![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Now *this* is a bomb hoax
Feb. 1st, 2007 09:21 pmI saw this at BoingBoing.
In an odd bit of synchronicity, at around the same time there was mass panic over LED signs never intended to be mistaken for bombs, police found two fake pipe bombs. These undoubtedly were intended to be mistaken for the real thing.
While the police have quickly apprehended the people who created and put up the LED signs, they haven't gone as quickly with whoever might have planted the devices actually intended to provoke fear. They've identified someone but not charged him. I guess it's good that when it comes to an actual hoax, they're careful to make sure they have the right guy.
I can't help but wonder though if the Boston Police got their reactions mixed up. OTOH, it seems to me that their reactions to these fake pipe bombs were quite reasonable and on the mark. Everyone did their jobs and the right things happened. I don't see the point in getting everyone panicked over fake pipe bombs. (I note that they blew up the fake pipe bombs. So I'm guessing blowing things up is how they figure out if it's fake or not? That seems excessive.)
I've avoided making the cheap shots about blinking lights, but I'm wondering if there is something to it. Maybe because they're more familiar with pipe bombs, they weren't as likely to jump to conclusions or bad movie plots.
In an odd bit of synchronicity, at around the same time there was mass panic over LED signs never intended to be mistaken for bombs, police found two fake pipe bombs. These undoubtedly were intended to be mistaken for the real thing.
While the police have quickly apprehended the people who created and put up the LED signs, they haven't gone as quickly with whoever might have planted the devices actually intended to provoke fear. They've identified someone but not charged him. I guess it's good that when it comes to an actual hoax, they're careful to make sure they have the right guy.
I can't help but wonder though if the Boston Police got their reactions mixed up. OTOH, it seems to me that their reactions to these fake pipe bombs were quite reasonable and on the mark. Everyone did their jobs and the right things happened. I don't see the point in getting everyone panicked over fake pipe bombs. (I note that they blew up the fake pipe bombs. So I'm guessing blowing things up is how they figure out if it's fake or not? That seems excessive.)
I've avoided making the cheap shots about blinking lights, but I'm wondering if there is something to it. Maybe because they're more familiar with pipe bombs, they weren't as likely to jump to conclusions or bad movie plots.
