dan.brakeley.net

Just a quick update, yesterday two guys were arrested and brought before a judge to plead on charges of placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct. After they made their plea, they were advised not to discuss the case with the press, so they didn’t. And when the press wanted a conference with lots of questions that they couldn’t answer, they changed the topic. For some reason, Fox considered this news, and aired it.

However, this morning on NPR I heard some good news, which is that people are now starting to talk less about these two guys (given the response the other cities who were targeted, I think it’s clear these guys are not at fault), and instead focus about the generation divide: kids think the older folks overreacted to what was obviously not a terror threat, and the old people are shaking their fist in the air. Twenty-somethings, in general, knew this wasn’t a threat, while the people in authority (generally more middle aged?) called in the bomb squad. Not that a generational divide is really news (when hasn’t there been a generational divide?), but it’s definitely the cause of the panic, and is what should be discussed, instead of two guys hired to put up advertising.

Regardless, Turner is handling things brilliantly, by offering to pay for the costs of the scare (link, link). That’s the noble thing to do, and probably the best way to diffuse the situation. I personally think the city just needs to chalk this one up to experience, but if Turner is willing to ease tensions with a generous donation, then no one should get in their way.

Also, I like how Turner itself is accepting responsibility directly, and taking action to address the problems they created, however unintentionally. I of course would hope our government leaders could learn to do the same.