# Kid charged with terroristic threats for writing a zombie story. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 5, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104 "2005-03-05T17:59:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/21 "2005-03-05T20:20:54Z")
I won’t. The reason you and the rest of us were possibly duped is the alleged story is entirely plausible, if not accurate. ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/22 "2005-03-05T20:43:26Z")
When I was in high school, I wrote a poem about someone going slowly mad, finding himself a gun, and killing everyone he knew. I can’t even _imagine_ what kind of repercussions that would cause nowadays. Or maybe I can. 😉 All I got for it back then was an A and the advice from my teacher that I should keep writing, I would probably be the next Stephen King. What’s happening to our country? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/23 "2005-03-05T20:43:57Z")
SEND MORE BRAIIIIIIIINNNNNSSSS. To whom? I think we all know. Shit on toast. I can’t fucking believe this insanity goes on. And I happen to think zombies are funny as hell. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/24 "2005-03-05T21:03:14Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I will now uncharacteristically back away from my initial rant and wait for the facts. You’ve opened a couple of these threads in the Pit and to my knowledge you’ve been spot-on with each of them. As a reward for the blows against ignorance you struck then and today, I hereby introduce you to [Zerointelligence.net](http://zerointelligence.net/), a clearinghouse blog for all these kinds of stories. I don’t vouch for the accuracy of each and every entry, of course, but overall they do a good job tracking this kind of idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/25 "2005-03-05T21:21:38Z")
It seems to me that most of this insanity began in April 1999, almost six years ago. In the past six years, has not one kid drawn a medieval knight or fantasy warrior? It’s awfully strange that we haven’t heard about kids getting arrested for that. I wonder why. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/26 "2005-03-05T21:27:45Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > There may be [ > > Sounds like maybe the first story was getting spun by the kid and this may not be as egregious as it seems. > > I will now uncharacteristically back away from my initial rant and wait for the facts. If the kid was really trying to organize an armed invasion of the school then the arrest, of course, was entirely warranted. I will actually be a little relieved if that turns out to be the case. Or the story is being spun by the police now. OF course, unless this trial of the century of the week, we may never hear another peep of this. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/27 "2005-03-05T21:28:13Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > SEND MORE BRAIIIIIIIINNNNNSSSS. > > To whom? I think we all know. > Shit on toast. I can’t fucking believe this insanity goes on. > > And I happen to think zombies are funny as hell. I got your [brains](http://brains4zombies.com/) right here ---
**Author:** ![Teelo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Teelo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teelo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/28 "2005-03-05T21:30:42Z")
Well, I for one would certainly not give my grandparents _any_ hint of respect from now on. They would be able to begin to apologize by paying the 5000$ bail. just thinkin, it would be kind of neat to write a short story in english class with a slightly violent nature, to really weed out the retards in the school faculty. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/29 "2005-03-05T21:44:54Z")
> [@Teelo](#): > > Well, I for one would certainly not give my grandparents _any_ hint of respect from now on. They would be able to begin to apologize by paying the 5000$ bail. > > just thinkin, it would be kind of neat to write a short story in english class with a slightly violent nature, to really weed out the retards in the school faculty. But you just made a threat against the faculty. NO BAIL FOR YOU! 1 YEAR! ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/30 "2005-03-05T21:49:52Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > the time-honored tradition of American Paranoia…Bush can have his goddamn vouchers, and then they can establish their very own zombielessly-pure Freedom Ghetto and brainwash their spawn any way they like. > [@Loopydude](#): > > I won’t. The reason you and the rest of us were possibly duped is the alleged story is entirely plausible, if not accurate. So let’s see if I follow the logic here… Right Wing brainwashing=bad Liberal brainwashing =good :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/31 "2005-03-05T22:00:43Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Clearly, the First Amendment’s recognition of the Right to Free Speech is intended to apply only to the ability of the people to petition the government for redress of grievances. Back when the Amendment was written, nobody even _knew_ such a thing as zombies might exist; much less that they would become so popular in fiction. There is no way that they could have intended that zombies would be written about. Since zombie literature did not exist at the time the Amendment was written, there is no reason to believe it is protected now. Besides, the First Amendment only applies to the federal government. The States can do as they please to reasonably ensure the safety of the Public. > > Did this guy really _need_ to write a story about zombies? No! He could have written a story about his puppy, or about a pleasant spot at the lake. Zombies? Nobody has any business writing about zombies! Zombie stories are dangerous. Someone might read them and be inspired to emulate them and go around killing and eating people. They can damage the psyches of impressionable young children. I think there should be a law banning all zombie stories, whether in print or on film or video, and that they should be confiscated. > > Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it before. ‘When zombie stories are outlawed, only outlaws will write zombie stories.’ And: ‘Outlawing zombie stories won’t do any good, because people will get them anyway. Heck, I can _make_ a zombie story in my basement!’ Bullshit. Nobody _needs_ zombie stories! > > And don’t start with the ‘slippery slope’ arguement! Nobody is calling for the banning of Free Speech for legitimate purposes! People will still be able to write stories about things that are good for society. Like war stories. > > The sooner all of the zombie stories are banned, the sooner this country will become more civilised! This is, of course, exactly how the ACLU and others treat the _Second_ amendment, which may well have been your point… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/32 "2005-03-05T22:11:39Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > This is, of course, exactly how the ACLU and others treat the _Second_ amendment, which may well have been your point… Didn’t pay attention to the tiny text, eh? ---
**Author:** ![AdmiralCrunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@AdmiralCrunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdmiralCrunch)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/33 "2005-03-05T22:33:49Z")
I think the second version of events is a product of the giant pro-zombie lobby that has a stranglehold on Kentucky politics. Here’s a copy of the _real_ story > [@](#): > > William Poole, 18, of 426 E. Broadway, was arrested at GRCHS Tuesday. Acting on a tip from a family member, police reported that he was attempting to “recruit a gang **of zombies** to take over the school,” according to Detective Berl Perdue. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/34 "2005-03-05T22:35:40Z")
Aren’t all politicians zombies anyways? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/35 "2005-03-05T22:42:31Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [sub]Note to the humour impared: I’m joking.[/sub] Sure. It’s all fun and games until you are dealing with zombies at the door. Trust me, you don’t want zombie problems. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/36 "2005-03-05T22:51:58Z")
People, _please!_ They prefer to be called the living impaired. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/37 "2005-03-05T23:00:40Z")
To American dopers: I would like to make a modest proposal. First of all, this proposal is only for Americans with a grasp on reality. Anybody who read the article linked in the OP and thought, “Thank God, they caught another terrorist,” please stop reading this post. The rest of you, decamp immediately for Canada and Mexico, depending on your preference. Both countries shall begin construction of a 50-foot-tall concrete wall. In the meantime, computer hackers will take control of every satellite and cable system, every radio broadcast tower, and the computers in newspaper offices around the country, and send out false news of the world to convince everyone that nothing has changed. Fox News will deny the existence of the fifty-foot concrete wall, and everyone will sleep soundly. The world’s nations will quietly, peacefully extricate their economies from yours. American troops serving abroad will be given nice places to stay, and lemonade for their troubles. The Americans who are left will work out their problems, or – more likely – destroy themselves. Either way, your grandchildren can try to recover what’s left, if they still want to. Well, it makes sense to me, at any rate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/38 "2005-03-05T23:11:03Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > People, _please!_ > > They prefer to be called the living impaired. And they have the same right to bear arms as anyone. No, wait, that’s _devour_ arms. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/39 "2005-03-06T02:17:50Z")
> [@MannyL](#): > > I got your [brains](http://brains4zombies.com/) right here Thank you—that’s just what I needed! ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/40 "2005-03-06T08:45:46Z")
I was going to make a joke about George Romero (sp?) being a terrorist; however, I had a moment to think about this: > [@](#): > > Anytime you…possess matter involving a school…it’s a felony in the state of Kentucky[.] Note that since we aren’t dealing w/ negations, De Morgan’s Theorem does not apply and my ellipeses do not in any way change the meaning of the statement. So, while I do not wish death on Steven Caudill, I do **sincerely** wish for him to be skinned alive and covered with salt. Whether he dies is up to fate after that. I sincerely and honestly wish for that piece of shit to be struck with Huntington’s disease. As for the kid’s grandparents, could they be bigger pieces of shit? I’d bet doughnuts to dollars that they would turn in Anne Frank and think they were on the side of Good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104.md?page=3)