Missing Auburn student in Japan

[Anonymous]

This is terrible! What do you think happened? I feel so sorry for the family.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Hoping they find him soon.

[Anonymous]

There were reports of a “disturbing” purchase at a hardware store prior to his disappearance, which AI initially indicated to be a rope. However, I explored the links to find the source and couldn’t find it.

I hope they find him soon but it’s been seven days. Even if he only got lost in the forest (per the mother’s latest Facebook update), it’s a long time without food and limited water.

[Anonymous]

They likely got in some sort of argument and he took off and probably took his own life.

[Anonymous]

I have been following this story. Apparently he and his parents got into an argument (related to politics or current events) and they mutually decided to take some alone time to cool off (with him going to explore the city on his own for a while). The parents were tracking his phone and when its location was turned off they started to worry.

Authorities do not suspect foul play so he’s either gotten hurt, harmed himself or doesn’t want to be found. Because of his age authorities have said if he is found alive and doesn’t want to be with his family the police will respect his wishes.

It’s pretty sad no matter the outcome (with some worse than others).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were reports of a “disturbing” purchase at a hardware store prior to his disappearance, which AI initially indicated to be a rope. However, I explored the links to find the source and couldn’t find it.

I hope they find him soon but it’s been seven days. Even if he only got lost in the forest (per the mother’s latest Facebook update), it’s a long time without food and limited water.

The mother initially posted on Reddit about the rope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been following this story. Apparently he and his parents got into an argument (related to politics or current events) and they mutually decided to take some alone time to cool off (with him going to explore the city on his own for a while). The parents were tracking his phone and when its location was turned off they started to worry.

Authorities do not suspect foul play so he’s either gotten hurt, harmed himself or doesn’t want to be found. Because of his age authorities have said if he is found alive and doesn’t want to be with his family the police will respect his wishes.

It’s pretty sad no matter the outcome (with some worse than others).

The argument was about the use of ChatGPT to plan the trip per the parents this morning. From nbc:

“James "Weston" Higginbotham, who vanished during a family vacation to Japan, had an argument with his mother about ChatGPT before he disappeared

Weston, who hasn't been seen since Friday, May 29, claimed his mom, Nancy, was using an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot too much to plan their trip

"We try never to use it and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have," Nancy told NBC News”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were reports of a “disturbing” purchase at a hardware store prior to his disappearance, which AI initially indicated to be a rope. However, I explored the links to find the source and couldn’t find it.

I hope they find him soon but it’s been seven days. Even if he only got lost in the forest (per the mother’s latest Facebook update), it’s a long time without food and limited water.

The mother initially posted on Reddit about the rope.

Oh I was hoping that this was an AI hallucination. He seemed to be one of these people who are super concerned about the environment. I fear that he may have done something very foolish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were reports of a “disturbing” purchase at a hardware store prior to his disappearance, which AI initially indicated to be a rope. However, I explored the links to find the source and couldn’t find it.

I hope they find him soon but it’s been seven days. Even if he only got lost in the forest (per the mother’s latest Facebook update), it’s a long time without food and limited water.

The mother initially posted on Reddit about the rope.

Oh I was hoping that this was an AI hallucination. He seemed to be one of these people who are super concerned about the environment. I fear that he may have done something very foolish.

or he used it for survival/climbing.

Is he neurodivergent?

[Anonymous]

Where on Reddit is this post?

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to the family.

I can’t imagine why anyone traveling with family or friends would venture off alone.

I was mildly annoyed when I discovered over breakfast in Italy that my teens left the hotel late at night for a walk and some drinks, but at least they weren’t alone. (And they are tall young men who know better than to put themselves in danger, so they didn’t wander too far and we were in a very nice area.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following this story. Apparently he and his parents got into an argument (related to politics or current events) and they mutually decided to take some alone time to cool off (with him going to explore the city on his own for a while). The parents were tracking his phone and when its location was turned off they started to worry.

Authorities do not suspect foul play so he’s either gotten hurt, harmed himself or doesn’t want to be found. Because of his age authorities have said if he is found alive and doesn’t want to be with his family the police will respect his wishes.

It’s pretty sad no matter the outcome (with some worse than others).

The argument was about the use of ChatGPT to plan the trip per the parents this morning. From nbc:

“James "Weston" Higginbotham, who vanished during a family vacation to Japan, had an argument with his mother about ChatGPT before he disappeared

Weston, who hasn't been seen since Friday, May 29, claimed his mom, Nancy, was using an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot too much to plan their trip

"We try never to use it and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have," Nancy told NBC News”

WTF? That’s worth arguing about?

[Anonymous]

Why was Auburn mentioned? He wasn’t on semester abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following this story. Apparently he and his parents got into an argument (related to politics or current events) and they mutually decided to take some alone time to cool off (with him going to explore the city on his own for a while). The parents were tracking his phone and when its location was turned off they started to worry.

Authorities do not suspect foul play so he’s either gotten hurt, harmed himself or doesn’t want to be found. Because of his age authorities have said if he is found alive and doesn’t want to be with his family the police will respect his wishes.

It’s pretty sad no matter the outcome (with some worse than others).

The argument was about the use of ChatGPT to plan the trip per the parents this morning. From nbc:

“James "Weston" Higginbotham, who vanished during a family vacation to Japan, had an argument with his mother about ChatGPT before he disappeared

Weston, who hasn't been seen since Friday, May 29, claimed his mom, Nancy, was using an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot too much to plan their trip

"We try never to use it and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have," Nancy told NBC News”

WTF? That’s worth arguing about?

Per CBS news:
Higginbotham’s mom said he was out on his own after they had an argument about her use of ChatGPT, telling CBS News’ Anna Coren that her son is “very anti-AI” because it’s “depleting a lot of water resources.”

Perhaps he only sees things black and white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following this story. Apparently he and his parents got into an argument (related to politics or current events) and they mutually decided to take some alone time to cool off (with him going to explore the city on his own for a while). The parents were tracking his phone and when its location was turned off they started to worry.

Authorities do not suspect foul play so he’s either gotten hurt, harmed himself or doesn’t want to be found. Because of his age authorities have said if he is found alive and doesn’t want to be with his family the police will respect his wishes.

It’s pretty sad no matter the outcome (with some worse than others).

The argument was about the use of ChatGPT to plan the trip per the parents this morning. From nbc:

“James "Weston" Higginbotham, who vanished during a family vacation to Japan, had an argument with his mother about ChatGPT before he disappeared

Weston, who hasn't been seen since Friday, May 29, claimed his mom, Nancy, was using an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot too much to plan their trip

"We try never to use it and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have," Nancy told NBC News”

WTF? That’s worth arguing about?

Per CBS news:
Higginbotham’s mom said he was out on his own after they had an argument about her use of ChatGPT, telling CBS News’ Anna Coren that her son is “very anti-AI” because it’s “depleting a lot of water resources.”

Perhaps he only sees things black and white.

Yes, that sounds very autistic. I speak from personal experience.

Also Japan is a very safe place. It's just really sad that there might be an adverse outcome here.