# Pipe Bomber drawing a pipe bomb SMILEY?! $#%$!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 9, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171 "2002-05-09T21:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/1 "2002-05-09T21:51:05Z")
According to this [AP](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=533&e=3&cid=533&u=/ap/20020509/ap_on_re_us/mailbox_bombs_164) story, the guy was trying to map a smiley out with pipe bomb explosions. Mother fucker! This is even worse than disgruntled former employees on rampages, alienated teenagers going after their classmates and teacher, or even the nurse’s aid who let the guy stuck die in her windshield!! This may have been for FUN!! Rat bastards like this shake my opposition to the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![abuse\_angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@abuse\_angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abuse_angel)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/2 "2002-05-09T21:58:14Z")
see lizard and space vampire? something _worth_ getting worked up over. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/3 "2002-05-09T22:08:55Z")
Dear pipe bomber, Project Mayhem was fiction. And giving devil-horns to the camera while laughing is probably not the impression you want to give. And your band sucks. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/4 "2002-05-09T23:00:27Z")
I think it’s rather obvious that this kid is completely batshit. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/5 "2002-05-09T23:11:05Z")
Now, when i try to tell people where Rock Island is, i can say: The eye that pipebomber made! From the articles i read, i don’t think this kid realizes how much trouble he is in, and is quite probably nuttier than all get out. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/6 "2002-05-09T23:31:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\* > From the articles i read, i don’t think this kid realizes how much trouble he is in, and is quite probably nuttier than all get out. \*\* Apparently he asked his mom: “Do you think I might go to jail for this?” WTF?!?! Is he from this planet? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/7 "2002-05-09T23:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > I think it’s rather obvious that this kid is completely batshit. On the other hand, if I wanted to make sure I got off on an insanity plea, I’d sure as hell do something this wacko. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/8 "2002-05-10T00:44:51Z")
I bet he listened to rock music too. STUPID ROCK MUSIC! :: me shakes fist at the world :: ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/9 "2002-05-10T01:04:51Z")
Am I the only one who thought the smiley face thing was kinda funny? Obviously what he did was wrong, but I wish they would’ve shown a map of where he’d struck. Maybe I’m just one sick, fucked up mother fucker.🙂 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/10 "2002-05-10T01:16:34Z")
[Map of bombing sites.](http://www.msnbc.com/news/747431.asp?0si=-#BODY) (scroll down) One more vote here for “completely batshit”. Oh, Nurse Ratchet…? ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/11 "2002-05-10T01:33:57Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by knock knock_ > **…but I wish they would’ve shown a map of where he’d struck** Our station up here (WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, Minnesota) not only did just that- outlined the projected path this guy was going to take and how it’d look, on _top_ of telling us where the eyes were going to be for chrissakes, they took it even one step further- while _introducing_ the story that included the above graphic, in that little box thingy above their shoulders that shows a graphic of what they’re talking about, they superimposed the yellow smiley face we’re all familiar with ( 🙂 ) on top of a map of the US. There it was, this huge yellow happy smiley face smilling away above the anchors shoulder with the text below him saying, ‘Smiley face bombings’. Somehow, it was hard to concentrate on the seriousness of all that with that big 'ol happy guy smiling back at me. I honestly don’t know what WCCO was thinking. Oh, and in trying to find the video for it, because it’s that classic, I did see their pushing the yellow happy person on their website- [WCCO Website](http://www.wcco.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/12 "2002-05-10T01:34:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*I bet he listened to rock music too. > > STUPID ROCK MUSIC! > > :: me shakes fist at the world :: \*\* Well, the local news here in San Fran made a big deal about how he mentioned Nirvana on his website. Nirvana, whose lead singer killed himself and sang bleak lyrics. Nirvana, who if anyone listens to must be a psychotic killer. And on and on they went. I bet if he mentioned Marilyn Manson, the reporters would have jizzed their pants live on TV!!! ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/13 "2002-05-10T02:15:56Z")
I am not sure if this kid is insane or just deluded. I have seen many “high-profile” criminals (McVeigh, Kazinsky, Bundy etc) act like their initial “celebrity” will somehow get them exonerated. Luke Helder probably considered his actions as somewhat of a crusade, pumping himself up with righteous indignation over an “eeevil” gov. He probably thought he would be hailed as a hero in some circles (as he probably is, unfortunately). He might have rationalized possible deaths/injuries over his actions as “I don’t know those assholes, fuck em!” or “Those people are sheep” At this point, I don’t believe Helder realizes his life is over. Done! To him, the attention he is getting is like heroin. He is high on it. That’s why he is smiling in front of the cameras. And the investigators are milking that all they can. They are his “friends” now. I am sure he even has a favorite cop to talk to. Cop: “So Luke, that smiley thing was cool, how did you decide on that?” Helder: You like that huh? See, I was…blah blah Cop: (to himself) Sucked you right in asshole." He feels he is finally getting the attention he deserves. When the limelight dies down though, the crushing weight of reality will smash his sorry ass in that concrete cage. I hope they execute the scumbag. ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/14 "2002-05-10T02:29:36Z")
It’s interesting how one asshole will make people question their convictions on the death penalty. Presumably you realized before now that some asshole could kill a bunch of people, and you’d hate him for it. But it takes a real person, with a grin on his face, to make you wonder. And he didn’t even kill anyone - just 6 injured (I’m not sure how badly). Or is just a rhetorical device? ---
**Author:** ![njufoic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@njufoic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njufoic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/15 "2002-05-10T03:46:30Z")
knock knock- “Am I the only one who thought the smiley face thing was kinda funny? Obviously what he did was wrong, but I wish they would’ve shown a map of where he’d struck.” I’ll admit that I thought it was funny. Of course, I don’t support any random acts of violence, and this lunatic should obviously go to jail for a good chunk of time. But all in all, if we have to deal with mail bombers, I’d rather have them make smiley faces than not. It just makes reading the news all that much more interesting. -Andrew L ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/16 "2002-05-10T04:31:58Z")
Yes it would be real funny if your 6 yr old daughter opened the mailbox and got her face blown off wouldn’t dude. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/17 "2002-05-10T04:37:10Z")
add an “it” to that, and I don’t find it the least bit funny . And don’t tell me “chill out dude, this is a news of the weird type thing”. You morons. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/18 "2002-05-10T04:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by njufoic \* > \*\*knock knock- > > “Am I the only one who thought the smiley face thing was kinda funny? Obviously what he did was wrong, but I wish they would’ve shown a map of where he’d struck.” > > I’ll admit that I thought it was funny. > > Of course, I don’t support any random acts of violence, and this lunatic should obviously go to jail for a good chunk of time. But all in all, if we have to deal with mail bombers, I’d rather have them make smiley faces than not. It just makes reading the news all that much more interesting. > > -Andrew L \*\* I must admit, I’m at a point where I’m avoiding a lot of news these days, and I checked the story only because of the odd and intesting headlines on yahoo news. I can see it now. Geraldo has experts calulate the probable remaining smiley bomb locations, or better yet, buy a copy of the map (I’ll bet the kid had one all plotted out!) from an inside source. He visits the sites, has an “expert” choose the nearest boxes, and interviews the mail recipients about how lucky they are. Yeah, that’ll be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/19 "2002-05-10T04:47:51Z")
**njufoic and knock knock** You are both assholes to consider this “funny”. People were hurt. Would you like to check your mail, and have it fucking blow up in your face? Fucking assholes. I am too pissed to reply coherently. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171/20 "2002-05-10T04:54:11Z")
**Klaatu** : Laugh because you can’t control it. If I died of a pipe bomb tomorrow, I would be goddamned pissed at myself before the final fadeout if I hadn’t laughed a bit at this shit now. I would want all of my friends and family to laugh about me being the ‘Left Nostril of the Death Smilie’ or some such shit. I’d do it for them. What’s the point of being so scared of dying, or of seeing others die, that you can’t laugh about it? You can only control your attitude. The rest is chaos kept under marginal control by artificial and fragile means. Don’t laugh _at_ others (that isn’t joy anyway, just revenge), laugh at life. Laugh at how random it all is. Laugh before you die. > [@](#): > > Always look at the bright side of life! > [whistling] > Always look at the right side of life! > [whistling] > > For life is quite absurd > And death’s the final word. > You must always face the curtain with a bow. > Forget about your sin. > Give the audience a grin. > Enjoy it. It’s your last chance, anyhow. > So,… > > Always look on the bright side of death, > [whistling] > Just before you draw your terminal breath. > [whistling] > > Life’s a piece of shit, > When you look at it. > Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke. It’s true. > You’ll see it’s all a show. > Keep 'em laughing as you go. > Just remember that the last laugh is on you. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomber-drawing-a-pipe-bomb-smiley/108171.md?page=2)