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The father built the balloon, he knew how many cubic feet of helium was in the ballon, thus he knew the balloon did not have the capacity to lift off with his son onboard.
#1 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:10 AM EDTWhy isn't this nice, lots of opinion and NO logic.(not necessarily you physics major.) On CNN they were talking about how a tiny 6 year old could possibly be lifted by that balloon.
One should always reserve judgment until more facts are known. The boy could have meant "show" as in the interviews. He sees cameras, and thinks hey we're on a "show" right now.
Gees Americans are quick to judge based on little to no info, and too much emotion. Enough said.
I completely agree with KatBel. I'm glad these people are police investigators. Guilty! I believe the boy meant "show" as in the interview. These must be the same people that thought the parents were involved with Jon Bonet's murder. They are too quick to jump to conclusions.
Just because he built it does not guarantee that he knew for certain its gross lifting capacity. To me, the larger issue is that it's hard to believe, since he was standing right there when HE personally launched it, he had no idea his son was on-board. Hard to believe someone would use his kid for publicity like that, and we could all be mistaken about what happened, but at this juncture, the evidence of a hoax looks pretty strong.
Then again, if you're going to perpetrate a fraud on the public, why create, and then release, compelling photographic evidence that that is what you were doing?
I think it is fairly obvious the question asked on this site revolves around giving an opinion or making a judgment. There is information out there about this case, and I don't think most people are making judgments without any logic. Katbel, are you anti-American, or do you have some other reason for grouping an entire country of people together as having the same flawed characteristics?
I don't see this being a hoax the emotion from not being able to find your child or nephew(in my case) is overwelming and does cloud judgement. I've been a seconds away from calling 911 before, at the time I was looking under toys and shoes. My sister calls out "we found him" Turns out the nephew had just learned to open the front door and was hiding on the side of the house because we were yelling for him and he was scared he was in trouble. I can completely see this being real, just because you may feel tricked doesn't mean this family tried to trick you.
LOl....... momeese,
Of course it was asking opinions. I said lots of opinion, no logic. An opinion can be based off logic or emotion. But logic requires premises based on fact; and this story about a possible hoax doesn't hold any facts, just speculation. So if one is going to give an opinion, one should at least try to separate one's feelings and look at what is known to be facts.
Look, my degree is in journalism, and I know how news stations like CNN crave attention. What I see, is a dramatic event that had the potential to become even more dramatic, only to quickly diffuse after the boy was found to be merely hiding. I bet the viewership dropped drastically after that. Then what, CNN starts accusing the family of a hoax, keeping the drama going. Even now, no one is discussing how wonderful it is the boy was merely hiding, as opposed to possibly being gravely injured or dead. Instead 80% on here(and I bet 99% of those are Americans. BTW I'm an American too.) are quick to judge it a hoax, keeping the drama alive. It's called sensationalism. It's called ratings.
Boy, you pegged me, that's right I'm anti-American, hahaha great Ad Hominem attack. BTW I said Americans are quick to judge, not "All Americans" are quick to judge. I'm basing it on my experience on forums like Newsvine. If there's a story, the majority of people who are Americans, and people from other countries(very few), will formulate an opinion with one useless article. But as for me, I'll believe the parents unless investigators can show proof of a hoax. What's scary is that people like you become jurors.
Watching this on the news when my son stopped in, they were also watching it at work. Told him that by the way that balloon was flying half the time (or more) there was no 40 lb wieght in it, or in their release video. If there was it would be more in the shape of a hot air balloon then almost pancake flat. lol Watch his wife when he releases it an takes his fit, still acting like she`s holding the rope!?! What she waiting for? someone to say CUT. lol
The cops have it now, patch it replace the helium an see just what wieght it can carry.
Child protective services should be called! This "contraption" was obviously not secure and was accessible to his young children when no adult was present. His son COULD have crawled inside! If the 'contraption' was never unsupervised, then the father knew that the son was not inside. To allow that much helium to be accessible to young children as well as a balloon that is so poorly tethered is child endangerment.
I do not accept the story that the son untied the tethers for two reasons. I find it hard to accept that a well tethered line (make that several lines) could be untied by a six year old, not to mention the short time limit. I also find it hard to accept that no one checked any of the tethers before allowing it to float. The lines did not look tethered at all, as neither he nor his wife grabbed a line which leads one to believe the lines were immediately loose as the balloon began to rise. This entire story is fraught with errors!
The family is in dire financial straits.
The father calls the news media and asks for their helicopters. Did he already suspect his son was in the 'balloon'?when he called the media? Police often have helicopters, too, and you KNOW the number to the police emergency= 911. But, this father's first thoughts are to call the media. What did expect the media could do to help his son? They have no rescue training nor emergency medical training! This is all so very wrong. While some excuse the father for being distraught and not thinking clearly because of worry for his son, I as them this: If your child was in danger, do you really believe you'd stop to look up the phone numbers to call the media before calling 911? Even irrational thoughts would be more likely to include calling a hospital for its helicopter or calling the local airport or military base for their help before thinking of the media. But if you were looking for some media coverage, who would you call?
ohhhh....very good analogy...i like that...
Anyone who knows helium balloons knows that this balloon would have a hard time lifting the family cat let alone a 45lb child. The minute I heard about this I said there is no way it could float a child. The father knows very well that it is not possible.
Based on the images of the size and shape of the "balloon" next to the man who finally caught it, I seriously doubt it had the lift to carry even a small child. The builders certainly knew that. Also, helium leaks out of any container very rapidly...especially a makeshift item like that (notice its flight time before it lost all lift). That means that the balloon had been made ready to fly immediately before it "got away". No one would waste expensive helium by keeping the thing inflated continuously.
#2 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:17 AM EDTPLUS: The "basket" was made out of cardboard; it couldn't have had the strength to hold a kid.
Talk about crocodile tears! Note to self: if you're going to pull this kind of stunt, and have it backfire, you'd better take a few acting lessons first, because 'dad's' performance was pitiful. What a crock! I don't think that M&D thought this stunt out to its conclusion, and now that they could be faced w/ a huge bill for the 'rescue' effort, they are backpedling for all they're worth. Love to see the results of a lie-detector test...
BTW - who takes a car filled w/ small children and chases tornados? This can only end badly.... Little wonder too many in the industrialized world think that most Americans are unintelligent and lack common sense...
once again the taxpayers are stuck with this idiot's bill
Witch Hunter.
Furthermore..... IF he really thought his kid was in the balloon, being a storm chaser and all, WHYwasn't he in his vehicle trying to chase down the balloon or attempt to assist the authorities that were out there trying to SAVE HIS KID??? I know I would be in the helicopter ready to jump out to grab a hold of the balloon or rope to save my own kid or do whatever possible.
There is video footage of them launching the balloon and him counting down 3-2-1.... and shows his throwing a fit that "his wife" let go the rope. IMO: the whole ordeal was a cover up because once it floated away he would have been in trouble with authorities... so he concocted the story. He messed up when he called the NEWS first instead of 911.
I hope they press charges against him and make him pay for the exspense it took.
this whole thing is bizzare and I hope the parents will have to pay for all the rescue efforts even if it was an accidental mistake, they should be held accountable when they build something that could interfere with air traffic.
When a parent believes their child is missing or is in a dangerous situation, all rational thinking goes out the back door. Now that the episode is over, I'm sure the parents are now feeling pretty foolish.
We can only hope the next time they go storm chasing that the storm turns on them and takes out the whole family at once. Natrual selection will deal with people these stupid.
Here's the thing. Didn't he say just the other day that they were eating when they saw something go over the house, then he saw it was the balloon. Why is he changing his story?
They put themselves and their family on Wife Swap twice, then PITCHED THEIR OWN REALITY SHOW to TLC who rejected it. Instead of simply calling 911, dad calls the news media, ostensibly for help from their news helicopters. Please, kid. Coincidentally, they videotaped the launch (and dad's bad acting)? All this aside, if you watch the interviews, it's clear their lying. First, they seem relaxed and at ease, and Mom is mute. Then Falcon admits he heard his parents calling him and says as he squirms that the reason he didn't come when his parents called was because they told him to do that "for the show." All of a sudden, Mom starts talking, dad is clearly shocked, stunned, and speechless, and kid never stops squirming. Dad inexplicably refuses to ask the kid what he meant by his remark. As soon as dad begins his non-responsive response, mom shakes her head affirmatively, until the interview quite mercifully ends. Also, dad begins to close his eyes when he fabricates on the spot. Even on the Today Show, he would close his eyes as he told the other ridiculous story that an unknown one of the 30 news people present when Falcon was found asked him if he would let him film him "for the show" (news) and Falcon got confused on Larry King. It's offensive that Viera and others didn't just call him out on the obvious hoax. Incredible.
Thank you Jacquie, I'm only still reading, because, well? I'm shocked though I shouldn't be that there were so many people trying to stand up for this jackass and his clearly abused into a coma wife. You are the first person who finally said it... The fact that the interviewers didn't call him on it! My husband and I discussed that as well yesterday. Where the hell is the "journalistic investigative reporting?" Yes, Viera at least asked the kid if he wanted to use the bathroom, and had to basically tell the sheepish wife to go with him "is that ok?" are you serious? But you nailed it, why the hell didn't someone including Larry King say something leading at the very least? Of course horrible actor/liar/abusive father that he clearly is went all defensive as he tried to dance around asking Falcon "why did you say it was for the show" "could you repeat that? They want to know why you didn't come when we called you?" No assface, that isn't what I asked at all. He couldn't possibly have avoided asking a question any worse. WHY DID YOU SAY that FALCON? Pretty straight forward question, one that the father had only heard a thousand times by then and yet, he needed it repeated. The poor little boy was scared half to death! Why in deed? I can only figure that they didn't know yet for certain that it was a hoax and not one of them had the spine to follow their human instincts that for most of us were screaming HOAX of massive proportions, and were trying to be kind to the parents that would have been terribly traumatized had any of this been true, but nonetheless I know if I had been behind that camera I would have nailed Richard on the spot. Thank you for giving me back some faith in human nature and intelligence. It's also incredible that HAD it been true, that the parents were on the TV show circuit in the first place. And I know I'm only giving that bastard more of what he wants, but this time he'll really get it, on his way to jail. It terrifies me what he is really like to his family behind closed doors. I said it before and will once again and for the last time before I finally ignore this, the children need the help of Child Protective Services, and a major investigation needs to be underway (not for the stunt, but for the sake of those poor children). I'm normally very positive and try to be inspiring not negative, but this?????? It makes me terribly sick. The only place besides jail where this pretty scary guy belongs? is in politics.
2.5 deleted, motherof2-1416112 trolling, calling everyone 'idiots'. Cut it out.
The father and mother are lairs. I was watching the father this morning on the show. He is such a fake and most defiantly not a good liar. I hope he is reading all these comments and feels like a piece of (blank). And he should have to pay back for what he caused. I feel so bad for the people who approached the balloon and what a panic they were in to find no child. They should stick to shows like wife swap and stay out of the world eye for there own benefit
#3 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:22 AM EDTJust because you don't like someone's personality does not make that person a liar.
What almost certainly happened in REAL LIFE people, is that this kid let his Dad's balloon go loose, was afraid he'd get in trouble, so he ran and hid in the garage attic, and wouldn't answer when people yelled for him. THAT is what SIX year olds DO!
And you know what parents do when they can't find their child? They panic, and call everyone to help them find the child. No conspiracy here - just conspiracy theorists. You all watch too much tv drama!
no offense but you must not have seen the media attention (who they called instead of the police). The child got SICK, throwing up! on air, they parents/dad just kept trying to get his fifteen minutes. The second interview (like there would have been a second if you were a good parent, your child is clearly sick.....)why was the child so sick? As a child psychologist, one thing comes to mind. The father told his child to lie, to be good and do as he said, the childs insides cannot handle that especially "on air". The second interviewer had to "ASK THE PARENTS TO GO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILD!" then the mother, sheep that she is, says "oh, is that ok?" F#@K the Media, a good parent would have gone with him and cut the interview off. They wanted back the media attention they crave from having been on such a WONDERFUL show such as "Wife Swap!" Those children should be taken into protective custody, the parents investigated and be hugely fined as well as jail time for the money tax payers paid to try and get this child from the flying balloon which clearly could have never have held a child, and the father knew this, the whole time. "We did this for a show!" the child said, the father ignoring the boys answer but grunted saying "wow" then obviously got upset with the boy and told him to behave and answer the way he said. Then reasks the boy "why didn't you come out?" Ignoring the boys first answer. This makes me sick, the father makes me sick, his obvious defensiveness to the media (which they never would have been on in the first place if they cared about their children in the first place). The boy gave the answer,"for a show." That is all anyone needs to know. They can pay back everyone who tried to get the balloon, and those who when it crashed probably were terrified as they approached that stupid thing.
Newdoc17 - and the Fairy Princess waved her magic wand to make everything better. Get a clue about human nature. These parents are so starved for media attention that they particpated in "Wife Swap" twice. What better way to gain attention than to stage having a kid fly away in a runaway balloon. And publicity is publicity. It's a crap shoot for them. If no one questions, then it's a win. If the media starts to question, then there will always be people like you who don't believe it was a lie so will see it as an attack on an innocent family, which is also a win. Either way, they got attention didn't they?
the kid already admitted that it was a show. They should have to repay the cost of the "rescue" operation.
UNBELIEVABLE!!! Not that this "DAD" would concoct such a scheme. HE DID! The unbelievable part is that the people in this country are NIEVE enough to fall for the "DAD's" LIE. The parents should be prosecuted for this scheme and their children taken from them. It is time for Americans to stop all the bullcrap and get into the things that really matter. WAKE UP PEOPLE. Some people in this country will do ANYTHING to get their 15 minutes.
Melissa, I completely agree. The father seems narcissistic to me...as well as a lousy actor...he is so clearly lying and poorly attempting to pretend he was concerned, when he (and wife?) clearly helped to set up/go along with the twisted plot...craves the attention and doesn't mind putting his kids in the middle of his insatiable quest for attention for himself...even when it is clear to see that it is causing this little six year old harmful anxiety and inner turmoil. Truthfully anyone who subjects their young children to reality TV has questionable parenting skills to begin with, in my opinion, and shows how badly they desire self gratification, even at the expense of the children they are supposed to protect. I seriously hope they investigate and at the very least charge the parents for the complete cost of all resources that were used (wasted) in trying to "rescue" this little child...as well as force the parents into parenting classes and follow these children through protective services. There are a whole lot of people who genuinely need rescuing and help, and distorting a situation to exploit those services for self serving attention is unconscionable. This man should really be prosecuted.
I didn't see the drama yesterday because of work so I had no bias toward anyone. I saw the interview this morning on the Today show and my impression was that the father was lying. Someone said he should have taken acting classes and I agree. It was pityful when he tried to fake he was about to cry! Meredith Viera's face said it all. You could tell she was not impressed.
The kid didn't let the balloon loose... here is the video of the father launching the balloon himself.
I was horrified and scare to death for that child when the news broke yesterday. My concern turned into enormous relief when I found out the balloon had landed safely, then to horror again when the boy was not in the balloon, then to relief again when he was discovered safe. Then---anger as I watched the father as he insisted it was not a hoax. It was obvious to me that he had used that child--- and the demeanor of that whole family is one of abuse. This man should be punished, not just for this one act but for any and all acts of abuse he may have inflicted upon his family.
Let's give it about 10 more years when these children reach their teens. Wonder what kind of stunts they'll pull then to get attention? Mom and Dad will need to sleep with their eyes open then b/c they're screwing with these children's lives and are too stupid to realize it.
Don`t think the kids had much to do with this other then what they were told to do. First they say the kid released it when he was supposed to have got into the basket, then they show in the video of them releasing it. Why didn`t they have the other two ropes on the balloon tied down? Do believe mom an dad need to be watched more then the kids. lol
I saw this family on Wife Swap. The father seeks being center of attention, he treats his wife like a slave and she is stupid enough to put up with it. I found them very disturbing. The falther lives in an imaginery world and I feel sorry for the kids.
#4 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:23 AM EDTI remember them from wife swap; they were a very disturbing family. The dad acting like a spoiled 3 year old child, the wife was treated like a servant and the poor children had no guidance and no life outside that crazy home. I remember that the kids slept in the clothes because they were subject to be pulled from there bed at any given moment to go chase tornados. I totally think this is a publicity stunt. I feel very sorry that those poor kids have to grow up in that environment.
How obvious can this be???!!! They were on Wife Swap, now they are looking for more TV exposure. This guy needs to spend more time on legitimately marketing his stupid balloons instead of not only wasting everyone's time and money, but also putting his family and innocent kids up to this!
#5 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:23 AM EDTThis was nothing but a publicity stunt by a pathetic, disfunctional family. The parents should be prosecuted for the hoax and be required to attend parental counciling along with their six year old accomplice. Furthermore, they should be ordered to make monetary restitution to cover the costs that were incurred by law enforcement and rescue agencies. You gotta give them some credit ,though, 'cause they really had Shaun Hannity snookered for the whole three hours of his radio show. Hannity bought into the hoax, hook, line and sinker. I'll bet he feels like a real jerk today. While he was pleading with his audience to pray for the kid, lots of listeners, like myself, were chuckling over the whole farce.
#6 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:24 AM EDTYou make an awfu lot of assumptions here. And you know what they say about those who ASSUME.
those are not assumptions, they are obvious answers from anyone with half a brain. The poor children, these parents shouldn't be parents. Clearly.... they aren't.
I can't believe all these people already have more evidence than the authorities apparently, being so sure of themselves.
There is a wide spectrum of parenting and considering what is appropriate parenting. Compared to my childhod, I would kill to have an adventurous dad that got us up in the middle of the night to chase storms!
Should they just leave the kids in bed when it's time to chase something down?
IF they are lying about it, then yes, it's pretty despicable and they should be charged for the costs incurred, but all this garbage about child services - the parents shouldn't be parents...who are you judgemental people? Presumably angelic parents always making the right decisions and doing cool, creative science projects with your whole family, which is why you aren't impressed at all with this family.
I, on the other hand, would take a couple of episodes of wife swap, chasing tornados, and having adventures with a slightly immature set of parents as a pretty sweet childhood.
I could be wrong too, but at least I'm open to that idea and not so positive about everything related to this case...
I agree....parents should be charged with something after endangering all the rescue workers, delays at airports..wreckless endangerment comes to mind
Sorry I missed that one - bet it was a hoot!
Typical WACKED OUT parents looking for some publicity stunt. Next the MOVIE deal and then Opray they have already done the morning shows! Maybe a TV sitcom about raising children in a balloon?
#7 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:24 AM EDTThanks for a afternoon of entertainment, otherwise a typical Thursday.
#8 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:26 AM EDTThe stress that was obviously on this child leads me to believe he was pressured to do this.
#9 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:28 AM EDTI watched this story unfold at work and was very saddened to see this happening live. The balloon floating and rocking side to side made me wonder if anyone was in it, because it didn't look like this balloon could life off the ground with a young boy in it. When the balloon landed and he wasn't inside, my heart just dropped. I went home wondering where the boy was and was he safe. While watching the cnn, they announced live that the boy was at home in the attic. I thought to myself, didn't the family check the attic and every nook, under the bed or wherever to find this boy? Then that is when I started doubting it and then now to hear that it was a stunt makes me feel sick and that these parents need to pay a hefty fine, do community service and publily apologize to America and the entire world because everyone were watching. It's sad.
#10 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:29 AM EDTNo one except gossips and speculators have yet said it was a stunt. Have you ever tried to find a kid hiding from you in a Walmart? They can be 10 feet away, hiding under a clothing rack, and if they don't answer, they can be REALLY hard to find! I think they said this kid was hiding in the garage attic, in a box, and not answering anyone.
NewDoc17,
I have three kids, and I go through this all the time, yet this was a setup by the Dad, 30 minutes in to the story CNN weatherman on Rick Sanchez show said "There is no way there is anyone in the Balloon as it is flying very erratic then with the size of the Balloon he said it is impossible for this size balloon to lift anyone, no one listened to him, now at the same time the brother who had said he saw his younger brother go inside the balloon changed his story and said he saw something fall out of the balloon. This is clearly a staged hoax to get media time.
Media is to blame for this as the continue to reward the people doing these stupid acts.
CNN would not give up coverage--even though it was very obvious there could be no boy of that size in the baloon. Fox stopped the programming as they should have and went on with regular programming. The worst is, the parents left that kid in the attic in spite of him being asthmatic--he could have had an attack and died--little did they care. what a pair of losers........
it was all networks
If they're not seeking media attention, why are they granting interviews to EVERY single news agency that approaches them? Most people who experience something even remotely similar to this would simply go into their homes and deal with it as a private family issue. This family seems to crave the camera. If by some fluke this is legit, then my apologies and I'm glad the kid is ok, but if this is found to be a hoax, the parents should have formal charges brought against them, as well as be made to repay every dime of what it cost in taxpayer money to do the rescue attempts.
#11 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:31 AM EDTprobably because they feel like everyone has 'convicted' them of being careless publicity seeking child neglecters. They feel like they have to defend themselves. They may even be trying to 'comply' or take the 'I have nothing to hide' approach as they could be worried about family services taking the boy(s).
Family services, child protection, SHOULD take the children. They want media attention??? Put camera's in that home in protection of the children, see how they really are. They obviously got upset when the child said "you said it was for the show" maybe not an exact quote, but afterwards, when the parents went on every media outlet they could and the child got sick on not one, but two shows, the child had obviously been told to lie and would get punished if he didn't, he gets terribly ill live on tv, and the parents just sit there until the second interview when the interviewer has to tell the parents to go with him as he gets up and goes to the bathroom...the parents, the dad (the mom is just a pigmegoat), doesnt' even react? Any good parent would have stopped the interviewing and gone home.
most definately
Hey why don't we just execute all suspects before we have all the facts and listen to a bunch of jerks make commentaries
That's tongue in cheek for you Bozo's out there. I don't figure you have the intelligence to know the difference so I have to tell you up front.
OlDewd, what the hell do you know about anyone's intellect? Who the f*%k are you? Albert Einstein? How dare you call everyone Bozo because they have an opinion. You sound like a real jack-ass.
: )
Bozo's like foul language - they are self revealing
The family may be "strange" in terms of hobbies and interests, and may even like attention, but that doesn't mean they are lying. People are so cynical, and jump to conclusions and assumptions. Remember what they say about those who ASSUME?
The little boy's comment about "doing this for a show" was almost certainly related to the either the hundredes of cameras who asked him to re-enact his hiding place a few minutes before, or to the fact that his family tries to make videos about their UFO chasing. People who asssume that he was "leaking the secret" about a staged stunt have been watching too much mystery TV themselves! Get a clue people. Kids in real life are just that - little kids. They say things all the time that may or may not have to do with the question being asked.
You really don't think a little kid could be confused by a reporter's question? Then you're either not a parent, or not a good parent.
#12 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:31 AM EDTnewdoc17,
These children are used to Cameras and TV Reporters, they are kept ready in the middle of the night and then taken on road trip to chase storms. ages 7- 6 - 4.
Would you take your 7 - 6 - 4 to chase storms??
Would you allow your sick kid to go on a second interview?
Please give us a break. and stop defending this monster and his slaves.
"new doc17".... I'm really hoping that you're not a real doctor with your naive comments. For your info, I have kids and I work with children in a clinical setting and they say it like it is, especially at his age. First comment out of his mouth: "it was for a show". There you have it.
You do have a point but the thing that bothers me somewhat is that the boy said he went into hidding because he was afraid of his father yelling at him for letting go of the balloon. which i would really understand since i have 3 kids of my own and they do get into the craziest things that have made me wonder how did they do that. But when you look at the lift off video you clearly see that the parents were the ones who let it go the kids did not have anything to do with it, they were just filming. This is where the stories really do not go. The father said that when the balloon took off the older boy said the Falcon was inside it. So does that means that the boy was already in hiding? Why?i do not know really what to think.
Makes sense to me.
You are right when you talk about what happens when you ASSUME....but that goes both ways. You assume that they are not lying. First, I am thrilled that this child is okay. Thank God! I like to give people the benefit of the doubt first as well. I did the same for OJ. But when more and more information comes pouring in, it leaves little doubt that they were looking for publicity. It could have even started as an accident, and the boy went and hid. But what parent calls the FAA before calling 911? This is a fact and not media hype.
Having worked in EMS myself, I take personal offense to responding to false alarms. Not only is it costly, but you put rescuers needlessly at risk. And as an ER nurse, I have a great on-board BS dector. It was off the charts listening to their interviews. That was before I found out about their history. And they can't stay away from the camera and will con't to do interview after interview because dad gets off on it. I don't blame the child...he's 6. I blame the father and hope, if proven, he gets stuck with the bill.
I tend to agree with NewDoc, but I still have major issues with the parents. All three kids looked very stressed and unhappy, besides Falcon being sick and throwing up. It's nice that Dad wants to teach science to his kids, but I think it's too stressful to wake them up in the middle of the night to go chasing storms. Children should be able to get a good night's sleep every night, in their pajamas. They should only be waken up in case of a real emergency. They should not have to perform for the media, that's just too stressful. What those kids need is a little more normalcy and a little less excitement. It wouldn't hurt if their mom would have some more sayso in their upbringing.
I'd like to add to SMD66's point and say that he put everyone in the area in danger with his little publicity stunt. What if there had been an actual emergency, and this whack job had all the rescue workers out looking for his stupid balloon?
newdoc, you are the one doing the assuming! We are taking the child at his word, you are assuming he meant something else!
The child was put on the spot by a stranger, and he didn't want to be in trouble so he told the truth. His father didn't ask for more clarification, he was taken aback by his child telling the truth. The father quite obviously did not ask his child what the child meant nor to explain what the child had heard his daddy say.
I feel the dad is responsible for all of this I believe that his precious balloon got away so he schemed up a story ..he knew that if he called the police and told them that a 6 year old boy was floating away they would retrieve his balloon and I saw the Wife swap show and that little boy couldn't have sat still in that attic or what ever that was for that long unless his father made him. I think the father should pay for this and if they did do this and the mother knew about this they should see about having the kids removed from the home they constantly have the kids in danger chasing storms and are not very responsible. If the child is that scared of his father to hide in a attic they should look into abuse.
#13 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:32 AM EDTParents should do public service for the next 5 yrs instead of chasing tornados in the middle of the night. They would get the "publicity" they seek, and maybe gain an understanding of what its like to give back to the community that came to their assistance.
Another point is the media....there is nothing else going on in the world today but this crap? Every local, national and cable station non stop, morning shows etc. Give me a break!!!
On one hand, I don't think this would have been a smart 'stunt' because it OBVIOUSLY risks big trouble with child welfare authorities. I don't think they would do that.
On the other hand, the dad said the baloon was never created with the ability to lift off with that kind of weight. Is it possible for the baloon to lift up a six year old? If NOT did the dad know that?
well the other thing is, the comment about the show. Well, he IS just 6 and kids DO say the darndest thing at the most inopportune times. They have been on a TV show twice, so the word 'show' is probably a common word for the boy. Maybe the dad something about using the baloon on a show at some point? Who knows. But just that comment does not make him guilty of any wrong doing. Vomiting? Some people do that when they are nervous. Maybe he still thinks he is in trouble.
#14 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:33 AM EDTthe dad is no dummy--he is a meterologist--do the math--he knew about the balloon and that it would not hold the boy!
I don't think we will ever really know what happened. Right now there are so many holes in their stories. I think that they should be held accountable for the cost of everything. What would we all be thinking if that ballon and had gotten in the path of a small or large aircraft and caused a crash. As interesting as this may be when need to just stop giving this family the attention they so enjoy.
#15 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:35 AM EDTI know some people will do anything for money, fame, and fortune but I pray they did not risk the life of their child for it! That would be stupid, but wait...they do chase UFOs...
#16 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:36 AM EDTI swear, the internet is full of nut jobs!!! Why does everyone always have to look for a conspiracy theory in everything. The kid is 6 years old and did something that a 6 year old would do. Stop trying to make a idiotic conspiracy/publicity stunt out of a 6 year old's actions. I hope your 6 year old does this to you sometiome and you have to deal with the whack jobs making accusations towards you. Geez.
#17 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:37 AM EDTI am typically not a conspiracy nut, but there are too many things that don't add up here. Why did the father call a TV station instead of 911? Why did the boy say it was "for a show?" Why didn't the boy come out when he heard people calling him? Plus, from what I saw of this family on WS, they are just whacked enough to pull a stunt like this.
Barbara:
Read the article for the answers to your questions. The dad didn't call a TV station before calling 911, he called the FAA to warn them about the balloon flying around in airspace. The kid hid in the attic, didn't come down and did everything else he did because he is a 6 year old. It is perfectly typical behavior for a 6 year old. I agree the family is whacky (I think anyone who goes on wife-swap [or any reality show] ONCE is clinically suspicious, let alone twice), but that doesn't mean the world has to look for silly conspiracy theories here.
JustaFlier:
Are you serious. Have you people not seen the "DAD" releasing the balloon? This is a hoax, not conspiracy theory. Just facts.
Brian-1415875 Are you serious. Have you people not seen the "DAD" releasing the balloon? This is a hoax, not conspiracy theory. Just facts
Geez......frickin' internet conspiracy whack jobs. Yep, you're absolutely right there, Brian. You are the keeper of all knowledge and truth. And if YOU say it is a a hoax, then by gosh, it is. Now go back into your cubicle and search the internet for more consiparcies that have not been uncovered yet. I am sure you see them everywhere.
Have fun!
JustAFlier, Right on & if you say it wasn't then by gosh it wasn't. Feel free to employ your spell check function. What the sam hell are consiparcies? People are entitled to their opinions whether a jack-ass like you likes it or not. God you're stupid & arrogant too.
Yes, the kid is 6 years old. Thats why the six year old gave it away with "We did it for a show". Not easy getting a 6 year old to hold on to the truth. Then he gets sick twice when asked about it again. These people like the attention. Why else would you want to be on a show called "Wife Swap"? and they chase UFO's and storms. Nice job there dad. Way to raise the kids. They should have to foot the bill for this rediculous hoax.
Mrsoul JustAFlier, Right on & if you say it wasn't then by gosh it wasn't. Feel free to employ your spell check function. What the sam hell are consiparcies? People are entitled to their opinions whether a jack-ass like you likes it or not. God you're stupid & arrogant too.
Making you, what? Another internet moron? You are the perfect example of what I mean by the statement that the internet is full of whack-jobs. You have no problem hiding in your cubicle saying things that you would never say face-to-face to people in the real world. The protection that hiding behind your computer screen gives you makes you oh so tough. But, in the real world, you are probably a mamby-pamby little skirt afraid to speak your mind. Good for you.
i thought the ems services started charging fees for rescues. seems to me the culprits should have to pay for services rendered, as this is clearly a narsassitic scheme for attention. hook em' horns.
#18 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:37 AM EDTThe big question - Why did the boy hide in the attic in the first place? Is it to escape from daddy's spanking? Give me a break.
#19 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:39 AM EDTi doubt these kids were ever spanked.
I know whenever we have to correct my six-year-old grandson, he will hide. Fortunately, our house is small so there are not too many hiding places.
Best way is to ignore them. Attention will only give them more incentive. Anyone who lives by them should just ignore them.
#20 - Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:40 AM EDTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
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Something smells fishy here.....