Re: Appearances
Appearances mean little.
They have to be taken in context, Peter. It isn't as simple as everyone who dresses like this echoes this and that, it's watching how and when it happens. If this student suddenly started dressing in the black coat, or suddenly wore the shoelaces. If he wears nothing BUT the trench coat and shoes with red laces, if he suddenly exhibited odd behavior.
Gosh, really? Thanks for patronising me. I'd never have guessed that things like that have to be taken in context. Brenda, I live in my boots - they're practically sentient. I wear my long coat EVERY DAY. I wore it (well, one like it) EVERY DAY when I was at college and University. And red laces? Give me strength.
Stop watching the kids and start talking to them. <-- clue, quite important[0]
You have to look at the circumstances, (i.e. a dtudent in a school setting), and the nature of the changes (i.e. when did he start doing this, after he talked about shooting up the school? Right after Columbine? etc. etc. etc.).
I imagine that pretty much every even slightly disaffected kid in America (and across the Western world, come to that) pondered gunning up their classmates, post-Columbine. Some weren't smart enough to keep their mouths shut.
But tonight, on Mastermind, Brenda's chosen specialised subject will be The Bleeding Obvious. </Fawlty>
I'm not dumb enough to believe everything is as black and white as if this person dresses like this or does this, he's bound to do this... it has to have more factors than just that.
Bingo!
You scored two points and no passes.