When boredom hits, people can sometimes make rash decisions, like binge-watching an entire Netflix series in an all-nighter or impulsively eating several thousand calories of Greek yogurt. Some take things a step further and go out looking for trouble, and one 17-year-old from Atlantic High School in Florida decided that committing a crime could perhaps provide him with some entertainment. However, the fun he had was more than he bargained for, about $160,000 worth more, in fact, as the high schooler was charged with a second-degree felony, per ClickOrlando.
It was around 2 in the morning when the Florida teenager got into a truck and drove out to the New Smyrna Beach golf course. The kid allegedly “didn’t think there was anything else to do at 2:30 in the morning” and then proceeded to do donuts on one of the greens. The boy “confessed to causing the damage because they were bored,” Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood explained. “They basically destroyed 7,000 square feet of the second hole, causing about $160,000 in damage.” The place has since been patched with sand, but the major repairs for the green will reportedly take months before it’s back to normal.
While the outrageous cost in damages of the Florida 17-year-old’s vandalism is wild, many online users felt that destroying a golf course is more or less a chaotic neutral thing to do: in other words, not that bad. “I just figure vandalizing a golf course is one of those rare, endearing harmless crimes teenagers do. I’m more proud than anything,” joked a Redditor. “Boo hoo. Golf is a massive waste of space and should be banned,” complained another. “Get rid of golf courses and build affordable housing and community centers,” suggested a third.
Needless to say, these are simply people who feel toxic towards bougie golfers, aka the pompous upper class. Still, what the teen did is a crime and most certainly unlawful. Instead of focusing on how golf courses should be demolished, perhaps it would be better to discuss how people can resolve their boredom without being destructive.
