I dunno. Based on the story alone, it still seems like too little to bust a kid for. At least in America it does. Seems like what one ought to do if one is unsure as to whether young billy is likely to go horrifically violent or not, is check with the school to see if he's been odd or given other indications, if he has then maybe have a mental health professional have a crack at the kid.
To me, involving the cops based off a short story, even if the person does intend to kill his whole class, is overkill. I'm sorry to have to take it there but who else's fiction are we going to use as an excuse to squirrel them away?
Besides, as you pointed out about the columbine kids, it's not like these things exist in a vacuum. If a person is liable to start killing people, there are usually more signs than their creative writing projects.
I think it's perfectly normal and sane to give a kid a second look based on a seemingly threatening bit of writing or whatnot but you don't call the authorities based on it. Either there's something else there you can get them nabbed for or they've just got a wacky imagination.
I once co-wrote a story where the whole federal govt gets wiped out by our own mutant super-warriors, did that mean I'm likely to violently overthrow the govt? No. Should older and wiser people maybe have had a looksee to make sure? Probably.
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Date: 2005-03-11 03:34 am (UTC)To me, involving the cops based off a short story, even if the person does intend to kill his whole class, is overkill. I'm sorry to have to take it there but who else's fiction are we going to use as an excuse to squirrel them away?
Besides, as you pointed out about the columbine kids, it's not like these things exist in a vacuum. If a person is liable to start killing people, there are usually more signs than their creative writing projects.
I think it's perfectly normal and sane to give a kid a second look based on a seemingly threatening bit of writing or whatnot but you don't call the authorities based on it. Either there's something else there you can get them nabbed for or they've just got a wacky imagination.
I once co-wrote a story where the whole federal govt gets wiped out by our own mutant super-warriors, did that mean I'm likely to violently overthrow the govt? No. Should older and wiser people maybe have had a looksee to make sure? Probably.