You probably heard about the "balloon boy" and his family. You know, the 6-year-old who was thought to be soaring over Denver last week in a giant helium balloon invented by his father. It turned out he never was in the balloon. In fact, he was safe at home the entire time.
Authorities in Colorado are already calling the now-notorious Balloon Boy incident a hoax. It's not really surprising coming from a family that previously appeared on the reality TV show "Wife Swap." Authorities are also planning to press charges against the family for the balloon chase, which cost thousands of government dollars and other resources. Sheriff Jim Alderden of Larimer County told CNN that the boy's family intended to use the publicity of the incident in hopes of "better marketing themselves for a reality television show at some point in the future."
My biggest fear? The family's plan is working.
If the media don't let go of the balloon story immediately, the family's punishment is going to be reversed when it is actually given a reality show. That hurts me inside.
After tricking the public, creating a false sense of danger and leading police on a wild and costly goose chase, this family is anything but deserving of fame or recognition.
At the current rate of publicity, it won't be long before the family has a TV show of its own. Who knows, there could even be a balloon boy movie. The profits will counter the family's financial woes, and the family will have gotten what it wanted: an extended national spotlight.
So please, for my sake and the sake of intellectual America, everyone forget about the balloon boy before it's too late.
Wade Powell is a senior journalism student.
