6 year old in a balloon

burniegoeasily · 10-16-2009, 05:41 AM

Seems like there is a good chance the kid in the balloon might turn out to be a hoax. It is looking like it was all a publicity stunt. If this is true, should his family pay for the expense of all the public services that were wrongly used? I don’t know the cost, but the helicopters alone had to be expensive. Not to mention all the other expenses the City/County/State had to pony up for this stunt.

What do you all think?

pigiron · 10-16-2009, 05:55 AM

If it is a hoax..which at this point it most likely is, he should pay. Police and rescue were running with their chokes out to get the boy down safely.

Having two children of my own, I was actually sick to my stomach thinking of how scared that young boy was and what was going through his mind.

I read this morning that on CNN the kid admitted to doing the stunt for a show.

*father still denies*

vc1111 · 10-16-2009, 02:18 PM

I could not be more amused by this kind of stuff.

The press was wetting their pants with glee. Imagine...a story with all the elements. Gasping in anticipation... Is he in the balloon? Will he survive? Who made this thing? Is his dad really a wacko or some sort of character like that guy in Back To The Future?

And all the networks swung into high gear, repeating what tiny fragments of actual factual info they had...over and over and over again. And the inflection in their voices: "We can only pray that this turns out okay."

Ah, yes, they love a chance to place the back of their hands against their foreheads to feign concern. Me? I'm watching this stuff from my usual seat in my favorite Viet Namese restaurant as I pound down a nice hot plate of chicken fried rice...while telling the captivated-by-it-all waitress that I KNOW this is some kind of hoax. (She responded with a series of "how could you be so insensitive glances)

And the best part? It almost certainly was a big fat hoax. Turns out the entire family is a pack of storm chasers. Oh, yeaaaaaa, baby, storm chasers! And the dad loves to bring the kids with him on these storm chasing outings. Lol, who would not want the kids to miss out on a tornado? I know I ALWAYS wanted my kids in on that kind of stuff. Build character, you know.

And did I mention that this balloon-building, storm-chasing wack job and his band of bozos was also part of the Reality TV scene? Oh, but of course, mon ami. Why not? It only makes sense, right?

But as I say, I was amused and it was great fodder for a Thursday afternoon in the Land of Oz.

The press is now tripping over itself to get close to the Sheriff who was "certain" it was no hoax.

And in the meantime, the "missing" kid is mumbling about it all being done, "just for the show."

James B · 10-16-2009, 04:33 PM

Fox showed a very good picture of the launch, there was sure as hell nobody in the baloon. Niot that it makes any difference to me. There will never be any proof either way unless someone admits to it.

Howler · 10-16-2009, 05:33 PM

I know one thing, I'm already tired of the frickin' story, and they just keep stringing it out on the local news.

I'd bet money that it was a publicity stunt. For one, they called a news channel before calling 911, from what I understand. The boy, aren't kids just so cute with thier honesty, admitted it was "for the show". They even got the launch of video! It was no accident!

Aught Six · 10-17-2009, 04:45 AM

Vietnamese waitresses are nice...

I think the state should teach the whole family a lesson. Re-inflate the ballon, tether to the kid to it, and make him fly for real.

The Rev · 10-17-2009, 05:10 AM

I think this story is a lot of hot air..

Vizsla Vince · 10-18-2009, 09:55 AM

Now the sheriff is pursuing charges on the family for a hoax...

FlDeerman · 10-18-2009, 05:50 PM

I hope they charge the parents for all the expense and for breaking the law.

Lanse couche couche · 10-19-2009, 09:57 AM

They are a bunch of idiots. However, I look for them to come out of it smelling like a rose. they will get a slap on the wrist from the authorities and may have to shell out a couple grand for expenses. However, they will make plenty of money off selling the inside scoop on their whole plot and maybe even get a book deal out of it. In case you all havent noticed, the more idiotic the story is nowdays, the more money and publicity the idiots get.