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Student Arrested for Making Videogame Map of School
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."
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?
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.
ZuluPad, the wiki notepad on crack
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.
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
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?
"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson
"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.
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.
w /
http://wearables.unisa.edu.au/projects/ARQuake/ww
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.
---GEC
I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand
"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.
Step into a huge movement. Don't Tread In Me.
Yeah, that law is called the PATRIOT ACT, which gives law enforcement basic carte blanche to arrest yo ass under any suspicion of terrorisms. Making a map of school? He MUST hate freedom! Therefore, as a freedom hater, we have reason to suspect he is a terrorism! And thanks to the rubber stamp formerly known as Congress, under the PATRIOT ACT, that poor kid can wind up screwed. What's really sad is that when he applies to jobs and a background check is run.... "Detained for suspected terrorist activity" is likely to come up. Anyone gonna hire him if they run such a check?
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