4 ms·

Yeah but for chrissakes she's just a kid.

munchbunny 13y ago
Kids will do stupid things, but you have to instruct them on not doing stupid things, which is going to include negative consequences for doing stupid things. That's part of growing up.
- marssaxman 13y ago
  An appropriate negative consequence for this particular stupid thing might have been, for example, a stern admonishment not to do that again, with some explanation of the protocols involved in getting permission for such an experiment. Felony charges are ludicrous, a mindless reaction.
  - adamdavis 13y ago
    So a question, do scientists not make a distinction between blowing things up for fun and blowing things up for an organized scientific experiment? I understand that blowing things up and having fun can be part of a scientific experiment, but that doesn't mean any time that someone makes an explosion that they're participating in a scientific experiment, unless we're using a very loose definition of the word.
    - nitrogen 13y ago
      My favorite science teachers in high school and junior high blew things up for fun all the time. Curiosity is the important factor driving people into science.
      - adamdavis 13y ago
        Of course, and I'm not arguing that explosions have no place in science, but I'm not sure if this answers the question I posed.
        nitrogen 13y ago
        I think that the definition of a "scientific" experiment should include harmless fun that leads to an exploration of science. I'd argue that children (young children especially) are the world's most active scientists. Every time they throw something, climb something, jump off of something, fall down, get up, etc. they're conducting a physics experiment. If calling a just-for-fun HCl+Al bomb a science experiment helps the world to gain another scientist, or even just a well-rounded, open minded, curious adult, then yes, let's blur the distinction between blowing stuff up for fun and "science".
    - munchbunny 13y ago
      Blowing things up is fun, and kids should be able to blow things up for fun if it gets them interested in science. But they should do it at a safe distance from behind a blast shield. Still fun, but much safer.
- JoeKM 13y ago
  Except in my day it was detention and a call to your parents. Today it's expulsion and felony charges? Sorry, that's not part of growing up. That's ruining the rest of your life for a stupid mistake (that caused no one harm).
  - munchbunny 13y ago
    Agreed, expulsion and felony charges are excessive. A girl like this one can understand the stupidity of her actions without career-killing consequences.

Kids will do stupid things, but you have to instruct them on not doing stupid things, which is going to include negative consequences for doing stupid things. That's part of growing up.

marssaxman 13y ago
An appropriate negative consequence for this particular stupid thing might have been, for example, a stern admonishment not to do that again, with some explanation of the protocols involved in getting permission for such an experiment. Felony charges are ludicrous, a mindless reaction.
- adamdavis 13y ago
  So a question, do scientists not make a distinction between blowing things up for fun and blowing things up for an organized scientific experiment? I understand that blowing things up and having fun can be part of a scientific experiment, but that doesn't mean any time that someone makes an explosion that they're participating in a scientific experiment, unless we're using a very loose definition of the word.
  - nitrogen 13y ago
    My favorite science teachers in high school and junior high blew things up for fun all the time. Curiosity is the important factor driving people into science.
    - adamdavis 13y ago
      Of course, and I'm not arguing that explosions have no place in science, but I'm not sure if this answers the question I posed.
      - nitrogen 13y ago
        I think that the definition of a "scientific" experiment should include harmless fun that leads to an exploration of science. I'd argue that children (young children especially) are the world's most active scientists. Every time they throw something, climb something, jump off of something, fall down, get up, etc. they're conducting a physics experiment. If calling a just-for-fun HCl+Al bomb a science experiment helps the world to gain another scientist, or even just a well-rounded, open minded, curious adult, then yes, let's blur the distinction between blowing stuff up for fun and "science".
  - munchbunny 13y ago
    Blowing things up is fun, and kids should be able to blow things up for fun if it gets them interested in science. But they should do it at a safe distance from behind a blast shield. Still fun, but much safer.
JoeKM 13y ago
Except in my day it was detention and a call to your parents. Today it's expulsion and felony charges? Sorry, that's not part of growing up. That's ruining the rest of your life for a stupid mistake (that caused no one harm).
- munchbunny 13y ago
  Agreed, expulsion and felony charges are excessive. A girl like this one can understand the stupidity of her actions without career-killing consequences.