Boy trapped in homemade balloon...

[Jadzia]

that's where I'm coming down on this. Two kids, one 6 and the one a little older. And the older one claims the 6 year got in and flew off. It certainly wouldn't be the first time in history when a kid lied about something.

It might not be a lie exactly. When child no.2 says "The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!", he might have meant "I saw my brother in the balloon. He was messing with it. Then he got out and started messing with the tether, and then it got loose, and my brother ran off."

I'm suggesting the child was assigning blame "he did it", as children do, rather than alerting parents to a serious incident in progress.

 

[Mysterion]

Anyone here familar with Colorado geography? How far did this balloon travel before it landed?

 

[Supreme Admiral]

My instincts say he wasn't in the balloon. More likely he let it loose and then ran off to hide. For a small child to be able to untether it whilst sitting in it, would say something about how/where it was tethered. In my imagination that looks unlikely.

that's where I'm coming down on this. Two kids, one 6 and the one a little older. And the older one claims the 6 year got in and flew off. It certainly wouldn't be the first time in history when a kid lied about something.

I wouldn't be surprised if kid is indeed lying about his brother being in a homemade balloon. It's too stupid for causing all this trouble and no wonders why MSNBC is calling them "mad scientists" in the first place, I'm hoping that that boy is safe and sound, the boy better be found!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

that's where I'm coming down on this. Two kids, one 6 and the one a little older. And the older one claims the 6 year got in and flew off. It certainly wouldn't be the first time in history when a kid lied about something.

It might not be a lie exactly. When child no.2 says "The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!", he might have meant "I saw my brother in the balloon. He was messing with it. Then he got out and started messing with the tether, and then it got loose, and my brother ran off."

Or maybe kid 2 doesn't know where 6-year-old ran off to, and assumed he was in the balloon.

If both kids have found each other afterwards, they may be hiding together out of guilt for sending the adults off on a big chase, and are afraid to own up. At least I hope they're safe.

 

[gh4chiefs]

that's where I'm coming down on this. Two kids, one 6 and the one a little older. And the older one claims the 6 year got in and flew off. It certainly wouldn't be the first time in history when a kid lied about something.

It might not be a lie exactly. When child no.2 says "The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!", he might have meant "I saw my brother in the balloon. He was messing with it. Then he got out and started messing with the tether, and then it got loose, and my brother ran off."

 

[John Picard]

Man, I love all of this rumor and conjecture. You people are funny.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Anyone here familar with Colorado geography? How far did this balloon travel before it landed?

Well, I know the Fort Collins/Denver area pretty well- It landed in Weld County, south of Larimer County. That's not too far- maybe an hour drive, depending on which part of the county it landed in.

 

[gh4chiefs]

I don't think it's that big of a mystery and there's not that much conjecture IMHO. Assuming the news report is accurate that he was not in it when it came down, there are only two possibilities.

1) He wasn't it when it lifted off or;
2) He fell out before it landed.

If he wasn't in it, again assuming the news report is accurate (and I readily admit that it may not be) the older kid is either lying or is mistaken.

 

[John Picard]

I don't think it's that big of a mystery and there's not that much conjecture IMHO. Assuming the news report is accurate that he was not in it when it came down, there are only two possibilities.

1) He wasn't it when it lifted off or;
2) He fell out before it landed.

If he wasn't in it, again assuming the news report is accurate (and I readily admit that it may not be) the older kid is either lying or is mistaken.

3) Passing space aliens safely beamed him out of the fragile and dangerous vessel.

 

[Jadzia]

"The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!"

And you'd be interpreting that line the same way his parents did, assuming my prediction about what happened is correct.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

"The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!"

And you'd be interpreting that line the same way his parents did, assuming my prediction about what happened is correct.

An 11 year old would be able to explain the difference in a clam situation. If he is not calm and feels fear he may shorten it all down into that not meaning that at all.

 

[gh4chiefs]

I don't think it's that big of a mystery and there's not that much conjecture IMHO. Assuming the news report is accurate that he was not in it when it came down, there are only two possibilities.

1) He wasn't it when it lifted off or;
2) He fell out before it landed.

If he wasn't in it, again assuming the news report is accurate (and I readily admit that it may not be) the older kid is either lying or is mistaken.

3) Passing space aliens safely beamed him out of the fragile and dangerous vessel.

Now who's coming up with conjecture?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Wow, I hope the kid is okay... at least until his parents find him.

 

[Supreme Admiral]

What a drag!!!

 

[John Picard]

I don't think it's that big of a mystery and there's not that much conjecture IMHO. Assuming the news report is accurate that he was not in it when it came down, there are only two possibilities.

1) He wasn't it when it lifted off or;
2) He fell out before it landed.

If he wasn't in it, again assuming the news report is accurate (and I readily admit that it may not be) the older kid is either lying or is mistaken.

3) Passing space aliens safely beamed him out of the fragile and dangerous vessel.

Now who's coming up with conjecture?

It's possible!

 

[gh4chiefs]

"The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!"

And you'd be interpreting that line the same way his parents did, assuming my prediction about what happened is correct.

OK, I see what you're getting at. Kids are also known for not being the best communicators in the world. Although in this length of time, SURELY an 11 year old would be able to get the point across that "Uh well I didn't mean he was IN IT, when it went up."

 

[gh4chiefs]

3) Passing space aliens safely beamed him out of the fragile and dangerous vessel.

Now who's coming up with conjecture?

It's possible!

If this was a Star Trek episode perhaps.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

"The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!"

And you'd be interpreting that line the same way his parents did, assuming my prediction about what happened is correct.

OK, I see what you're getting at. Kids are also know for not being the best communicators in the world. Although in this length of time, SURELY an 11 year old would be able to get the point across that "Uh well I didn't mean he was IN IT, when it went up."

11 year olds panic during times of stress. Everyone does.

 

[Kira's Mom]

The balloon travelled 75 miles, according to CNN.

Volunteers are searching the neighborhood right now.

 

[gh4chiefs]

"The balloon's gone up, and my brother was in it!"

And you'd be interpreting that line the same way his parents did, assuming my prediction about what happened is correct.

OK, I see what you're getting at. Kids are also know for not being the best communicators in the world. Although in this length of time, SURELY an 11 year old would be able to get the point across that "Uh well I didn't mean he was IN IT, when it went up."

11 year olds panic during times of stress. Everyone does.

I'm more inclined to think he's flat lying or just totally mistaken (saw the brother go in, looked away, didn't see the brother get out before lift off) as opposed to being totally unable to clarify his story.