Balloon Boy-Hoax?

1. 71

   lorlie6posted 15 years ago

   I am curious what hubbers think of this situation that caught the attention of the world yesterday.  I watched in horror as a homemade balloon flew over Colorado-reportedly with a 6 year old child inside.  The BBC followed the story and noted with sadness that the balloon had indeed landed, but no one was inside.
   Later in the day, the child was found hiding in the garage rafters of his home.
   This morning the news is focusing on the family's former appearance on TV's Wife Swap, implying that this was a publicity stunt that backfired.  Hubbers?

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      dutchman1951posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, a stunt that backfired. The Boys on the roof ready to film it, all of it.
      
      I think he was to heavy for it to lift, and Dad got impatient started cussing, the kid got nervious, crawled out, and dad did not see him, and the thing got loose from its tie downs.
      
      then they all pannicked, and the Kid ran and hid. The Child seemed to me, on the Sawyer Interview, to be very sensitive and not take critisism or yelling well. Gets nervous and gets sick to stomach.
      
      I think they told him to get in it and they would float it while it was tied down and they would film him in it, and it backfired on them.

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2. 0

   Brenda Durhamposted 15 years ago

   It's very possible!
   I watched in horror too,  thinking how scared that kid must be, all alone and flying through the air in that thing.
   
   Either a hoax, or else a couple kids are in need of a spanking from their parents!

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   Louidam1posted 15 years ago

   I think it was a hoax of the parents trying to become known.

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      lorlie6posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Did you see the father on television?  I think he acted very strangely...like he was on drugs.

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         Louidam1posted 15 years agoin reply to this

         No but I read that when the media was asking the son questions he was getting sick when asked what they ment by "we did this for show."

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         1. 71

            lorlie6posted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I think I heard something like that too but I was so in amazement listening and watching this thing unfold all day, my ears were ringing!

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               Lisa HWposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               I know I find them "amazing":
               
               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr_zA5E7n7A

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            lorlie6posted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Apparently there is hearsay that the father is 'hard on the kids'-I didn't get the whole story, but maybe they filmed that behavior on 'Wife Swap.'

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   Jane Dee Summersposted 15 years ago

   Tricky one. However, I do think the father was acting a little strange but maybe he was also being a little cautious.
   
   The problem is that these rescue operations are very expensive, and if they have used it as a publicity stunt then they could be in big trouble.
   
   I don't believe the children should have been in the interview.

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      lorlie6posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly!  I'm just going on instinct, but if the father/mother perpetrated this 'event,' then they'd want to have the kids there for the publicity.  I know we have to wait for investigators for more information, but I think I've already made up my mind.

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5. 71

   lorlie6posted 15 years ago

   Search and Rescue in Colorado spent so much time, money and energy on this pursuit that it floored me when they asserted they don't 'charge' for something like this.
   This country is so angry already it's incredible...there was one clip of the family aired last night of the whole family in their living room-the kids were squirming, I think they were in fear of their father.  All the video points to fishiness!

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6. 63

   Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

   I don't what to think.  I think the father is, in general, a jerk; but I also know how sharp a six-year-old can be.  I can see how he may have said the thing about "you guys" (his parents) told me it was for the show out of knowing what a big thing the whole fiasco was.  A six-year-old worried about getting in trouble doesn't always realize the impact of the quick blaming of someone else.  I think it's a case of "borderline lunatics"/idiots for parents so "borderline lunatics"/idiots for kids.

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      Friendlywordposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I think Mommy and Daddy played it a little too cute and got  busted by their child. How did they expect a six year old play along with this deception. The poor boy realized too late he had blew it and was sick every since. He may never recover.

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7. 63

   Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

   I have a feeling that "lovely" little boy isn't particularly the sensitive type.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJXXgaYBo

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8. 59

   theageofcakeposted 15 years ago

   This whole ordeal is not national news-worthy.  I don't understand all the attention.

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