WHy cant' the kid just be a poser?
He follows the Make culture, doing anything, even pasting together
circuitry sold to people so they don't have to solder, is "Making".
In the old days, the technology was cool, you weren't, you got picked on
or beat up at high school. But "Make" says it's all "cool", and nothing
deserves criticism.
If you broaden something enough, anyone can participate, look at how the
internet has gone. It's like teaching amateur radio in elementary school,
everyone gets a license, but few will actually pursue it to any extent
beyond that classroom.
They had a soapbox derby here recently, I looked closer and saw that
nobody was making the cars, there were some standard cars which the kids
got to race.
In that context, some kid who opened up a commercial clock and
transplanted it into another box is of course a "Maker", and wants the
prestige the "Maker Movement" expects. He certainly didn't expect to be
told "that's not building a clock" let alone "it's a bomb".
The funny thing is, "Make" has been pushing this, and in their regular
advertising email, they offered a selection of clocks from their store,
including one made to look like a bomb. That's the leadership, not doing
something for the sake of doing something, but for the sake of adulation
from others. And apparently making clocks that look like bombs is
acceptable in the "Maker World".
The dumb thing about this discussion is that while he's a rank beginner,
the fact that he is young isn't some indicator of a conspiracy.
I was building things, or trying to, when I was 11. I got my ham license
when I was 12, and was playing with high voltage soon after (it was 1972,
the tail end of the tube era). I knew way more about electronics than
anyone in high school. Lots of people back then had similar experience,
well lots if you look at people interested in hobby electronics or amateur
radio or even professionals in electronics. Few if you compare to the
general population, there were a few interested in high school, we all
knew who the other ones were.
Michael