"balloon boy"

*Katie* · 10-16-2009, 06:12 PM

Did you guys hear about these incredibly crazy ass parents and their kid yesterday? Complete hoax from what I can gather.

What do you think? Media whores?

Balloon Boy #1

Balloon boy#2

Newton Gimmick · 10-16-2009, 06:25 PM

I caught this drama as it unfolded yesterday and I thought it was one of two things:

A. Either this kid was dead
B. It was a hoax

I found it odd that very little of the original story made reference to the fact that this kid was probably dead, which made me think it was a hoax. Now it's revealed these people are reality TV stars or whatever and I think it's pretty clear it's a hoax of somesort.

I don't get people who do these kinds of stunts for attention, but a lot of people do this yearly.

*Ninjinister* · 10-16-2009, 11:19 PM

For the first time in my life, I was glad to be at work and banned from using the internet for outside contact (long story). I come home, and the entire country was transfixed on a floating balloon? Don't people, y'know, think it would be a good idea to check the veracity of the statement of small children, before chasing a damn balloon across the land? It just baffles me... this shouldn't have even been a blip on the radar, but here it was, the top story across the nation.

Also semi-related: kid doesn't even deserve a badass name like Falcon. Should have been named Timmy O'Toole.

**ThirdMarioBro** · 10-16-2009, 11:21 PM

What a waste of life. This is why I barely ever turn on the TV.

*Raph's Girl* · 10-17-2009, 07:54 AM

There's now footage of the balloon taking off. Falcon specifically says to the camera filming "Im gonna sneak in the balloon!". When it accidentally takes off one of his brothers exclaims that Falcon's in there (as he had heard him talk to the camera about sneaking in). Some 10 - 15 min later they call 911. I guess they decided to wait to see if indeed Falcon was in the balloon. They couldn't find him on the ground so they called 911 explaining what happened. 3 hours later it turns out he was at home the entire time. Hiding in the attic cuz he was scared that he was in trouble.

I didn't even know about the balloon till somebody in a chatroom I was in mentioned it. I saw maybe the last half hour of the incident.

As for the family being reality show stars. Well sorta. They were featured on the 100th ep of Wife Swap in March.

*raphael_is_cool* · 10-17-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ninjinister

Also semi-related: kid doesn't even deserve a badass name like Falcon. Should have been named Timmy O'Toole.

Haha. Totally. It was a hoax. The kid even said, when asked why he didn't go to his parents when they called to him, something like 'it was for a show'

Leonardo Mystic · 10-18-2009, 06:50 PM

The whole incident was a hoax and it makes me angry that people would do that kind of stuff with children just to have their fame. Criminal charges are pending against the parents and I hope those kids are taken and placed in a safer environment away from that lunatic father especially.

This just disgusts me.

**GK Punk** · 10-19-2009, 04:22 AM

I could tell it was fake by the parents bad acting in the news clips I saw. It was the worst acting Job I've ever seen.

Ra · 10-19-2009, 06:41 AM

I thought it was fake ever since I saw a picture of the balloon in flight.

Taking into account the laws of gravity and helium, wouldn't a child the age of six (assuming he weighs as much a six year old child would) make a bulge in the balloon if his body, dead or alive, was inside of it? And wouldn't it change the way a balloon floats or moves in the wind?

Not too impressed with the parents either way.

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 10-19-2009, 07:28 AM

Wasn't "Balloon Kid" some video game many years ago?

*Raph's Girl* · 10-19-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra

Taking into account the laws of gravity and helium, wouldn't a child the age of six (assuming he weighs as much a six year old child would) make a bulge in the balloon if his body, dead or alive, was inside of it? And wouldn't it change the way a balloon floats or moves in the wind?

Plus, add to the fact that the balloon was taped together with duct tape.

*Ninjinister* · 10-19-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J 1982

Wasn't "Balloon Kid" some video game many years ago?

Yeah, but that isn't the name the media has slapped on this dork.

*Storm Wolf* · 10-20-2009, 01:49 AM

What a waste of valuable time and tax money! They had helicopters and all kinds of search parties out looking for this kid while all along he was hiding in the attic.

This is just disgusting. Just because "Wife Swap" and other appearances didn't make you famous doesn't mean you have to pull a stupid stunt like this.

I hope they get some sort of time or fine for this. It's a shame that this is what people reduce themselves to for their "five minutes" of fame.

I bet the kid's parents were pretty peeved that he answered that it was for show. haha! that's what they get!

Media whore? Oh yeah!

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 10-20-2009, 06:55 AM

And the aeroplanes had to be redirected just because of this. Must have been a very tough work.

*Buslady* · 10-24-2009, 12:12 AM

i think the authorities are just as much to blame cos they fell for it and spent all that dough on aircraft, etc! didnt think to search the house first

*BubblyShell22* · 10-26-2009, 06:34 PM

Yeah, this story was lame. I hope the parents get put in jail for this. Then again, what would you expect from a lunatic father and a mother who claims they're descended from aliens?

~~Leo656~~ · 10-26-2009, 06:43 PM

Tom Cruise is that kid's father? I totally missed that.

Sorry... making fun of Scientology is so 1994.

In all seriousness, though, what a morally bankrupt culture we're becoming. People doing anything at all to be "famous", even to the point of diverting emergency services and taxpayer money into some BS reality TV scheme.

Plus I heard somewhere the guy may have beat his wife or something. Yeah, I think we can do without this guy, and at least in jail he'll have plenty of aliens for company. Illegal ones, not the flying saucer ones, but still...

Type 97 Chi-ha · 10-28-2009, 07:29 PM

http://techfox.comicgenesis.com/d/20030428.html

An approiate way for this sorry saga to end.

Type 97 Chi-ha · 12-23-2009, 01:11 PM

Scratch that. This is the appropriate ending:

http://www.sphere.com/nation/article...cid=webmaildl1

*Raph's Girl* · 12-23-2009, 02:11 PM

Yeah.... Im surprised the judge was nice and let the parents be in jail one at a time. They should have taken those kids away.

10-16-2009, 11:19 PM	#3
Ninjinister 無問題 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moesko Island, WA Posts: 14,348	For the first time in my life, I was glad to be at work and banned from using the internet for outside contact (long story). I come home, and the entire country was transfixed on a floating balloon? Don't people, y'know, think it would be a good idea to check the veracity of the statement of small children, before chasing a damn balloon across the land? It just baffles me... this shouldn't have even been a blip on the radar, but here it was, the top story across the nation. Also semi-related: kid doesn't even deserve a badass name like Falcon. Should have been named Timmy O'Toole. __________________

10-16-2009, 11:21 PM	#4
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	What a waste of life. This is why I barely ever turn on the TV. __________________

10-17-2009, 07:54 AM	#5
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	There's now footage of the balloon taking off. Falcon specifically says to the camera filming "Im gonna sneak in the balloon!". When it accidentally takes off one of his brothers exclaims that Falcon's in there (as he had heard him talk to the camera about sneaking in). Some 10 - 15 min later they call 911. I guess they decided to wait to see if indeed Falcon was in the balloon. They couldn't find him on the ground so they called 911 explaining what happened. 3 hours later it turns out he was at home the entire time. Hiding in the attic cuz he was scared that he was in trouble. I didn't even know about the balloon till somebody in a chatroom I was in mentioned it. I saw maybe the last half hour of the incident. As for the family being reality show stars. Well sorta. They were featured on the 100th ep of Wife Swap in March. __________________

10-18-2009, 06:50 PM	#7
Leonardo Mystic Stone Warrior Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 904	The whole incident was a hoax and it makes me angry that people would do that kind of stuff with children just to have their fame. Criminal charges are pending against the parents and I hope those kids are taken and placed in a safer environment away from that lunatic father especially. This just disgusts me. __________________

10-19-2009, 06:41 AM	#9
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	I thought it was fake ever since I saw a picture of the balloon in flight. Taking into account the laws of gravity and helium, wouldn't a child the age of six (assuming he weighs as much a six year old child would) make a bulge in the balloon if his body, dead or alive, was inside of it? And wouldn't it change the way a balloon floats or moves in the wind? Not too impressed with the parents either way. __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

10-16-2009, 06:12 PM	#1
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	"balloon boy" Did you guys hear about these incredibly crazy ass parents and their kid yesterday? Complete hoax from what I can gather. What do you think? Media whores? Balloon Boy #1 Balloon boy#2 __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

10-16-2009, 06:25 PM	#2
Newton Gimmick Mad Scientist Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,154	I caught this drama as it unfolded yesterday and I thought it was one of two things: A. Either this kid was dead B. It was a hoax I found it odd that very little of the original story made reference to the fact that this kid was probably dead, which made me think it was a hoax. Now it's revealed these people are reality TV stars or whatever and I think it's pretty clear it's a hoax of somesort. I don't get people who do these kinds of stunts for attention, but a lot of people do this yearly.

10-19-2009, 04:22 AM	#8
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	I could tell it was fake by the parents bad acting in the news clips I saw. It was the worst acting Job I've ever seen.

10-19-2009, 07:28 AM	#10
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,481	Balloon Kid Wasn't "Balloon Kid" some video game many years ago?

10-20-2009, 06:55 AM	#14
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,481	Aeroplanes And the aeroplanes had to be redirected just because of this. Must have been a very tough work.

10-24-2009, 12:12 AM	#15
Buslady WingsOfDarkness! Perkele! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In 7803... Posts: 4,366	i think the authorities are just as much to blame cos they fell for it and spent all that dough on aircraft, etc! didnt think to search the house first __________________

10-26-2009, 06:34 PM	#16
BubblyShell22 Leo-holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,912	Yeah, this story was lame. I hope the parents get put in jail for this. Then again, what would you expect from a lunatic father and a mother who claims they're descended from aliens?

10-26-2009, 06:43 PM	#17
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Tom Cruise is that kid's father? I totally missed that. Sorry... making fun of Scientology is so 1994. In all seriousness, though, what a morally bankrupt culture we're becoming. People doing anything at all to be "famous", even to the point of diverting emergency services and taxpayer money into some BS reality TV scheme. Plus I heard somewhere the guy may have beat his wife or something. Yeah, I think we can do without this guy, and at least in jail he'll have plenty of aliens for company. Illegal ones, not the flying saucer ones, but still...

10-28-2009, 07:29 PM	#18
Type 97 Chi-ha Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brookfield, IL Posts: 1,333	http://techfox.comicgenesis.com/d/20030428.html An approiate way for this sorry saga to end.

12-23-2009, 01:11 PM	#19
Type 97 Chi-ha Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brookfield, IL Posts: 1,333	Scratch that. This is the appropriate ending: http://www.sphere.com/nation/article...cid=webmaildl1

12-23-2009, 02:11 PM	#20
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Yeah.... Im surprised the judge was nice and let the parents be in jail one at a time. They should have taken those kids away. __________________