# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/61 "2015-09-16T17:39:20Z")
A “hoax bomb”? Again, just like the MIT case – neither was a “hoax bomb”. They’re just things that the authorities mistook for a bomb. From the item quoted by **D\_Odds** : > [@](#): > > I recommend using this opportunity to talk with your child about the Student Code of Conduct and specifically not bringing items to school **that are prohibited**. So, evidently, clocks are prohibited. Maybe it only applies to clocks that don’t look like most other clocks. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/62 "2015-09-16T17:41:50Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Of course the teachers reaction to what they think might be a bomb is taking it to the office. :smack: Why would you think teachers have respect and affection for the principal? I have it on good authority that they add a third line to the old “_Those who can, do …_” enthymeme, which goes “… _and those who can’t teach are administrators_.” ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/63 "2015-09-16T17:42:23Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > From the article “It looks like a movie bomb to me.” > Idiots. > [@DinoR](#): > > Of course the teachers reaction to what they think might be a bomb is taking it to the office. :smack: > [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Exactly! If they honestly thought it was a bomb, there are procedures to follow. Everyone would have been evacuated, and a bomb squad would be called in to check it. > > Apparently, they might charge him with making a “hoax bomb”, like he was trying to make something that would look like a bomb to scare people: > > I don’t know what broader explanation that they would be wanting. I imagine that even if the kid explained everything about how the clock works, and why he made it, and how he made it, and the history of clocks and robotics, that nothing would be good enough. > > I really hope that the national attention means that he won’t get charged, and that he’s able to find some resources outside of school that can help him with his inventions and where he can show them off to people who won’t automatically think he’s trying to make bombs. The phrase “looks like a movie bomb” is the really stupid part of this to my mind - the kid never said the word "bomb’, he always maintained it was a clock but this collection of mouthbreathing morons freaked because it looked to them like what a bomb from a Steven Segal/Chuck Norris movie would look like. It didn’t look like a real bomb, it looked like an IMAGINARY bomb! Everyone of these dipshits should be fired and this kid should be given a medal for his role in revealing that the school system in Irving is being run by idiots who likely couldn’t find their asses with both of their hands. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/64 "2015-09-16T17:44:30Z")
Well, he’s invited to visit the [White House](https://twitter.com/potus?lang=en), which is probably better than a medal. ---
**Author:** ![Oops\_I\_Went\_Poopies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Oops\_I\_Went\_Poopies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oops_I_Went_Poopies)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/65 "2015-09-16T17:50:14Z")
Looks like it’s time to move to another school district. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/66 "2015-09-16T17:53:13Z")
That’s pretty good “first reaction” advice, but the message that sends it that it’s THIS easy to chase “undesirables” out of your district. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/67 "2015-09-16T17:55:31Z")
That’s the weirdest part of this story. Although a lot of the sarcasm of this thread centers on school officials mishandling what they thought might be a bomb, they don’t actually seem to have thought that. They thought it looked like a fake bomb, which might have been used in a hoax bomb threat. So Ahmed was pulled out class, questioned (probably illegally), arrested, then suspended from school for actions he _didn’t take_ and I doubt even occurred to him. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/68 "2015-09-16T17:56:03Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, he’s invited to visit the [White House](https://twitter.com/potus?lang=en), which is probably better than a medal. Be cool if he’d simultaneously invite the teacher, principal, first-responding deputies, and police chief, and have them watch as he shakes Ahmed’s hand, then tell them to stop being dumbasses. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/69 "2015-09-16T18:01:52Z")
According to the Irving police chief, my cable TV box, oven, microwave, wall clock, and computer all have hoax bombs on them. I feel so safe with such competent protection watching over me. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/70 "2015-09-16T18:02:31Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > The school congratulates themselves on how they handled this (Mods note, this is NOT copyrighted material): > > > [@](#): > > > > We are pleased to report that after the police department’s assessment, the item discovered at school did not pose a threat to your child’s safety. Well, even a stopped clock . . . ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/71 "2015-09-16T18:07:34Z")
Here’s the Texas Penal Code definition of a “Hoax Bomb”. Chapter 46, Title 10-, section 46.01.13: > [@](#): > > (13) “Hoax bomb” means a device that: > > (A) reasonably appears to be an explosive or incendiary device; or > > (B) by its design causes alarm or reaction of any type by an official of a public safety agency or a volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies. That’s a lot of wiggle room for the authorities. Who can say what “reasonably appears to be an explosive or incendiary device”? (Would any random PC board hooked up to a battery and LEDs qualify?) And damned near _anything_ can cause “alarm or reaction of any type” You could, then, say that the school officials were arguably within their rights to call this a “hoax bomb” and in taking action. That doesn’t mean it was at all intelligent ort advisable to do so. And calling it a “hoax bomb” is a loaded phrase that needlessly puts the onus of wrongdoing on the student. [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm](http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm) Massachusetts law, in my all-too-quick survey, seems to be more rigid, stipulating that an offense exists only if the hoax device is used with the intent to cause “anxiety, unrest, fear, or personal discomfort.” So there wasn’t any reason to charge the MIT student. [https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter266/Section102](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter266/Section102) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/72 "2015-09-16T18:10:56Z")
“Reasonably appears” is the key phrase there. A circuit board with a wire and a digital display does not reasonably appear to be a bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/73 "2015-09-16T18:12:30Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, he’s invited to visit the [White House](https://twitter.com/potus?lang=en), which is probably better than a medal. I wouldn’t expect anything less from our Muslim Socialist Leader. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/74 "2015-09-16T18:13:44Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > So, circuit boards are prohibited in Irving schools now? I guess parents must be pretty hot over all those laptop computers and cell phones confiscated. I don’t see any “circuit boards” on my laptop!! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/75 "2015-09-16T18:14:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Here’s the Texas Penal Code definition of a “Hoax Bomb”. Chapter 46, Title 10-, section 46.01.13: > > … Wow, anything with mass fits that description. Add a little prejudice, a little more ignorance, and next thing you know, they’ll be hauling off students for making clocks. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/76 "2015-09-16T18:19:42Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > That’s the weirdest part of this story. Although a lot of the sarcasm of this thread centers on school officials mishandling what they thought might be a bomb, they don’t actually seem to have thought that. They thought it looked like a fake bomb, which might have been used in a hoax bomb threat. So Ahmed was pulled out class, questioned (probably illegally), arrested, then suspended from school for actions he _didn’t take_ and I doubt even occurred to him. I’m guessing it’s some zero-tolerance related thing. I remember hearing stories like a five-year-old kid drawing a picture of a gun and getting in trouble for that. This is probably something like that. Of course it escalated much quicker and farther than it otherwise might have since it’s a Muslim teenager named Ahmed Mohamed. This sucks that it happened to him, but I’m glad it’s working out for the better, with him being invited to the White House, and for various Maker events. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/77 "2015-09-16T18:20:50Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > “Reasonably appears” is the key phrase there. A circuit board with a wire and a digital display does not reasonably appear to be a bomb. Depends on if that is “reasonably appears” to be a bomb to a _reasonable person_. If how “reasonably” it appears to be a bomb to an unreasonable dumbass must be considered, well… ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/78 "2015-09-16T18:22:22Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > The school congratulates themselves on how they handled this (Mods note, this is NOT copyrighted material): > > > [@](#): > > > > From School Press Release > > > > Please rest assured that we will always take necessary steps to keep our school as safe as possible. I recommend using this opportunity to talk with your child about the Student Code of Conduct and specifically not bringing items to school that are prohibited. > > By Og’s Beard, the stupid, it burns like the heat from a thousand suns. Well ok then… Possession of Prohibited Items Students shall not possess or use:  Fireworks of any kind, smoke or stink bombs, or any other pyrotechnic device;  A razor, box cutter, chain, or any other object used in a way that threatens or inflicts bodily injury to another person;  A ―look-alike‖ weapon;  An air gun or BB gun;  Ammunition;  A stun gun;  A pocketknife or any other small knife, or any knife not defined as an illegal weapon;  Mace or pepper spray;  Pornographic material;  Tobacco products; cigarettes; e-cigarettes; and any component, part, or accessory for an e-cigarette device;  Mechanical, electronic or imitation devices designed to simulate cigarettes regardless of substance content;  Synthetic marijuana  Matches or a lighter;  A laser pointer for other than an approved use; or  Any articles not generally considered to be weapons, including school supplies, when the principal or designee determines that a danger exists. (For weapons and firearms see DAEP Placement and Expulsion.) Source: [http://www.irvingisd.net/cms/lib010/TX01917973/Centricity/Domain/1454/Irving%20ISD%20Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%202015-2106%20English.pdf](http://www.irvingisd.net/cms/lib010/TX01917973/Centricity/Domain/1454/Irving%20ISD%20Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%202015-2106%20English.pdf) Page 6 I too would agree that it’s appropriate to talk to your kids about not taking prohibited items to school. What does that have to do with this situation? ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/79 "2015-09-16T18:33:18Z")
The Whitehouse invite is very well done. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/80 "2015-09-16T18:43:47Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, he’s invited to visit the [White House](https://twitter.com/potus?lang=en), which is probably better than a medal. Lets just hope the Secret Service is kept in the loop, so they don’t arrest/disintegrate him for bringing a hoax clock to the White House. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=5)