Bios Quote by David Levithan
“teenagers are never joking. when seeking to prove a point, principals and teachers should remember that teenagers are never, ever sarcasic or ironic. if they say "I wish someone would drop a bomb on this school right now," that means they have arranged for a nuclear arsenal to be emptied onto the school and should be immediately suspended and ridiculed. if they say they were merely coming up with a joking excuse to postpone a bio test, reply that all jokes are funny, and that since dropping a bomb on a school is not funny, it is therefore not a joke.”
About This Quote
The quote warns that teenage statements about extreme violence should be taken seriously, not dismissed as jokes, and that adults must respond firmly.
In simple terms: Take violent teen remarks seriously, not as jokes.
Treat extreme threats literally and act decisively.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school meetings
- parent‑teacher conferences
- crisis counseling
- policy enforcement
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can schools differentiate between hyperbole and real threats?
- What policies ensure fair yet firm responses?
Adolescents may use hyperbole; not all statements indicate genuine intent.