Wow. I would not say it is a US-only phenomenon. This incident indeed shows the sorry state of society.
Politicians want citizens to feel the threat, so they stand together and shut up when it comes to increasing the
military ("defense"
![Laughing :-DD](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley_laughing.gif.pagespeed.ce._hfWAz_QHO.gif)
) expenses and voiding civil rights.
Anything that's a mystery to you can appear suspicious!
In this case, blame Hollywood for their stupid time bombs as seen in many movies.
I guess the 7-seg display was what teachers and policemen associated with a bomb.
Would have expected more common sense, from the cops at least.
To judge if a device is a bomb, wouldn't you look for something like Semtex (Play-Doh)?
ICs don't explode, neither do caps (usually). Jeez. Don't need to be MacGyver.
Would not say it's all sunshine here in Germany but you cowboys have an
anxious trigger finger.
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xwink.gif.pagespeed.ic.cldandycH0.png)
I would not be afraid to carry around firecrackers out of season, here, as long as they
aren't mounted around my belt.
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xwink.gif.pagespeed.ic.cldandycH0.png)
Besides,... this site claims to have a picture of the device the boy built:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/21/nerds-rage-over-ahmed-s-clock.htmlNot having read the article, it appeared strage to me that the clock is not DIY at all.
It's a commercial product in a suit case... Especially that flat cable crap is very untypical of DIY.
So, taking it school to show pride of THAT THING which he did not even build himself?
That smells like an excuse to not be held responsible for it being a hoax after all.
No matter what intention, I don't see any moral issues in what the boy did.
He's just holding a mirror... How he was treated clearly reflects where society is headed.
We can observe how terrorism succeds at causing mistrust and suspicion. Chickens!
Maybe he was naive to think that his fooling around with classmates and teachers
would stay a in-class only affair. Was it his intention to do the shocker
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xwink.gif.pagespeed.ic.cldandycH0.png)
?
However, I don't believe there's truth in the money making / fame conspiracy theories...