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**Greenday** · 06-29-2013, 05:26 AM

I like that there's a petition going around saying he should be let out of jail because it's a violation of his first amendment rights.

Since when has the first amendment covered making threats to shoot up a school?

**Kheldarson** · 06-29-2013, 05:33 AM

When it's said as a poorly made joke?

That's the thing about the situation I'm trying to reconcile, honestly. He's making dumbass comments about/around a video game. Anybody who's ever been on a live chat during a game sees this kind of stuff a lot, to varying extents. So does he deserve to be punished for making a bad joke? There doesn't seem to be any evidence that he meant this at all seriously.

**Greenday** · 06-29-2013, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by Kheldarson View Post

When it's said as a poorly made joke?

That's the thing about the situation I'm trying to reconcile, honestly. He's making dumbass comments about/around a video game. Anybody who's ever been on a live chat during a game sees this kind of stuff a lot, to varying extents. So does he deserve to be punished for making a bad joke? There doesn't seem to be any evidence that he meant this at all seriously.

Since when has "Everyone else is doing it" made doing something wrong okay?

**KabeRinnaul** · 06-29-2013, 05:50 AM

My argument would just be that 3 months in jail, much less a potential 8 years in prison, is a punishment vastly out of line with the "crime" of a teenager saying stupid shit on Facebook.

So Eighth Amendment rights in addition to what he said being neither a direct threat nor causing harm to anyone save the sensibilities of a busybody in another country.

Cause honestly, if we're going to arrest people for making stupid and undirected yet vaguely threatening comments, we either need way more prisons, or we should start putting gags on any male between 12 and 22. And most of the internet, including all of Youtube.

**Greenday** · 06-29-2013, 05:56 AM

It definitely is an unnecessary amount of jail time.

**Andara Bledin** · 06-29-2013, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by Kheldarson View Post

When it's said as a poorly made joke?

That's what the fools who talk about bombs at airports say, too.

That said, this doesn't even pass muster to even reach the threshold for a terroristic threat by the statute of the state of Texas.

Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.07. TERRORISTIC THREAT

As this guy's comment was not made to cause any of the listed results, I'm not even sure why he would have been arrested.

Does anyone have access to the docket (he's reported to begin trial on July 1) to be sure this isn't some sort of elaborate and horrible hoax?

**Greenday** · 06-29-2013, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by Andara Bledin View Post

That's what the fools who talk about bombs at airports say, too.

I hate going through customs at airports.

"So what do you do for a living?"
"Um. I'manexplosivechemist..."
*Wtf stare*
"I don't like talking about it in airports..."

**Kheldarson** · 06-29-2013, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by Andara Bledin View Post

That's what the fools who talk about bombs at airports say, too.

That said, this doesn't even pass muster to even reach the threshold for a terroristic threat by the statute of the state of Texas.

Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.07. TERRORISTIC THREAT

As this guy's comment was not made to cause any of the listed results, I'm not even sure why he would have been arrested.

Does anyone have access to the docket (he's reported to begin trial on July 1) to be sure this isn't some sort of elaborate and horrible hoax?

I'm trying to see if I can find a docket, but I seem to be failing. All I've got is that the original source is a local news station, so take that as one will.

I'd also argue that a statement made on FB that's made in poor taste is different than making a poor statement that you know is a poor statement in that venue (i.e. bombs in an airport, fire in a theater, etc.). Facebook has the feel of being a bunch of close conversations going on in a park. You can pass through all of these conversations and never know what's really being said in sarcasm or not because you're not part of the actual conversation. So a guy joking about bombing an airport while sitting in a park. Would you feel threatened then? Especially if he and his buddy started laughing and moved on? Probably not. But you would, understandably, if in the airport.

So, I think, to me, this is just a "where do you draw the line" issue. Because I'm seeing it as somebody walking by an argument in that crowded park and hearing someone shout "Yeah, and I'm just going to start shooting all of you" while waving hands before going "Yeah, right" and continuing their conversation. But the passerby still calls the cops because they felt threatened by the random argument. That's what doesn't sit right with me.

**RedRoseSpiral** · 06-29-2013, 09:21 AM

If Facebook would allow italics, sarcasm would be so much easier to pick up on.

I mean really, how does this not look sarcastic?

**TheHuckster** · 06-29-2013, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by RedRoseSpiral View Post

If Facebook would allow italics, sarcasm would be so much easier to pick up on.

I mean really, how does this not look sarcastic?

I don't know... now it kind of looks like you have an edge to your tone. You're not planning anything, are you?

I think the comment was worth police investigation and maybe some disciplinary action that was on the level of giving him some community service hours, just to send a message of how serious they take these things. If they find further evidence of him planning a shooting, then by all means he should stand trial for conspiracy, but if they don't find anything, they need to take it for what it's worth, say it's a "stupid joke" that kids with poor judgement make, and that's that.

**D_Yeti_Esquire** · 06-29-2013, 03:19 PM

I think what I notice is just how unbelievably black and white these are for certain people. Off hand black comedy isn't really rare among boys but carrying it out or being serious about it is. Still, I've met and seen people online that every comment with kill or death in it is an imminent threat.

Not sure how you fix this. As kids, you do this thing in a safe setting until you outgrow it and learn you can't do it. With Facebook though, you go "public" long before you're ever finished working on yourself.

**BlaqueKatt** · 06-29-2013, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by D_Yeti_Esquire View Post

Not sure how you fix this. As kids, you do this thing in a safe setting until you outgrow it and learn you can't do it. With Facebook though, you go "public" long before you're ever finished working on yourself.

That's some strange ideas on parenting and child development if you honestly think "every child makes threats of violence, until they grow out of it", as you seem to be implying. No child I've ever come across does this, unless they come from a background of neglect or abuse.

I was taught words have consequences at age 5, when cursing got my mouth washed out with soap, and talking back got me sent to my room with a peanut butter sandwich and glass of water for supper.

**Hyena Dandy** · 06-29-2013, 09:03 PM

No child I've ever come across does this, unless they come from a background of neglect or abuse.

Where do you tend to come across children?

**BlaqueKatt** · 06-29-2013, 11:31 PM

Originally posted by Hyena Dandy View Post

Where do you tend to come across children?

1, having been one myself, I came across tons.
2, my spouse's family, extended family, and friends all seem to have them.
3, I am a parent myself
4, generally unless I lock myself in a cave, one does tend to come across numerous children in public-shopping malls, parks, libraries.
5, I do volunteer work from time to time and a lot of it does involve children's groups(big brothers/big sisters, several smaller local groups)

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Teen charged with making terroristic threat

Teen charged with making terroristic threat

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