# 14-year-old arrested for building a clock **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481 "2015-09-16T16:15:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/61 "2015-09-19T19:18:26Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I was designing from scratch in 3rd grade, and etching my own circuit boards in Jr. High. > > And, I’m still willing to cut this kid some slack. As a motivated tinkerer in an area that draws fewer and fewer hobbyists who do more than plug a few modules together, I’d agree. And yes, the word “invent” gets used pretty freely all across the spectrum. But a kid playing with blocks doesn’t “invent” a castle. So let me put it perspective the under… _erm_… 40 crowd might get, the generation that’s probably never even seen a soldering iron, much less used one. (Although it’s not clear AM even did that; it looks like clock gutz screwed and glued into the tool case.) If this kid had strung together a few library Javascript modules to make an animated web page, would we call him a web programmer? If he’d used a development environment to stack a few library functions to make a screen clock, would we call him a programmer? If he’d used a couple of Android API calls to give his phone a random background color, would we call him an app developer? Maybe. Probably not without a qualifier like “budding.” But none of those would qualify - IMVHO - as “inventor” of those results, either. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/62 "2015-09-19T19:25:42Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I can’t believe how many bozos here are chiming in on things they have no experience with Welcome to the Internet, beowulff! Would you like me to show you around? ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/63 "2015-09-19T19:36:47Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Probably not, but disregarding friendly advice on this board is usually indicative of a short stay here. The continued use of such a word might be considered the dreaded “T-word”. Tiresome? Tedious. Trite! ---
**Author:** ![Gotlift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/64 "2015-09-19T21:36:44Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > You can be banned for using the word ‘retarded’? I’ve been visiting this board for a few weeks and I’ve read all kinds of potentially offensive material. I’ve ready every manner of curse word in nearly every context it can be used in. I’m not easily offended, but I understand there are those who are. I can’t imagine how boring life would be, and the internet in particular, if we had to cave in to offended people in order to participate. I’ve said offensive things to be humorous, because lets face it, if we can’t be offensive on the internet then where can we be. With that being said, if saying RETARDED can get me banned then fucking ban me. I wouldn’t want to participate in such a community anyway. If not, then great. Type at cha later. P.S. George Carlin is probably rolling over in his grave right now. > [@beowulff](#): > > Probably not, but disregarding friendly advice on this board is usually indicative of a short stay here. The continued use of such a word might be considered the dreaded “T-word”. My unsolicited, friendly advice… stop being so easily offended. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/65 "2015-09-20T00:37:55Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It’s a great way to get banned… Ironic, given that you used an alternate version of the same jibe. For which I think I will report you after all, as the hypocrisy grates. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/66 "2015-09-20T01:01:22Z")
So many of the people in this thread are defending this kid as though he were much younger than 14, or had an intellectual disability like Down syndrome. Do you actually remember the age of 14? My oldest son is 15, and four of the players in the tennis ladder I run are 14, so I have a perhaps unfair advantage of current examples to compare to. But I suspect all of them would be offended by the low expectations presented here for 14-year-olds. Now, all five of the kids I know are well above average in intelligence; but I thought that was also the idea everyone has about Ahmed. No? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/67 "2015-09-20T04:50:59Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > So many of the people in this thread are defending this kid as though he were much younger than 14, or had an intellectual disability like Down syndrome. Do you actually remember the age of 14? My oldest son is 15, and four of the players in the tennis ladder I run are 14, so I have a perhaps unfair advantage of current examples to compare to. But I suspect all of them would be offended by the low expectations presented here for 14-year-olds. Now, all five of the kids I know are well above average in intelligence; but I thought that was also the idea everyone has about Ahmed. No? I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t think anyone is saying that he is a young Einstein, but a typical nerdy 14 year old who “built” a clock. I would have to dust off the electronics books to take apart a clock and recreate it with circuit boards, and I consider myself reasonably intelligent. It was probably the kid’s first foray into electronics and he was proud that he was able to do it. When he showed his teachers, he was probably expecting praise and maybe some advice on how to improve upon his design. Like, **Terr** upthread, I am not so much disappointed by the racial aspect of this but the absolute asshatery of the bureaucrats involved. I am glad he is going to a different school where he might have some teachers who are smarter than he is. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/68 "2015-09-20T04:54:06Z")
I fail to see how this incident deserves a special trip to see the president. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/69 "2015-09-20T04:59:27Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Ironic, given that you used an alternate version of the same jibe. For which I think I will report you after all, as the hypocrisy grates. Have at it… ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/70 "2015-09-20T05:12:50Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t think anyone is saying that he is a young Einstein, but a typical nerdy 14 year old who “built” a clock. I would have to dust off the electronics books to take apart a clock and recreate it with circuit boards, and I consider myself reasonably intelligent. > > It was probably the kid’s first foray into electronics and he was proud that he was able to do it. When he showed his teachers, he was probably expecting praise and maybe some advice on how to improve upon his design. > > Like, **Terr** upthread, I am not so much disappointed by the racial aspect of this but the absolute asshatery of the bureaucrats involved. I am glad he is going to a different school where he might have some teachers who are smarter than he is. His dad said he fixes electronic items all the time, and he had an engineering class in school, so it wasn’t his first foray. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/71 "2015-09-20T06:27:07Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > That makes me happy - special needs kids need love, too. This is out of line for this forum. Do not insult others outside of the BBQ Pit. Since you’ve been here long enough to know this by now, I’m going to make it a warning. Everyone else- Let’s try to get back on track. If anyone has questions about the rules, ask in ATMB, that way it doesn’t hijack this thread. But for the record, I don’t think “retard” is against the rules here if you are using it alone, in convo (as opposed to calling another poster that or implying they are one). The poster above gets a warning for insulting someone else. If the word “retard” is also used to insult someone on here, it would probably get a warning too. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/72 "2015-09-20T08:27:45Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Anyone who wanted something better than a cardboard box to carry it in, and had no budget. > > Geez! I can’t believe how many bozos here are chiming in on things they have no experience with - as I kid I used any box I could find to house my projects - Cigar boxes, coffee tins, and tupperware. > > And, that “briefcase” is like 8” wide… Give me a fucking break…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/73 "2015-09-20T13:11:42Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Do you tell little Suzie that her painting isn’t really a painting because Da Vinci never would have used that particular accent tone? No, but, if she disassembled a portrait of the Mona Lisa and glued it back together, you would tell the little darling that she will flunk. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/74 "2015-09-20T13:14:03Z")
Here’s one report from Fox News about it. https://video.foxnews.com/v/video-embed.html?video_id=4496361112001&ref=twitter.com Poor little darling: just like dear Trayvon. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/75 "2015-09-20T13:17:07Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > This kid started _just_ they way I did - taking electronics apart, and running them without their cases. Being able to do that shows an aptitude far beyond most 14 year old kids. You are horribly confused about what most 14 year old kids are capable of. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/76 "2015-09-20T13:20:18Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > And **Slacker** has been arguing the the whole thing was done for sinister intent, for which there is _zero_ evidence. Well, when the police questioned him, he couldn’t be arsed to answer their questions, and was being a bit of a fuck about it-to them. See the Fox News link from above. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/77 "2015-09-20T15:17:16Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Well, when the police questioned him, he couldn’t be arsed to answer their questions, and was being a bit of a fuck about it-to them. See the Fox News link from above. Fox ‘News’ has been shown to be extremely inaccurate, and so is not a reliable source. Also, I don’t like watching videos – especially when you have that annoying ‘We want to harvest data from your computer’ box that won’t go away unless you allow the request. Can you provide a transcript? From the link in the OP: > [@](#): > > Police spokesperson James McLellan said Ahmed “kept maintaining it was a clock” when he was brought in for interrogation, but that he offered “no broader explanation.” It sounds like he answered their questions, but the police didn’t like the answers. I’d become a bit testy if someone behaved like that toward me. ‘Dude. It’s a clock. I can’t be arsed to answer any more of your questions if you’re just going to keep asking the same ones I’ve already answered.’ Beyond ‘What is this thing that looks like a clock?’ and ‘Why did you bring your electronics project to school to show to your science teacher?’, what were they asking? ‘How long have you been a terrorist?’ :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/78 "2015-09-20T19:11:44Z")
Mark Cuban (yeah, I know, guy’s a douche) said that when he talked to Ahmed on the phone, when he asked him what happened the kid was fed the answers to every question by his sister. Which could indicate something fishy, or maybe the kid just has something in his personality that shuts down when people question him. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/79 "2015-09-20T19:22:01Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > … > > It sounds like he answered their questions, but the police didn’t like the answers. I’d become a bit testy if someone behaved like that toward me. ‘Dude. It’s a clock. I can’t be arsed to answer any more of your questions if you’re just going to keep asking the same ones I’ve already answered.’ > > … Had the little fellow answered, “It’s an electronic device designed to measure the distance between events on our planet based on incremental divisions of the Earth’s rotation cycle.” The cops would have scratched their heads and called in the military. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481/80 "2015-09-20T21:42:45Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > The boy is 14 years old and probably just getting started in electronics. That is how you learn. You take shit apart that already works and put it back together. Using wires and component parts would demonstrate to the class and help you understand what makes the thing keep time. > > Do you tell little Suzie that her painting isn’t really a painting because Da Vinci never would have used that particular accent tone? > > Further, if people were scared that this was a bomb, where was the explosive content? What part of that device was going to go “boom”? I took apart cheap clocks and radios too. Got shocked several times and learned what not to touch. I’m a bit puzzled why the kid insists he invented or built something. I always knew the difference in disassembling something and actually building a working circuit. But I’m not going to accuse him of anything. I just don’t know how well he can express himself. His interest in electronics needs to be encouraged. I linked (earlier post) several electronics trainers similar to the more simplistic Radio Shack trainers that I learned from. There’s a lot of great teaching tools out there for kids interested in electronics or robotics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-year-old-arrested-for-building-a-clock/731481.md?page=5)