Comments on: Mom calls 911 over son's video game habit http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 10:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Atavistian http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672263 Atavistian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672263 Speaking as a police dispatcher (in Massachusetts) myself, I don't think we can make any assumptions in this situation. I've taken calls where the parents simply didn't want to discipline their children at all and preferred to make the police be the bad guys, and I've taken calls from parents whose kids have legitimate behavioral problems and aren't responding to anything else. Given the scant details in the original article, it's really hard to make reliable judgments here. Color me unsurprised that the Herald just *had* to mention it was a GTA game, though. Speaking as a police dispatcher (in Massachusetts) myself, I don’t think we can make any assumptions in this situation. I’ve taken calls where the parents simply didn’t want to discipline their children at all and preferred to make the police be the bad guys, and I’ve taken calls from parents whose kids have legitimate behavioral problems and aren’t responding to anything else. Given the scant details in the original article, it’s really hard to make reliable judgments here. Color me unsurprised that the Herald just *had* to mention it was a GTA game, though.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672051 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672051 The police spokesman went on to say "Lousy kids today. Back in my day we didn't have video games. We just used to tell stories that didn't go anywhere. Like the time I caught the ferry to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for m'shoe. So I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt. Which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. Gimme five bees for a quarter, you'd say. Now where was I... oh yeah. The important thing was that I had an onion tied to my belt, which was the style at the time. You couldn't get white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones..." The police spokesman then wandered off rambling something about his son Homer and how he never visits him at the old folks home... The police spokesman went on to say “Lousy kids today. Back in my day we didn’t have video games. We just used to tell stories that didn’t go anywhere. Like the time I caught the ferry to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for m’shoe. So I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt. Which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ‘em. Gimme five bees for a quarter, you’d say. Now where was I… oh yeah. The important thing was that I had an onion tied to my belt, which was the style at the time. You couldn’t get white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones…”

The police spokesman then wandered off rambling something about his son Homer and how he never visits him at the old folks home…

]]> By: Mark Gordon http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672052 Mark Gordon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672052 Could be worse. Remember the <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/18/police-officer-taser.html">10-year-old girl in Arkansas</a> who was tased by police who were called when she refused to take a shower? At least the Boston cops didn't mistake the game console for an infernal device. I guess they're making progress. Could be worse. Remember the 10-year-old girl in Arkansas who was tased by police who were called when she refused to take a shower?

At least the Boston cops didn’t mistake the game console for an infernal device. I guess they’re making progress.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672308 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672308 #14: I'll disemvowel myself now to save the mods. G*T F*CK*D http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/09/29/the-population-myth/ Who are you to decide who can have children? You are pathetic. #14: I’ll disemvowel myself now to save the mods.

G*T F*CK*D

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/09/29/the-population-myth/

Who are you to decide who can have children? You are pathetic.

]]> By: siliconsunset http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672056 siliconsunset Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672056 So this woman called the EMERGENCY number because she wanted the police to do her job? If you kid won't go to sleep because they are playing video games, the solution is simple: take the game/system away. Not only do you solve the immediate crisis, but you (hopefully)solve future problems of the sort before they happen by assigning consequences to not following the rules. So this woman called the EMERGENCY number because she wanted the police to do her job? If you kid won’t go to sleep because they are playing video games, the solution is simple: take the game/system away. Not only do you solve the immediate crisis, but you (hopefully)solve future problems of the sort before they happen by assigning consequences to not following the rules.

]]> By: Jayel Aheram http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672057 Jayel Aheram Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672057 What kind of mother would risk her son's life by calling the police? If there is anything I have learned, is to never call the police for <i>help</i>. What kind of mother would risk her son’s life by calling the police?

If there is anything I have learned, is to never call the police for help.

]]> By: Gloria http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672061 Gloria Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672061 "Zanoli says the mother's 911 call over video game obsession 'as a little unusual, but by no means is it surprising — especially in today's day and age when these kids play video games and computer games.'" What a bizarre remark. *Of course* it isn't surprising that kids play video games. It IS surprising that a mother would think it appropriate to call 911 for this though. It's sad and a little terrifying that the police can say this kind of call is only a "little unusual" and "unsurprising" rather than "irresponsible" and "a gross misuse of emergency resources." “Zanoli says the mother’s 911 call over video game obsession ‘as a little unusual, but by no means is it surprising — especially in today’s day and age when these kids play video games and computer games.’”

What a bizarre remark. *Of course* it isn’t surprising that kids play video games. It IS surprising that a mother would think it appropriate to call 911 for this though.

It’s sad and a little terrifying that the police can say this kind of call is only a “little unusual” and “unsurprising” rather than “irresponsible” and “a gross misuse of emergency resources.”

]]> By: Dave http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-895549 Dave Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-895549 People say the datndest things. I like to play games, and many kids like to play games. I think people should spend their time playing <a href="http://freeonlinegamesforkids.org/">free online games for kids</a>. The world would be a funner place for everyone. People say the datndest things. I like to play games, and many kids like to play games.

I think people should spend their time playing free online games for kids. The world would be a funner place for everyone.

]]> By: Sekino http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672068 Sekino Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672068 @Anon #1: LOL That's pretty much what I was thinking too. Has he been living in an alternate universe for the past 35 years?? Also, I thought people were supposed to pay fines and get charged for misusing emergency services, not get free parenting services. @Anon #1:

LOL That’s pretty much what I was thinking too. Has he been living in an alternate universe for the past 35 years??

Also, I thought people were supposed to pay fines and get charged for misusing emergency services, not get free parenting services.

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672074 IronEdithKidd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672074 Hey, at least this time the Boston police didn't blow $9m deploying the entire swat team and bomb squad. I'd like to celebrate the fact that the Boston police didn't go apeshit on this parental fail. May it be the first of many rational, proportional responses. Hey, at least this time the Boston police didn’t blow $9m deploying the entire swat team and bomb squad.

I’d like to celebrate the fact that the Boston police didn’t go apeshit on this parental fail. May it be the first of many rational, proportional responses.

]]> By: Alex http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672084 Alex Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672084 Looks like someone needs a lesson on how to use the house's circuit breaker panel. No power to the living room + padlock on the circuit breaker = problem solved. Looks like someone needs a lesson on how to use the house’s circuit breaker panel. No power to the living room + padlock on the circuit breaker = problem solved.

]]> By: jccalhoun http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-673115 jccalhoun Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-673115 Here's the original article with a few more details http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1220221 Here’s the original article with a few more details http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1220221

]]> By: querent http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672363 querent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672363 heh. I would give that power to no one. but it is true that a growing population is unsustainable. best answer? universal economic and social development. specifically education and career opportunities for women. i know i'm totally off topic. :) heh. I would give that power to no one. but it is true that a growing population is unsustainable.

best answer? universal economic and social development. specifically education and career opportunities for women.

i know i’m totally off topic. :)

]]> By: fasterpussycat http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672114 fasterpussycat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672114 I wonder if the issue was that normal parental reproaches had failed (ie. telling the kid to stop, attempting to turn off or take away the device), and rather than attempting something that could result in violence against the parent, s/he decided to leave that in the capable hands of the police? I wonder if the issue was that normal parental reproaches had failed (ie. telling the kid to stop, attempting to turn off or take away the device), and rather than attempting something that could result in violence against the parent, s/he decided to leave that in the capable hands of the police?

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672127 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672127 I was ready to lambaste the mother, but then I thought about it a little more. Maybe she was at the end of her rope and was about to do something stupid like beat the kid up or worse. Perhaps at that point it would be reasonable to call 911, and it was just the police officer's good manners that kept him from outing the mother as almost beating the living snot out of his kid. If you're about to do something monumentally dumb, calling 911 and preventing it isn't the worst thing that you could do. Just conjecture, but it'll help me sleep tonight. I was ready to lambaste the mother, but then I thought about it a little more. Maybe she was at the end of her rope and was about to do something stupid like beat the kid up or worse. Perhaps at that point it would be reasonable to call 911, and it was just the police officer’s good manners that kept him from outing the mother as almost beating the living snot out of his kid. If you’re about to do something monumentally dumb, calling 911 and preventing it isn’t the worst thing that you could do.

Just conjecture, but it’ll help me sleep tonight.

]]> By: CANTFIGHTTHEDITE http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672133 CANTFIGHTTHEDITE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672133 I second the motion! And to quote Louie CK: "What did that shitty kid do to that poor woman?" I second the motion!

And to quote Louie CK: “What did that shitty kid do to that poor woman?”

]]> By: MrsBug http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672135 MrsBug Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672135 If she was desperate enough to call the police (for whatever reason), why didn't she just take a hammer to the stupid console? If she was desperate enough to call the police (for whatever reason), why didn’t she just take a hammer to the stupid console?

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672393 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672393 Promotion of leveling the playing field is <i>never</i> off topic.* *(unless you're a conservative republican) A permanently growing population is unarguably unsustainable <b>but</b>, imho, we are so far from that theoretical limit right now that comments about overpopulation are merely blame shifting. Consumption patterns are where the real waste cuts are to be made. If we were more efficient consumers (and no, that doesnt mean consume more, but be more efficient about how we consume) the world would, without doubt, be able to sustain a higher population. Promotion of leveling the playing field is never off topic.*

*(unless you’re a conservative republican)

A permanently growing population is unarguably unsustainable but, imho, we are so far from that theoretical limit right now that comments about overpopulation are merely blame shifting. Consumption patterns are where the real waste cuts are to be made. If we were more efficient consumers (and no, that doesnt mean consume more, but be more efficient about how we consume) the world would, without doubt, be able to sustain a higher population.

]]> By: olga barshinskey http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672138 olga barshinskey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672138 As over the top as it is to call about a disobedient teenager, I must point out that Boston area residents do not have the option of calling another number in a non-emergency. I have often been frustrated by calling the local police station for a non-emergency complaint only to be told I must call 911 -- that the local number is not to be used for complaints. When I point out that I'd rather not clog up the emergency line, I am told that this is the only option, other than going to the station in person to fill out a formal complaint. This really is the fault of the city for not providing a non-emergency option. As over the top as it is to call about a disobedient teenager, I must point out that Boston area residents do not have the option of calling another number in a non-emergency. I have often been frustrated by calling the local police station for a non-emergency complaint only to be told I must call 911 — that the local number is not to be used for complaints. When I point out that I’d rather not clog up the emergency line, I am told that this is the only option, other than going to the station in person to fill out a formal complaint. This really is the fault of the city for not providing a non-emergency option.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672154 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672154 licence to have children, solve the overpopulation problem, and halve crime in one movement.. it's going to happen one day .. how else are the government going to stop overpopulation ? licence to have children, solve the overpopulation problem, and halve crime in one movement.. it’s going to happen one day .. how else are the government going to stop overpopulation ?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672162 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672162 Because maybe Jr. has two feet and 50 lbs. on her? Because maybe Jr. has two feet and 50 lbs. on her?

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-672498 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672498 Well it sounds crazy, but if he's 14 then it is possible he could threaten his mother physically. Without that information it's hard for me to judge. Lots of domestic violence starts out over something stupid, for instance, but it doesn't make the threat of injury less real. Well it sounds crazy, but if he’s 14 then it is possible he could threaten his mother physically. Without that information it’s hard for me to judge. Lots of domestic violence starts out over something stupid, for instance, but it doesn’t make the threat of injury less real.

]]> By: glory bee http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/mom-calls-911-over-s.html#comment-673019 glory bee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-673019 I agree with blueelm as at 14 boys are physically strong enough and are kind of 'angry young men'! But it will be a no win situation as the addiction, and I use the word in its fullest sense is hard to beat. No amount of reading 'action' type books etc. can interfere with the gamer's sole aim in life, and that unfortunately is to work out, most often with another person on line, the surest way to get to the castle or whatever. It needs a lot of study and to date has gone unnoticed but it has replaced books as a source of involving an adololescent's fixation or inspiration. There is a good side.. the kids' brains are working furiously but thw worlds they 'live in' in these games are so unreal that there is a danger of a reality shift. How can 'real' life experiences compete... that's the question! I agree with blueelm as at 14 boys are physically strong enough and are kind of ‘angry young men’! But it will be a no win situation as the addiction, and I use the word in its fullest sense is hard to beat. No amount of reading ‘action’ type books etc. can interfere with the gamer’s sole aim in life, and that unfortunately is to work out, most often with another person on line, the surest way to get to the castle or whatever. It needs a lot of study and to date has gone unnoticed but it has replaced books as a source of involving an adololescent’s fixation or inspiration. There is a good side.. the kids’ brains are working furiously but thw worlds they ‘live in’ in these games are so unreal that there is a danger of a reality shift. How can ‘real’ life experiences compete… that’s the question!

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