Accident help: Why do smart teens sometimes do foolish things?

saitokonek

Why do smart teens sometimes do foolish things?

…I just found out that one of my son’s best friends was shot in the neck and killed accidentally after he and a friend were…I hesitate to say “playing” because the young man who was shot, at least, was an ordinarily sensible and streetwise kid…The other kid, who was actually older, was holding the rifle when it went off and shot his friend.

I realize that this post might attract a few narrow-minded people who’ll want to write it off as just a couple of dumbasses who deserved what they got. I hope those people will take a second to realize that there’s a lot more to the story than that, and try to be a little understanding. That’s not to say I don’t wonder what on earth he was thinking when he and his friend were looking at that gun, either! Obviously it was a dangerous and foolish thing to be doing.

This is a terrible time for everyone involved, and it would be wonderful to get a few words of comfort from some compassionate people, or maybe someone who has been through something similar. The boys were under the impression that the gun was not loaded, from what I’ve heard so far. Not many more details have been made available yet, since the deceased’s mother has obviously been busy with things other than filling the rest of us in on the horrible details…

Just….why? Why would he have done something so foolish?? I’ve known this boy since he and my son were in elementary school, and he was never the careless type!…I know this is really just a rant, but…I just wish I could understand how this could have happened!

This closed post was written 10 months, 2 weeks ago | V/U/S: 299, 13, 7 | Edit Post | Report Post

Reciprocity (0)

Since writing this post saitokonek may have helped people, but has not within the last 4 days. saitokonek is a verified member, has been around for 1 year and has 29 posts and 91 replies to their name.

Post Tags (3)

Accident, teenagers, teens (How Tags Affect Reciprocity)

Replies (13)

Where were you?

Click and drag to move the map around. FAQ: How we place people on this map »
You can also watch events on Help.com as they happen

Mouse over the map for 2 seconds to see an expanded, interactive view

Fuzzy Pepper 65 #
An Undisclosed Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (5 minutes after post)

Oh, that is so sad!! It happened in my hometown, too. One kid shot another kid in the hip; through the genital area. The one who did the shooting (”accidental”) was dumbstruck and couldn’t move. The one who was shot dragged himself to the phone to call 911.

It’s such a tragic thing!! Guns/no guns in a house…whatever…everyone has their own opinions on that and this is not about that…

BUT…if a family DOES have guns, they need to know gun safety…lock the things up. Lock ammunition up separately. Lock the weapons in a gun safe and lock the triggers before putting them in the gun safe. Lock the ammo in another separate safe. NEVER, NEVER relax these rules.

Help me with: Oxycontin: I just read a post about it; and I’m wondering…

Fuzzy Pepper 65 #
An Undisclosed Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (6 minutes after post)

Our children’s lives are at stake….for some stupid, foolish instance of an adult being lacksadaisical

Help me with: Oxycontin: I just read a post about it; and I’m wondering…

saitokonek 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (11 minutes after post)

Yeah, I have no idea what the gun was doing lying around….Then again, teens can be pretty sneaky, and can sometimes find their way around obstacles…I just don’t know yet exactly how it unfolded. I will post back here when I find out more about it, though. It’s so awful…Thanks so much for your comment, JellyBelly!

Help me with: Will a white sauce mix will work well in a chicken pot pie?

Anonymous #
10 months, 2 weeks ago (12 minutes after post)

Teens’ brains are actually not fully developed. One of the parts that helps you discern risky behaviors/understand your mortality doesn’t develop until mid twenties. However, the parts that relate to social interactions are especially active. This makes for a dangerous combination that leaves them open to bad decisions and peer pressure. So not all bad decisions can be excused as biological, but maturation plays a large role.

saitokonek 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (16 minutes after post)

Thank you, Anon. that makes a lot of sense, and I really appreciate your taking the time to explain it. It’s really true, isn’t it.

Help me with: Will a white sauce mix will work well in a chicken pot pie?

This reply has been removed.

classicrock1818 76 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (37 minutes after post)

thats horrible i cant imagine what your son is going through. it was bad enough when my best friend moved to new york. its awful. so sorry

Help me with: favorite beatles song?

Barbyman 5 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (44 minutes after post)

how lucky are we in Australia we dont have Guns. Goverment took them away .Only Crooks have them now…

Help me with: Wife deleted , “not me ” Office and some thing else with it .Now i can’t delete or set up a fresh program

Fusion ZX 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (48 minutes after post)

To fit in with the cool crowd.

saitokonek 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (49 minutes after post)

Same goes here, for Japan, Barbyman. It has nothing to do with the question I asked, however.

Help me with: Will a white sauce mix will work well in a chicken pot pie?

This reply has been removed.

Barbyman 5 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 2 weeks ago (6 hours, 3 minutes after post)

True as true can be.I know of someone who’s only Son took his Surf Board every day in the Morning like thousands of other Boys and Girls and went surfing before School.One Day he did not come Home.The Parents worried and the Father went to the Place where his Son always surfed.what happened was, his only Son was taken by a Shark .Out of Hundreds of Surfers ,his only Son was taken.He never drank.He was a good Child to the Parents .Now why did this happen to there only Child?Why? Well if i knew i would tell you. But Life is and has being more Question than Answers.Why did it happen to such nice People? The Answers are in the Wind.

Help me with: Wife deleted , “not me ” Office and some thing else with it .Now i can’t delete or set up a fresh program

saitokonek closed this post.

This post has been closed, no more replies. Thanks!

Invite Others to Help

Seeing as this post is closed, no invites are allowed.

Accident help: Why do smart teens sometimes do foolish things? - Help.com

Why do smart teens sometimes do foolish things?

Reciprocity (0)

Post Tags (3)

Replies (13)

Invite Others to Help

Help.com Homepage