so sad.y family often had ridiculous fights like that. it turns out y older brother had serious mental illness (schizophrenia, with mood disorder), and it affected his temper. he would get fixated on something ridiculous, and my parents always took his side. often ended up with someone storming off.

The parents are out searching woods again now with volunteers. A few hours ago they posted this on FB:

Keith Higginbotham
JUNE 6, 2026 - PLEASE SHARE
ABC News misquoted the Kyoto police in an interview say that the police believe it is “highly probable” that Weston left deliberately. This is 100% not true. We spoke to the police about it and they told us that they did not give this quote and that they would never give this type of information out about any investigation.
Now other news organizations are spreading this false quote and making it their story or headline. We need this to STOP. We do not need people to stop looking because they believe he left deliberately.
Please share this so everyone knows that Weston did not leave with the intent of never returning to his family. He would never do that.
Thank you!

The article noted he is an experienced outdoorsmen that has hiked the Pyrenees by himself so it’s entirely possible that he just decided to do something like this and bought supplies for that sort of endeavor. That’s my hope.

I had a teen friend at that age who spent a week living on the streets and eating discarded restaurant food because he wanted to prove to himself he could do it. I think he told his parents he was at a friends. Teen boys sometimes do stuff that only makes sense to them.

Many people commit suicide abroad. #1 cause of death for people traveling to India but car accidents are close second

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.

He's not wrong.

Anonymous wrote:Where on Reddit is this post?

I couldn't find it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Honestly, it’s my thought too as a parent of a person with HF autism. The average person would probably never even piece it together but sometimes when you see it, you know it. Either the parents don’t understand or they don’t want out there in the media.

If they know, I hope they told the police. It might help in the recovery.

It really has nothing to do with recovery. You interact with people with HF autism in the workplace all the time. Especially in certain fields.

PP you replied to. I’m on the spectrum myself. I think it is noteworthy, because this person might not default to seeking human presence or asking for help (in English). They might, depending in their areas of interest, be doing something unusual.

East Asia is not particularly discriminatory when it comes to high-functioning autistic people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.)

My DH and I travel to Europe with our 22 and 19 YO sons at least once a year. Very often, we split up during the day because we want to do different things. My kids have grown up in cities and they have a lot of street smarts, plus we stay connected on Life 360 and we typically meet up for lunch or dinner. Or when they want me to meet them at Zara with the credit card.

I would think nothing of this with a kid that age.

You would think nothing of just one of your kids leaving on his own and not telling you where they were going?

Because like you, I wouldn’t worry about my teens going off somewhere nearby together. But that’s very different from someone disappearing on their own abroad.

Anonymous wrote: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.)

My DH and I travel to Europe with our 22 and 19 YO sons at least once a year. Very often, we split up during the day because we want to do different things. My kids have grown up in cities and they have a lot of street smarts, plus we stay connected on Life 360 and we typically meet up for lunch or dinner. Or when they want me to meet them at Zara with the credit card.

I would think nothing of this with a kid that age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Honestly, it’s my thought too as a parent of a person with HF autism. The average person would probably never even piece it together but sometimes when you see it, you know it. Either the parents don’t understand or they don’t want out there in the media.

If they know, I hope they told the police. It might help in the recovery.

It really has nothing to do with recovery. You interact with people with HF autism in the workplace all the time. Especially in certain fields.

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

This very sad. Now his mom has to live with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Honestly, it’s my thought too as a parent of a person with HF autism. The average person would probably never even piece it together but sometimes when you see it, you know it. Either the parents don’t understand or they don’t want out there in the media.

If they know, I hope they told the police. It might help in the recovery.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Honestly, it’s my thought too as a parent of a person with HF autism. The average person would probably never even piece it together but sometimes when you see it, you know it. Either the parents don’t understand or they don’t want out there in the media.

+1

Still a chance he'll be found, hopeful.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Honestly, it’s my thought too as a parent of a person with HF autism. The average person would probably never even piece it together but sometimes when you see it, you know it. Either the parents don’t understand or they don’t want out there in the media.