What was he thinking? - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**lilwings** · 01-02-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LiveFreeorDie@Jan 1 2006, 05:33 PM
Probably looks good on that college app as well.*
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Yeah, I can see that one...

"Volunteered for 4H. Assisted at local hospice. Joined Junior Democratic League. Junior Varsity Football. Got booted out of a war zone just before my parents beat some sense into my ass when I got home."

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-02-2006, 09:07 AM

Actually, if you are in an interview with a top journalism school, you don't think they would be impressed at both his balls and ability to get around the Midde East at 16? The whole credo of journalists is to get the story, regarless the risk and he demonstrated his ability to accept that risk 10 times over with his little stunt. Plus, it will be all about the spin. If he can't spin his own stunt in a positive way then he shouldn't be going into journalism in the first place. I guarantee this will work for him in many, many ways career wise. From a purely journalistic viewpoint, its not about safety, its about who can go farthest for the story.

**bluepea** · 01-02-2006, 11:25 AM

Did he even get a story? From what it seems, he got to Iraq and was pretty much taken into custody.

The more I read about it, the more I think he was an idiot than a passionate journalist wannabe. The family was going to Iraq in June anyhow, but he "couldn't wait." So, instead of displaying his maturity by say, waiting to go with his family and respecting his mother's wishes, he takes off on his own, not telling anyone, to an extremely dangerous place for Americans? His parents at least had the benefit of having had lived in Iraq and probably speak the language. I think that would have been a much more responsible way of getting "the truth," plus it still would have been an adventure. He would have had better resources to actually succeed in his supposed task.

**SuDz** · 01-03-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamiepeaski@Jan 2 2006, 02:25 PM
Did he even get a story? From what it seems, he got to Iraq and was pretty much taken into custody.

I would say that there would be a big enough story in that alone to write something really different.

SuDZ

**bluepea** · 01-03-2006, 12:57 PM

I suppose with all of the publicity surrounding it, he could get a book deal or something. But he's not the only one to ever have been to Iraq (and most people don't need to call their father daily to figure out how to get around and get into the country

)

**omisan** · 01-03-2006, 12:58 PM

Let's see.. hotheaded youngblood with no experience or credentials wants to go into Iraq without the consent/approval of others? Sounds perfectly ok by me...

**Somnambulation** · 01-03-2006, 05:13 PM

He sounds like a jackass to me, but it was a gamble that will pay off in autoadmits to top colleges.

**bellelass** · 01-03-2006, 08:41 PM

Jake jake jake. you arent a dreamer.

I'd do it. I've thought of doing it. I just want to get my degree under my belt first.

**Somnambulation** · 01-03-2006, 10:47 PM

Hey, am so.

**lilwings** · 01-04-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LiveFreeorDie@Jan 2 2006, 11:07 AM
Actually, if you are in an interview with a top journalism school, you don't think they would be impressed at both his balls and ability to get around the Midde East at 16?*
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Were I a recruiter for a press agency?
It would impress me only until I find out that he doesnt speak the language, has few connections beyond his family to make a story worth the risk of sending him again with a press pass, and he could become an insurance risk to my paper or network. That kind of impulsiveness wouldn't be well received in a professional organization.