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[the_leander]

At first when I read this story, I was thinking of Zombiefied computer DDOS attacks, and had that been the case, I would have had to agree with the desision to incarcerate this student, but as I found out, and what you will by reading the story in the link I'm about to give out, this is simply not the case.

From the article:

"A George Rogers Clark High School junior arrested Tuesday for making terrorist threats told LEX 18 News Thursday that the "writings" that got him arrested are being taken out of context.

Winchester police say William Poole, 18, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. Investigators say they discovered materials at Poole's home that outline possible acts of violence aimed at students, teachers, and police.

Poole told LEX 18 that the whole incident is a big misunderstanding. He claims that what his grandparents found in his journal and turned into police was a short story he wrote for English class.

"My story is based on fiction," said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. "It's a fake story. I made it up. I've been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies.""

Full, story, as ever here.

I have to ask, is the standard of education so low that in the USA that this is to be taken seriously?

[adz]

I have to ask, is the standard of education so low that in the USA that this is to be taken seriously?

Given that the US is a place driven by fear, I'd say yes, I'm so glad I don't live there.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

adz wrote:
I'm so glad I don't live there.

:inquisitive: isn't that fear?

[adz]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

:inquisitive: isn't that fear?

No, I don't consider that fear, I consider that sane reckoning, I'm merely making a comparison, ie. I'm glad I live in Australia and not the US.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

but IF you were living in the States?

[adz]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
but IF you were living in the States?

IF and thats a big IF, then I would probably be migrating to Australia :-P

[Speelgoedmannetje]

adz wrote:

IF and thats a big IF, then I would probably be migrating to Australia :-P

....because?...

(that'd be a big decision y'know)

[Karlos]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

....because?...

... it's got an above average share of paranoid nutters who can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality anymore.

[adz]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

....because?...

(that'd be a big decision y'know)

Well, yeah, thats kinda obvious. However, with all the guns, high crime, holiwood celebrities, paranoia and American Idol it would be an easy decision to make.

[metalman]

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Some posts from his fellow GRC HS students on a blog site
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Perhaps this might illuminate the matter more. The student's claim lacks credibility. HIs initial story was that he was writing the assignment for a vocaional school class (yes, vocational school is where you learn carpentry and welding, not creative writing). Then it switched to an English assignment. Oddly enough, he doesn't have an English class this semester. Still think his story is credible?

His sister, who read what he wrote, indicated that he had listed the sites where the cameras
are located in the school and timed out the minimum time it would take for police to arrive on campus. Still sound credible to you?

He's also been involved in a number of fights and assaults on campus (and off). This is at least his second terroristic threatening charge. Until now, his grandparents have done everything they could to keep him out of jail.
Posted by: Icarus at February 28, 2005 05:54 PM

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I personally know this guy!

He is a frickin nut basket case thats ready to explode at any second!

Our Town feels so much safer that this guy was arrested.
Posted by: Donald at March 4, 2005 10:14 AM
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The Inkwell is the literary magazine at George Rogers Clark. Since people seem to be so willing to believe Poole's comments, here's a couple of facts from it -- In four years (he is an 18-year-old junior, after all) at GRC, he hasn't published anything in it. Yes, it's certainly possible that he might be shy about his "writing," but it's also possible that he doesn't really write stories at all.

The Inkwell does, however, include some violent stories. Those students weren't arrested. In fact, the school PUBLISHED them. There is also some artwork that depicts violence (mostly martial arts in animé style). Again, the school published that artwork. If Poole wrote a real story, why would the school treat him differently than these other writers?

I feel sorry for Poole; I really do. But, I'm glad that he didn't get the opportunity to follow through with his plans. I hope that his trial brings him help to deal with his anger and lack of self-esteem.

And some of you need to go back and read the comments -- you keep asking questions that have been asked and answered.
Posted by: icarus at March 4, 2005 05:02 PM
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FinderComnet, you make the assumption that no one has tried to help him in the past. People have been trying to help this kid for years. He refuses help. You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The school has anger management workshops. The school has four counselors, a shrink and a youth services center that will help people get mental health care. But in order for that to work, people have to take advantage and participate in what's offered. Poole would rather be a bully.
Posted by: icarus at March 4, 2005 05:26 PM
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Jim, I'm just going through one Inkwell -- there are 80 different contributors. I know that in this issue, at least 30 of them were new voices because they were freshmen. Lots of the people in the issue aren't in the Creative Writing Club, which produces the magazine.

Also, in this particular issue, there are several stories with violence and a few drawings with weapons. The police have access to the publication (the Police Chief's daughter is a student at GRC) but they haven't arrested or charged any of those kids with terroristic threatening.
Posted by: icarus at March 4, 2005 08:08 PM
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[the_leander]

Interesting stuff, but the fact still remains: He was arrested as a terrorist for writing about zombies overrunning the school.

This kid may be an utter gob****e, and by the accounts of these kids its more then likely, but of all the things to be imprisoned for, assault, threatening behaviour (if this kid is a bully these are the sorts of things I'd expect charges to be drawn up on) but raising an undead army to attack your school is not what I would call plausable, at worst I could concieve of him being sectioned under some mental health provision, but as a terrorist? Come off it.

Whats next, Steven King gets arrested for planning to have New York sucked into a shiny vortex on charges of terrorism, crimes against humanity and genocide??

I would however like to retract the last part of my first post, I don't think it was called for in retrospect. I would change it like this: Are people in parts of the USA so paranoid that things like this can happen for real?

[Speelgoedmannetje]

adz wrote:
Well, yeah, thats kinda obvious. However, with all the guns, high crime, holiwood celebrities, paranoia and American Idol it would be an easy decision to make.

I know, I know
just a bit teasing :-)

[adz]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

I know, I know
just a bit teasing :-)

I know, tis all in good fun :-)

[metalman]

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My source for the information about the story is his sister. My source for his previous legal troubles is that he was arrested at school after fighting and threatening to kill another boy. He did this in front of kids and teachers. That's my school. I know the people involved. Poole is right when he says the people there know him -- as do his grandparents, who turned him in.

Perhaps you will follow the story of the trial and see this through. The kid needs help and luckily he was caught before he took action that could have hurt others.

Posted by: icarus | March 3, 2005 06:20 AM

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Auros, I am saying that I know this kid, his sister, his brother, and his half-brother. I am not getting my information from a website. This is happening at my school and in my community. It's reality information, not cyber information.

Posted by: icarus | March 5, 2005 09:31 AM
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I have to ask, is the standard of education so low that in the USA that this is to be taken seriously?

First, to be taken seriously is ludicrous in itself. They're saying that no one has the right to write horror any more because it's too scary or realistic? Poor George Romero!

Secondly, examining this;

"It didn't mention nobody who lives in Clark County, didn't mention (George Rogers Clark High School), didn't mention no principal or cops, nothing,"

"It didn't mention nobody" "didn't mention no pricipal or cops, nothing". With an grammatical genius such as this kid, one can't blame the cops for not believing that it was fiction written for an English class. Can we get him to take the English writing test mentioned in the other thread?

Wayne