> Alarming Prank "Terror" Attack in University of Oklahoma Library
23 August 2006, 21:52
REPLY FROM MICHAEL WRIGHT
The numbers 129 as the first three digits of the sender’s IP address indicate that the message originated from a University of Oklahoma terminal. The language "terribly alarmed" suggests sarcasm. Am I being ridiculed with the idea that there was never anything to be alarmed about?
The person making the comment obviously did not read the post very well. In the headline I demonstrate knowledge that the event was a PRANK — not a real terrorist attack. What’s important is this: the individual who called the police observed the disruption in the opening stages and had no way of knowing that it was just a prank. He also had legitimate concerns about library books being damaged by water guns. Finally, instead of being praised for responsible action, he was PUNISHED by OU and warned by the police not to make any more inquiries about it. OU administrators obviously did not want to be embarassed by this incident, so they concealed it.
Is it good policy for national security to punish people who report events in progress which a reasonable person would take to be alarming?
Finally, I observe this question in the comment: "Who did this and why?" The post states that the pranksters identified themselves to police as members of the Brothers Under Christ. I do now know what their motives were. They strike me as foolish young delinquents engaging in some sort of bizarre initiation ritual.
REPLY FROM MICHAEL WRIGHT
The numbers 129 as the first three digits of the sender’s IP address indicate that the message originated from a University of Oklahoma terminal. The language "terribly alarmed" suggests sarcasm. Am I being ridiculed with the idea that there was never anything to be alarmed about?
The person making the comment obviously did not read the post very well. In the headline I demonstrate knowledge that the event was a PRANK — not a real terrorist attack. What’s important is this: the individual who called the police observed the disruption in the opening stages and had no way of knowing that it was just a prank. He also had legitimate concerns about library books being damaged by water guns. Finally, instead of being praised for responsible action, he was PUNISHED by OU and warned by the police not to make any more inquiries about it. OU administrators obviously did not want to be embarassed by this incident, so they concealed it.
Is it good policy for national security to punish people who report events in progress which a reasonable person would take to be alarming?
Finally, I observe this question in the comment: "Who did this and why?" The post states that the pranksters identified themselves to police as members of the Brothers Under Christ. I do now know what their motives were. They strike me as foolish young delinquents engaging in some sort of bizarre initiation ritual.