English coursework I wrote another short story about drug trafficking, with car bombs, gun running and the use of cocaine. Neither time was I reported to the police for using my imagination, nor was I picked up by M15 or the narcotics police. I dare say that now though, only eight years later, I would probably be warned not to write like that by my teachers because someone who doesn't know me might read it and misunderstand that it is my imagination not my secret life plan. In the US your kids might have access to guns and school shootings happen every now and again but over here the main problem is disruptive kids and the odd stabbing or two in inner city schools. With those levels going up, and the desirability of the teachers getting close with their pubils falling rapidly (not to mention the legal problems - you pat your student on the back and you go to jail for abuse), these things will happen more and more. It is a dreadful, dreadful shame because their imagination is a big part of who those kids will grow into, and being taught early on that it is bad to express yourself will only create zombies, and other nasty brain-feeding problems. Blame it on the parents, not the kids. Parents today are panicky pack animals who have been nicely conditioned to realise that responsibility always falls with the other guy.
Ðavid Wulff[](</x-turndown)
David Wulff wrote: Blame it on the parents, not the kids. Parents today are panicky pack animals who have been nicely conditioned to realise that responsibility always falls with the other guy. Amen to that! Jeremy Falcon
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Fisticuffs wrote: Still, even if the kid wrote "TOMORROW I AM GOING TO KILL EVERYONE AT SCHOOL USING MY PARENT'S GUN AND THE BULLETS THEY KEEP HIDDEN IN THE DRAWER WHOSE KEY IS BEHIND THE TOILET TANK AND I WILL DO IT DURING THIRD PERIOD" in his private journal, does that pose a significant danger that warrants TERRORISM charges instead of some therapy? I would have hoped that his parents, grandparents and teachers would know him well enough to be able to answer with complete accuracy if he was being serious or writing fiction / unwinding. It disturbs me that so many kids nowadays are missing interactions with the most obvious and important adults in their lives - the people bringing them up. I went overboard one time I was set a short story assignment for English homework and ended up writing a small book. It involved a man betraying his friends and having them killed one by one in intimate detail (all the girls in my class cringed when the bit about the warm intestines was read out). For my GCSE English coursework I wrote another short story about drug trafficking, with car bombs, gun running and the use of cocaine. Neither time was I reported to the police for using my imagination, nor was I picked up by M15 or the narcotics police. I dare say that now though, only eight years later, I would probably be warned not to write like that by my teachers because someone who doesn't know me might read it and misunderstand that it is my imagination not my secret life plan. In the US your kids might have access to guns and school shootings happen every now and again but over here the main problem is disruptive kids and the odd stabbing or two in inner city schools. With those levels going up, and the desirability of the teachers getting close with their pubils falling rapidly (not to mention the legal problems - you pat your student on the back and you go to jail for abuse), these things will happen more and more. It is a dreadful, dreadful shame because their imagination is a big part of who those kids will grow into, and being taught early on that it is bad to express yourself will only create zombies, and other nasty brain-feeding problems. Blame it on the parents, not the kids. Parents today are panicky pack animals who have been nicely conditioned to realise that responsibility always falls with the other guy.
Ðavid Wulff[](</x-turndown)
David Wulff wrote: Blame it on the parents, not the kids. You say this while knowing absolutely nothing about - the parents (or grandparents) - the kid - the situation - the 'story'/journal Why immediately try to blame the parents without understanding the situation? That's just as reactionary as leading the kid away in chains for thoughtcrime. Do you seriously advocate, say, blaming the Columbine kid's parents more than the little monsters themselves? - T
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David Wulff wrote: Blame it on the parents, not the kids. You say this while knowing absolutely nothing about - the parents (or grandparents) - the kid - the situation - the 'story'/journal Why immediately try to blame the parents without understanding the situation? That's just as reactionary as leading the kid away in chains for thoughtcrime. Do you seriously advocate, say, blaming the Columbine kid's parents more than the little monsters themselves? - T
Fisticuffs wrote: You say this while knowing absolutely nothing about [anything]... I say that while stating my reasons clearly in the three paragraphs above it. I was directly answering your statement, not commenting on the situation.
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrCoca-Cola, Wonderbra (Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen)
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Fisticuffs wrote: You say this while knowing absolutely nothing about [anything]... I say that while stating my reasons clearly in the three paragraphs above it. I was directly answering your statement, not commenting on the situation.
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrCoca-Cola, Wonderbra (Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen)
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You may be completely right, but we still have a thing called freedom of speach. My forefathers died for it and I sure as fuck don't like it when it's abused. Jeremy Falcon
Jeremy Falcon wrote: we still have a thing called freedom of speach. My forefathers died for it and I sure as f*** don't like it when it's abused. Don't fool yourself, our freedom of speech has never given us the right to yell fire (when none exists) in a crowded theater nor does it protect documents used in planning crimes. They may investigate and find corraborating evidence (assault rifles/ammo, other threats, etc...). If so, I hope the little twit gets 20 years. If they find nothing then he may be telling the truth. Since none of us have read the "journal" or know a damn thing about the kid or his grandparents we're all just shooting from the hip. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
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Jeremy Falcon wrote: we still have a thing called freedom of speach. My forefathers died for it and I sure as f*** don't like it when it's abused. Don't fool yourself, our freedom of speech has never given us the right to yell fire (when none exists) in a crowded theater nor does it protect documents used in planning crimes. They may investigate and find corraborating evidence (assault rifles/ammo, other threats, etc...). If so, I hope the little twit gets 20 years. If they find nothing then he may be telling the truth. Since none of us have read the "journal" or know a damn thing about the kid or his grandparents we're all just shooting from the hip. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
Mike Mullikin wrote: Since none of us have read the "journal" or know a damn thing about the kid or his grandparents we're all just shooting from the hip. Maybe, but I'm in a mood! :) Jeremy Falcon
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You're assuming that he actually wrote such a story. If he did then pretty much regardless of what is says I'd agree with you. No crime. However, I'd say there is a reasonable chance that no story exists and the "journal" they mention is really a plan of action. "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
So he has a plan of action, involving zombies ? Brilliant. Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
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So he has a plan of action, involving zombies ? Brilliant. Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
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Re-read the article. Only he has mentioned zombies. You seem to take his words as gospel. :~ "Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." Philip K. Dick
Gospel means good news Well, I'll admit that the whole thing as reported is ludicrous enough that you'd hope for a sensible explanation, but I don't see why any news media would present it as an open joke if it's a serious matter. Hell, I'm on the other side of the world, to me local affairs in the USA is just a form of entertainment, and a depressing time machine, seeing as we seem to import the idiocy more often than not. Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
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John Cardinal wrote: a story for English class about Zombies taking over a school I hope the zombies didn't go after the school administration or the police... they won't find any braaaaaaaiiiinssss.... :rolleyes:
I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. ~Stephen Roberts
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