# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/101 "2015-09-16T20:12:37Z")
> [@](#): > > “It’s a blessing and a curse,” Ayisha said of Ahmed’s arrest and subsequent fame. “I don’t think he’ll ever be able to live normally again.” [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/northwest-dallas-county/headlines/20150915-irving-9th-grader-arrested-after-taking-homemade-clock-to-school.ece](http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/northwest-dallas-county/headlines/20150915-irving-9th-grader-arrested-after-taking-homemade-clock-to-school.ece) Don’t worry, people forget about you just as fast as they shove you into the cross-hairs, err, I mean limelight ---
**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, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/102 "2015-09-16T20:14:29Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You’ve been waiting for a chance to use that word ever since you joined up, haven’t you? > > That’s \*how \*we find misplaced cell phones - by calling them. No – the cell phone is giving off its tone, but it’s a weird, ethereal, intermittent one that is a pain to actually locate. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/103 "2015-09-16T20:16:59Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > It happened around 9/11 so he must be guilty!! 😉 AM or PM? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/104 "2015-09-16T20:27:04Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Here’s the Texas Penal Code definition of a “Hoax Bomb”. Chapter 46, Title 10-, section 46.01.13: Okay, but [key point:](http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm) > [@](#): > > Sec. 46.08. HOAX BOMBS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly manufactures, sells, purchases, transports, or possesses a hoax bomb with intent to use the hoax bomb to: > (1) make another believe that the hoax bomb is an explosive or incendiary device; or > (2) cause alarm or reaction of any type by an official of a public safety agency or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies. > (b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Intent isn’t part of the definition; rather, it’s part of the offense. And while if you squint and you’re stupid, a digital clock fits under the definition of “hoax bomb,” there’s no freakin’ way it fits under the offense. The administration in question, and the teachers in question, need to undergo some training. And the training really needs to be focused on the idea that if there’s any demographic of students that presents a disproportionate threat to your school, it’s not the nerdy Muslim population. ---
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/105 "2015-09-16T20:53:57Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > 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. I wanted to make something like this point. Am I being overly cynical when I opine that when Ahmed comes to the White House, the SS will take whatever he brings with him and examine it before they give it back to him; that the WH will be loath to admit this; If a child going to the WH for some other reason happened to have brought a device like Ahmed’s, the SS would have taken it away and spoken to that child. I think the Secret Service’s greater expertise and political sensitivity would not have resulted in such a child being arrested like Ahmed, but their reaction to the device would be substantially the same. All this is not to say that I agree that bringing an electronic circuit in an pencil case to school is dangerous, suspicious or mischievous thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/106 "2015-09-16T20:56:47Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > I wanted to make something like this point. Am I being overly cynical when I opine that when Ahmed comes to the White House, the SS will take whatever he brings with him and examine it before they give it back to him; that the WH will be loath to admit this; If a child going to the WH for some other reason happened to have brought a device like Ahmed’s, the SS would have taken it away and spoken to that child. I think the Secret Service’s greater expertise and political sensitivity would not have resulted in such a child being arrested like Ahmed, but their reaction to the device would be substantially the same. > > All this is not to say that I agree that bringing an electronic circuit in an pencil case to school is dangerous, suspicious or mischievous thing to do. Well, this is true, but I’m not sure that it’s really relevant. Bringing something you made to show off to your teachers is perfectly normal school behavior. Bringing something you made to show off during a visit to the president is a little less normal. Authorities should put extra scrutiny on non-normal behavior. For similar reasons, I’d expect my backpack to be scrutinized more closely during a visit to the president than during a visit to home room. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/107 "2015-09-16T21:11:44Z")
Question: why did his engineering teacher not want him to show it to the other teachers? Was he concerned they were dumbasses? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/108 "2015-09-16T21:12:22Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Can anybody explain why he’s (still) being suspended? I think the offense is “being named Ahmed Mohamed”. It’s in the school’s rule book. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/109 "2015-09-16T21:14:53Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I think the offense is “being named Ahmed Mohamed”. It’s in the school’s rule book. True. There’s a specific rule against rhyming names, as they may be used in cruel nicknames. ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/110 "2015-09-16T21:20:09Z")
Did anyone notice that only synthetic marijuana was mentioned? there was nothing said about real marijuana or other drugs. One of the side effects of marijuana is paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/111 "2015-09-16T21:23:31Z")
Did anyone notice the list of prohibited items listed synthetic marijuana? it didn’t mention real marijuana or other drugs. One of the side effects of marijuana is paranoia.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/112 "2015-09-16T21:24:37Z")
Sorry about that. Thread posting illiterate. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/113 "2015-09-16T21:27:57Z")
The other side effect is double posting. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/114 "2015-09-16T21:29:04Z")
The other side effect is double posting. > [@](#): > ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/115 "2015-09-16T21:32:09Z")
Yes. Unfortunately, the quips I try to make in real life also come out similarly.🙂 ---
**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, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/116 "2015-09-16T21:32:46Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > I wanted to make something like this point. Am I being overly cynical when I opine that when Ahmed comes to the White House, the SS will take whatever he brings with him and examine it before they give it back to him; that the WH will be loath to admit this; If a child going to the WH for some other reason happened to have brought a device like Ahmed’s, the SS would have taken it away and spoken to that child. … and then handed it back once he explained that it was a clock. The issue here is not that the school was concerned it might be a bomb. It’s that they continued to be concerned hours past the point where rational, intelligent people would have stopped. > [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Question: why did his engineering teacher not want him to show it to the other teachers? Was he concerned they were dumbasses? The very first story I saw on this early today had some more context about that part of the story, and IIRC that’s exactly what the engineering teacher said: put it away because other teachers might get the wrong idea. ---
**Author:** ![cutman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/117 "2015-09-16T21:33:17Z")
:eek:Are you talking about 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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/118 "2015-09-16T21:34:32Z")
> [@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. [Even better, he gets a scholarship to Space Camp!](https://twitter.com/SpaceCampUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ---
**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 16, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/119 "2015-09-16T21:42:52Z")
> [@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. Holy fuck, Obama is cool! What a fantastic gesture! I hope we taxpayers pay for the trip and everything. ETA: > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Even better, he gets a scholarship to Space Camp!](https://twitter.com/SpaceCampUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Ddamn, that totally fucking rocks! ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/120 "2015-09-16T21:51:03Z")
Why the hell should _we_ pay for it? Let the City of Irving pay. Surely we seized more than enough Texas gold during Jade Helm to fund this stuff? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=7)