# Aqua Teen "hoax" in Boston **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326 "2007-01-31T21:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/141 "2007-02-01T17:46:32Z")
Remember that time that MacGyver had just a lite-brite and some batteries and some magnets and he made that bomb and it was AWESOME! ---
**Author:** ![Kokopilau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Kokopilau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kokopilau)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/142 "2007-02-01T17:50:41Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] Hell, even a Lite-Brite could be used as an IED, it it comes to that. [/QUOTE] No it couldn’t. A Lite-Brite could be used on or in an IED, but the presence of the Lite-Brite won’t make it a better IED in any way, shape, or form, and if you take away the Lite-Brite, it’ll still be an IED. That’s because a Lite-Brite is a plastic box, a light bulb, and some holes. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/143 "2007-02-01T17:59:15Z")
[QUOTE=Tabby\_Cat] Yeah, this is sensible. I mean, if people started putting up lite brites all over town, a terrorist might disguise a bomb as a lite brite and the police would never find it. [/QUOTE] So much for Dubya’s ‘Second Thousand Points of Light’ plan… :smack: [Menino]“Calling all caaahs…Calling all caaahs…be on the look out for terrorists who provided material support for the 1/31 terrorist attack! Suspects name is ‘Milton Bradley’. Suspect may be armed with a Pop-o-matic. Officers should use caution while apprehending…” [/Menino] ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/144 "2007-02-01T18:07:49Z")
[QUOTE=kiz] If the devices were made to look like bombs, then sorry, it HAS to be treated as such. [/QUOTE] They were not made to look like bombs. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/145 "2007-02-01T18:12:44Z")
Holy Crap!! Somebody alert the Boston authorities, heck, the National authorities. The [problem](http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=lite%20brite&origkw=Lite%20Brite&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2254197&sr=1) is far more prevalant than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/146 "2007-02-01T18:16:36Z")
Well, this whole incident makes this one from back in [late April](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12553521/) miles less silly, now doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/147 "2007-02-01T18:20:22Z")
Oh my goodness. Bless these guys, this is priceless: [http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/01/boston.bombscare/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/01/boston.bombscare/index.html) > [@](#): > > In a news conference, Rich told reporters he had advised his clients not to discuss the incident. Stevens and Berdovsky took the podium and said they were taking questions only about haircuts in the 1970s. > > When a reporter accused them of not taking the situation seriously, Stevens responded, “We’re taking it very seriously.” Asked another question about the case, Stevens reiterated they were answering questions only about hair and accused the reporter of not taking him and Berdovsky seriously. > > Reporters did not relent and as they continued, Berdovsky disregarded their queries, saying, “That’s not a hair question. I’m sorry.” If these guys actually end up going to jail, or even getting huge fines, they will be martyrs on the altar of not giving in to absolutely insane busybody prickishness. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/148 "2007-02-01T18:28:06Z")
[QUOTE=treis] How incompetent do you have to be in order to miss some 40 simulated bombs on major pieces of infrastructure for 2-3 weeks? [/QUOTE] In truth, I wonder about this myself. But it’s a complete damned-if-you-damned-if-you-don’t situation. People want to complain about the police overreacting in this particular situation because the terrorists have given us the heebie-jeebies. How would those same people feel if the police had special units dedicated to constant inspections of every important bit of infrastructure in the city of Boston? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/149 "2007-02-01T18:33:31Z")
[QUOTE=treis] I still don’t see how they could reasonably believe that people would see [this](http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070201/480/masr11002010417) and think “bomb”. A belief reinforced by the fact that these were in 10 cities across the nation and it took 2 weeks before someone said anything. [/QUOTE] But it didn’t look like “this.” It only looks like “this” when it’s seen up close, from a frontal view, and with the lights on. As I said before, the lights were almost certainly not on, and when seen from below, you saw first of all a bunch of D-cells and some wires connected to a dark-colored panel. The first such device found was located 12 to 15 feet up, in a rather dimly lit space. ---
**Author:** ![Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicest_of_the_Damned)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/150 "2007-02-01T18:34:34Z")
[QUOTE=Tabby\_Cat] No they didn’t. [/QUOTE] They investigated, determined there was no threat and informed the public. I think “investigate” should mean a little more than seeing that it has a few lights or a cartoon character on it and therefore deciding it cannot possibly pose any threat. I didn’t see anyone panicking. I was on the subway when this was going on. They were running shuttle buses while the subway was shut down. No one was panicking. People who were driving found alternate routes. It slowed things down but that’s about it. I heard regular updates on the radio, all of them basically telling me there was no need to panic. The police and government weren’t encouraging anyone to panic. They closed down bridges, highways and subway stations where these things were found as a precaution until they had more information. The emergency responders have protocols in place for dealing with these situations. They followed them. I don’t think they get to throw those protocols out the window just because they see a cartoon character. As I said, I hope they don’t make these two guys scapegoats, but they weren’t acting as “artists” they were being paid to put advertisements on government property without permission. Someone made a very bad decision when they chose where to put these things. It is not clear yet whose idea that was or if these guys thought they had gotten permission. All of this is still being investigated. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/151 "2007-02-01T18:47:26Z")
[QUOTE=Apos] If these guys actually end up going to jail, or even getting huge fines, they will be martyrs on the altar of not giving in to absolutely insane busybody prickishness. [/QUOTE] You place something that looks – even superficially – like a bomb on the support of a major highway, over a couple of rail lines and a bus terminal, then you deserve to get at least a wrist-slapping. If there’s any prickishness, it’s on the part of these jokers. And I’m not ready to believe their innocent act. It’s striking to me that when they chose to site these devices, they sited them on the supports to some of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in Boston – as opposed to, say, light poles. To see these guys as “martyrs” is the height of absurdity. Even to put the best possible face on it, they were vandals in the service of corporate paymasters. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/152 "2007-02-01T18:48:49Z")
Woo hoo!!! Go guys! I hope Turner is paying for their representation. The city doesn’t have a fucking leg to stand on. There was no intent to create a bomb scare or hoax. This was simply a high tech version of a flyer campaign. “Question for Mr. Stevens! How do you account for the enduring popularity of feathering in the mid-70s, vis-a-via bangs, when compared with the truncated evolution of similar hairstyle trends, such as the mullet in the 80s? And as a follow up, who does your hair?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/153 "2007-02-01T18:49:25Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] How would those same people feel if the police had special units dedicated to constant inspections of every important bit of infrastructure in the city of Boston? [/QUOTE] Better than I feel about this nonsense. There’s smart security and stupid security. Smart security would mean regular random sweeps of infrastructure. It would mean eliminating most public trash recepticles or replacing them with bomb-proof models. It would mean a zero-tolerance policy to roadside debris. Stupid security is \*\*worse \*\* than no security. It does nothing to reduce the actual threat, while wasting resources, encouraging complacency, and eroding public confidence. Whoever reported the signs did the right thing. You see something weird? Call the police and ask them to check it out. No harm in that. But the police response was entirely out of proportion. As I pointed out previously, the streets of Boston, or any major city, are littered with literally thousands of objects that represent a higher level of bomb threat than these signs. The only reason the Boston police department isn’t taking those “threats” seriously is that they’re \*\*used \*\* to seeing trash cans and mail boxes and roadside debris. They’re complacent and not thinking seriously about possible threats, just responding with knee-jerk panic based on a Hollywood idea of what bombs look like. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/154 "2007-02-01T18:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] You place something that looks – even superficially – like a bomb on the support of a major highway, over a couple of rail lines and a bus terminal, then you deserve to get at least a wrist-slapping. [/quote] As I noted, there were surely folks who did the exact same thing in other cities who aren’t going to be charged with anything. Should whether or not you go to jail be based purely on whether or not the leaders of the city are uniquely idiotic? > [@](#): > > If there’s any prickishness, it’s on the part of these jokers. And I’m not ready to believe their innocent act. It’s striking to me that when they chose to site these devices, they sited them on the supports to some of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in Boston – as opposed to, say, light poles. They were magnets (so they could be attached without any defacement at all). They put them in visible places that were made of metal. No other city in the nation freaked out. Even Boston didn’t for MONTHS. Any claim that they forseeably invoked a hysterical panic runs up against a very high wall of implausibility based on those facts. To see these guys as “martyrs” is the height of absurdity. Even to put the best possible face on it, they were vandals in the service of corporate paymasters. [/QUOTE] And you are an apologist for media hysteria and a government trying to cover its ass after it got egg all over its face. I mean, FoxNews spent all day hyping this as a terrorist dry run, and the mayor was happy to get his face on Tv just to say that he couldn’t rule that out. You’re applauding that sort of self-important ass covering. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/155 "2007-02-01T19:05:15Z")
[QUOTE=Nicest of the Damned] I didn’t see anyone panicking. [/QUOTE] Sure you did. Read some earlier posts, and it should be clear to you that we are of a hive mind. Of course, you knew that already, as we are of a hive mind. Seriously, I understand why people are saying “Boston panicked”, “Bostonians are pussies”, etc. It’s easy to type. But it’s coming off as the whole city, as a monolithic entity, acting stupidly and fearfully. Myself, my reaction was “Bummer. My commute is going to suck.” And later, “Hey, that wasn’t so bad. Three hours until Idol.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/156 "2007-02-01T19:10:54Z")
[QUOTE=Apos] No other city in the nation freaked out. [/QUOTE] So what is it about Boston specifically that sets it apart from every other city in the nation. Is law enforcement here that much dumber than in your city? Or did this happen here by pure blind luck? Is your own city immune from stupidity? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/157 "2007-02-01T19:11:46Z")
Whether other cities saw these things or not is immaterial. Certainly no other city (or the culprits themselves) went to Boston and said, “Hey, you know what?” Boston was left to discover these devices on their own. And the way they discovered them led the police to think – not at all unreasonably – that they were bombs. **Apos** , you still haven’t told me why you think the mayor and the police were idiotic to be pissed, or even did anything wrong. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/158 "2007-02-01T19:14:29Z")
Here’s a question that just occurred to me. Members of the Boston police department cruises around the city all night, right? At night, it’s pretty freaking obvious what the signs are. Did no officers see the brightly lit signs, think “Oh my god! It’s a terrorist bomb!” and set off the alarm in the two weeks they were up? No, they didn’t, because it’s really fucking obvious they aren’t bombs. Did no one see the first of the “devices” after they were removed in the daylight and say “Oh, it’s those lighted signs I’ve been seeing. How silly.”? How could the police not notice a dozen brightly-lit LED signs hanging in high traffic areas over a two-week period? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/159 "2007-02-01T19:17:19Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Sure you did. Read some earlier posts, and it should be clear to you that we are of a hive mind. Of course, you knew that already, as we are of a hive mind. Seriously, I understand why people are saying “Boston panicked”, “Bostonians are pussies”, etc. It’s easy to type. But it’s coming off as the whole city, as a monolithic entity, acting stupidly and fearfully. Myself, my reaction was “Bummer. My commute is going to suck.” And later, “Hey, that wasn’t so bad. Three hours until Idol.” [/QUOTE] Don’t feel bad. People laughed at the farmers who shot up barns in Grover’s Mills NJ on Halloween in '38 after Orson Welles broadcast too. And they lived it down. Well, ok, they really just died of old age. And embarassment. And people poked fun at them until the day they croaked, but I’m sure that that’s a completely different situation… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326/160 "2007-02-01T19:19:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] Whether other cities saw these things or not is immaterial. Certainly no other city (or the culprits themselves) went to Boston and said, “Hey, you know what?” Boston was left to discover these devices on their own. And the way they discovered them led the police to think – not at all unreasonably – that they were bombs. [/QUOTE] No, the fact that no other cities freaked out when they saw them is perfectly material. It’s proof that the vast majority of Americans know a lighted sign when they see one. And how hard was it for Boston to “discover” a blinking lighted sign? These things weren’t hidden. They were put in plain view. The idea was for people to see them. 99.999% of the people who saw them knew they weren’t bombs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqua-teen-hoax-in-boston/390326.md?page=9)