Nerdy 14 year old brings homemade clock to school and is arrested

[goose]

...but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

Is this directed at the faculty that chose not to call the bomb squad instantly? They were pretty certain there was no basis for any concern. Maybe they were naive?

No my understanding is they thought it was a Faux bomb and called on that basis. That would still be a crime and should be reported. The thing I find interesting is that people seem to assume that from a quick news blurb that it's obvious everyone was wrong but that they know better. The naivety I mention is from the belief that in this day and age you can show a device that looks like it could be a bomb and not have people react.

I didn't realize that we were debating the validity of commenting on the news, in an off-topic internet forum. My bad.

[Abraham]

You don't have to have any device of any kind whatsoever on an airplane - just banter around the word 'bomb' and witness the chaos that will ensue to your utter detriment.

When you land you'll be swiftly whisked off to jail, no waiting...many difficulties will be yours with just a word you should not have spoken on a plane.

As to this kid - yeah, he could be innocent of any wrongdoing.

Or, what happened was planned precisely as it turned out.

[EEllis]

...but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

Is this directed at the faculty that chose not to call the bomb squad instantly? They were pretty certain there was no basis for any concern. Maybe they were naive?

No my understanding is they thought it was a Faux bomb and called on that basis. That would still be a crime and should be reported. The thing I find interesting is that people seem to assume that from a quick news blurb that it's obvious everyone was wrong but that they know better. The naivety I mention is from the belief that in this day and age you can show a device that looks like it could be a bomb and not have people react.

I didn't realize that we were debating the validity of commenting on the news, in an off-topic internet forum. My bad.

Saying that I find it interesting is debating the validity? If you say so.

[goose]

...but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

Is this directed at the faculty that chose not to call the bomb squad instantly? They were pretty certain there was no basis for any concern. Maybe they were naive?

No my understanding is they thought it was a Faux bomb and called on that basis. That would still be a crime and should be reported. The thing I find interesting is that people seem to assume that from a quick news blurb that it's obvious everyone was wrong but that they know better. The naivety I mention is from the belief that in this day and age you can show a device that looks like it could be a bomb and not have people react.

I didn't realize that we were debating the validity of commenting on the news, in an off-topic internet forum. My bad.

Saying that I find it interesting is debating the validity? If you say so.

So you condemned the adults involved because they thought the clock looked like a bomb and you had no idea what it looked like?

I did perceive that you were discussing/debating/conversing/speaking in an interested manner. Now were just getting into semantics to see how we can slice the onion.

[EEllis]

After school resource officers determined the device was not a bomb, Boyd said, officers investigated whether Mohamed brought the device to school with the intent to create alarm. Boyd said it was against the law to make a hoax bomb and cause people to be scared and call law enforcement.

The school principal or vice principal and officers talked to Mohamed as they tried to figure out what was happening, Boyd said.

"There were factors and details to this that for whatever reason weren't shared at the time," Boyd said. "Once we were able to get all of that information, that allowed us to get to the point where we could settle the matter."

http://news.yahoo.com/police-review-han ... nance.html

Something that I saw mentioned that hasn't been repeated is that he didn't really build anything. Reportedly he took apart an alarm clock that was bought at walmart and just reassembled it in a large briefcase styled pencil case. When questioned by cops trying to figure out why , his motive and reasoning, he was reticulant and would just repeat that it was just a clock but not why he brought it to school or any explanation for why he put it together so it looked like it did.Or at least that was the impression the report gave. I don't know how accurate that is or if the explanations we have been hearing just came later and who knows what the cops were told.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/da ... /72339246/

Found a report from a local station. The kid plugged the thing in after being told by a different teacher that he should put the clock away and not show it because someone might think it's a bomb.

According to Irving police, Ahmed's case contained a digital clock that the student had taken apart and rearranged. Police said the student had the briefcase in his English class, where he plugged it into an electrical outlet and it started to make noise.

and

Officers said Ahmed was being "passive aggressive" in his answers to their questions, and didn't have a "reasonable answer" as to what he was doing with the case. Investigators said the student told them that it was just a clock that he was messing around with.

"We attempted to question the juvenile about what it was and he would simply only say it was a clock. He didn't offer any explanation as to what it was for, why he created this device, why he brought it to school," said James McLellan, Irving Police.

So I have less sympathy after reading this. The arrest might not have been necessary but it seems legal and a decision made by police not the school. This is a device that most people view as resembling a bomb. The kid was told not to show it because people might think it was a bomb. He thin plugged it in and had it start beeping in the middle of an english class. Then wouldn't explain why he brought it to school or what the purpose of it was.

[JALLEN]

So you condemned the adults involved because they thought the clock looked like a bomb and you had no idea what it looked like? Since bombs can look like ordinary items the fact that the clock looks like a bomb should mean nothing? Ok, I don't get your point but it's not something I'm going to get worked up over. Honestly, and I'm not trying to say this is anyone in particular here, but it seems people just enjoy getting worked up. Certainly I have to wonder why the kid was arrested, tho one article seemed to indicate that it seemed like the kid was not acting like someone who just brought a science project to school not realizing the possible consequences, but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

There was no evacuation of the school, so the clown show was stupidity on the part of the school and then the cops, and the ongoing attempts to "improve their lie" to shift attention to the family, to anybody else, so they would be seen as justified in overreacting.

Either it was dangerous, or potentially so, and everyone should have gotten out on the double, or it was seen to be harmless and calling the cops and the subsequent events were appalling nonsense.

I'm not worked up over this. It happened. I am concerned that people in charge are so ahhh, ehhh, uhhh, disingenuous.

[EEllis]

...but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

Is this directed at the faculty that chose not to call the bomb squad instantly? They were pretty certain there was no basis for any concern. Maybe they were naive?

No my understanding is they thought it was a Faux bomb and called on that basis. That would still be a crime and should be reported. The thing I find interesting is that people seem to assume that from a quick news blurb that it's obvious everyone was wrong but that they know better. The naivety I mention is from the belief that in this day and age you can show a device that looks like it could be a bomb and not have people react.

I didn't realize that we were debating the validity of commenting on the news, in an off-topic internet forum. My bad.

Saying that I find it interesting is debating the validity? If you say so.

So you condemned the adults involved because they thought the clock looked like a bomb and you had no idea what it looked like?

I did perceive that you were discussing/debating/conversing/speaking in an interested manner. Now were just getting into semantics to see how we can slice the onion.

Well you haven't really made any points for me to comment on. Just tried to parse my comments and perhaps put them in a negative light without really addressing any points head on. So to be fair it is a bit much to expect some deep debate based on that. As to the out of context quote that is a response to comments based on a comment about responses to seeing pictures. It makes more sense in contexted and honestly it goes back to an offhanded comment about how I got a bit of a chuckle about a statement made. Not exactly a major line of discussion or meant to be taken as such.

[EEllis]

So you condemned the adults involved because they thought the clock looked like a bomb and you had no idea what it looked like? Since bombs can look like ordinary items the fact that the clock looks like a bomb should mean nothing? Ok, I don't get your point but it's not something I'm going to get worked up over. Honestly, and I'm not trying to say this is anyone in particular here, but it seems people just enjoy getting worked up. Certainly I have to wonder why the kid was arrested, tho one article seemed to indicate that it seemed like the kid was not acting like someone who just brought a science project to school not realizing the possible consequences, but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

There was no evacuation of the school, so the clown show was stupidity on the part of the school and then the cops, and the ongoing attempts to "improve their lie" to shift attention to the family, to anybody else, so they would be seen as justified in overreacting.

Either it was dangerous, or potentially so, and everyone should have gotten out on the double, or it was seen to be harmless and calling the cops and the subsequent events were appalling nonsense.

I'm not worked up over this. It happened. I am concerned that people in charge are so ahhh, ehhh, uhhh, disingenuous.

Well the reports indicated that the device was taken by a teacher and was found not to be a bomb by school resource officers. The police were called not on a bomb but a hoax device. It certainly seems to give what many people believe to be the impression of a possible bomb. Then you add in the situation, plugging in the device drawing attention to it in an english class. The refusal to give any explanation. You certainly have the framework for charges. I tend not to second guess people on site unless I have some reason and I haven't seen that here. :shrug: Seems like the kid brought the grief on himself.

[Taypo]

The boy won fame and respect and the Irving PD and ISD got shamed.

Fleeting fame and no respect at all. Yes, the school got shamed, but the police did what they should have, and after talking to a friend from Irving, I suspect even more so that this was a blatant setup.

We're not alone in our suspicions.

Check out the article here on Ahmed's father's past stunts.

Apparently those of us who believe this are racist cop apologists. At least that's what I'm reading.

[Cowboyhockey14]

My biggest issue with this is the left automatically showing outrage against the school and teacher. Yet to this day, they will not show any compassion for cops being killed, military heroes or illegals murdering women.

[JALLEN]

Well the reports indicated that the device was taken by a teacher and was found not to be a bomb by school resource officers. The police were called not on a bomb but a hoax device. It certainly seems to give what many people believe to be the impression of a possible bomb. Then you add in the situation, plugging in the device drawing attention to it in an english class. The refusal to give any explanation. You certainly have the framework for charges. I tend not to second guess people on site unless I have some reason and I haven't seen that here. :shrug: Seems like the kid brought the grief on himself.

I'm not sure that is factual. It certainly doesn't square with initial versions, where the teacher and the officer said that the student repeatedly claimed it was a clock, and only that, that several hours elapsed between the first teacher seeing it and the cops getting a call. Of course, once the press conference with CAIR and lawyers was held, and Obama tweeted an invite, the networks started running with it and asking questions, the stakes got higher and stories refined.

If there was a rational fear of a possible bomb, and no evacuation ordered, that seems like a problem.

I didn't think you have to second guess. The first guess is appalling enough.

[philip964]

Something that I saw mentioned that hasn't been repeated is that he didn't really build anything. Reportedly he took apart an alarm clock that was bought at walmart and just reassembled it in a large briefcase styled pencil case. When questioned by cops trying to figure out why , his motive and reasoning, he was reticulant and would just repeat that it was just a clock but not why he brought it to school or any explanation for why he put it together so it looked like it did.Or at least that was the impression the report gave. I don't know how accurate that is or if the explanations we have been hearing just came later and who knows what the cops were told.

I did somewhat notice that. The photo seems to show a digital clock taken apart and put in a large pencil box. It wasn't like he took components and designed a digital clock. So the thought that he is the next Nick Tesla may be premature.

I'm still of the belief this was an internal school matter, not a police matter.

If the boy's original intent was to get his 15 minutes of fame, everyone certainly did there best to help him.

BTW, I said Nick Tesla because I had trouble coming up with a real inventor. Seems Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, the Wright Bros, etc. didn't invent as much as I thought.

[VMI77]

http://blogs.artvoice.com/techvoice/201 ... ourselves/

After seeing this photo and reading the analysis in the article I'm convinced the kid didn't invent or build anything. He took an old Micronta digital alarm clock (with battery backup --hence the a/c cord and 9V battery connection) apart and put it in a case to hide that fact....to make it look handmade. What it looks like to me is that he took the clock apart to make it look like he constructed something and then claimed to have made or invented a clock. From everything I've seen published on this my guess is that his reaction to being questioned was the product of embarrassment and guilty knowledge....he knew he hadn't actually made or invented what he was taking credit for.

[lacie008]

http://blogs.artvoice.com/techvoice/201 ... ourselves/

After seeing this photo and reading the analysis in the article I'm convinced the kid didn't invent or build anything. He took an old Micronta digital clock apart and put it in a case to hide that fact....to make it look handmade. What it looks like to me is that he took the clock apart to make it look like he constructed something and then claimed to have made or invented a clock. From everything I've seen published on this my guess is that his reaction to being questioned was the product of embarrassment and guilty knowledge....he knew he hadn't actually made or invented what he was taking credit for.

I almost posted here about this yesterday, but the only source I had was several people on different forums say that they were engineers and it was nothing more than a regular clock taken apart. That's pretty hilarious to me considering the invite from Obama within hours.

[goose]

...but the instant and absolute certainty that there was no basis for any concern smacks of either faux outrage or naivety.

Is this directed at the faculty that chose not to call the bomb squad instantly? They were pretty certain there was no basis for any concern. Maybe they were naive?

No my understanding is they thought it was a Faux bomb and called on that basis. That would still be a crime and should be reported. The thing I find interesting is that people seem to assume that from a quick news blurb that it's obvious everyone was wrong but that they know better. The naivety I mention is from the belief that in this day and age you can show a device that looks like it could be a bomb and not have people react.

I didn't realize that we were debating the validity of commenting on the news, in an off-topic internet forum. My bad.

Saying that I find it interesting is debating the validity? If you say so.

So you condemned the adults involved because they thought the clock looked like a bomb and you had no idea what it looked like?

I did perceive that you were discussing/debating/conversing/speaking in an interested manner. Now were just getting into semantics to see how we can slice the onion.

Well you haven't really made any points for me to comment on. Just tried to parse my comments and perhaps put them in a negative light without really addressing any points head on. So to be fair it is a bit much to expect some deep debate based on that. As to the out of context quote that is a response to comments based on a comment about responses to seeing pictures. It makes more sense in contexted and honestly it goes back to an offhanded comment about how I got a bit of a chuckle about a statement made. Not exactly a major line of discussion or meant to be taken as such.

My portion of the discussion with you was to ask if your quote about naivety could be applied to the faculty. I am just struggling how a kid was hauled down town for something no one thought was a bomb.

You then said that you found it interesting that people seemed to quickly assume to know better based on news articles. We're in an off-topic portion of the forum. On the internet. Talking about the news. Isn't that the point? Question what we read? Question the validity of what we read? I thought that was funny and said so. You didn't like that I paraphrased you by saying "debating the validity." I quoted you, IMO, questioning the validity of others comments. Maybe you were just expressing interest in a different way. :-) That quote isn't out of context or placed in a negative light.

I would also suggest that chuckling at someones line of thinking, and I do it too, usually implies a questioning of its validity. That is the context. but then you said you weren't debating the validity of the comments. I can't say I know what makes you chuckle. Maybe you weren't questioning anything.