(OT) Teenager dies of Acute Stupidity Disorder

[Tiefling]

Teenager dies of Acute Stupidity Disorder, mother seeks retribution against natural beauty

Daniel Dick, a teenager of 18 years, was on vacation in Hawai'i when he was abruptly and fatally affected by Acute Stupidity Disorder. While symptoms vary from case to case, his was characterized by standing over large blowholes for extended periods of time.


Hi all. I found a link to this on Sean K. Reynolds's site, so for those who have visited there it's old news, but I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Aug/19/ln/ln17a.html

 

[ForceUser]

Sad. That deserves a Darwin award, though.

 

[Henry]

It may not have been wise, but it is still a sad thing to see. I take no enjoyment from seeing the loss of life that was preventable.

This is not to say that the officials should "put a grate over the hole," or any such nonsense. It's just preventable with common sense, and I am sorry to see it happen.

 

[Mark]

That really blows...

 

[takyris]

I consider both this post and Sean's to be incredibly insensitive.

I've been to Hawai'i and watched the blowholes. I thought they were cool. A bit younger, and I could have talked myself into standing near one to get sprayed.

This wasn't a volcanic spurt or anything. He got hit, lost his balance, fell in, hit his head, and drowned. Stupid? Yes. He's 18. It looked like a waterslide. Anyone who has never done anything stupid, raise your hand.

Getting holier-than-thou and smug because the dead kid's mother is being emotional and some reporter gets her on the record for it is not the mark of a mature and sensitive person.

On the other hand, I am a newbie on this board, so who cares what I think...

-Tacky

 

[Dr Midnight]

No, takyris, you're right. The story mentions that he "may not have known about hazardous conditions".

I certainly wouldn't know not to look into a hole in the ground unless someone told me or there was a sign warning me not to. I wouldn't know a "blowhole" if I saw one.

 

[Chimera]

I don't "take enjoyment" either, but on the other hand, I have run out of patience with this kind of stupidity - especially when people use it as an excuse to increase government oversight of everyone as a whole. I don't want no freaking Nanny-State. I am an adult, thankyouverymuch.

So if Stupid people keep killing themselves by doing things like this, then I have NO sympathy. Let them die. At least this one won't be breeding.

On the bright side, his death may wake up the next idiot...

(For some reason, this also made me think of the 300+ pound woman huffing and puffing her way up the stone steps at Mesa Verde, all the while loudly complaining that the government should put in an escalator! Me, I was unfortunate enough to be behind (and below) her.)

 

[Mark]

It's all relative. I think that there are things that are far more tragic than someone not being careful as a tourist. We'll all die someday. Try to face death and adversity with a smile no matter what form it takes. That's my philosophy, if I have one.

 

[Henry]

That really blows...

Darn you, Mark! You just made me crack from ear to ear!

STOP THAT!

 

[King_Stannis]

yeah, in no way is this one of those too-stupid-to-believe stories. in retrospect, yeah it was a lapse of reason. the guy was a freaking tourist, though.

nope. no laughs for this. i also do not agree with the mother about putting grates in, either, as that would detract from the natural beauty of the place. perhaps a few signs to warn the unwary and, yes, somewhat stupid.

it's actually quite sad.

and before we start gleefully doling out wishes of death for people like this, maybe we oughta work on getting rid of some of the truly evil people in this world - there are plenty of them, last time i looked at the newspaper.