# The Boston Marathon Bombing Debate Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 15, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799 "2013-04-15T23:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/201 "2013-04-18T06:27:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 Like, they make them by tumbling a multitude of balls together? Or, the surface of one has its own “bearing balls” too small to see? Or “ball bearing” refers to a whole mechanical assembly with balls in it rather than a single ball? Or what? ball bearing refers to the whole mechanical assembly. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/202 "2013-04-18T14:37:25Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > What other people said. Especially the smoothness. I don’t have any modern ones to check within reach (but I do have a BB rifle in reach–I’m simply not prepared for a home invasion) but I recall the ones of my youth all had a little dimple which would not be acceptable in a bearing ball. “BB” as in the projectile is in reference to the size of shot, it does not relate to “ball bearings” at all. [http://www.hallowellco.com/shot\_size\_chart.htm](http://www.hallowellco.com/shot_size_chart.htm) ---
**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:** [April 18, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/203 "2013-04-18T16:14:55Z")
Seriously? This thread is going to be hijacked by a discussion of the definitions of “ball bearing” and “BB”? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/204 "2013-04-18T19:25:03Z")
Apparently so, davidm, but I’ll liven things up. I predict that the bomber(s) will be: 1.) not right-wing terrorists nor Islamic extremists 2.) clinically sane 3.) few in number, possibly 1-5 4.) possibly student(s) at Harvard or MIT 5.) may choose a new city and/or state for their next attack 6.) will probably use a new method of terorism the next time. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/205 "2013-04-18T19:51:39Z")
Quite a few places on the internet have been playing detective, 4chan comes up with these as [possibilities.](http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA) I must say I like the quality of pics coming out; I think they will be able to follow the actual terrorists whereabouts quite extensively, whomever it turns out it is. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/206 "2013-04-18T20:02:04Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Quite a few places on the internet have been playing detective, 4chan comes up with these as [possibilities.](http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA) I must say I like the quality of pics coming out; I think they will be able to follow the actual terrorists whereabouts quite extensively, whomever it turns out it is. Man, those two guys who are dressed almost identically sure look suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/207 "2013-04-18T21:46:31Z")
Here is the [FBI video.](http://www.fbi.gov/news/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston) ---
**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:** [April 18, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/208 "2013-04-18T21:53:05Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Here is the [FBI video.](http://www.fbi.gov/news/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston) All I see is those guys (or just one of those guys) walking around. Did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/209 "2013-04-18T21:56:42Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Seriously? This thread is going to be hijacked by a discussion of the definitions of “ball bearing” and “BB”? Puts us one up from CNN. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/210 "2013-04-18T22:00:52Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > Apparently so, davidm, but I’ll liven things up. I predict that the bomber(s) will be: > 1.) not right-wing terrorists nor Islamic extremists > 2.) clinically sane > 3.) few in number, possibly 1-5 > 4.) possibly student(s) at Harvard or MIT > 5.) may choose a new city and/or state for their next attack > 6.) will probably use a new method of terorism the next time. Sounds like Commies, then. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/211 "2013-04-18T22:22:32Z")
[This is White Privilege.](http://thewizardofox.tumblr.com/post/48255319713/white-privilege-is-knowing-that-even-if-the-boston) ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/212 "2013-04-19T00:09:10Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Here is the [FBI video.](http://www.fbi.gov/news/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston) I don’t see anyone on the videos or the pictures behaving at all weirdly. Just some guys walking around with backpacks. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/213 "2013-04-19T00:25:11Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I don’t see anyone on the videos or the pictures behaving at all weirdly. Just some guys walking around with backpacks. I wouldn’t assume that the video is purporting to show any suspicious behaviour. I would assume that the suspicion is based on the sum total of the video and stills available, and this video is just the clearest shot of the guys. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/214 "2013-04-19T00:56:05Z")
I bet as people comb through their own pictures, that more and clearer captures of these guys are found. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/215 "2013-04-19T01:21:38Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I bet as people comb through their own pictures, that more and clearer captures of these guys are found. I agree - there has to be dozens of people that have better shots - and they will realize it after they see these. Suspect two - or whomever is in white hat - seems to have some fairly obvious facial features. Assuming these aren’t makeup - i’d give him until Tuesday… ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/216 "2013-04-19T02:27:28Z")
I rather like this billboard in Boston, right now. [http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/cowards-billboard-lights-boston-skyline-wake-blasts-172005463--abc-news-topstories.html](http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/cowards-billboard-lights-boston-skyline-wake-blasts-172005463--abc-news-topstories.html) ---
**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:** [April 19, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/217 "2013-04-19T03:38:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I bet as people comb through their own pictures, that more and clearer captures of these guys are found. [And it looks like you are correct.](http://i.imgur.com/I1dF69f.jpg) Notice the kid in the white ball cap/suspect #2 on the left side of the linked picture turning to his right on Fairfield. The thing I find striking is how most people are reacting to the explosion and he is just strolling along. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > All I see is those guys (or just one of those guys) walking around. Did I miss something? > [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I don’t see anyone on the videos or the pictures behaving at all weirdly. Just some guys walking around with backpacks. [From NBC News:](http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/16/17784776-fbi-releases-video-of-two-dangerous-suspects-in-boston-bombing?lite) > [@](#): > > Law enforcement sources tell NBC News that unreleased portions of the surveillance video show the suspect in the white hat working his way out of the crowd, then raising his arm to apparently lift the backpack off his shoulder, but the view is obstructed by others. He sets the backpack down, working his way out of the crowd, then pausing briefly just before the first bomb explodes. He then calmly begins to work his way away from the second device, sources said. Seconds later, the second bomb explodes, and a terrible scene of carnage is apparent. I don’t have a link but Pete Williams reported on MSNBC he had been told by law enforcement there is also unreleased video of suspect #2/the guy in the white cap exhibiting a “telling reaction” when he hears the first bomb explode. My guess is he reacts in a way that indicates pleasure rather than being surprised. You gotta admit that would be pretty damning. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/218 "2013-04-19T03:58:14Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > [And it looks like you are correct.](http://i.imgur.com/I1dF69f.jpg) Notice the kid in the white ball cap/suspect #2 on the left side of the linked picture turning to his right on Fairfield. The thing I find striking is how most people are reacting to the explosion and he is just strolling along. If you look at the far right of the picture - the girl running in the street with the Tufts sweatshirt, sunglasses, dark shorts, and white socks with a blue stripe - look at where she was standing a little bit before. [![](https://i.imgur.com/CbotmNk.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/CbotmNk.jpg) The kid circled in blue was the one who was killed. She must have run away when the first bomb went off. She’s the luckiest person on the planet this week. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/219 "2013-04-19T04:01:11Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > [And it looks like you are correct.](http://i.imgur.com/I1dF69f.jpg) Notice the kid in the white ball cap/suspect #2 on the left side of the linked picture turning to his right on Fairfield. The thing I find striking is how most people are reacting to the explosion and he is just strolling along. And here we go. He’s footloose and fancy-free while everyone else is scrambling. More pictures are bound to pour in. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799/220 "2013-04-19T05:07:23Z")
Okay so please don’t yell at me, but a friend of mine whose conspiracy facebook postings I typically am amused by has posted something which actually seems damned odd. [This page](http://www.infowars.com/photos-private-military-operatives-hired-to-work-the-boston-marathon-with-black-backpacks-radiation-detectors-tactical-gear/) appears to present photographs of a team of paramilitary types associated with some group which apparently really exists called “The Craft,” equipped with radiation detectors, apparently scanning around the bomb site before the bombs went off. On the other hand, these guys appear to be quite surprised by the actual blast itself, so it is not at all clear that “they knew” or anything like that. But whattup with scanning for radiation? And whattup with a paramilitary group doing things at the site in the first place? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boston-marathon-bombing-debate-thread/655799.md?page=12)