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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 ]