Warning: some blog readers may find this story of teenage misbehavior disturbing.
I am not going to spoil it you need to read it for yourself.
Warning: some blog readers may find this story of teenage misbehavior disturbing.
I am not going to spoil it you need to read it for yourself.
Yeech. Have to disagree with you on this one. Readers DO deserve a spoiler comment re: what they’re about to read when they click through to that story. When I drive by an accident, I choose not to look because I don’t want to see blood, guts and gore strewn across the pavement. A heads-up here would have me still looking forward to lunch instead of dreading it.
I feel like I’m gonna barf. Really.
elves: PLEASE put a warning label on this — I thought it was going to be light, or amusing — I would have chosen not to read this gruesome tale.
Prediction:
Women will agree with me and Ralinda.
Men will think this story is cool and wicked and doesn’t need a spoiler/disclaimer.
Don’t let the NEA get hold of this story – they’ll use it as an argument against home schooling!
Agree with Kathleen! It needs a warning label.
That was truly gross. :-~
The following points are minor compared to this awful story, but I was interested to note a couple of writing mistakes in this piece:
“All three teens gave written and verbal confessions admitting they tried to dig up a body over a two-day period, Adkins said.”
Meaning “gave written and oral confessions.”
“Even so, HPD is working closely with Humble police to try and find any surviving…”
to try TO find…
These mistakes are becoming increasingly common.
Also, I’ve noticed that few people know that “you’re welcome” appropriately follows “thank you” in oral discourse. Say to a sixteen-year-old store clerk (or, increasingly, a 46-year-old clerk) “thank you,” and she or he often will not know what to say. And I’ve been paying attention. It’s often a blank stare or “ok.” We often say “thank you” in response to thank you, which is fine, if a bit unimaginative. But whether on Nightline or the New Hour or anywhere else, I rarely hear “you’re welcome,” which I still think sounds best, the most polite. But I may be old-fashioned.
These points may not be related to the story … or are they? As the language goes–and the discipline of good speech and writing–so goes the country, maybe. But this case is extreme.
Agreed – a warning is a good idea. I just ate lunch, and now I wish I hadn’t…..
Dave Barry often writes “I’m not making this up!”, then goes on to something ridiculous and humorous. Your headline, Dr. Harmon, will mislead more unsuspecting readers to lose their lunch. Elves or Dr. Harmon, please amend this posting, posthaste.
I’m not sure what to do with Karen Bro’s:
[blockquote]Prediction:
Women will agree with me and Ralinda.
Men will think this story is cool and wicked and doesn’t need a spoiler/disclaimer.[/blockquote]
I am male. I think it deserves a disclaimer. I do not think it is cool, though it shows every sign of wickedness.
For what reason were we told that the youths are home-schooled? That seems a completely irrelevant piece of information added either to pad the story a bit (in lieu of noting which high school they attended?) or to introduce the reporter’s (or editor’s) own bias. Surely the newspaper isn’t suggesting that home-schooling tends to produce delinquents who commit depraved crimes?
(For the record, I am not a home-schooling parent. My daughters are in a private middle school.)
And, while I was not put off by the details (although, as a physician, this sort of thing doesn’t usually produce any revulsion other than moral), I agree with the first few commenters, that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to post a warning.
That is quite possibly the most bizarre thing I have ever read. They have to have had some other drugs to think up something like weird.
Mea culpa! Mea culpa!
I merely meant that . . . no. I think I’ll leave it at mea culpa!
I should have not assumed that men would find the story cool and wicked while women would be repelled and disgusted.
Is this a first in blogdom? A meeting of minds between the sexes?
Per #5 & #11
[blockquote]The three boys, all home-schooled [/blockquote]
In general I’m a supporter of Home Schooling, though both our children attended public schools. One problem with Home Schooling, though, is that there are fewer resources available for diagnosis or intervention when more-serious psychological, emotional, or learning related disabilities may affect the growing child. This is not to say that public or private schools don’t miss things or make mistakes, nor to comment on the appropriateness of all the results of the diagnosis or intervention. But in reality, even the best-intentioned parents are often the last to notice when something has gone wrong. Some Home Schooling networks are aware of this and find ways to develop and share resources–but all too often these kids fall between the cracks until they hit the wall of a crisis.
Bruce Robison
Off topic:
David (#7),
The responses to “Thank you” are changing and fluid, much like our language itself. I’m not so ‘dogmatic’ on this subject as I am in other areas.
What I consider appropriate responses, from a ‘customer service’ POV to “Thank you”:
“You’re welcome.”
“No problem.”
“My pleasure.”
“Oh, thank you!” (which, however, can turn into a ‘one-upmanship’ competition: “no — thank you”. “I insist: thank you!” and then the manager has to step in, and it just gets ugly!)
or adding the following to any of the above:
“If we can do anything else for you, just let us know.”
The key is, I think, anwering respectfully and politely.
Thank you!
Jim Elliott <><
No. 13: “Is this a first in blogdom? A meeting of minds between the sexes?”
Uh, no.
No. 15: Agreed. And thank you!
I don’t care so much about a warning label, but I do agree that these actions are a vile and corrupt thing. It is very unfortunate that we have so little respect for the human body, whether it is living or dead. This is shown by our sexual practices, gluttony, and so much else abuse of ours and others bodies.
Does anyone else think this is a matter of disrespect and a violation of the dignity the (helpless, indefensible) dead?
I get angry about (and do not watch) the media coverage of suicides and bodies being shown on TV. I also do not care to look at Egyptian mummies or bones – even of saints – particularly those wierd German Catholic relics with jewels pasted in their eye sockets wrapped in gold netting that were linked over on MCJ!
I’m all for some kind of media etiquette and stringent laws outlining what is respectful and protecting the dead and dying.
PS – What the teens did may be a by-product of the current fascination with CSI type TV shows.
How awful! I seriously doubt there was any real schooling going on in any of those homes. There have always been a very few who claimed to be homeschooling but just kept the kid home to babysit the younger ones or whatever.
“Sheepdog” (who homeschooled ‘for real’ two sons between 1984 and 2000)
19. I would not go as far as blaming TV or video games for this particular issue…let us try…how about parenting (not paying attention to what kids are doing) or just plain sinful human ingenuity. I know for a fact, that this is not the first time that someone has used a human head for smoking drugs or drinking alcohol (this occured before television, radio, video games and most technology).
Does anyone else think this is a matter of disrespect and a violation of the dignity the (helpless, indefensible) dead?
I’m pretty sure they aren’t offended, what with being dead and all 😉
Per #21,
The custom of the “skull cup” is of course known from antiquity.
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skull_cup] Skull Cup [/url]
I doubt these particular young men were exploring their Homeric or Viking heritages, but simply to note that even the worst video games have their “r-rated” classical antecedants.
Bruce Robison
#22
I’m pretty sure they aren’t offended, what with being dead [or unborn, vegetative, or just too dumb to get it so we can laugh and them and they’ll never know] and all.
Karen Bro [#1] says Kendall should have provided us with a heads-up — no pun intended I assume, Karen?
I have to agree that the title to this post led me to expect something funny, not grotesque. Are you feeling well, Dr. Harmon?
It DOES give new meaning to the term “head shop”. . . .
Maybe they’ve been boning up on the customs of the Northern Dwarves in C S Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress.
I think the teacher should concentrate more on Respect 101 in the home schooling atmosphere.
You know, on the subject of the article’s mention of homeschooling, I at first took it as a deliberate slam against homeschooling–but then I realized that, had the grave-robbing kids turned out to have gone to this or that high school, there would have been a good chance that the local paper would have reported the name of the school somewhere in the article. So, it may just be equal treatment.
I rather wish I hadn’t read that.
I, too, am sorry that I read this atrocious story. Please: no more like it.
Hmmm…. judging from the comments, I’m rather inclined NOT to click on the link and read the story.
I posted the remark in the earlier blog about men in England who had their legs cut off because looking at the stumps was sexually stimulating. The event here is no more depraved although it is visually a lot more repellent. And I have here a news article from the local paper that cites a new form of body disposal besides in the ground and cremation: The body is put in what looks like a giant stainless steel pressure cooker and subjected to heat, pressure and lye. This dissolves the body in what the newspaper calls a brown goo. One flushes this down the sink, says the paper. This makes my flesh crawl on my bones, as do the previous two stories. And mind you, this device is now offered as a legitimate way of dealing with a dead person. Tell me, are these boys insane? Or are they…. I don’t know what. What is the proper punishment? Question: Is this casual, seemingly unemotional depravity peculiarly male? Larry
I’m one of those who expected something light and/or amusing, and was not amused when I got to the site. Perhaps there is reason to be made aware that such things go on in our world, but in cases like this one ought to be warned beforehand of what one is about to be exposed to.
E-ewwww and double yuck. I vote for a heads up.
I was surprised by the bad taste shown in passing on something so awful. What does this have to do with this?
“He must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.”
I swear, the whole world is off its rocker.
1. Movie endings are ‘spoiled’. This is not that. The warning should instead mention that the linked-to article is perverse and disturbing.
2. I am skeptical of this article. I note a) rainwater has so far prevented the examination of the corpse and b) the skull has not been found.
3. Whether or not mentioning home schooling is appropriate is the same issue as whether or not mentioning the name of a high school would be appropriate were that the case instead. I believe it is appropriate: it correctly reflects on the character of the home schooling adults just as it would correctly reflect on the the character of a specific high school. It does not reflect on the value of home schooling generally any more than it would reflect on the value of government high schools generally.
With a node to BMR (23) it has been reported that Nostradomas corpse was supposedly dug up and people drank from the skull
Agree – this needs a warning label. I thought I was going to see something funny.
Greetings:
It might be prudent to stop and think about whether one of the lads did in fact, make this up. The stories are conflicting and no skull has been recovered. I have some familiarity (from my misspent youth) with the operation of a bong, and I am a bit puzzled as to how one would use the item in question as one. Could the story have been made up as defiance or insolence, knowing that it would eventually not be proven?
I do not suggest that simple desecration of a grave isn’t bad enough, just that this particular bit of schadenfreude could be misplaced.
regards,
JPB
Okay, I can see why some would want a warning label. On the other hand, do you people know what sorts of heinous stuff is going on in our world! Trying not to look at it is part of the reason we are in the mess we are in. If the church is unwilling to look at the rot and do something about it, who will. Get a grip.
I was expecting something funny as well, and am of course horrified that these boys would do something like this.
However, I’m getting an unexpected laugh at the comments! I agree with #42 – get a grip!!
I’m not sure why people expected that this might be funny. Directly under the link: “I am not going to spoil it you need to read it for yourself” contains the statement: “Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Drugs/Drug Addiction • Teens / Youth .”
The phrases “Drugs/Drug Addiction” and “Teens/Youth” tipped me off at the start that this was something serious. A case, I think, of really needing to read the fine print.
Just my two cents.
William Shontz
http://www.willsho.org
“He regurgitated in his plate of food when I asked him about it. So I knew there was some truth to the story” —Police Officer Adkins
Good reasoning. And quite a story.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
“I am not going to spoil it you need to read it for yourself” —KSH
Kendall was referring to the story, not your lunch.
For the record, I read the story right after lunch, though only with the left side of my brain.
I put up the warning as per the suggestions. The category does not have to do with humor but with things you couldn’t imagine being true but in fact are.
#44 got my intention as the categories of stories are quite important.
My response to the story is to pray for youth and encourage the youth ministers I know. I wonder how many Christians crossed their path before this happened….
This behavior is so vile I cannot imagine what would be the proper punishment for these ghouls.
Edited slightly.
Good points, Kendall.
RE: “I’m pretty sure they aren’t offended. . . ”
But “offense” has nothing to do with a “violation of the dignity of the dead” . . .
RE: “I was surprised by the bad taste shown in passing on something so awful. What does this have to do with this?
“He must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.â€
That’s easy. In order to “hold firm to the sure word as taught” and in order to “give instruction in sound doctrine” and in order to “confute those who contradict it” one must actually be aware of the corruption of the fallen world in which we live so that we can properly “hold firm”, “give instruction” and “confute.” Unless, as with so many Episcopalians, one believes it is better to live in serene denial of facts, events, and news.
This is the human condition. Totally depraved, wretched.
Just Passing By, good to hear from you. I thought it was merely my inexperience which made me unable to understand how the skull was used to smoke pot. I do see people here in Egypt using shishas (water pipes with a hose, water reservoir, and charcoal for heat) to smoke tobacco, but the item in this story sounds not too useful for the purpose.
Agree with Dr. Harmon that these kids need prayer and moral instruction.
Katherine 52 says:
Why, thank you, ma’am.
There is an article on Slate which makes the same point. Skull-themed bongs are not unknown, but an actual skull itself … I am doubtful.
Irenaeus 45 opines:
Is it? Do you think that Ralinda 2 has placed herself under suspicion?
I am emphatically not trying to defend this sort of behavior, if true, but I do think that the alacrity with which this story was accepted as fact is somewhat unbecoming. Is there not depravity enough to report without picking up every questionable, tabloid-level story that’s making the rounds?
regards,
JPB
JPB, the Slate article is even more unappetizing than the original post. Eww. I’m not blaming you; you told me what it was about. In general, I have to agree that the whole story sounds suspicious. These young guys have watched too many horror flicks without focusing on specifics. This, plus the drug use which started the whole episode, indicates that their parents need to monitor their activities and viewing habits much more closely.
I think they should be required to be companions to young children with terminal diseases.
Then, they should be compelled to watch the autopsy.
I just wanted to point something out, especially to #14, #20 and #28. The article doesn’t say how long the boys have been being homeschooled. So, while it could be that they have been homeschooled for years, it seems more likely to me that the homeschooling was a last ditch effort by their parents to regain some control over some very messed up kids. In my experience, it is the kids who are withdrawn from public school that are messed up, not those who grow up at home.
#28 and #20, if the article had given the name of a high school the kids were attending, would you have made the same kind of comments? #28, that the math teacher should have been concentrating more on teaching respect? #20, that there must not be real schooling going on at that high school? Just wondering.
See 42, who speaketh well. This is the real world. This is America. Human depravity is kept in check by a vast battery of social forces, religion being one of the most powerful. But this is failing and the social forces are perishing even at t his moment, because the liberal mantra “Do your own thing” has taken such control of our ethics and social behavior. Why shouldn’t two lesbians ask modern medicine to make their baby blind because they themselves are blind? What’s the objection? Why shouldn’t women abort embryos of the wrong sex?
Why shouldn’t my wife have her breasts expanded, her face lifted, her fat surgically removed, her wrinkles botoxed, her lips puffed up, and on and on? Who’s to say no? And if someone does, why should she listen? Larry