Is it possible the real Boston bad actor was the tipster?

[kiahzero]

I see a lot of baseless posting about the Moonite-lights that caused all the trouble in Boston. Posts are claiming that Turner Broadcasting must have been trying to exploit public fears to get more viewers for their show... what about the equally likely possibility that the person who called the "suspicious object" in knew that it was harmless, but thought that they could freak someone out? Turner is publicly accountable, but that's not the case for an anonymous tipster wanting to wreak some havoc.

[Beaverhausen]

1. these things have been up for 2 weeks in 10 cities

it's in the CNN article.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/31/boston.bombscare/index.html

It's only today that Boston freaked out.

[kiahzero]

2. That's what makes me think maybe it was someone reporting in bad faith

I don't understand why that's not being discussed at all.

[sandnsea]

8. Wasn't getting the intended splash??

Someone decided to push it a little further? Yeah, that crossed my mind after I heard the things had been up for so long.

[kiahzero]

9. If Turner called themselves, that'd be criminal.

I highly doubt that'd be the case.

[sandnsea]

10. It was an ad agency's campaign

I forget the name of the company. It was their responsibility to deliver the hype. Turner would not be involved directly. Or it could have just been a reactionary pinhead, who knows.

[Rosemary2205]

11. only criminal if they can prove the tipster was connected.

Cash payments can't be traced.

[C_U_L8R]

3. This whole think could've been debunked

in minutes.. but instead SOMEBODY was milking it
for as much breathless terror hyperventilation as
they could get... hmmmm .. sound familiar?

I mean ...come on .. it's a friggin lightbrite of a cartoon
character giving the finger. It's digital graffiti of a
not so bright guerrilla marketer. You gotta be totally dim
(or have other misintentions) to start yelling "terra terra terra" all day long.
The one's who need a bright light directed upon them are
the chicken littles.. these neocon terrababies.. who hope
to raise the angst of the country with a little fearmongering.

Bah .. what a joke. We are not afraid.

[aquart]

4. Let's see: objects alone in places they don't belong.

And it was spotted on what? An overpass? A bridge?

And you DON'T want someone who sees something like that to report it? You want that person to think better of it because it's probably nothing but some advertising? That's what you want citizens trained to do? NOT report things unusual or out of place or on bridges?

I'm so glad you're comfortable with that.

I'm not.

[kiahzero]

5. I want citizens not to think "TERRA" as their first response.

And that's exactly what they've been trained to do, and it's been ridiculous for quite some time. You think it's OK that Muslim passengers get kicked off airplanes for praying? Exact same problem.

[aquart]

6. Ah. It's the CITIZENS' fault. Damn them.

So the point of sticking those objects on potential targets was.........just good clean fun.

No, it is NOT the same thing as kicking devout Muslims off a plane. That's a more visceral thing. Sorry, it will take some years before we're quite over the slit throats and the exploding planes. I'm sure it will happen in time. Just as I'm sure I will, someday, get on a plane again. Just not since two weeks before 9/11 and maybe not for some time to come. But then, I was fine with kicking the three-year-old tantrum thrower off, too.

Myself, I think terrorism is the very least of the problems facing this country. But that doesn't mean it won't happen again when some pissed off asshole gets hold of some impressive chemicals. It will. It's a basic tool in the arsenal of discontent. It just isn't that big a thing to the nation as a whole. No terrorist ever destroyed a city. No terrorist will be bringing drought and famine to this fertile land. Global warming will do that.

That said, I see no reason to put up with crap like guerilla marketing. At BEST, it's a nuisance. At worst, it will eventually cause deaths.

Ah, but that would be prejudice. Let's do wait until the fatal stunt.

[kiahzero]

7. Everything's a "potential target."

Following your logic, everyone better just get in line and do exactly what others expect to see or accept that they'll be reported as suspected terrorists.

[sandnsea]

12. No freeway blogging either?

Do you have a manual so we all know what freedom means, according to aquart??