5 ms·

Perfect trifecta of bigotry, ignorance and cowardice. And at a school too, where any number of apparently educated staff could have verified what the device was

by sirtaj 11y ago

Perfect trifecta of bigotry, ignorance and cowardice. And at a school too, where any number of apparently educated staff could have verified what the device was in a moment. Great job!

exodust 11y ago
You might have a point if the device was for a school project. But it was his own "invention" which is own engineering teacher warned him against showing around. He not only showed it around, but plugged it in during English class where it made beeping noises. Do you expect the English teacher should need to "verify" a box of wires and circuits? Who would she verify it with if the kid plays aloof when asked of its purpose? Just because "authorities apprehend 14yo Muslim kid for home-made clock" doesn't mean you need to start making accusations of bigotry, ignorance and cowardice.
- sirtaj 11y ago
  Presumably an English teacher has the communication skills to ask any one of the number of staff who were involved in the entire affair. You know, like the engineering teacher. Did he somehow go on vacation in between? And how about the police - they have nobody on staff who can tell the difference between a homemade clock and some sort of "unauthorized device"? The accusations are justified. Your apologetics are misguided.
- mikeash 11y ago
  Bigotry, maybe. There's a chance (which I'd estimate at smaller than 1%) that there was no racial motivation here. But I don't see how you can say there's no grounds to make accusations of ignorance and cowardice. Being unaware of what a bomb looks like is clearly ignorance, and being so terrified that you get an innocent kid arrested for it is clearly cowardice.
  - exodust 11y ago
    Handcuffs went too far. But that's a protocol issue for US lawmakers etc. We've all seen protocol out of control in the States for a host of different incidents. No need to react so much in the other direction either, making this kid an ambassador of "freedom to pack electronics in a case and bring it to school" or whatever. He made an error of judgement going against his teacher's advice, and a ton of bricks came down on his head way too hard. Hopefully everyone can learn something from this. But you can't deny that "radicalization of young Muslims" isn't a thing these days. No point of covering your ears and insisting everyone wants to get along.
    - mikeash 11y ago
      The kid's error was merely in underestimating the danger posed by the authorities. Certainly we can all learn something from this, and the lesson is that a lot of authorities are catastrophically stupid and unbelievably petty. Why should we not make this kid an ambassador of "freedom to pack electronics in a case and bring it to school"? That sounds like a pretty good freedom, and one worth fighting for. Kids should feel free to bring their (non-dangerous, no need to bring in guns or actual bombs or whatever) interests to school to share them. You might even broaden the horizons of some fellow students (and who knows, maybe even a teacher or two).
      - exodust 11y ago
        I get what you're saying and don't disagree. I tried to provide a balance point to this discussion, mainly due to the fact that packing the clock into the suitcase wasn't smart (even for a 14yo). Google 'suitcase bomb' and you'll get endless results. Google 'Arduino enclosure bomb" and you won't get much. I'm not convinced the kid didn't know it was looking like something from a movie, and I think he was aiming for that look, but he won't admit it. Why do I think this? Because I was 14 once too, and studied electronics just like him. Something that looked like a Suitcase bomb is something I'd want to show my friends. His clock was mains powered too. Awful design even for a 14yo.
        DanBC 11y ago

by sirtaj 11y ago

Perfect trifecta of bigotry, ignorance and cowardice. And at a school too, where any number of apparently educated staff could have verified what the device was in a moment. Great job!

exodust 11y ago

You might have a point if the device was for a school project. But it was his own "invention" which is own engineering teacher warned him against showing around. He not only showed it around, but plugged it in during English class where it made beeping noises. Do you expect the English teacher should need to "verify" a box of wires and circuits? Who would she verify it with if the kid plays aloof when asked of its purpose? Just because "authorities apprehend 14yo Muslim kid for home-made clock" doesn't mean you need to start making accusations of bigotry, ignorance and cowardice.

sirtaj 11y ago
Presumably an English teacher has the communication skills to ask any one of the number of staff who were involved in the entire affair. You know, like the engineering teacher. Did he somehow go on vacation in between? And how about the police - they have nobody on staff who can tell the difference between a homemade clock and some sort of "unauthorized device"? The accusations are justified. Your apologetics are misguided.
mikeash 11y ago
Bigotry, maybe. There's a chance (which I'd estimate at smaller than 1%) that there was no racial motivation here. But I don't see how you can say there's no grounds to make accusations of ignorance and cowardice. Being unaware of what a bomb looks like is clearly ignorance, and being so terrified that you get an innocent kid arrested for it is clearly cowardice.
- exodust 11y ago
  Handcuffs went too far. But that's a protocol issue for US lawmakers etc. We've all seen protocol out of control in the States for a host of different incidents. No need to react so much in the other direction either, making this kid an ambassador of "freedom to pack electronics in a case and bring it to school" or whatever. He made an error of judgement going against his teacher's advice, and a ton of bricks came down on his head way too hard. Hopefully everyone can learn something from this. But you can't deny that "radicalization of young Muslims" isn't a thing these days. No point of covering your ears and insisting everyone wants to get along.
  - mikeash 11y ago
    The kid's error was merely in underestimating the danger posed by the authorities. Certainly we can all learn something from this, and the lesson is that a lot of authorities are catastrophically stupid and unbelievably petty. Why should we not make this kid an ambassador of "freedom to pack electronics in a case and bring it to school"? That sounds like a pretty good freedom, and one worth fighting for. Kids should feel free to bring their (non-dangerous, no need to bring in guns or actual bombs or whatever) interests to school to share them. You might even broaden the horizons of some fellow students (and who knows, maybe even a teacher or two).
    - exodust 11y ago
      I get what you're saying and don't disagree. I tried to provide a balance point to this discussion, mainly due to the fact that packing the clock into the suitcase wasn't smart (even for a 14yo). Google 'suitcase bomb' and you'll get endless results. Google 'Arduino enclosure bomb" and you won't get much. I'm not convinced the kid didn't know it was looking like something from a movie, and I think he was aiming for that look, but he won't admit it. Why do I think this? Because I was 14 once too, and studied electronics just like him. Something that looked like a Suitcase bomb is something I'd want to show my friends. His clock was mains powered too. Awful design even for a 14yo.
      - DanBC 11y ago