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Student Arrested for Making Videogame Map of School

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wed May 02, 2007 02:33 PM
from the obviously-a-terrorist dept.
Censorship Games
tanman writes "A student at the Houston-area Clements High School was arrested, sent to an "Alternative Education Center" and banned from graduation after school officials found he created a video game map of his school. School district police arrested the teen and searched his home where they confiscated a hammer as a 'potential weapon'. ' "They decided he was a terroristic threat," said one source close to the district's investigation.' With an upcoming May 12 school board election, this issue has quickly become political, with school board members involved in the appeal accusing each other of pandering to the Chinese community in an attempt to gain votes."
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  • Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Short Circuit (52384) * <mikemol@gmail.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:34PM (#18961311)
    (http://shortcircuit.us/ | Last Journal: Sunday October 14, @02:01AM)
    This royally pisses me off. I always wanted to build Quake levels for my high school, because it would have been the perfect multiplayer map. Two or more routes to any given place, wide halways, two floors, balconies, stairs at the end of every hallway...it would have been awesome.

    But I never went through with it, because Columbine was still fresh in everyone's memory, and I was afraid that exactly this sort of thing would happen.

    It's not a fear of terrorism that drives this sort of thing, or even a fear for our children. It's a fear of our children. We're so scared of the little guys that the instant they bring school into their video game hobby, we freak out.

    This kid doesn't deserve to be arrested. He doesn't deserve to be thrust into "Alternative Education". He deserves to have someone ask him why he built the school in a video game. Let a psychologist evaluate him, and then either medicate the kid or let him go back to class.

    (And someone should offer him constructive criticism on his level building techniques.)

    • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by krovisser (1056294) * on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:38PM (#18961389)
      (http://www.selfunaware.com/)
      Yes, it seems ridiculous to arrest someone for making a video game map based on a physical place. They did it merely because other kids have shot up schools, and some of those other kids played video games, therefore every kid that makes a map is going to shoot up a school. Just a wee bit preemptive. I think everyone should start making maps of famous places, schools, office buildings, cities, etc. Let's see how many people they think they can arrest under... what law?
      [ Parent ]

      • It is ape law! (Score:5, Interesting)

        by MS-06FZ (832329) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:59PM (#18961823)
        (http://1-4-4.home.comcast.net/ | Last Journal: Wednesday March 01 2006, @03:16PM)

        Let's see how many people they think they can arrest under... what law?
        It's probably not within the spirit of the law, but there's probably a local sodomy law or disorderly conduct law that could be "stretched to fit"...
        [ Parent ]

      • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Insightful)

        by Evilest Doer (969227) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:00PM (#18961835)

        Let's see how many people they think they can arrest under... what law?
        You seem to think the law actually matters in the US anymore. They sent the kid to an "Alternative Education Center". I don't know why they don't just cut through the bullshit and call it a "Re-Education Camp" for those who don't fall in line with the propaganda centers/prisons/day-cares mascarading as the US public education system.
        [ Parent ]

        • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Insightful)

          by ShieldW0lf (601553) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:25PM (#18962315)
          Because they're fascists, not idiots.
          [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by Stripe7 (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:34PM
          • Re:Understood... by noigmn (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @07:18PM
          • Re:Understood... by Baddas (Score:3) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:18AM

          • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Insightful)

            by RexRhino (769423) on Thursday May 03 2007, @08:19AM (#18971271)
            Fascism died a horrible death in the 1940s. Nowadays, when people talk about "Fascism", what they mean is "totalitarianism" or "authoritarianism" or a "police state". So, while a political science professor might disagree with that usage of the word "Fascism", everyone else knows exactly what people mean when they call it "Fascism".
            [ Parent ]
          • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

        • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

          by Redlazer (786403) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:47PM (#18962689)
          (http://www.blackdaggers.net/)
          No, Alternative Learning Centers actually just low-budget high security schools with no extra classes. I've been to one, and its pretty much just Math, English, Gym, Science, go home. Ironically, the teachers there where some of the best ever, and good god was it ever easy. I should have stayed - id have graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

          But really, sending him there is retarded. He's going to be there with a bunch of people who deserve to be there - drug addicts, violent people, unstable people, etc. Hes in danger - hes probably a nerd, and wont be very good at defending himself. ALC's (Alternative Learning Centers) are the worst places to send anyone "good" - its like throwing a kitten into a pack of rabid wolves.

          Its hard to say that some people shouldnt be in there - i remember i looked across the room at this guy, and he freaked out, like in the movies:

          "What are you looking at?"

          "Nothing."

          "So what, im nothing to you?"

          "No, i was just looking across the room."

          "What, im not good enough for you?"

          There really are people like that out there, and i unfornately do agree that some people should be in there. That guy was quite ready to severely injure me - had the teacher not told him to shut up, i woulda been hit with a chair.

          Of course, zero tolerance is what got me put in the school, and this poor guy is there for the same reason. What it boils down is that Zero Tolerance is what is garbage - and only the unstable nutjobs and hardcore drug addicts should be in ALC's.

          -Red

          [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by bkr1_2k (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:32PM
          • Re:Understood... by Ryan Amos (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:37PM
          • Re:Understood... by Anonymous Coward (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:01PM
          • Re:Understood... by Anonymous Coward (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:12PM

          • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

            by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:09PM (#18964875)
            Its hard to say that some people shouldnt be in there - i remember i looked across the room at this guy, and he freaked out, like in the movies:

            "What are you looking at?"

            "Nothing."

            your first mistake.

            The correct answer is...

            "I'm trying to figure out what way is best to kill you. Should I slit your throat and give you a necktie or simply cut your balls off and shove them down your throat.

            Hey do you think your flesh goes better with Mustard or Barbecue? Nevermind, I'll bring both when I eat your eyelids."

            Also in a fistfight, first thing you do is grab the top of the fuckers ears and pull. If you had him his ears all of a sudden tough guys become crying pussies. At that time hit him so hard in the nuts you feel something pop.

            "tough guys" need the shit kicked out of them like that so they become less of a problem to society. They need to know that people will go psycho on them and do shit they cant imagine without getting mad.

            [ Parent ]
            • Re:Understood... by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:42PM

            • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Informative)

              by amohat (88362) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:17PM (#18965541)
              Ripping someone's ear off (or trying, since it's sooo hard to get a good grip when they are punching you) is going to make them very very angry at you. Kicking them in the nuts will, too.

              I don't think you get into a lot of fistfights in real life. There are ways to "stop" a person, but those ain't it. (think knife/stabbing) All that other crap you talking is silly. Stop giving fight advice.

              And your snappy comebacks will just likely lead to escalation...right then or later when he/they catches you alone. Try talking shit to an aggressive macho man...he'll love that. Seriously, stop giving fight advice...nobody's taking it anyway.
              [ Parent ]
            • Re:Understood... by Kokuyo (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @01:48AM
            • Re:Understood... by artecco (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:22AM
            • Re:Understood... by bazorg (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:31AM
            • I run away by boot1973 (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @09:10AM
            • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

          • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

            by bloobloo (957543) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:44PM (#18965215)
            (http://paul-mclaughlin.com/)
            "That guy was quite ready to severely injure me - had the teacher not told him to shut up, i woulda been hit with a chair."

            Apart from that, what was Steve Ballmer like at school?
            [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by cmorgan47 (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:07AM
          • Re:in lumping in drug-addicts with violent people by AvitarX (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:25PM

          • Re:in lumping in drug-addicts with violent people (Score:5, Insightful)

            by Redlazer (786403) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:14PM (#18965517)
            (http://www.blackdaggers.net/)
            Im glad you smoke pot and so desperatley attempt to make it "ok", but seriously, shut up. Did i even say that drugs made people violent? No. Many of them do, for many reasons, from an overdose to withdrawal to "thats how they get feel it." Its rediculous. Don't do drugs at school. Its just like getting drunk at school.

            Apart from that, i do think that the restrictions put on pot are pretty stupid - putting a pot smoker into ALC would be just as stupid as putting the guy the story is about in ALC. Thats doesnt make smoking pot "ok", but that does make overzealous punishment "idiotic".

            Besides, ANY mind altering act (be it sex, drugs, alchohol, anything) done to get away from emotional pain will always get worse. Doing it for fun or socially is fine - just like drinking alchohol, its ok in moderation.

            Speaking of moderation, maybe you outta give it a try. Lay off the speed.

            -Red

            [ Parent ]
          • 6 replies beneath your current threshold.
        • Re:Understood... by Quantam (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:51PM

        • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Informative)

          by _Sprocket_ (42527) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:57PM (#18962899)

          They sent the kid to an "Alternative Education Center". I don't know why they don't just cut through the bullshit and call it a "Re-Education Camp" for those who don't fall in line with the propaganda centers/prisons/day-cares mascarading as the US public education system.


          I have a sister-in-law who went to a Texas education "Alternative Education Center." It wasn't because she bucked the system and wouldn't play along with the propaganda. It was because she was a self-indulgent druggie who needed different attention than most people her age. She got to go to school with a smaller class of other potential lost-causes. And it worked. She's now got her head on reasonably straight and has a fairly decent life (although it took her a few years after graduation to get there). Without this education program, I'm not sure where she would have ended up.

          Don't get me wrong - I'm not endeared to the Texas highschool education system. I still laugh at the memory of a friends mom earnestly explaining how our Highschool years will be looked back on as our Golden Years. But I do see an underlying value to the idea of education. And sometimes it takes a different approach to get someone there.

          Overhauling the entire process and ousting idiotic bureaucrats who make decisions like this one is an entirely different matter.
          [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by Afrosheen (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:26PM

            • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Informative)

              by _Sprocket_ (42527) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:33PM (#18965755)

              Alas, the highschool *years* are golden, not high school itself. That's the key thing to remember here. I'm only 32 and I look back on those days with fondness, but nothing that went on within the confines of high school was worth a shit.


              Eh - to each their own. Sure... I have some good memories from that time period. But life got a heck of a lot better for me shortly after I graduated from Highschool and I went out in to the world and became my own person. If I were to look back and call a time period the golden days of my youth - that would be the time.

              [ Parent ]
            • Re:Understood... by ShadowsHawk (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:49PM
        • Re:Understood... by mabhatter654 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:02PM
        • Re:Understood... by Kadin2048 (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:43PM
        • Re:Understood... by tubapro12 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:52PM
        • Re:Understood... by RockModeNick (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:38PM
        • Re:Understood... by sgt_doom (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:37PM
        • Re:Understood... by nyekulturniy (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @09:11PM
        • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
      • Re:Understood... by Cedric Tsui (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:08PM
        • Re:Understood... by Sassinak (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:15PM

        • Reading is fun (Score:5, Informative)

          by Palshife (60519) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @08:21PM (#18966237)
          (http://www.palshife.net/)
          "They arrested him," Chen said of FBISD police, "and also went to the house to search." The Lin family consented to the search, and a hammer was found in the boy's room, which he used to fix his bed, because it wasn't in good shape, Chen said. He indicated police seized the hammer as a potential weapon.
          [ Parent ]
          • Guess they forgot the simple rule ... by Ihlosi (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @06:22AM

            • Re:Guess they forgot the simple rule ... (Score:4, Informative)

              by moeinvt (851793) on Thursday May 03 2007, @06:56AM (#18970479)
              "No warrant, no search. You don't consent to police searching your house. That's what search warrants . . .are for."

              Sorry, I think you're wrong on that point, unless you mean "You don't consent..." as a piece of excellent advice. I can't believe they were dumb enough to allow this. Any evidence found in a search to which the owner has consented is legal and admissable. So are statements you make if you've waived your right to remain silent and agreed to talk to the police without a lawyer present.

              That's why you NEVER give the cops permission to search your house. If you're pulled over, NEVER allow them to search your car. Don't answer any of their questions, and don't believe a thing that they tell you. Spend a few monotonous hours learning the laws (Federal and in your state) so that you know how to protect yourself in these situations. That will put you on higher ground than 95% of the stormtrooper wannabes you're likely to encounter.

              "If you're ignorant of your rights, then you don't have any"
              -unknown
              [ Parent ]
        • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
      • Queen's College Oxford by jaweekes (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:20PM
      • Re:Understood... by philwx (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:27PM
      • Re:Understood... by musikit (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:02PM
      • Google training terrorists by enjahova (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:23PM
      • Reasonable Response... by aqui (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @09:16PM
      • Re:Understood... by shuz (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:27PM
      • The White House by juletre (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:50AM
      • Re:Hate crime. by vega80 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:52PM
        • Re:Hate crime. by Inthewire (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:09PM
          • Re:Hate crime. by MonkeyOfRage (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:56AM
        • Re:Hate crime. by MonkeyOfRage (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:52AM
          • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
      • Re:Hate crime. by LurkerXD (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:50PM
      • Re:Hate crime. by asninn (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:08AM
      • 5 replies beneath your current threshold.
    • I made a map of my school shortly after the Columbine thing, for Duke Nuken 3D.

      I got extra credit from my Visual Arts teacher for being 'creative', and lemme tell you, I had a HELL of a lot more than a hammer for weapons at my house.
      [ Parent ]
      • Re:Understood... by mpathetiq (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:57PM
      • Re:Understood... by Ben Newman (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:03PM

      • Better grade than I got (Score:5, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:04PM (#18961909)
        My Visual Arts teacher gave me an "Incomplete" for the course. I shouldn't have made my map for Duke Nukem Forever.
        [ Parent ]

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

        by KevMar (471257) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:14PM (#18962093)
        (http://www.badanatomy.com/ | Last Journal: Tuesday March 01 2005, @01:50AM)
        The first things that you map in a game are things you know. How many people made a map of there house? there school? before moving on to more creative projects.

        Does it matter that it was a game that he used instead of drafting software or a pen and paper. what makes him different than a student in a drafting class? For drafting we used autoCAD to map the school. the game was his "free" 3D draft studio.

        That alone is not a crime or wrong. I did not read the article any more.

        duke nuken 3d did have a simple world designer that was easy to pick up. I had alot of fun with it. That might have been the reason I took drafting classes where we made the same map but to scale this time.

        quick, someone go arrest my drafting teacher. he is training terrorists.
        [ Parent ]

        • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:18PM (#18963261)
          Exactly. I once tried using Doom (I think it was Doom, but I'm old, I forget) to model a new data center.

          I wanted to create a 3D walk-through to complement the Visio diagrams I'd already done, so we could get a feel for the dimensions of the place. I was about half-way through designing it when I got sick of being asked "why does the guy have a gun?". (As I was the one _designing_ it, I didn't have to worry too much about the "terrorist" nonsense.)
          [ Parent ]

          • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

            by wiz31337 (154231) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:05PM (#18964127)
            I know your post was serious and I think it is pretty awesome that you used Doom to model your data center. The fact that you got asked "why does the guy have a gun" makes this hilarious. For some reason I immediately pictured you saying "Because it is a secure data center duh!"
            [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by kcbrown (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:48PM
          • Re:Understood... by tuxicle (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:46PM
        • Re:Understood... by Lord Ender (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:47PM
        • Re:Understood... by PixelScuba (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:24PM
        • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
      • Re:Understood... by koosnat (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

        by neoform (551705) <ian@newsique.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:17PM (#18962167)
        (http://www.newsique.com/)
        Wait wait wait..

        You mean people who make those gaming maps don't do it strictly as a training ground for their future slaughter?!

        I feel so deceived, why would Jack Thompson lie to me like that?!!
        [ Parent ]
      • Re:Understood... by gutnor (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:20PM

        • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

          by TheRaven64 (641858) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:00PM (#18962971)
          (http://theravensnest.org/ | Last Journal: Sunday October 07, @07:05AM)
          Maybe that should be the next Slashdot poll:

          Did you make a map of your school for a first-person shooter:

          • Yes.
          • No.
          • I started to, but didn't finish.
          You, I, and I suspect many of the Slashdot population would be in the last category. Most schools are pretty complicated. I cheated a bit and didn't fill in every floor in every building, and skipped most of the furniture, and even then I didn't finish. Anyone who does manage a complete map is probably obsessive-compulsive, and a lot better at 3D art than me (even the bits I did 'finish' didn't look much like the original).
          [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by Ghworg (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:53PM
          • Re:Understood... by Cap'n.Brownbeard (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:19PM

          • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

            by Pichu0102 (916292) <pichu0102@gmail.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:47PM (#18965891)
            (Last Journal: Monday July 17 2006, @06:40PM)
            Good poll, but where is the CowboyNeal option?
            [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by pipingguy (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:21PM
          • Re:Understood... by Turn-X Alphonse (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:46PM
          • Re:Understood... by Patrik_AKA_RedX (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @12:51AM

          • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

            by abb3w (696381) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:39PM (#18967531)
            (Last Journal: Thursday March 15 2007, @12:56PM)

            In the early '80s, me and most of my friends had all mapped our school for Dungeons and Dragons.

            Late '80s, Paranoia. Pretty accurate, aside from the entire school being underground and the access to Green-level clearance area (outdoors) required going through the (in joke) glass ceiling above the (non-existent) third-floor (nonexistent) swimming pool. Due to a personality quirk of one of the odder members of local geekdom, the local outdoors was overrun by nine-foot carnivorous supermutant squirrels; her character promptly joined the Sierra Club Secret Society. By the end of senior year, our characters had blown up every single room at some point with the exception of the Biology classroom, which had been sealed shut while being filled with a hideous green goo... and then erased from the computer's records. "Room? What room?"

            I think the most dangerous-seeming three of us went on to (a) drop out of nuclear engineering to work in a deli, (b) become a professional clown, and (c) work for the US government as a I'M SORRY CITIZEN YOU ARE NOT CLEARED FOR THAT INFORMATION. TRUST THE COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER IS YOUR FRIEND. Harmless, really.

            [ Parent ]
            • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
          • 5 replies beneath your current threshold.
        • Re:Understood... by dzafez (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:53AM
      • Re:Understood... by mooooooo (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:23PM
        • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
      • Re:Understood... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:40PM
      • Re:Understood... by mpe (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:59PM
      • Re:Understood... by dzafez (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:04AM
      • Re:Understood... by aadvancedGIR (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:26AM
      • Similarly... by tygerstripes (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:03AM
      • 3 replies beneath your current threshold.
    • Re:Understood... by Creepy Crawler (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:41PM
    • Re:Understood... by LWATCDR (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:42PM
    • Re:Understood... by SueAnnSueAnn (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:43PM
    • Re:Understood... by ritborg (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:43PM

    • Unslashdotted links (Score:5, Informative)

      by kentmartin (244833) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:43PM (#18961495)
      (http://www.kentsworld.com/)
      As the original link is slashdotted, here is a couple more for the same story

      http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro /4766843.html [chron.com]
      http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id =5263782 [go.com]

      I'd scream at the ridiculousness of it all, but, then I'd probably be arrested for practising some sort of arcane terrorist warcry.
      [ Parent ]

      • Re:Unslashdotted links (Score:5, Funny)

        by powerlord (28156) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:06PM (#18961935)
        Nice links. My favorite quote in the second link:

        [A fellow student] said, "If somebody can make a map like that of the whole school, I mean, it does kind of scare me a little bit, and make me wonder, you know, what else they could do."


        Yeah ... I mean ... they could make a 3D model of a rocket launcher or something, and then we'll all be in serious trouble. ::roll eyes::
        [ Parent ]
        • Re:Unslashdotted links by Warlok (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:52PM

          • Re:Unslashdotted links (Score:4, Informative)

            by powerlord (28156) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:59PM (#18962959)

            Why, when the only evolutionary advantage human beings have is large and complex brains, do people insist on having children and raising them as idiots?


            I imagine because sex is cheap enjoyment, and there are no compulsory education or licensing required to have a child and raise it, however there is often government assistance available just for having it around.
            [ Parent ]
          • Re:Unslashdotted links by twistedsymphony (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:05PM

        • Re:Unslashdotted links (Score:5, Insightful)

          by atrocious cowpat (850512) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:03PM (#18963031)

          /[A fellow student] said, "If somebody can make a map like that of the whole school, I mean, it does kind of scare me a little bit, and make me wonder, you know, what else they could do."/

          Yeah ... I mean ... they could make a 3D model of a rocket launcher or something, and then we'll all be in serious trouble.
          Even worse: The might eventually learn to operate CAD-Programs, study Architecture and build real schools! Just imagine the horrors that could happen in those places... !
          [ Parent ]
        • Re:Unslashdotted links by markana (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:08PM

        • Tell me this is a joke, please... it is, right? (Score:5, Interesting)

          by Gazzonyx (982402) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:39PM (#18963653)
          I tried to model my school for the old game 'outlaws', if anyone remembers that game... The graphics were poor (well, IIRC, decent for back then), but the story was solid *drifts down memory lane* - but I digress. It was for the same reason that everyone is saying - the layout of the school was something I knew off the top of my head; in fact, in 5th grade it was probably the only structure I knew off the top of my head. Not only that, but the layout would have made a great deathmatch map. It was mostly symetrical, a large loop with a few simple branch offs, and a library in the center with 2 main entrances and 2 minor (from offices) entrances all dimetrically opposing each other. I never got good enough with the editor to make it. Anyways, quoting parent:

          Nice links. My favorite quote in the second link:

          [A fellow student] said, "If somebody can make a map like that of the whole school, I mean, it does kind of scare me a little bit, and make me wonder, you know, what else they could do."
          Yeah ... I mean ... they could make a 3D model of a rocket launcher or something, and then we'll all be in serious trouble. ::roll eyes::

          I couldn't agree more. I think the really scary thing is that there's a kid out there that spends his every waking moment in a building moving from section to section each year and wouldn't be able to model his school! Furthermore if you're afraid of what could happen, wouldn't knowing the layout of the building you're in be a Good Thing if the lead ever did start flying?!

          This quote is so incredibly stupid I almost refuse to believe that the reporter didn't lead the kid into the question and then quote him out of context. I can't fathom what the question could have been, but the alternative where I accept that this kid is a potential canidate for making any kind of policy or decision in his future at work, politics or anything other than "paper or plastic" is so terrifying, in and of itself, that I refuse to entertain the very notion for fear of my head exploding. If that's true, I just know somehow he's going to be my PHB 15 years from now.

          [ Parent ]
        • Re:Unslashdotted links by slaida1 (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:31AM
        • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
      • Re:Unslashdotted links by mwilliamson (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:34PM
      • Re:Unslashdotted links by wellingj (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:55PM
      • What I want to know is... by Cap'n.Brownbeard (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:20PM
      • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

    • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

      by eln (21727) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM (#18961559)
      Dude, you are way underestimating the seriousness of this issue. They found a hammer in this kid's house...a fucking HAMMER. He could easily have knocked one, maybe even two people unconscious with that thing before anyone could do anything about it.

      What does anyone need with a hammer in their house anyway? Forget about banning him from graduation, this little mini-Osama should get sent straight to Gitmo. There is absolutely no reason to have a hammer in your home unless you intend to commit a terrorist act.

      Plus, if all that weren't bad enough, this kid is ASIAN. Christ man, do you have any idea how crazy those Asians are? One of them killed a bunch of people at Virginia Tech just a short time ago. This categorically PROVES that all Asians are sociopaths just itching to shoot up a school. You can't argue with this logic, it is completely impervious.

      You have no idea what we're up against here, man. This shit is SERIOUS. Don't come crying to me when your kid comes home with a big nasty bump on his head because one of these little Asian al Qaeda wannabes smacked him over the head with a mallet. You were warned.
      [ Parent ]
      • Re:Understood... by instagib (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:58PM

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

        by Duhavid (677874) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:00PM (#18961831)
        I spoke with Charles Hammerton about this, and you are neglecting many aspects.

        He might have had the hammer for home defence. There is nothing
        wrong with some sport hammering from time to time. Of course, we
        believe that hammers should be licensed, and background checks done
        before a hammer can be purchased. Training is, of course, very
        important, and hammers should never be left where children could
        harm themselves with them. If appropriate, a hammer lock can
        be had at any high school that teaches wrestling.

        Dont forget about the constitution, and the right to bear hammers.

        Responsible hammer ownership is a right, and should not be infringed
        by a few nut cases.

        As Charles said "you can have my hammer, when you pry it from my cold,
        dead fingers".
        [ Parent ]
        • Re:Understood... by veganboyjosh (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:36PM

        • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

          by hrvatska (790627) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:50PM (#18962733)
          Dont forget about the constitution, and the right to bear hammers.

          People are always misquoting that amendment. It's the right to hammer bears. Which, as the supreme court affirmed in smokey v. ashcroft, means that you have the right to get a bear drunk if it's more than 18 years old.
          [ Parent ]
        • Re:Understood... by josquint (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:52PM

        • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Funny)

          by Frederico Camara (976080) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:15PM (#18963223)
          A Hammer is a hammer is a hammer...
          You should all pay attention to the details.
          Have the police found any nails? Is it a silver hammer? Have he ever visited Tom's Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/)? Does he have any Beatles album?
          Never trust a man that keeps a hammer in his house. He can be one of those psycopaths that hangs pictures on the wall or worse, a carpenter.
          [ Parent ]

          • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Funny)

            by mpe (36238) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:41PM (#18963693)
            A Hammer is a hammer is a hammer... You should all pay attention to the details.

            It could have been The Hammer of Justice, as described in the well known song. That could have been really frightening to the authorities.

            Never trust a man that keeps a hammer in his house. He can be one of those psycopaths that hangs pictures on the wall or worse, a carpenter.

            A bit like that guy who caused so much trouble for the Romans about 2,000 years ago :)
            [ Parent ]
          • Re:Understood... by revengebomber (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:13PM
          • Re:Understood... by kcbrown (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:54PM
          • Re:Understood... by The_mad_linguist (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:15PM
          • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
        • Re:Understood... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:15PM
        • Re:Understood... by lostboy2 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:16PM
        • Re:Understood... by Wuhao (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:07PM
        • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

        by Hoi Polloi (522990) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:01PM (#18961851)
        If you don't stop them now then they'll work their way up to a board with a nail in it, then a screwdriver, then a big stick, and before you know it he's running around the school swinging a big, heavy backpack at people.
        [ Parent ]
      • Re:Understood... by alx5000 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:04PM
      • Re:Understood... by AKAImBatman (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:08PM
      • Re:Understood... by minotaurcomputing (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:10PM

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

        by vought (160908) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:11PM (#18962043)
        He could easily have knocked one, maybe even two people unconscious with that thing before anyone could do anything about it.

        As a proud, lifetime member of the National Hammer Association, I must insist that we not go too far here. It's part of our constitutional rights - the right to Arm and Hammer - to arm ourselves with hammers. This incident is merely one more reason that everyone ought to carry hamers everywhere they go - if others had been armed with hammers, this student would have had a serious disincentive to consider possibly carrying out the egregious act he was prevented from possibly committing.

        Soon, crazy liberal will want to outlaw air hammers, jack hammers, Mike Hammers, pipe hammers - even Diesel hammers - you name it. Act now to preserve your hammer rights - join the NHA.
        [ Parent ]
      • Hammer time by dorkygeek (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:12PM
        • Re:Hammer time by ArsonSmith (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:21PM

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Funny)

        by Bogtha (906264) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:14PM (#18962085)

        There is absolutely no reason to have a hammer in your home unless you intend to commit a terrorist act.

        Hey! If we outlaw hammers, only outlaws will be able to put shelves up!

        [ Parent ]
      • Re:Understood... by dosboot (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:22PM
      • Re:Understood... by thomasa (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:27PM
      • Re:Understood... by Knuckles (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:32PM

      • Remember the Blacksmith. (Score:5, Interesting)

        by Remus Shepherd (32833) <remus@panix.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:44PM (#18962633)
        (http://indepos.comicgenesis.com/)
        Don't underestimate the hammer. Remember the Blacksmith of Brandywine.

        During the US revolutionary war, a blacksmith performed an errand for General Washington, only to return home and find that redcoats had murdered his family in his absence. The blacksmith took a heavy sledge from his workshop and walked onto the battlefield of Brandywine. There, before they finally brought him down, he slew 20 british soldiers. With a hammer.

        No, I'm not being serious about a hammer being a viable weapon, not these days. (Although note that the Blacksmith story is true, from all references I can find.)

        I just found it ironic, that the Blacksmith of Brandywine went on a murderous rampage in response to oppression from a ruthless government...and now, our government is so scared of our children that they're even taking our hammers away.
        [ Parent ]
      • Thor by pal3f (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:08PM
      • Hammers don't kill people... by mkcmkc (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:30PM
      • Hammer permits.... by zoltamatron (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:36PM
      • Re:Understood... by MrMarket (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:12PM
      • Re:Understood... by asuciu (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:13PM
      • Maxwell Edison by nevinera (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:26PM
      • Re:Understood... by afxgrin (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:38PM
      • Re:Understood... by Lumpy (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:16PM
      • Re:Understood... by SimonInOz (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:49PM
      • Re:Understood... by Glowing Fish (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:00PM
      • Re:Understood... by dumbunny (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:25AM
      • The simple solution... by StoatBringer (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:28AM
      • Re:Understood... by Atheose (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @09:25AM
      • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
    • Re:Understood... by SQLGuru (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM

    • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by neoform (551705) <ian@newsique.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM (#18961565)
      (http://www.newsique.com/)
      I'm going to have to place you under arrest for thoughtcrime.

      Crime no longer requires you do anything illegal, nor does it require you intend to do anything illegal; instead you just have to be a potential threat.

      I wonder how long till weightlifting will be an arrest able offense? I mean, think about it, those guys are just getting strong so they can commit crimes! What other possible reason could there be?!
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:Understood... by thetable123 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:48PM
    • Re:Understood... by digitalsushi (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:48PM

    • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by arth1 (260657) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:50PM (#18961651)
      (http://2130706433/ | Last Journal: Thursday July 19, @10:29AM)

      This kid doesn't deserve to be arrested. He doesn't deserve to be thrust into "Alternative Education". He deserves to have someone ask him why he built the school in a video game. Let a psychologist evaluate him, and then either medicate the kid or let him go back to class.

      Just why should he be evaluated or asked about what he's done?
      It's not in any way strange to apply your day-to-day experiences to hobbies and fantasies.
      I wrote a text adventure in my youth where large parts of the layout was based on my school and public library. A classmate won an award for the painted plywood model he built of our school. No-one sent either of us to psych eval.

      What this guy needs is for people to give him a fucking break. It's his school, and his knowledge about its layout is his to do whatever the hell he wants with.

      As for the police confiscating potential weapons, that's worse than any police state I've ever heard of.

      I say that Condoleezza Rice has several potential weapons in her office, and she could potentially go on a murder spree in the White House. Since you can't prove otherwise, now go lock her up. Or set this kid and anyone else who's been arrested for potential (i.e. thought) crimes free, and erase their bloody records.
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:Understood... by ShadowsHawk (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:53PM
    • Re:Understood... by Hemogoblin (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:08PM

    • This is a reactionary response (Score:5, Insightful)

      by rsborg (111459) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:09PM (#18962013)
      (http://slashdot.org/)
      To the MASSIVE technological shift that's taken place in this country. Literally in the past 10 years, the country has become computerized and interconnected (through the internet) and people have people who don't understand are SCARED.

      Add to this a mix of fascist officials and craven lawmakers who choose to ignore rights in search of appearing to address the security problem (insert Ben Franklin quote here).

      It's not a fear of terrorism that drives this sort of thing, or even a fear for our children. It's a fear of our children. We're so scared of the little guys that the instant they bring school into their video game hobby, we freak out.

      You're right, it's a culture of fear, but it goes beyond our children. It's the technology and to a large extent, a media-inspired culture of fear... of EVERYTHING.

      [ Parent ]
    • Re:Understood... by Dancindan84 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:10PM
    • Re:Understood... by avronius (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:11PM
    • You know your country is _totally_ screwed by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:11PM
    • Re:Understood... by steveo777 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:13PM
    • Re:Understood... by Khashishi (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:16PM
    • This Crap Makes Me Angry by HMKAI (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:19PM
    • Re:Understood... by Godji (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:20PM
    • Re:Understood... by elrous0 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:22PM
    • Re:Understood... by ShorePiper82 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:23PM
    • Re:Understood... by CdrGlork (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:29PM
    • Re:Understood... by enven (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:31PM
    • Re:Understood... by elhaf (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:40PM

    • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by cp.tar (871488) <cp.tar.bz2@gmail.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:56PM (#18962869)

      Oh. My. Gods.

      When I was in high school - just as I was about to graduate, actually - some or other FPS was very popular (which FPSs were current in 2000?) and I thought I could design a level containing my school and its immediate surroundings.
      So I talked to some people, to a few teachers and to the people in maintenance, who then gave me a whole bunch of plans of every single floor as well as the front and side views of the whole building to carry home and have fun.

      Then, alas, came college and I never went through with it; I did toy with it for a while, but couldn't convert the units... much as I fiddled with the internal help (I had no Internet access back then), I could find no correlation between metres and whatever the unit used in the level editor, i.e. I had no idea which units the editor used.

      However, had I succeeded, the level would have been available as a free download on my school's official website.
      My teachers thought that in fact, yes, it could be good marketing for our school.

      And mind you, that was in Croatia. Not that long after the war. During the time both angry kids and parents came (and they still do come, from time to time) armed to school and threaten teachers, or drop a bomb in the teachers' room because of a fail grade.
      Yet for some reason no-one thought it might cause more violence.

      [ Parent ]

    • Tell them how you feel (Score:5, Informative)

      by ahoehn (301327) <andrew@edgefa c t o r.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:59PM (#18962963)
      (http://thepandablog.com/)
      Royally pissed off? Explain your viewpoint to the school.

      The School's site is here. [k12.tx.us]
      Principal: Kevin Moran - Kevin.Moran@fortbend.k12.tx.us - 281-634-2156
      Assistant Principal: Lorri Hubert, Lorri.Hubert@fortbend.k12.tx.us [mailto] - 281-634-2164
      Lead Counselor: Alice Ledford - Alice.Ledford@fortbend.k12.tx.us [mailto] - 281-634-2157

      Fort Bend ISD's site is here. [k12.tx.us]
      Superintendent: Timothy R. Jenney, Ph.D. - superintendent@fortbend.k12.tx.us [mailto] -

      The entire board of directors of the Fort Bend ISD can be reached here. [72.14.253.104] (Google Cache in anticipation of slashdotting).
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:Understood... by neersign (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:02PM

    • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by sehlat (180760) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:04PM (#18963049)

      either medicate the kid or let him go back to class
      Right idea, wrong target. Medicate the police and school board, let the kid go back to class, and send the police and school board to re-education camp.
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:Understood... by hpavc (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:11PM
    • Re:Understood... by LordOfTheNoobs (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:11PM
    • Re:Understood... by GreyPoopon (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:15PM

      • Re:Understood... (Score:5, Insightful)

        by evil_Tak (964978) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:58PM (#18963985)
        1. It is not illegal to create game maps for a first-person shooter game.
        2. It is not illegal to show maps for a first-person shooter game to someone else.
        3. It is not illegal to possess five swords.
        4. The board had nothing to react to in the first place.
        5. The student committed no crime for which the police could legally arrest him, at least pre-PATRIOT Act.

        He, an honor student, was removed from his high school and forced to attend an alternative (read: for delinquents) education center, will not be allowed to receive his diploma with the rest of his class, and will probably have difficulty, if not being accepted to, at least getting financial aid for a good college. All because he went to a school staffed and parented by a group of reactionary morons.

        How should the school have handled it? There's nothing to handle. When/if parents complained, the appropriate authority figures should have repeated my response to #1: "It is not illegal to create game maps for a first-person shooter game."
        [ Parent ]

        • Re:Understood... (Score:4, Interesting)

          by servognome (738846) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:57PM (#18968157)

          How should the school have handled it? There's nothing to handle. When/if parents complained, the appropriate authority figures should have repeated my response to #1: "It is not illegal to create game maps for a first-person shooter game."
          Of course in the very unlikely event he did something, those authority figures would be out of work, in massive debt due to lawsuits, unemployable, and endlessly harassed.
          It's not about over-zealous school officials, its about people covering their asses.
          [ Parent ]
        • Re:Understood... by GreyPoopon (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:19AM
      • Re:Understood... by sjames (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:23PM
    • Re:Understood... by MasaMuneCyrus (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:22PM
    • Re:Understood... by cheater512 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:22PM
    • Re:Understood... by madprogrammer (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:46PM
    • Re:Understood... by lahvak (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:56PM
    • Re:Understood... by kdemetter (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:58PM
    • Re:Understood... by alpha_foobar (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:09PM
    • Re:Understood... by camperslo (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:22PM
    • This guy is actually a hero! by fair_n_hite_451 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:23PM
    • Re:Understood... by JM78 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:38PM
    • It *is* ridiculous by MoxFulder (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:44PM
    • Shared guilt by geek2k5 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:09PM
    • Re:Understood... by geekster (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:11PM
    • Re:Understood... by Antony-Kyre (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:12PM
    • Re:Understood... by spockrock (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:35PM
    • Re:Understood... by jusdisgi (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:31PM
    • Re:Understood... by forkazoo (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:33PM
    • Re:Understood... by jamesh (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @08:32PM
    • Re:Understood... by yoyhed (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:32PM
    • Re:Understood... by TheJasper (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:27AM
    • Re:Understood... by dajak (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @05:38AM
    • Re:Understood... by Ash Vince (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @07:31AM
    • Re:Understood... by stewwy (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @07:32AM
    • Re:Understood... by Cpt Piett (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:25AM
    • Re:Understood... by Isauq (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @09:03AM
    • Re:Understood... by LoudMusic (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:11AM
    • Re:Understood... by flappinbooger (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:23AM
    • Reward, not Punish Him by msm8bball (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @07:53PM
    • Re:Understood... by FreyarHunter (Score:1) Saturday May 05 2007, @04:56PM
    • 16 replies beneath your current threshold.

  • Oh, For Christ's F***ing Sake... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by pedalman (958492) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:37PM (#18961339)
    A terrorist under every rock, and a WMD in every child's hand. When will this crap cease and common sense prevail?

    Oh, that's right: never.

    I'd read the article, but it's been Slashdotted.

  • When I was a young'un, I created a Quake map of the local Laser Tag joint. I even was working on a mod that changed the weapons to behave more along the rules of the game. Even worse, my mod gibbed you if you tried to illegally cross the center barrier. (*gasp!*) Should I have been arrested as a terrorist? Maybe I was planning to run in with a Phazer pistol and start shooting the place up?!? Actually, I suppose it's worse than that, because I did actually run in and start shooting the place up with a Phazer pistol. Oh noes!

    I'm sorry, but the idea of creating a school map for you and your friends to play is something that goes back as far as Doom. Kids create these environments because they're familiar, not because they want to go shooting up the place. Only Jack Thompson believes that unbalanced people "train" for killing on these games. The truth of the matter is that ole' Jack is full of sh*t. His claim on Fox news that a previous shooter had created maps of his school turned out to be bunk. He had created maps for Counter Strike, but nothing even vaguely related.

    If this map disturbed parents (which is an understandable concern given recent events), then the school's action should have been to evaluate the individual, not immediately kick him out of school. Pretty much all of the shooters in recent history were known to be mentally unbalanced prior to the shootings. An evaluation of the individual's mental state and school records would clarify if he was a threat or not. If not (which it doesn't sound like in this case), you ask them to discontinue the behavior, delete the maps, and go about school as usual. But instead, we give these kids a real reason to hate the faculty. Way to go guys.
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by 0100010001010011 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:40PM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by stinkytoe (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:44PM

    • Re:A bit of an overreaction (Score:5, Interesting)

      by arth1 (260657) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:55PM (#18961743)
      (http://2130706433/ | Last Journal: Thursday July 19, @10:29AM)

      If this map disturbed parents (which is an understandable concern given recent events), then the school's action should have been to evaluate the individual, not immediately kick him out of school.

      I believe in applying the cure where the problem is. If parents or teachers feel disturbed, they should go see a shrink. There's therapies available that can assist with irrational fears.
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by Animats (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:06PM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by antibryce (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:12PM

    • It's even worse than an overreaction (Score:5, Insightful)

      by NeutronCowboy (896098) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:13PM (#18962073)
      An overreaction is when you lock up someone for life when they stole a loaf of bread. This doesn't even accomplish their stated goal - to protect their school from an unbalanced and violent individual.

      Let's assume for a second that they are right. The guy is violent, mentally unstable and is using his home grown CS map to practice his planned killing spree (which was apparently to be carried out with a hammer). What do they do? They merely transfer him to a different school. In no way, shape or form do any of the school's actions prevent him from entering the school again and carrying out his assumed plans. At best, they've moved the problem to a different place, and put others at risk that hadn't been at risk before. At worst, it really pisses him off, and he escalates his planned violence (pipe bombs really aren't hard to make). Any which way you look at it, the actions of the school and the police were completely irresponsible.

      Factor in that the guy had none of these plans to begin with, and you're looking at a massively incompetent school administration, board and police whose only goal is to cover their ass. They don't care whether what they did solved any issues; all they wanted was to have something to point to if the student does go apeshit and the inevitable question of "who's to blame?" rolls around.

      The US is going down the shitter, and attitudes like these towards kids and education are the reason why. Way to ruin your future generation.
      [ Parent ]
      • Re:It's even worse than an overreaction by frdmfghtr (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:49PM
      • Re:It's even worse than an overreaction by Maltheus (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:51PM
      • Mod parent up! Er, I guess someone already did.

        Columbine happened when I was in eighth grade, right when I hit my cool rebellious phase - blue hair, black t-shirts, huge goth jeans. And, like many kids that age, I discovered I have depression (major depression with a splash of bipolar). As a result, I wrote some sad emo journal entries in my English class, and the English teacher informed the school counselor that I might have depression.

        I went and talked to the counselor, assuming that the whole "confidentiality" thing was relevant. I failed to realize that Columbine had changed all the rules magically, and that confidentiality was a thing of the past.

        She told EVERYONE who had contact with me - all my teachers, all the administrators - and they brought in a police officer to have a little chat with me. Unfortunately, I was a straight-A student, polite in class, hardworking, always helping my peers, always protecting smaller kids from bullies (I was already 6 foot and huge), never late to classes, never broke any school rules, didn't smoke or drink or do drugs, and just generally a really sweet kid back then. I just thought it was cool to experiment with different looks and styles of clothing. All of the teachers laughed it off.

        When my parents were brought in, they sent the officer home and told me not to write anything else like that at school. The administration was pissed - they KNEW I was a gun-wielding psychopath who was going to kill everyone in school. They made me see a psychologist, and after two sessions she said "You're obviously very normal and well-adjusted - I don't think you need anything from me".

        Two weeks later, I made a web page in the gifted education program. Then, in Latin class, I brought it up and showed it to my teacher - "Hey, look at this cool web page I made!". At the end of the day, I was brought into the technology administrator's office and told that I was kicked off the network. Why? Because the web page I made FOR SCHOOL wasn't 'related to Latin' and therefore I wasn't allowed to use the computers for the rest of the year.

        Being able to use computers was one of the only things that made my boring, slow classes worthwhile, because at least I could research interesting things during my free time between classes. If I had actually been unstable, taking that away from me would have been the last straw - but since I wasn't, I just put up with it and spent the last two months of school miserable and bored almost all the time and using other people's accounts to use the Internet when I could sneak off to an uninhabited part of the school.

        What it boils down to is self-fulfilling prophecy: these fear-mongering twits actually *want* someone to shoot up the school, or go crazy, or do something to validate their paranoia, and so they use zero tolerance policies to harass and intimidate kids in the perverted subconscious hope that maybe one of the kids will bring a gun to school and validate their otherwise meaningless existences.
        [ Parent ]
      • Re:It's even worse than an overreaction by autophile (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:14PM
      • Re:It's even worse than an overreaction by nacturation (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:51AM
      • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
    • Omens by Ungrounded Lightning (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:03PM
    • Who will act on behalf of this kid? by JoelMartinez (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:16PM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by teh_chrizzle (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:26PM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction... or catch 22? by Banarak (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:01PM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by iceOlate (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:08PM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by Moggie68 (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:06AM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by Tejin (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:41AM
    • Re:A bit of an overreaction by X86Daddy (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:50AM
    • 3 replies beneath your current threshold.

  • I [heart] Houston. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by biggyfred (754376) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:37PM (#18961347)
    I can't help but be overwhelmed by the terrific amount of stupid going on just down the street from my place. It's amazing. It's a rare story where you can root against everyone equally and perfectly.
  • *sigh* by Vexor (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:37PM

  • Linky? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Apocalypse111 (597674) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:38PM (#18961377)
    (Last Journal: Monday December 04 2006, @04:08PM)
    So where can I download this map? I'm certain it'll be pretty popular within the next few days, so I want my copy now...
    • Re:You Can't. by evil_Tak (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:13PM
    • Re:Linky? by Cap'n.Brownbeard (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:58PM
    • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.

  • And this is important how? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Thyamine (531612) <thyamine AT ofdragons DOT com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:39PM (#18961393)
    (http://ofdragons.com/ | Last Journal: Friday June 16 2006, @10:06AM)
    As someone who made maps of campus for Doom back in college, I can attest that students have been doing this for years without ill-effect. It's a natural reaction to want to create a game map of places you know, especially somewhere you spend hours on a daily basis. This is purely reactionary BS on their part due to the current environment surrounding violent video games in our country. I doubt they bothered to check if he was troubled or someone to be concerned about, and simply jumped to conclusions.
  • Makes you wonder by orclevegam (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:39PM
  • Oh, wait it's not Russia, it's HERE. Christ, this is scary.

    When I was going to high school, we had war games. Not simulated, but real - in person, on campus. And it was not the idea of some demented student, it was organized by the PE coaches.
    The gym was one fort, the bleachers on the eastern side of the football field were the other. Each structure had a hose nearby. The gave us a bunch of balloons, and we had water balloon wars.
    To the best of my knowledge, none of my classmates has committed any mass murders in the several decades since then.

    I worry that policies as mentioned in TFA may actually increase violent incidents like Va tech. We were allowed - even encouraged - to burn off frustrations in acts of simulated violence. Then we dried off, went back to class, and were rather good students.
    Today, young men are being denied symbolic outlets for violence. It come as no surprise to me that Chu did what he did. I worry that there will be more.
  • He made a mod of his school because it's an environment he wanted to play in. FPS games are like cops and robbers meets paintball. He wanted to play his game in an environment he's familiar with.

    I'd absolutely love to make a mod for a racing game of my neighborhood, the Bay Area. If hundreds of people uploaded photos of their houses and nearby buildings, that would be a start for modeling the environment. Then people could speed through the streets safely, without actually endangering anyone or breaking the law.

  • Frightening (Score:5, Interesting)

    by omeomi (675045) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:39PM (#18961403)
    (http://zulupad.gersic.com/)
    Wow, this is really frightening. They've taken a kid who had the knowledge and initiative to build a 3D map of his school, who hasn't done a single illegal thing, and kicked him out of school based on the fact that someone in his family owns a hammer. A hammer. Who among us doesn't own a hammer? I own three. One's kind of small for hanging pictures. Another one is a normal sized hammer that I've had for a long time, and the third is one that replaced my normal hammer when my neighbor borrowed it for 2 months. Am I a criminal because of my hammer collection?

    This is so ridiculous that it hurts. There's been no scientific evidence that gamers--even gamers who enjoy violent video games--are any more likely to be violent people. And there's certainly been no evidence that game developers or game modders are any more likely to be violent people. Where do authorities get off assuming that someone with an active imagination, who enjoys the fantasy of games, is a terrorist? I hope he sues the school board, and wins.

  • Got free speech? (Score:4, Informative)

    by legirons (809082) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:40PM (#18961415)
    "If a person cannot walk into the middle of the town square and express his or her views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm, then that person is living in a fear society, not a free society. We cannot rest until every person living in a "fear society" has finally won their freedom."

    Condoleezza Rice, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outposts_of_tyranny [wikipedia.org]

    • Re:Got free speech? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Peter Trepan (572016) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:50PM (#18962731)

      "If a person cannot walk into the middle of the town square and express his or her views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm, then that person is living in a fear society, not a free society."

      How ironic. [wikipedia.org]

      [ Parent ]
    • Re:Got free speech? by cp.tar (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:33PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

  • They Found a Hammer? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Apple Acolyte (517892) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:40PM (#18961425)
    I have heard of cops falsifying search records, but that notwithstanding how can anyone justify classifying a hammer as a potential terrorist weapon? I hope this kid's parents have a lot of money so that they can get some justice for their son.
    • Re:They Found a Hammer? by KenAndCorey (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:42PM

    • Re:They Found a Hammer? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by MBGMorden (803437) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:49PM (#18961625)
      If you outlaw hammers only the outlaws will have hammers . . .

      Seriously though, this is a freedom of speech issue plain and simple. Maybe he made this map so he could play in a familiar setting. Maybe he wanted to try and just recreate something he knew. Maybe he really did fantasize about walking in and just shooting up lots of fake teachers and students in a game. The bottom line though, is that this is a game. It's fantasy, and having somewhat violent fantasies is normal for a large percentage of the population. It doesn't mean that they are planning on hurting anyone, or would hurt anyone; it just helps as an outlet for aggression.

      Bottom line: kid makes a game map of the school, then who cares. Kid plays that map, then who cares. If the kid plays and is constantly saying "Just wait, ya'll are gonna get it one day.", then do some counseling and see what's up. If he buys 10 boxes of ammunition, a handgun, has a printed copy of the map, AND other evidence that he is going to be be attacking the school, THEN you start to get the cops involved.
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:They Found a Hammer? by MPAB (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:51PM
    • Hammers and bottled water are paraphernalia by Nymz (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:56PM
    • Who needs money? by Jaywalk (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:39PM
    • Re:They Found a Hammer? by merky1 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:40PM
    • Re:They Found a Hammer? by Clazzy (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:00PM
    • Re:They Found a Hammer? by weekendli (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:28PM
    • 6 replies beneath your current threshold.
  • Lawsuit in the future by eimsand (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:41PM
  • Alternative Article by ec_hack (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:41PM

  • Goldeneye (Score:3, Insightful)

    by c_jonescc (528041) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:42PM (#18961465)
    (http://www.fuckyouclown.com/)
    I remember back when 100% of my free time was spent playing 4-person Goldeneye on the N64, I wished there was a level for every single interesting building or structure I went into. I would have LOVED a map of my school, or even better a major international airport, as in Die Hard 2.

    Oops. Brought up airports and level design in the same topic. My name just moved up a few spaces on the govt. list. Better leave some extra time next time I fly. After all, these games are only functional as "simulators", right?

  • Developers do this all the time (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Lightwarrior (73124) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:42PM (#18961481)
    (Last Journal: Monday February 23 2004, @03:51PM)
    Jedi Knight 2 had a map of the Raven offices. Same for Blood and Monolith.

    FTA: "Speakers at the FBISD Board's April 23 meeting alluded to the Clements senior's punishment, and drew a connection to the April 16 shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in which a Korean student shot and killed 32 people."

    In which video games *WERE NOT INVOLVED*. But that clearly doesn't matter. Something bad happened involving people under the age of 21, and as such video games must be at the heart of it.

    -lw
  • Alternate links by Kazrath (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:43PM
  • Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine... by balance one (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:44PM
  • Now I understand how we screwed up Iraq so badly! by FlyingSquidStudios (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:45PM

  • Full Text (Score:4, Informative)

    by Slashdot Parent (995749) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:45PM (#18961539)
    Since this is slashdotted from here to kalamazoo:

    Chinese Community Rallies Behind Student Removed From Clements
    by Bob Dunn, Apr 30, 2007, 11 57 am

    Members of the area Chinese community have rallied behind a Clements High School senior who was removed from the campus and sent to M.R. Wood Alternative Education Center after parents complained he'd created a computer game map of Clements.

    About 70 people attended the Fort Bend Independent School District's April 23 meeting to show support for the Clements senior and his mother, Jean Lin, who spoke to FBISD Board trustees in a closed session.

    While an agenda document does not specify details, the board is holding a special meeting tonight to address the boy's actions and the discipline that was meted out as a result, sources close to the matter say. The boy's name was not identified last week, and the district has declined to discuss his case.

    Richard Chen, president of the Fort Bend Chinese-American Voters League and a acquaintance of the boy's family, said he is a talented student who enjoys computer games and learned how to create maps (also sometimes known as "mods"), which provide new environments in which games may be played.

    The map the boy designed mimicked Clements High School. And, sources said, it was uploaded either to the boy's home computer or to a computer server where he and his friends could access and play on it. Two parents apparently learned from their children about the existence of the game, and complained to FBISD administrators, who investigated.

    "They arrested him," Chen said of FBISD police, "and also went to the house to search." The Lin family consented to the search, and a hammer was found in the boy's room, which he used to fix his bed, because it wasn't in good shape, Chen said. He indicated police seized the hammer as a potential weapon.

    "They decided he was a terroristic threat," said one source close to the district's investigation.

    Sources said that although no charges were filed against the boy, he was removed from Clements, sent to the district's alternate education school and won't be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies with classmates.

    "All he did was create a map and put it on a web site to allow students to play," Chen said. "The mother thinks this is too harsh."

    FBISD officials declined to comment on the matter Monday. "Our challenge is, people in the community have freedom of speech and can say what they want, but we have laws" covering privacy issues, especially involving minors, that the district has to respect, said spokeswoman Nancy Porter.

    Speakers at the FBISD Board's April 23 meeting alluded to the Clements senior's punishment, and drew a connection to the April 16 shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in which a Korean student shot and killed 32 people.

    The Asian community "faces new pressures" as a result of the shootings, William Sun told board members. "We urge the school and community not to label our Asian students as terrorists."

    "We should teach our children not to judge others harshly" and not to target people as being a threat because of their race, said Peter Woo, adding that the school district should lead the way in such efforts.

    But Chen said Monday he and other community members don't consider FBISD's actions in the case to be racially motivated, and don't think they blew the incident out of proportion.

    "They all think the principal has to do something - but how much? We do understand with the Virginia Tech incident...something has to be done," Chen said. "Someone just made a mistake, and we think the principal should understand that."
    • Re:Full Text by navygeek (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:22PM
    • Re:Full Text by SixFactor (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:52PM
    • Re:Full Text by weekendli (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:34PM
    • Re:Full Text by Mix+Master+Nixon (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:51PM
    • Re:Full Text by KudyardRipling (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @05:55AM
    • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
  • I guess I'm a Terrorist as well by Filbertish (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:45PM
  • Google Text cache... by deadmongrel (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:45PM
  • Can this get any more absurd? by Dracos (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM
    • Mod parent up! by sexybomber (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:28PM

  • Psychos... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by flyingfsck (986395) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM (#18961561)
    It sounds to me as if half the school board members and police need psychological councelling. The kid is fine, but he will probably do better in a different school with normal people.
  • He could have fscked up worse.... by zappepcs (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM
  • Artistic Expression? by shaneFalco (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:46PM

  • We need revolution and we need it now (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Sneakernets (1026296) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:47PM (#18961591)
    (Last Journal: Thursday June 28, @08:26PM)
    I did this with my high school. I showed it to my teacher in CAD class. He loved it. We converted it to a Doom II map. we played it. No one died, no one cared. in fact, I was given an award from my school for my "excellent achievements", partly due to that.


    I also remember a group called the POCD made a DoomII mapset with school layouts. The maps turned out to be a hit in deathmatch, especially on "Last man standing" mode that was added in a recent Doom port, Skulltag.

    Now you can be arrested for...... this? What I got.. this plaque for?


    *a tear falls down his cheek*

    America, what is wrong with you?

    • Re:We need revolution and we need it now (Score:5, Insightful)

      by RingDev (879105) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:26PM (#18962325)
      (http://www.ringdev.com/ | Last Journal: Tuesday May 08 2007, @01:50PM)
      I'm right there with you. My friends and I built a map of our high school in Doom. We even put deamon spawn points in some of the classrooms where teachers we didn't like worked. All of the students involved have gone on to grow into productive contributing members of society with out killing a single person.

      In addition to working on doom and quake levels based on real world locations, I also grew up around guns (with a very healthy respect for them), listened to heavy metal, and was probably considered a non-conformist to most (ie: trench coat and combat boot wearing, angst ridden, KMFDM listening, rivet head-teenager).

      Had I gone to school after Columbine or VA Tech, I would have likely been arrested and secured for the safety of society, instead of going on to serve honorably in the US Marine Corps, working in medical research, and raising a family. The real shame here is how this kid's life will forever be changed because of overzealous scaremongers trying to make examples of anyone who doesn't fit in their homogenized view of society.

      -Rick
      [ Parent ]
    • Re:We need revolution and we need it now by photomonkey (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:33PM
    • Re:We need revolution and we need it now by chord.wav (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:54PM
    • Re:We need revolution and we need it now by Ihlosi (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:41AM

  • insane (Score:5, Interesting)

    by jigjigga (903943) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:47PM (#18961593)
    "Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it." I think that sums it up nicely. Oh and thats John Lennon.
    • Re:insane by jigjigga (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:11PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

  • If any high school students are reading this... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by koreth (409849) * on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:48PM (#18961609)

    Please take heart. Not all of us adults are such utter fucking morons.

    Not that you'd know it from the comments on the article, where a depressing number of people say they hope he has learned from his "mistake."

    I bet he has. He's learned to keep his activities secret from the authorities if he values his freedom. He's learned a little bit about what it's like to live in an increasingly paranoid, authoritarian society, where innocuous activities that harm nobody can get one declared an enemy of the people. He's learned that politicians have no compunctions about advancing their own careers by ruining the lives of the people they supposedly serve.

    His mistake wasn't making the map. If FPSes had been around when I was in high school I would have loved to play on a map of the school; unlike a bunch of adults, it seems, I understood and understand the difference between video games and reality. His mistake was not being sufficiently clandestine when he shared it with his friends. Hopefully he will take this as a valuable lesson about the value of covering his tracks thoroughly in his daily life.

  • People study this (Score:5, Interesting)

    by hdstainsby (1096615) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:48PM (#18961611)
    At the university of South Australia they've made a whole virtual world based on their campus where people go round in VR headsets on the campus groups shooting each other. It's understood that these people are not just training to switch to real weapons.

    http://wearables.unisa.edu.au/projects/ARQuake/www / [unisa.edu.au]
  • wow just wow by Hsensei (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:49PM

  • hmm... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by sesshomaru (173381) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:50PM (#18961643)
    (http://darkcyclone0.tripod.com/snyktn.html | Last Journal: Thursday August 03 2006, @02:55PM)
    Well, he's Chinese and that's sort of like Korean, and he plays video games, just like Cho didn't, so he must be a homicidal manaic.

    But I have one question for the school board. Did they bother to make sure that he weighs as much as a duck before they took action against him?

    • Re:hmm... by Rycross (Score:3) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:58PM
      • Re:hmm... by Glowing Fish (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:47PM
        • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
    • Re:hmm... by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:44PM
    • Re:hmm... by MadAhab (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:37PM
    • Re:hmm... by sesshomaru (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:12PM
    • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
  • Story link by Palmyst (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:52PM
    • Re:Story link by Rycross (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:06PM
      • Re:Story link by Mr Jazzizle (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @08:25PM
  • Alernative education center? by allahm0de (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:52PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • They can have my hammer... by sizzzzlerz (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:52PM

  • Houston Chronicle article (Score:4, Informative)

    by scruffy (29773) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:52PM (#18961683)
    This article provides some more information on this story: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4 766843.html [chron.com]
  • Furthermore by Vexor (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:53PM
  • I did that too. by xerent_sweden (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:53PM
  • Ridiculous by Toonol (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:54PM
    • Re:Ridiculous by Maximum Prophet (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM
  • Viz times... by 68030 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:55PM
  • Is "terroristic" a bushism? by xquark (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:56PM
  • Terroristic ? by The Media Mechanic (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:57PM

  • me too (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Lord Bitman (95493) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:00PM (#18961837)
    (http://www.the-h.net/)
    I made a quake map of my middle school, though I only got as far as making the Gym..
    who didn't?

      * I want to create something
      * Hey look, a tool to create something
      * Crap, what do I make?
      * Well, I'm in school all day, so I'm pretty familiar with that.
      * Arrested.
  • where was he playing the game? by Eharley (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:01PM
  • Justified? by Cedric Tsui (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:02PM
  • Throw away the keys. by Dog-Cow (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:02PM
  • Thats just rubbish by UPZ (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:03PM
  • Yank your kids from public school. Homeschool or send them to a private school of your choice. If enough people do this the whole public education system would collapse and implode. Then we can figure out how to best spend those property tax revenues.

    Normally, I would oppose such a suggestion. Were the US run like typical European democratic-socialists the schools would probably be responsibly managed. But with one political party fighting to destroy public education, and the other party in the pocket of the public school bureaucracy, there's no voice left for the kids being ruined by these bullshit political non-events.

    I honestly think government can do a good job of providing basic public services. But right now, the US government cannot. At least not until the leaders of our political parties come to some basic consensus on the role of government. Until then, it will be one crazy situation after another as they duke it out. All while citizens and their kids get fucked by the very public institutions that were ostensibly created for their benefit.
  • Next terrorist act: Cops and Robbers by Rockenreno (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:08PM

  • Spiderman 3 (Score:5, Insightful)

    by greg_barton (5551) * <greg_barton@nOspAM.yahoo.com> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:08PM (#18961991)
    (http://marciandgreg.com/ | Last Journal: Wednesday January 07 2004, @07:30PM)
    The Spiderman 3 game has a realistic map of New York City.

    Are the devs terrorists?
    • Re:Spiderman 3 by Rycross (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:38PM
    • Re:Spiderman 3 by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:47PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • I can't believe the number of people... by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:14PM
  • It is an expected outcome by treeves (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:14PM

  • Reprecussions. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Purity Of Essence (1007601) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM (#18962107)
    For years, people have been braying about the effects that continually playing violent videogames has on children. How repeated exposure to fictional violence in videogames desensitizes children. An effect which makes real world violence more tolerable and less revolting, in effect training our children to be killers ready to kill for any reason at a moment's notice. Some might argue that that's the very point of these so called "murder simulators".

    But did any one think for second what the effect of continually treating children like criminals is? How repeated persecution for fictional crimes desensitizes children. An effect which makes real world incarceration more tolerable and less revolting, in effect training our children to be inmates ready to submit to authority for any reason at a moment's notice. Some might argue that that's the very point of these so called "nanny states".

    Perhaps it was given a lot thought, indeed.

    Dear America,
    Stop sucking.
    Your pals,
    Voters
  • Forget arresting him by Enrique1218 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM

  • Videogame map? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Applekid (993327) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM (#18962125)
    He made a map of his school for a video game?

    Excuse me, but I've been making maps of schools for Hello Kitty's Sunny Summer Adventure for years now.
  • Resistance is futile by roman_mir (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM
  • do they really think that he's a terrorist by Anonymous Cowpat (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:15PM
  • Doom 2 map of my high school by i_ate_god (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:16PM
  • I just have one thing to say... by gr33nlantern (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:16PM
  • I guess I should've been kicked out too... by samwichse (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:16PM
  • PANG in Texas by meburke (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:20PM
  • a hammer??? by Frungy (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:21PM

  • In other news.. (Score:3, Funny)

    by JustNiz (692889) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:22PM (#18962279)
    The US Government have accused Home Depot and Lowes of supplying terrorist activities on a nationwide scale, and have invoked emergency "Home Security" legislation ensuring US citizens can only buy tools made of jello.
    The same legislation gives the police authority to shoot anyone selling non-jello tools (garage sales etc) on sight.
  • Video game context matters...??? by Seismologist (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:27PM
  • Outlaw Hammers by Killer Instinct (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:31PM
  • A statement on America by ZwJGR (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:34PM
  • This has to stop by had3l (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:39PM
  • This remids me of a time... by GammaKitsune (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:41PM
  • Oblig Hammer Joke by yorgo (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:47PM

  • The real story... it's M$'s fault! (Score:3, Funny)

    by modi123 (750470) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:51PM (#18962781)
    (Last Journal: Wednesday December 06 2006, @11:31AM)
    Ok... follow me here. First off a videogame was involved. Second, a hammer was the deciding vote on terrorist or not terrorist. The hammer is closly linked to what videogame? That's right - "It's me, MAAARIO!". Who is nintendo's biggest rival right now, M$ with their blasted xboxes, corporate shennanigans, and viral campaigns.

    What better way of instilling fear in the parent population than linking videogames and hammers with terrorism. Parents will shy away from the overly cheerful plumber and run to the open arms of Bill Gates...

    Aaaaaarg! What's next to be declared terroristic? Eating mushrooms, climbing through pipes, and collecting coins in my basement?
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

  • What a shocker. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by pclminion (145572) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:52PM (#18962795)
    Looks like this kid will have some money coming his way. The police can arrest anyone they want, really. CONVICTED this person of a crime is another matter entirely. He's clearly violated no law whatsoever, so this will never stick. On the other hand, he now has very good cause to sue the police for wrongful imprisonment. I think he should bust out the legal brass knuckled and start polishing.
  • Having been an HISD student for too long... by TwoScoopsOfPig (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:52PM

  • Poor kid.... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by holt (86624) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:54PM (#18962835)
    (http://www.cryingtreeofmercury.com/)
    I think this is pretty ridiculous. When I was in high school, I created a Doom level based on the actual blueprints of the high school. (My dad was/is on the school board and he had copies at home due to a proposed addition being discussed at the time.) Many people at the school knew of and saw the completed project, and no one found it to be a big deal. I even used a school-owned digital camera to create textures based on the actual classrooms and hallways. This was right around the same time as Columbine, but luckily for me the administration was level-headed (possibly due to the support of my father, I don't know).

    Without RTFA, I don't know if there were additional indicators beyond just creating the map in this case, but if he simply created the school's layout I think this is a huge overreaction. It takes a lot of work and talent to create good maps, and I don't see how it is an indicator of violence at all.

  • Don't feel bad for the kid by Zelucifer (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:54PM
  • Weird by suv4x4 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:55PM
    • Re:Weird by Maitri (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:53PM
    • Re:Weird by compro01 (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:14PM
  • Reply if you ever built a map for your school by Evets (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:56PM
  • Who hasn't done/thought of doing this? by Samurai Cat! (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:56PM
  • Sweet settlement a-comin' by wiredlogic (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:57PM
  • These people are educators ... and stupid. by Tiger Smile (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:59PM
  • Game over, you lost by dtml-try MyNick (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:59PM
  • Harry Potter has a map of his school by origamy (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:00PM
  • A little odd by WatchTheTramCarPleas (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:02PM
  • I can just see it now in questioning... by Hic sunt leones (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:02PM
  • And they wonder why... by CherniyVolk (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:04PM
  • I did this in HS.. by Geekenstein (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:05PM
  • Just imagine... by Bones3D_mac (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:07PM
  • Why this happened... by Brew Bird (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:08PM
  • How pythonesque. by blind_abraxas (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:10PM
  • I did that too by Gbo2k7 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:16PM
  • Yeah but... by Ant P. (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:18PM

  • The local Police should play the game (Score:4, Insightful)

    by adsl (595429) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:19PM (#18963287)
    Seriously, I wonder how many of the local Police are familiar with the layout of this local High School? They should ask the kid for a copy of the game and put all their force through intensive training utilizing it. This would best prepare the Police if any incident ever happened in the school. Better still the kid should spend time at the Police office helping to train the members. This would allow interaction between the police and the kid and probably generate a better understanding of each other. Now it's likely the kid is developing a dislike for the Schools management and considers the police people to be avoided and NOT trusted. Makes me wonder why educators can't grasp such a situation and make something really positive come out of it.

  • learn from the Marines! (Score:4, Funny)

    by llamaxing (895844) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:19PM (#18963291)
    (http://llamaxing.us/)
    Marines know that their Rifle Safety Rules can be applied to their everyday lives, ie:

    1. Treat every hammer as if it were dangerous.
    2. Never smash anything you do not intend to break.
    3. Keep your fingers straight and off the handle until you are ready to smash.
    4. Keep your hammer holstered until you are ready to smash.

    Since it clearly wasn't in his hand when found, the kid didn't break the rules and, therefore, did nothing wrong.

    On a second note, I thought this was rather humorous... the police took the kid's tool, but he received a "ban hammer" from the school. (yeah, that was corny)
  • Defensive strategy?? by goldil0x (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:19PM

  • What you folks need... (Score:4, Funny)

    by digitig (1056110) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:20PM (#18963313)
    ...is a written constitution, just like Europe. Oh, hold on, that's the wrong way around, isn't it?
  • Hammer found in his appertment? by jozmala (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:24PM
  • I would meet with with the school board. by Jaywalk (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:31PM
  • yup by pak9rabid (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:33PM
  • Deus Ex developers should be arrested too! by jadiepoo (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:34PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Won't someone please think about the Mesh? by BillGatesLoveChild (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:35PM
  • Typical FBISD Bureaucracy by dasunst3r (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:35PM
  • I was a high school terrorist (accusee). by clsours (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:38PM
  • Killing My Co-Workers, circa 1996 by hirschma (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:40PM
  • My map by Mazin07 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:44PM
  • Let me be the first to say by tietokone-olmi (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:47PM
  • lol wtf by 4D6963 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:47PM
  • That's Funny by beef623 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:49PM
  • Common thoughts by mako1138 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:49PM
  • Bet he wants to go on a rampage now! by Nim82 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:51PM

  • Er... (Score:3, Funny)

    by mqduck (232646) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:52PM (#18963893)

    A student at the Houston-area Clements High School was arrested, sent to an "Alternative Education Center" and banned from graduation after school officials found he created a video game map of his school.

    That's horrible!

    School district police arrested the teen and searched his home where they confiscated a hammer as a 'potential weapon'. "They decided he was a terroristic threat," said one source close to the district's investigation.'

    That's ridiculous!

    With an upcoming May 12 school board election, this issue has quickly become political

    That's how it should be!

    with school board members involved in the appeal accusing each other of pandering to the Chinese community in an attempt to gain votes.

    That's... Wait, what?
  • How ironic... by Mikenotmike (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:53PM

  • Contact Information (Score:4, Informative)

    by nobodyman (90587) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:00PM (#18964027)
    Per the article, there was a special meeting that could expedites the resolution of the case. However, the meeting was cancelled due to lack of attendance. Here is the contact info for the board members that did not attend, taken from the Board Bios [k12.tx.us] page on the
    the board website [k12.tx.us]

    NOTE: DO NOT HARASS THESE PEOPLE. It will have the opposite effect you wish to achieve. Simply let them know of your approval/disapproval of their actions

    STEVE SMELLEY, PRESIDENT - DID NOT ATTEND
    Quote:(from article) "Smelley, the board president, said the special meeting circumvents the normal disciplinary process and that is why he did not attend."

    2818 Winter Lakes
    Missouri City, TX 77459
    Home:281-261-6856
    steve.smelley@fortbendisd.com [mailto]

    LAURIE CALDWELL, SECRETARY - DID NOT ATTEND
    2610 Planters View Lane
    Missouri City, TX 77459
    Home:281-416-0074
    laurie.caldwell@fortbendisd.com [mailto]

    SONAL BHUCHAR - DID NOT ATTEND (out of country)
    4306 Keating Court
    Sugar Land, TX 77479
    Home:281-265-9468
    sonal.bhuchar@fortbendisd.com [mailto]

    CYNTHIA KNOX - DID NOT ATTEND
    3127 East Hickory Park Circle
    Sugar Land, TX 77479
    Home:281-265-1191
    cynthia.knox@fortbendisd.com [mailto]

    And here is the info for the public relations department for the school district:

    Fort Bend Independent School District Administration Building
    16431 Lexington Blvd
    Sugar Land, Texas 77479
    business line: 281-634-1104
    cr@fortbend.k12.tx.us

    Mary Ann Simpson spokesperson
    Quote: "Sometimes schools are criticized for overreacting to a situation," Simpson said. "Unfortunately, the days are past when we can just take things lightly and just say, 'Oh well, they were just joking.' "


    Kudos to those who at least attended the meeting:

    KEN BRYANT, VICE-PRESIDENT - ATTENDED
    Quote: "I don't want to fault our police for trying to protect us. But once the evidence was found and looked at, I see no compelling reason why this child should not have been sent back to his original campus"

    STAN MAGEE - ATTENDED
    quote: "He did it at his house. Never took anything to school. Never wrote an ugly letter, never said anything strange to a student or a teacher, nothing"

    LISA RICKERT - ATTENDED


  • I would laugh, if I didn't want to cry... by JohnLowHanger (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:00PM
  • Well I guess I should be arrested too.... by panic911 (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:00PM
  • like a joke by longman2 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:03PM
  • In light of this news by wesley78 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:05PM
  • I did this by pauk_11 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:07PM
  • Sims 2? by bsupak (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:09PM
  • virginia had nothing to do with video games by timmarhy (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:12PM
  • Ludicrous. by crhylove (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:23PM
  • Who is sick here? by Torodung (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:28PM
  • CASE campus was in an XBOX game by FOOSE (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:34PM
  • Next... landscape paintings... by creimer (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:37PM
  • More loose change coming your way... by NecroWraith (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:42PM
  • Hey guys, April 1st was a month ago. by DrLex (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:43PM
  • Two birds... one hammer... by Qubit (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:43PM
  • The two human motivators: Greed and fear by Opportunist (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:47PM
  • Mapping High School != Planning Masacre by BurningFeetMan (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:47PM
  • Geesh by thanksforthecrabs (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:51PM
  • Ahhhhh.... G.P!!! by Datamonstar (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:00PM
  • I've done WORSE! by B5_geek (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:00PM
  • The war on terror by Tinman_au (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:02PM
  • In other news... by cepler (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:09PM

  • Studies Show Zero Tolerance Doesn't Promote Safety (Score:3, Informative)

    by ancarett (221103) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:23PM (#18965035)
    (http://www.ancarett.com/)
    My heart goes out to this young man and his family for the crazy response of the local police and school board. It's particularly maddening as studies have shown that zero tolerance and suspension-happy school administrators aren't making our schools safer. For instance:

    Defenders of the [zero tolerance] policies point to the larger threat posed by serious violence in our nation's schools, suggesting that civil rights violations may be an unfortunate but necessary compromise to ensure the safety of school environments.

    Unfortunately, however, this latter argument is made somewhat moot by the almost complete lack of documentation linking zero tolerance with improved school safety. Despite more than ten years of implementation, there have been only a handful of studies evaluating the outcomes of security measures. Of these, only school uniform research appears to have enough support to be considered even promising in contributing to perceptions of safer school environments. The most extensive studies (Heaviside et al., 1998; Mayer & Leone, 1999) suggest a negative relationship between school security measures and school safety.

    From "Zero Tolerance, Zero Evidence: An Analysis of School Disciplinary Practice" by Russel Skiba, Indiana Educational Policy Center, August 2000 PDF report link [indiana.edu]
  • Back when I was in school... by grumbel (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:59PM
  • This is sad by icedcool (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:03PM
  • He wasn't arrested by adwb (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:05PM
  • Ridiculous by brianeisley (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:09PM

  • This glass is half full (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Wingnut64 (446382) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:15PM (#18965523)
    The authorities are going about this all wrong! I intend to write to my representatives urging them to pass legislation that would require all school districts to make Counterstrike maps of their schools avalible to to local police SWAT units and the FBI. Upon receiving word of any potential school shooting, they could race to the scene confident that their hours of playing cs_clements will pay off in lives saved. This young man is to be commended on his work to prevent another tragic incident!
  • I've emailed the school by EvilKeg (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:26PM
  • america at its worst by renau (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:27PM
  • The World's last hope? by Thirdsin (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:30PM
  • Heh by Dunbal (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @07:53PM
  • I have to laugh by retrogameguy (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @08:11PM
  • this happened to me by spiritofseth (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @08:42PM
  • Escaping his DOOM! by ryu1232 (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @08:57PM
  • I can't believe people have not realized this by kaolin.z (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @09:08PM
  • You know, let's just cut to the chase by iminplaya (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @09:11PM
  • this poor injustice.. by gamekeeper (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @09:23PM
  • A wise saying... by Alizarin Erythrosin (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:21PM
  • Back In My Day by LukeRazor (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:33PM
  • I have to reply if only to vent by bbourqu (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @10:33PM
  • A hammer? by RennieScum (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:28PM
  • nothing scary about this by colton cummings (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:44PM
  • I mapped a building on my college campus by BillX (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:56PM
  • I did this in 96 by DzurKZ (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @11:59PM
  • A hammer as a 'potential weapon' by SpaghettiPattern (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @12:04AM
  • An important thing I've not seen yet in the posts. by freaker_TuC (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @12:38AM
  • Videogames vs. Real Guns... by Shirloki (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @12:53AM
  • Well damn by ildon (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:05AM
  • moron freaks by l3v1 (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:17AM
  • overreaction by Kenji Mapes (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:42AM
  • there's a much more important question at hand: by Allison Geode (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:16AM
  • update: looks like it was a knee-jerk reaction by QuantumSlip (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:27AM
  • 600+ comments and not ONE link to the map? c'mon. by Philus (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:51AM
  • The cops are the terrorists by rjcobain (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @03:52AM
  • Quite right too by DrHyde (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:11AM
  • standard hatred by sepiroth (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:59AM
  • Work sites by simm1701 (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @06:33AM
  • Racial politics meets Hellmouth meets CWII by Evil Poot Cat (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @06:35AM
  • Mr Wood Alternative Education Center by bl8n8r (Score:2) Thursday May 03 2007, @07:16AM
  • Is this the terrorist of the future? by hey0you0guy (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @07:43AM
  • is that a real word? by Mr.Dippy (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @08:17AM
  • Should he also be put on the Sex Offenders List? by alberion (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @09:11AM
  • Sticky this somehow? by nastilon (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:29AM
  • So, we're not allowed to make maps of real places by machrider (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @10:57AM
  • When I was in high school, my friends and I used to play Marathon [bungie.net] in the Physics Lab with our physics/math teacher after school. When Marathon 2 came out with a level editor, my physics teacher made a Marathon map of the school, and he and my friends and I all ran around torching each other with flame throwers, blowing each other up with grenades, and gunning each other down with machine guns "inside our own school."

    No one seemed the have a problem with this then ('94). I wonder how they'd treat a teacher who did that today?
  • What next by darrenkopp (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @11:16AM
  • Absolutely ridiculous, not the first time 4 Housto by Doug52392 (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @01:52PM
  • i've made maps by GURU Meditation 8000 (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @02:50PM
  • After reading another article on /. today... by calore (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @05:53PM

  • Re:What sort of country... (Score:3, Funny)

    by jeffasselin (566598) <[cormacolinde] [at] [gmail.com]> on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:48PM (#18961617)
    (Last Journal: Wednesday October 15 2003, @05:16PM)
    You must be new here. But really it's only half the US. The other half only lost part of their sanity.
    [ Parent ]
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

  • Re:Hammers? (Score:5, Funny)

    by FlyingSquidStudios (1031284) on Wednesday May 02 2007, @02:49PM (#18961629)
    (http://www.flyingsquidstudios.com/)
    A hammer is a terrorist tool because you couldn't crucify Jesus without a hammer! See? They hate Jesus! And freedom!

    Look, I found a terrorist song!

    If I had a hammer I'd hammer on the freedom
    I'd hammer on the infidels
    All over this land
    I'd hammer out patriots
    I'd hammer out christians
    I'd hammer out apple pie and baseball
    All over this land
    [ Parent ]
    • Re:Hammers? by Megatronium (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:39PM
    • Re:Hammers? by amchugh (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:54PM
    • Re:Hammers? by CrankyOldBastard (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:33PM
    • Wait a minute... by commodoresloat (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @06:56PM
    • Re:Hammers? by phagstrom (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @04:05AM
    • Re:Hammers? by pablodiazgutierrez (Score:1) Thursday May 03 2007, @11:49AM
    • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:What sort of country... by fredmosby (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:31PM
  • Related News:Las Vegas agents storm rooms of every by JohnnyComeLately (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @03:56PM
  • Re:Shooting people by Builder (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:09PM
  • Re:Does anybody remember the movie Gotcha? by An ominous Cow art (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:18PM
  • Re:Shooting people by convolvatron (Score:2) Wednesday May 02 2007, @04:57PM
  • Re:Shooting people by NotthatFrankie (Score:1) Wednesday May 02 2007, @05:52PM

  • Re:Possible Defense? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Ihlosi (895663) on Thursday May 03 2007, @07:39AM (#18970837)
    Jesus had a hammer too.

    Yeah, and the Romans thought he was a troublemaker (aka terrorist) and tortured and executed him.

    Hammers are dangerous.

    [ Parent ]
  • Re:zealous by sesshomaru (Score:1) Friday May 04 2007, @10:57AM
  • 67 replies beneath your current threshold.
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