So what? That's irrelevant to the reason people are interested in this case. (Nobody cares what exactly he built, people care that he was arrested despite it being completely harmless.)
> Fact 2: The clock was powered via AC, meaning no beeping (one thing all accounts report on) unless it was plugged in. Which it did. Who plugs in an alarm clock in English class?
There's a 9-volt battery cable clearly visible in every photo of the clock.
> Fact 3: His engineering teacher, the guy he supposedly brought it in to show, told him to leave it with him / not show it to other teachers. He did otherwise.
He earlier set the alarm, then forgot that it was set.
> Fact 4: There is no legitimate evidence that this incident was based on race. Plenty of white kids getting kicked out of school for toy guns.
I'll grant you that one, but regardless of the kid's race the reaction of the school staff and police was utterly unacceptable. That is the important thing about this story.
> Fact 5: His dad is a known political agitator, most famously for a koran-burning incident in Florida a while back.
So what?
> Taken alone, any one of these things don't really mean much. Added up, there aren't many scenarios that look good for him.
No, this is at best irrelevant stuff ("he didn't really build a clock!") and at worst conspiracy theory ("his dad is a political agitator!") stuff.
I had no clue there were so many conspiracy theories in play around this simple story so soon after it broke, nor that so many people on HackerNews would be conspiracy theorists, or I probably wouldn't have posted in this thread at all.
Because seriously, this is ridiculous.
And as to lying about it being an invention: "Goes to character, your honor"
The 9V battery is responsible for maintaining settings in case of a power outage - I've got a clock similar to (but much newer than) that one on my nightstand - it does not power the device on its own.
He disregarded his eng. teacher's instructions.
If the "important thing" is that the police/teachers overreacted (which isn't in question.. zero tolerance is dumb), then why is the media, the goddamn president, and half of this thread trying to make it a race/islamophobia issue?
Many/most plug-in digital alarm clocks use a 9-volt battery to keep time in the event of a power failure, but the battery can't light the display. Some clocks will still sound their scheduled alarm if the battery is connected but AC power is not.
The volatility of this thread is pretty nuts, with posts rapidly alternating between gray and black with every reload, so this will be my only post. I just wanted to point out a common commercial alarm clock design element.
Which he did. He invented his particular clock arrangement. Not clocks in general... he's like... 3000 years too late on that front. Yes, it wasn't a complex project... but he's 17, who cares. Has no relevance to the subsequent school or police action.
> Fact 2: [...] Who plugs in an alarm clock in English class?
Teenagers, ones showing off their stuff to friends in particular. Has no relevance to the subsequent school or police action.
> Fact 3: [...] He did otherwise.
Because teenagers always listen to teachers, right? Worst case - confiscate it until the end of the day, maybe a detention. Has no relevance to the subsequent school or police action.
> Fact 4: There is no legitimate evidence that this incident was based on race. Plenty of white kids getting kicked out of school for toy guns.
Well... the police statements at the time were certainly racially ill-advised, but I'll give you this one under extreme charity. If you don't think that being brown skinned and named Ahmed Mohamed had anything to do with the over-reaction then I have a bridge to sell you. This is pretty obvious from you "legitimate evidence" dog whistle... as there's plenty of circumstantial and social evidence, but I doubt you'd call that "legitimate".
So far you're 1 for 4 here, not doing well.
> Fact 5: His dad is a known political agitator
Literally has nothing to do with Ahmed. So.. again has no relevance to the subsequent school or police action.
For being "against me" the facts you provide are pretty junk.
In which case you should share it with everyone else. I'm flat out saying there isn't any, other than a meme and confirmation bias.
I conclude that this idea exists purely as a media-created fantasy. "Racism exists, therefore that's what happened in this case.".
You're being treated like 911 Truth people. Rightfully ignored. Just because you're too dumb to work it out you're claiming victory.
Fact 1: Ahmed claimed to have "invented" this clock in a video. He did not. It is proven without a doubt to be a radio shack clock's guts stuffed in a case.
Fact 2: The clock was powered via AC, meaning no beeping (one thing all accounts report on) unless it was plugged in. Which it did. Who plugs in an alarm clock in English class?
Fact 3: His engineering teacher, the guy he supposedly brought it in to show, told him to leave it with him / not show it to other teachers. He did otherwise.
Fact 4: There is no legitimate evidence that this incident was based on race. Plenty of white kids getting kicked out of school for toy guns.
Fact 5: His dad is a known political agitator, most famously for a koran-burning incident in Florida a while back.
Taken alone, any one of these things don't really mean much. Added up, there aren't many scenarios that look good for him.
I really don't see why this is so outlandish to consider - it takes knowledge that school admins are generally idiots, combined with a misguided desire to either highlight a legitimate problem (said idiocy or islamophobia, take your pick), or plain old fashioned fame seeking.
Not exactly rare mindsets.