Expert: Dick Rogers - 10/26/2006

Question
I am 16 years old and a friend and I wish to start a sort of club.  I want it to be not just getting a cat out of a tree but for real.  I am very good at finding information about the people of my small community and hope that I could help to improve the living environment for my fellow students around here.  My county only has 'bout 900 people but I personally know about alot of drinking and drug usage amongst the teens and would like to help.  Would it be possible to start something for real or would I have to stick with simply having a 'club'?

Answer
Kyle, you sound like a nice guy, but I'm not sure the direction you are taking with this "information" you are gathering.  If your county is so small, don't you think that it wouldn't take long for people to find out it is you that is providing information to the police?  You would then be putting yourself and your friend in jeopardy.  Perhaps the best thing you could do is to start a club to show people the dangers of drinking at a young age (i.e., photos of car wrecks where drinking was involved, or show people messed up on meth, etc.) Places where young people have been involved in something you describe end up with violence being placed on them,  Think it over before taking this course.  Good luck.