Death Note scare at Gig Harbor middle school

[Snivi]

Source : https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/promos/wirepicks/story/370781.html

Getting disciplined over making a Death Note? Do you think schools and/or teachers sometimes overreact too much over these kind of things?

Write the name of your enemy in a supernatural notebook. See his or her face in your mind. Within 40 seconds, add the manner of death you'd like to see happen. In the story "Death Note," based on a popular Japanese comic book franchise, the macabre wish comes true.

And while the dark concept is only make-believe, it hasn't stopped real-life copycats from pretending it could happen.

Now you can add a group of Gig Harbor students to that list.

Authorities say four students at Kopachuck Middle School were disciplined last week for creating their own "Death Note" with other students' names on it.

For some, it bears an uncomfortable resemblance to a hit list, like the kind used by real and would-be school shooters.

Pierce County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer said at least one student was expelled and three others were disciplined. Peninsula School District officials wouldn't confirm this week the nature of their punishment, which was handed down May 14.

Kopachuck Principal Dave Colombini contacted parents of the school's 620 students via recorded telephone message the following day.

"Recently, an event at Kopachuck has raised safety awareness to an even higher level," he said in the message. "A few students wrote some fear-provoking notes in a published book, and the matter has been thoroughly investigated. There is no credible threat to the school, students or staff."

Troyer said another student spotted the book on the floor, read it and gave it to a teacher. The teacher turned it in to the principal's office, and law enforcement was contacted. (cont)

 

[El Gofre]

I don't think it's a matter of direct safety, but because it is quite a hateful thing to do. I think I'd be quite shocked to be told that someone had wanted to kill me, thought of how they would do it, and even written it down for others to read. Of course, finding this out may lead to the subject of the note to grow aggressive/paranoid, meaning they themselves become violent as a means of "self-preservation". It's far safer to ban this kind of thing than it is to allow it to continue.

 

[Virtual Chatot]

The schools haven't overreacted, they handled this case fairly well.

Anyone who is deliberately creating Death Notes show that they don't have enough control to keep themselves from actually doing something.
This is of course, if they are actually believe that the Death Note will work.

Ever since events like Columbine and other school shootings have started to happen, the flaws in security have been become more readily apparent, so now at least we can attempt to fix them.

 

[Tamaki]

I think they're overreacting >_>

The kids are just making Death Notes because they like the series. My friend has a Death Note, and she writes in it for fun. She doesn't really believe that they're going to die. And, they haven't died. It's all in good fun, sheesh...

 

[DavyJones4our]

In all reality, kicking the kids out is just going to make it worse; its going to increase their hatred, and cause them to legitimately plot their demises. I should know, I was one of those hateful people; thank God, I wasn't kicked out though, I probably'd be in jail if I were. They should've talked to the kids and asked (using super-intellect means) why they wanted these people dead, get their story, then ask the people who they wanted to die, why they think that this child may have a loathing for them enough for them to want them dead.

 

[LipstickTraces]

In all reality, kicking the kids out is just going to make it worse; its going to increase their hatred, and cause them to legitimately plot their demises. I should know, I was one of those hateful people; thank God, I wasn't kicked out though, I probably'd be in jail if I were. They should've talked to the kids and asked (using super-intellect means) why they wanted these people dead, get their story, then ask the people who they wanted to die, why they think that this child may have a loathing for them enough for them to want them dead.

agreed, if these kids are at a state where they loathe a student rather than anything else less dangerous, then they should be dealt with appropriatley and maybe offered counciling if it becomes a real problem.

talking to the kids is also a good thing, because talking helps get things out of the system. in extreme cases, yes this is the appropriate way of dealing with it. however, on a more playful and innocent means of doing it, it should just be brushed off and the kids should just be warned to be careful that those things can cause more hurt than they realise.

and i have to say, that is one great avartar mr jones :pirate: but of course, youll call yours an 'ARRRR-vatar' :cheeky:

...erm, ill shut up now :nervous:

 

[Crazy Weavile]

I never saw the harm in that kind of thing; it's one thing to say "I'm going to KILL person X", but it's another thing entirely to go out and kill another human being.

 

[Chibi-chan]

Well yeah, I see where they're going with disciplining the students. To adults, this is something harmful, not a show or a game. If you had no idea what Death Note was and someone wrote your name in a notebook called Death Note...don't you think you'd be a bit freaked out too? Maybe if the students could have explained instead of the teachers...
but yeah, that can freak out adults.

There was a Death Note murder.

 

[paperfunk]

i personally made my own "Death Note" and i've written down some names in it. but im not gonna do anything. i make A's and B's in school, i never smoke, drink, get high or anything, but everyone has to have someone in their school that they dont wanna see around anymore.

i dont see anything wrong with how they disiplined them tho. they could've posed a threat, especially after Columbine and Virgina Tech, schools just cant afford to take risks anymore. (that sounds terribly hypocritical, i know.)

 

[Virtual Chatot]

It's being very irresponsible, because if any person written in your Death Note actually dies, you would be the prime suspect.

It's better to just not do it...

 

[Trainer Kat]

Regardless of whether or not you know what Death Note is, would you want to see your name in a book like that? While I don't think it warranted an expulsion (though, a discussion does need to be had with the individual), some action needed to be taken. I mean, the rationalization that "it's just an anime" is stupid. Naruto is an anime, but if people took ninja weapons to school, shouldn't they be punished?

...these sorts of things are why people like Jack Thompson exist.

 

[Dr.Stiles]

Regardless of whether or not you know what Death Note is, would you want to see your name in a book like that? While I don't think it warranted an expulsion (though, a discussion does need to be had with the individual), some action needed to be taken. I mean, the rationalization that "it's just an anime" is stupid. Naruto is an anime, but if people took ninja weapons to school, shouldn't they be punished?

...these sorts of things are why people like Jack Thompson exist.

I understand what your saying but honestly the weapons and a book with names in it are two completely different things.

 

[Espreon]

There was a Death Note murder.

Yeah... with that the people suspected of doing it have access to a freezer filled with body parts...

I mean, the rationalization that "it's just an anime" is stupid. Naruto is an anime, but if people took ninja weapons to school, shouldn't they be punished?

Yeah but those are actual weapons... a Death Note is just a normal, everyday notebook in the real world... Nothing more... nothing less...

 

[Trainer Kat]

I understand what your saying but honestly the weapons and a book with names in it are two completely different things.

Yeah... with that the people suspected of doing it have access to a freezer filled with body parts...



Yeah but those are actual weapons... a Death Note is just a normal, everyday notebook in the real world... Nothing more... nothing less...

So...by that logic, a hit list shouldn't be taken seriously? ¬_¬

 

[Espreon]

So...by that logic, a hit list shouldn't be taken seriously? ¬_¬

Hmmm... it depends... on the person who possesses the list of hits...

 

[paperfunk]

but as was said above, this is almost a hit list. now, im pretty sure a hit list would be considered dangerous, right? cuz if u make a hit list, you obviously want that person(s) to die.

let's see if i can put this correctly. i can understand if you want someone dead, but if ur dumb or messed up enough to follow through with it, now thats a problem.

 

[Espreon]

but as was said above, this is almost a hit list. now, im pretty sure a hit list would be considered dangerous, right? cuz if u make a hit list, you obviously want that person(s) to die.

let's see if i can put this correctly. i can understand if you want someone dead, but if ur dumb or messed up enough to follow through with it, now thats a problem.

OK... people say things all the time like "I hate you!"... They don't actually mean it in most scenarios... Now if the hit list was in possession of a person known to be mentally unstable or known not to make false threats then I would see a reason to instantly own them...

 

[Trainer Kat]

OK... people say things all the time like "I hate you!"... They don't actually mean it in most scenarios... Now if the hit list was in possession of a person known to be mentally unstable or known not to make false threats then I would see a reason to instantly own them...

Which is why the subject of counseling came up. If you're going to make something that can, essentially, be interpreted as a hit list, it's not a stretch for people to think you mean to follow through with it. Counseling would help discern which people are serious and which are obsessed fans.

 

[Jaimes]

As entertaining as the franchise is, I personally reckon that someone making their own Death Note to express their anger and hatred on other people, is not only deluded, but also psychopathic.

 

[paperfunk]

As entertaining as the franchise is, I personally reckon that someone making their own Death Note to express their anger and hatred on other people, is not only deluded, but also psychopathic.

see, i think differnently. the use of a fake Death Note could be interpreted in (at least) two ways. you could use it as fun (like: oooh, im Kira, obey me or die, almost like cops and robbers to a kid) or (as you said) as a way of expressing anger and hatred towards others.