# RO: This is totally going to kill Bring Your Clock to School Day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2015, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454 "2015-09-16T08:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/561 "2015-09-22T01:56:46Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > First, the kid’s first explanation of the device as a clock was not in response to questioning, or an attempt to “get out of trouble.” He took the device to show to his science teacher (presumably, that’s what you do when you complete an interesting science project), he told the science teacher that it was a clock, and the science teacher confirmed that it was, in fact a clock. So, a qualified member of the school faculty knew that it was not a bomb, independent of the kid’s explanation. > > And your ideas about reading and enforcing the rules are asinine. Based on your interpretation, basically any device that emits a sound at any time, and that looks even vaguely like a bunch of electronic circuitry, no matter how closely related to an actual bomb, can be defined under the rule as a “fake bomb.” It’s the perfect syllogism: anything that i say is a fake bomb is, by definition, a fake bomb, whether or not it is a bomb, and whether or not i have confirmation that it is in fact a clock. > > I expected some of the ridiculous interpretations of this incident from some of the other people on this board, but i thought that you would advocate for some actual common sense in how to evaluate a situation like this. Well, yeah, kinda. Care to define what a “fake bomb” looks like? And care to do that in a “zero tolerance” environment? The teachers don’t make the rules, they just get blamed if they don’t enforce them. And they get blamed with they do enforce them. The kid was told to not show it to other teachers. Why do you think that is? I agree with those who said the Engineering teacher should have taken it and not let him cart it around school all day. Maybe the Eng Teacher didn’t know it had a timer that would go off, but the kid did. Later in the day, the English teacher (not the Engineering guy) had to deal with a kid who had a beeping device in a brief case with a timer on it. In a zero tolerance environment. To me, this is a fuck-up all 'round. The kid should not have taken what might look like a bomb (or a fake bomb) to school. The Engineering teacher should have known that a less technical teacher might freak out, and should have confiscated the device. The kid should have disabled the timer. Or left the damn thing in his locker. This is like the perfect storm of what NOT to do as a teenage kid in High School. And the cops should have NOT cuffed the kid once they determine the device was not a real bomb. They could have detained him without the cuffs. And they should have called his parents IMMEDIATELY, not giving him the third degree like he’s already a criminal. Cluster fuck every way you look at this. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/562 "2015-09-22T02:04:52Z")
Look at the fucking picture. It wasn’t a fucking briefcase. Repeatedly calling it a briefcase reveals one’s agenda as something other than honest. ---
**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/563 "2015-09-22T03:08:31Z")
I’m still trying to figure out why the media still thinks he’s a darling tech savvy scientist inventor. When I was 14 he would’ve gotten his ass kicked by the real nerds for being an unoriginal retard. You can glue a clock back together? Impressive…wait, your 14? Here’s some glue, go eat it in the corner and STFU… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/564 "2015-09-22T03:13:48Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > I’m still trying to figure out why the media still thinks he’s a darling tech savvy scientist inventor. > > When I was 14 he would’ve gotten his ass kicked by the real nerds for being an unoriginal retard. What do YOU get for being an unoriginal retard right now? ---
**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 22, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/565 "2015-09-22T03:15:11Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > I’m still trying to figure out why the media still thinks he’s a darling tech savvy scientist inventor. > > When I was 14 he would’ve gotten his ass kicked by the real nerds for being an unoriginal retard. > > You can glue a clock back together? Impressive…wait, your 14? Here’s some glue, go eat it in the corner and STFU… Compared to the level of technological sophistication of most reporters, he _is_ an engineering genius. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/566 "2015-09-22T03:33:49Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > When I was 14 he would’ve gotten his ass kicked by the real nerds for being an unoriginal retard. Nerds who kick ass?! Where’d you grow up? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/567 "2015-09-22T03:39:38Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Nerds who kick ass?! Where’d you grow up? He’s prolly from Internet Tough Guy City. ---
**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 22, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/568 "2015-09-22T03:50:04Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > What do YOU get for being an unoriginal retard right now? Literal LOL. Well played. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/569 "2015-09-22T04:09:04Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > What do YOU get for being an unoriginal retard right now? Beaten up by nerds, from what I understand. ---
**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/570 "2015-09-22T04:12:14Z")
I can’t wait to watch the media fall all over themselves praising the next muslim who does something groundbreaking like changing a lightbulb or washing their hands or not fucking a goat. Hope and Change™ ---
**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 22, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/571 "2015-09-22T04:13:24Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > I can’t wait to watch the media fall all over themselves praising the next muslim who does something groundbreaking like changing a lightbulb or washing their hands or not fucking a goat. > > Hope and Change™ Well, I hear they are going to do a story on you if you stop shitting in your pants. ---
**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 22, 2015, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/572 "2015-09-22T04:20:21Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > I can’t wait to watch the media fall all over themselves praising the next muslim who does something groundbreaking like changing a lightbulb or washing their hands or not fucking a goat. > > Hope and Change™ Now _this_ is the post of a cretinous bigot. Please, everyone, try to perceive the distinction in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/573 "2015-09-22T04:20:25Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > I can’t wait to watch the media fall all over themselves praising the next muslim who does something groundbreaking like changing a lightbulb or washing their hands or not fucking a goat. You could probably use a role model. ---
**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/574 "2015-09-22T04:21:14Z")
Seems to be a sad state of affairs for this boys culture if he’s a media darling for reverse engineering a 1980’s clock. Hopefully one day they’ll figure out indoor plumbing… ---
**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/575 "2015-09-22T04:23:45Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Now _this_ is the post of a cretinous bigot. Please, everyone, try to perceive the distinction in the future. So I can’t joke around now? Did I hurt your feels??? The jokes towards me are actually pretty funny. Might wanna lighten up, Francis… ---
**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 22, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/576 "2015-09-22T04:25:20Z")
I don’t think you get it. They seem to think that you and I are basically the same. \ ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/577 "2015-09-22T04:27:32Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > Seems to be a sad state of affairs for this boys culture if he’s a media darling for reverse engineering a 1980’s clock. True. America ain’t what it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/578 "2015-09-22T04:37:47Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I don’t think you get it. Oh, I get it all right. The thing is, no one is gonna change their opinion on this story regardless of the facts. The people who think he was trying to create a fake bomb will still think that even if Jesus steps in and tells them different. The people who thinks he’s an innocent toddler will still think that even if he goes on Oprah and chants “death to america”. Everyone has chosen a side and they’ll stick to that opinion under pain of death. I’m just not impressed. When I was 14 I wasn’t glueing clocks back together and claiming to be the second coming of Edison for doing so. Kid better learn what button to push for large fries… ---
**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/579 "2015-09-22T04:56:39Z")
Frankly, I blame the media for destroying this kids confidence. Right now, everyone is telling this average kid that he’s a special snowflake and the world is his oyster when all he’s shown is a below average intelligence and being handy with a screwdriver. When his 15 minutes of fame are up and the media moves on to the next faux outrage he’s gonna be stuck wondering why assembling pre made clock parts pays about 2 dollars an hour in China if he’s even lucky enough to find a spot on their assembly line. This is literally the best thing he’ll most likely ever achieve and that sucks for him… ---
**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 22, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/580 "2015-09-22T05:02:16Z")
> [@canned\_mayhem](#): > > Frankly, I blame the media for destroying this kids confidence. Right now, everyone is telling this average kid that he’s a special snowflake and the world is his oyster when all he’s shown is a below average intelligence and being handy with a screwdriver. > > When his 15 minutes of fame are up and the media moves on to the next faux outrage he’s gonna be stuck wondering why assembling pre made clock parts pays about 2 dollars an hour in China if he’s even lucky enough to find a spot on their assembly line. > > This is literally the best thing he’ll most likely ever achieve and that sucks for him… Ironic, then, how he’s achieved more at 14 then you ever will… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=30)