What do you want? He's a nerd! I think this way, too. Only I think it would be cool to squeeze a PC into my toy R2-D2. Anyway...
So, this kid uploads a digital version of his campus and let's people explore it online. Let me let [http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/student-arrested-for-making-a-map-of-his-school/|a May 2, 2007 post] at Joystiq.com explain the rest:
A Chinese student was removed from Clements High School in Fort Bend, Texas after parents complained he had re-created the school grounds in a game and uploaded the map for his friends to play. The boy was placed in the district's alternate education school and later arrested, as the police considered him a "terroristic threat".The post goes on to explain that while no charges will be filed the kid won't be able to attend his graduation.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention before the excerpt that he's a Chinese student. I have no idea why that is relevent. The point is, he was assumed a criminal, a "terroristic" person, just because he translated his school campus into ones and zeroes.
Can someone PLEASE tell me how this could be viewed as a "terroristic" threat?
Did they think he would do a virtual dry run of a VT-style massacre inside the cyber-school? What's to stop EVERY student from using the real school to do the same?
This is just a classic case of people letting their fears get the better of them.
It is this kind of moronic behavior on the part of the "concerned" parents and school officials that is exactly what FDR warned us against when he said that we have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Come on, folks. Grow up and smell the fact that you are SERIOUSLY more likely to die in your car today than you are to be killed in a high school massacre.
Is "terroristic" even a word? What's next, "terroristical"?
ReplyDeleteYou're right!! And after that it'll be supercaliterroristicexplodialidocious!
ReplyDeleteGee, it seems to me that this kid is pretty clever to come up with something like that. He should be encouraged to use his imagination, not have it be stomped upon.
ReplyDeleteI agree! But alas, our America no longer encourages imagination. In fact, those of us who saw this world to come are still being ignored. Liars like Tenet get the Medal of Freedom while we're sitting here still blogging away. Ah well.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I'd trade any medal for a real change in Washington.
This email sent to the principal of this school:
ReplyDeleteSubject: Regarding High School Digital Game Designer
In response to the suspicion, search and suspention of the student who drew the Clements High School into his video game:
*****
Sarchasm on -->
It's true. Wrong thinking should be punished. Imagination should be squelched. We should not take our fantasies into the digital world, even if those fantasies do not eventually lead to actions. Kids should be watched constantly for bad behavior. If they draw, create, or write anything with blood and sex in it, we should punish them. Minds should be cleaned of all perversion, death, destruction.
Make them fear having thoughts. Make them angry. Then they'll snap emotionally. And take out their anger on others.
Physically.
In reality.
If you don’t remember the fact, we live in America. AMERICA. Remember it? We should have the ability to think and create what we want, as long as it doesn’t destroy the rights of others. This kid did not destroy any such rights, and only mildly threatened the idea of the possibility of MAYBE acting out on the THOUGHT of any truly dangerous activity. He took his imagination in a socially inacceptable area in this day and age. That’s all. A simple questioning would have sufficed to see that he was probably innocent of any actionable danger. Don’t punish him, especially if he is a creative (digitally speaking) individual. He is guilty of nothing serious.
Face it, you and your administration, with the help of the police and the board, overreacted. In the wake of Columbine and Virginia Tech I understand the initial instinctive urge to succumb to the easy and quick reaction of paranoia. By all means, look into things. But don’t overreact and discipline what should not deserve discipline.
You’re helping create a culture of fear, paranoia, and misunderstanding.
Thanks a lot.