Why the Balloon Boy Hoax Wasn't Funny:

[Junkdrawer]

That balloon was headed for the airspace of one of the nation's largest air hubs: Denver International. If it had gone through that airspace, officials, on extremely short notice, would have had to reroute traffic so as to avoid a collision with a "balloon containing a six year old". And THAT could have led to an accident.

And that's to say NOTHING about the risks that might have been taken by the Air National Guard trying to "save the boy".

Not funny.

[Maccagirl]

1. No, it wasn't funny

It was only a matter of time before something like this would happen in the age of "reality" television. What the hell isn't a hoax anymore?

[spanone]

2. the frightening thing to me was how the media was so easily duped.

:scared:

[LostInAnomie]

3. Some of the media were in on it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6805592&mesg_id=6805592

[RichGirl]

10. We are a trusting people.

[leeroysphitz]

24. We are a nation of bloated, self-absorbed, voyeuristic simpletons. n/t

[spanone]

81. we were a nation of trusting people....

[rcrush]

18. Hopefully people will learn their lesson about cable news

Everytime something ridiculous appears on CNN or MSNBC people eat it up. I would have thought by now that people would realize that everything on cable news is bullshit. But people still watch.

[Eric J in MN]

33. If tomorrow a couple calls 911 and claims their kid is floating in a balloon,

...even having gone through this hoax, we won't know if that theoretical couple is telling the truth.

You're asking too much if you want reporters to know the full truth when they have little information and it's been a short time since the story broke.

[harun]

87. You forgot the sarcasm tag :-).

[polichick]

4. The father won't think it's funny either when he gets the bills from Colorado...

...the farmer whose field was ruined and the feds, who are also considering charges.

[Dulcinea]

79. Agreed.

Don't send this fruitloop to jail. Garnish his wages until reparations are paid to the farmer, the state, and emergency services.

[Common Sense Party]

80. I don't think he has any wages.

Does the man hold a steady job? I think he's trying any scheme to break into "show biz." He doesn't have time for a job.

[cwydro]

5. I really hope that some federal charges

get filed against this idiot.

[immoderate]

9. I think they'll make a deal.

To try this guy could get ugly. He'll plead to a lesser charge.

--imm

[hlthe2b]

6. There was nothing about the hoax that was funny..

Particularly the depressing look at how many of our fellow Americans would do ANYTHING for their 15 minutes of fame--even putting their own children or others are risk.

[SoCalDem]

8. "Gyspys, Tramps & Thieves" comes to mind

SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Fri Oct-16-09 08:26 PM
Original message
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6796347&mesg_id=6796347
Why they show us, and why we watch.


Everything in most people's lives is precarious, if not downright suck-y about now.

Media is tired of the whole health care issue, and they look desperately for anything to distract themselves and us..

and they know we'll watch.

Fake reality is always easier to swallow than real reality. Fake reality exists only in that moment, and at any time the participants can choose to leave it altogether (or they are "voted" off/out)

real reality has scary stuff in it..stuff like:

cancer
sick kids
low-pay jobs
no money
lost jobs
foreclosed houses
shitty schools
nasty divorces
angry custody cases
missing child support payments
turned off utilities
repossessed cars

Real reality is inescapable for most people. Once in that vortex, they are pretty much stuck, barring a miracle.

Media is desperate to show us things that are different from reality.

Our Balloon-Boy story of late, proves the point. His family is odd..nothing like most of us.

They are hucksters, raising the next generation of hucksters

They are people on the margin, doing wacky things, in hopes that someone somewhere will pay to see them in action..

They are a symptom of so much that is wrong these days. they think they are living off-the-grid, but they still need money, so they have turned themselves into an "attraction", and are constantly on the prowl for ways to market themselves..


and there are unfortunately enough people whose own lives are so boring, or so frightening, they are eager to escape for a while, so they buy into this..

think back to the 1930s.. people were pole-sitting, high-wire walking, going over falls in barrels..wing-walking.. holding killer dance-marathons.. all for attention and possibly a few bucks

and today we have
Survivor
Dancing with the (dim) Stars
American Idol
Flip this House
Decorate this House
Sell this House
Clean this House
Let's Sew an Ugly Dress
Kick someone OUT of this House
Kate+8-1
Octofreak+14,-public interest
Fernando Lama's Bad Boy's Family
Ozzie Osborne's loony family
Kardashians on the Rampage




the list is endless

[Junkdrawer]

13. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours

Thanks for reposting...

[hlthe2b]

17. +1

all too true

[Democrats_win]

7. We also shouldn't be blind to the over-compensating sheriff.

They were really duped. If the sheriff had done his job the boy would have been found before the world was duped. Obviously there needs to be some investigation, but going after them because of the notoriety isn't fair either. That's especially true in an age when banksters are so rotten and crooked and given trillions of dollars for their crimes. Forget the balloonies and go after the mf banksters and usurists.

[Taverner]

11. I don't blame the sheriff

When a 6 year old life is at stake, I'm willing to forgive many "mistakes" in the name of safety

[Lerkfish]

16. let's get real. The police had to handle the investigation a certain way

and pleasing the media is not part of that.
I do not think they were duped. Every investigator I've dealt with will, OFF THE RECORD, tell you they're suspicious of everyone involved until eliminated as a suspect, that's the only way to fairly investigate any crime.

if they ever act like they're NOT taking someone as a suspect who should be one, they are "playing" that suspect.

[snagglepuss]

19. Good point but they dropped the ball when they searched the house.

I think they assumed along with everyone elso the kid was in the balloon.

[Lerkfish]

21. also a good point, ASSUMING the kid was hiding in the house, we don't know that

he was originally. Remember, the family was lying about him being in the balloon, why would the put him in the house where he COULD be found?
My money is on him being somewhere else and THEN transferred to the attic.

[snagglepuss]

23. This is as good as as any Agatha Christie mystery. Now we know it was

carefully planned you may be right that there was a different hiding place. Please pass the popcorn:)

[Junkdrawer]

25. The sheriff agrees...

...

Six-year-old Falcon Heene may not have even been hiding in the rafters of the family's garage during the intense five-hour search for him Thursday, Alderden said.

"For all we know he may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park," the sheriff said.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33340547/ns/us_news-life//

[Arugula Latte]

12. Wasn't air traffic briefly delayed?

I fly into Denver every year at least once. I'd be pissed off if I got tangled up in a mess caused by that pompous asshole Heene.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Details here:

The Balloon Boy event and its impact on Denver International Airport

When it was thought that young Falcon Heene was trapped in a balloon floating across the Front Range yesterday afternoon the rescue mission ended up having an impact on operations at Denver International Airport.

The balloon was steered in the general direction of DIA by strong southeasterly winds. At one point it came within a 10-14 mile range of the airport. Flights had to be diverted due to the risk of colliding with the balloon and at the time what was believed to be a 6 year old passenger. Due to the balloon and helicopter traffic the FAA created a safety bubble around the rescue operation and steered aircraft to either side. Initially as they were still trying to get an accurate location of the balloon air traffic was delayed but once they had a positive radar contact the operations of the airport were returned to normal.

Its common for the FAA to do this type of traffic redirection around rescue events or other traffic anomalies. The policy is that aircraft must give way to other aircraft that are less maneuverable. So a large passenger jet is considered to be more maneuverable than a balloon requiring the jet to see and avoid the balloon. To manage this and keep the airspace moving in an efficient manner the FAA creates what are called airspace classifications. Around larger commercial airports its called Class B Airspace. This is the most restrictive airspace used by commercial and non-military aircraft. Its done so there is only the type of traffic that can effectively operate and maneuver in the areas around a large busy airport. Normally you have to file a flight plan or receive permission from the Air Traffic Control Tower at these airports to enter the restrictive airspace and if a pilot fails to make contact or enters the airspace without permission the FAA can and will punish the pilot either through a fine or even revocation of their pilots license.

When there are cases like this balloon that are just not possible to control the FAA has to quickly and effictively manage the traffic it can control which end up being the aircraft departing and arriving at the airport. Luckily the balloon didn't get any closer to the airport and the FAA won't punish the boy or its father as it appears that this was just a big accident. However, if it turns out this was a predetermined publicity stunt or hoax than there could be punishment for affecting the national airspace system.


http://www.examiner.com/x-15815-Denver-AirlinesAirport-Examiner~y2009m10d16-The-Balloon-Boy-event-and-its-impact-on-Denver-International-Airport

[TorchTheWitch]

15. Yep a few reports said Denver Intnl. was shut down

military copters were also used.

[Junkdrawer]

20. I just saw the sheriff's presser and he said the FAA and FBI will come in Monday...

and discuss whether Federal charges will be filed.

Clearly these would be the most serious charges.

And I find it, ahem, curious that the MSM isn't playing up this aspect of the story. Hmmm... wonder why...

[LisaL]

22. No it wasn't funny. Someone could have been seriously hurt

trying to save a kid that wasn't in the balloon.

[applegrove]

26. I didn't think it was funny at the time. I was so scared for the little guy.

[Odin2005]

27. This is the end result of the social cancer that is reality television.

[BuyingThyme]

28. Still funny.

Stuff is funny.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. That would have just made it funnier.

That's like saying Barbara Bush slipping on a banana peel isn't funny because it was at the top of the staircase and she would have fallen down them.

[question everything]

30. What I don't get is, what was he trying to accomplish?

Just to get everyone on alert about the boy and then say Oops? What was he expecting to gain?

[Eric J in MN]

34. I think that the father was disappointed when he failed to sell his proposal...

...for a reality TV show to a network, and wanted to prove to the people who rejected his proposal how good he is at getting attention.

[question everything]

36. That's disgusting. I hope they throw the book at him

for false reports, for wasting precious resources for whatever they can find.

[Ed76638]

31. This family is getting smeared bigtime.

And people are buying this shit because teh athoritah wants to bring charges because they're mad as hell over the rescue efforts.

[BuyingThyme]

32. I think you gotta bring charges against fuckers who make 911 calls like that.

[Ed76638]

37. I truly believe these people were scared for their child's safety.

I'm not naive enough to think that a family wouldn't pull a stunt like this. I just believe this family is innocent.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

38. No they weren't.

They knew the whole time he wasn't in it.

And they're horrible actors.

[TexasObserver]

41. What possible basis could you have to conclude they're innocent?

The father and mother are both certifiable nut jobs who love to be on television, and don't mind being asses to get there. They're frauds any way you look at them. The father is a major loser who leads his family like a little cult of gay bashing toads.

[Ed76638]

45. And you call them nut jobs.

Why, because the whore media and the offical "AUTHORITAH" told you to do so. And to top it off, you call them a loser too.

[TexasObserver]

46. Because I am sane and I've seen them on television shows displaying their illness.

If you haven't watched them on that wife swapping show, you really should. They're a couple of whack jobs. Hopefully, the kids will be removed until they get parenting classes and serve their sentences.

[Ed76638]

48. WOW

You watch your shitty, edited, "reality" programing, make moral judgments against those people, and you call yourself sane. This is fucking LULZ worthy.

[Maru Kitteh]

51. So are you like "Balloon Paternal Uncle" or something?

How are you related to these people?

[Ed76638]

52. Not related to those people.

I just dont like people being shat upon just because the whore media covers their story for sensationalism.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

53. Are you into UFOs?

And hoaxes?

[Ed76638]

54. Are you into UFO's and hoaxes?

Please refer your questions to someone who gives a fuck.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

55. Ooo. Did I hit a nerve?

[Ed76638]

56. No, wait , you did.

That bullshit about ufos came from absoultly nowhere. you ought to be goddamn ashamed of yourself.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. Did you accidently the coke bottle?

"That bullshit about ufos came from absoultly nowhere."

We're talking about how nutty the family is. They're into UFOs. Pyraminds on Mars. Antigravity. Hoaxes.

That sort of thing.

[Ed76638]

58. I accidently something.

Talking about how nutty a family is, and charing them with crimes are two completely different things.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

59. What's wrong with charging criminals with crimes?

After they've confessed?

Soft on crime, are you?

[Ed76638]

60. They are not criminals...

You only believe they are criminals because some sheriff said they were.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

62. That, and their hoax is obvious.

At least to people who aren't really, really stupid. UFO nuts might have fallen for it. Or Bush voters.

[Ed76638]

64. It's hilarious that you call going along with the mainstream being NOT STUPID.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

67. Whether or not the "mainstream" is stupid...

These people clearly were.

[EOTE]

84. Now they are not technically criminals. They're simply people who have committed a crime

and have yet to pay for it. In a couple weeks or months they'll be criminals. Of course, they probably won't get the punishment that they deserve, but it will be something.

[stanwyck]

86. You're not in law school are you? You're going to have

trouble passing the bar.

[Dorian Gray]

72. If you criticize

someone for watching Wife Swap, what does that say about the people who appear on the show. LOL.

Clips of the show and their interviews on all the talk shows and news shows they've been on this past week post the official HOAX are enough. Oh, and the fact they used their kids in this HOAX belies their idiocy.

[EOTE]

83. These people are guilty as hell.

The father lied a good half dozen times and changed his story as soon as the media attention got hotter. Completely disregarding what assholes the parents are (who have taken great pains to make sure their kids become assholes too), the father saw his balloon take off and would have had to have been an even bigger idiot than I give him credit for to not know that his child wasn't aboard. And do you just happen to believe that this father had been seeking media attention all these years and just happened to achieve it with this hoax? If you truly believe that these idiots are innocent, I've got some swamp land to sell you in Florida.

[Dorian Gray]

71. Because

we've seen clips of their Wife Swap appearance..... nobody told us what to think... it's obvious that they're deranged.

[jeanmarc]

74. So called 'scientist' knew...

He knew that balloon couldn't hold up his kid, that's simple science and this is a complete hoax. lol, they called media outlets before even calling 911.

[EOTE]

85. You're confusing 'scientist' with 'psientist'.

To become a scientist, one needs to go to college to develop an understanding and respect for the scientific method, usually for a good, long time. To become a 'psientist', one only needs to have an insane craving for attention, the desire to blow shit up and watch stuff fly.

[LisaL]

44. Sheriff said the balloon wouldn't even be able to carry the kid

based on the actual dimensions and weight of the balloon.

[TexasObserver]

47. Crawford, Texas

76638 is its zip code

just sayin'

[Ed76638]

50. LAWL

That number was a completely random generated number given to me by AOL when I created my user name during the 2000 recount.

[TexasObserver]

61. Your story isn't as convincing as the one the Henne family spun.

[Ed76638]

63. I dont give a goddamn about convincing your sorry ass.

[TexasObserver]

65. So, what you're saying is ...

Please, stop with the subtlety. Get to the point.

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TexasObserver]

68. self delete

[Maru Kitteh]

49. This family is so full of shit there should be a biohazard sign in their front yard.

That home video of them staging the whole damn thing is grotesque.

[Dorian Gray]

73. Exactly

and since your Message Line is filled with brilliance, I'd like to repeat it: "This family is so full of shit there should be a biohazard sign in their front yard." --Maru Kitteh

[cwydro]

70. No way.

They planned this from the beginning.

Just watching that father on TV - he is not even a good liar.

[BuyingThyme]

77. The call sounded like an act to me.

To much breathing before talking. I think I have talent for recognizing that kind of BS. Maybe not.

[Common Sense Party]

82. The father was full of crap when he was on the 911 call.

He told dispatch that the outer surface of the balloon was charged periodically with "a million volts" of electricity. That's an obvious lie.

He knows the baloon couldn't support the kid's weight.

The whole thing was a fraud, a lie, and a ridiculous waste of time.

Save your healthy skepticism of "teh authoriteez" for a time when it's actually useful.

[Kerrytravelers]

35. In addition to the other mentioned issues, think of the wasted money on this nonsense.

This is hardly the time to be wasting money.

[roody]

39. I missed the hoax because I do not have tv.

[Maru Kitteh]

42. So you want a cookie or something?

[Eric J in MN]

43. I don't currently have TV service, but...

...got plenty of news about the hoax via my Twitter subscriptions.

[Maru Kitteh]

40. No. It wasn't funny at all. People could have easily died. I hope "dad" goes to jail for a

very, very, very, very long time.

[Raine]

69. Agreed

and also I hope the parents have to pay for the expense they caused.

[jeanmarc]

75. Potential rescuers might have died....

There's the distraction of all these responders from responding to actual emergencies, but what really would have been sad is if someone did try to rescue the kid and died in the process.

I just wish someone, anywhere in the media or whatever could have seen that the balloon, filled with helium and not even with a great deal of pressure, couldn't have possibly had enough lift to carry a kid.

[MajorChode]

76. The FAA reroutes traffic on short notice routinely for all sorts of reasons

It's just part of the job of air traffic control and the FAA does it extremely well. Pilots expect reroutes on every flight as it's quite common. So in actuality any risk to the flying public was infinitesimal.

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

78. True...pilots are trained for this...

While there may have been some delays, it is wrong to say this would have caused an accident.

Besides in the equation of "Plane vs. Small Ballon" the plane would win easily.