Orienteering compass mistaken for a handgun prompts a half-hour lockdown

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

• Sourcepresent20/25

  Final assessment

  A strong majority finds the source present, citing this system and the cocc.edu emergency page as the College identifying itself, though several dissent that no named sender appears.

  Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. absent: No branded signature or named authority appears, only "the College" generically referenced via phone lines.
  2. absent: No sender tag or named issuing authority appears in the message.
  3. present: It references "College" and the cocc.edu emergency page and "this system", identifying the institutional sender.
  4. present: It references "this system" and the "@cocc.edu/emergency" site, identifying the College as sender.
  5. present: It references "police" and the "College" emergency communications, identifying the sender.
  6. present: It references "this system" and posting at the college emergency site, and says "the campus", implying the college sender.
  7. present: It references "the College" and the "system" used for emergency communication, identifying an institutional sender.
  8. present: It references "the College" and posting to "https://www.cocc.edu/emergency", identifying the sender.
  9. present: It references "the College" and a "system", and points to "https://www.cocc.edu/emergency", identifying the institutional sender.
  10. present: It references "this system" and "the campus" managing emergency communication, with the college as implied sender.
  11. present: It references "the campus", "College phone lines", and "this system" used by the college, identifying the institutional sender.
  12. present: It references "College phone lines" and the college emergency system, identifying the institution as sender.
  13. present: It references "College phone lines" and the cocc.edu/emergency page, identifying the college as the source.
  14. present: It references using "this system" and posting at the college emergency URL, implying the institution as sender, plus "campus" naming.
  15. absent: No sender tag, agency, or institution name appears in the message.
  16. absent: No sender tag or named authority appears; the closing references a website but no issuer.
  17. absent: No sender tag or institution name appears; it references "the campus" and "College phone lines" but does not name the sender.
  18. present: "College phone lines" and the cocc.edu/emergency reference identify the college as sender.
  19. present: It references "the campus", "College phone lines", and a cocc.edu emergency page, indicating the college as sender.
  20. present: The text refers to "the College" and "this system", and that "We will post information", identifying the sender.
  21. present: It refers to "College" communication and the campus emergency system as the issuer.
  22. present: It references "the campus" and "College phone lines", and the system "we" will use, identifying issuer.
  23. present: It references "the campus", "College phone lines", and "this system", identifying the college as the sender.
  24. present: The institutional voice referencing "the campus" and the cocc.edu alert system identifies the sender.
  25. present: It references the campus "College phone lines" and "we", implying the issuing college as sender.
• Hazardabsent0/25

  Final assessment

  Unanimous that the hazard is absent; the message gives only Run, Hide, Fight protocols without stating the threat.

  What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. absent: It names no specific threat, only instructing Run/Hide/Fight without stating the hazard.
  2. absent: No specific hazard is named; only Run, Hide, Fight protocols without stating the threat.
  3. absent: No specific hazard is named; it only references Run, Hide, Fight protocols without naming the threat.
  4. absent: No specific hazard is named, only Run Hide Fight protocols are invoked.
  5. absent: It directs lockdown actions but names no specific threat in this text.
  6. absent: No specific hazard is named; only protective protocols are given without naming the threat.
  7. absent: No specific threat is named; it gives lockdown instructions without stating the hazard.
  8. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives lockdown actions without stating the threat.
  9. absent: No specific hazard is named; only Run-Hide-Fight protocols are referenced without naming the threat.
  10. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives lockdown instructions without stating the threat.
  11. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives Run-Hide-Fight protocols without stating the threat.
  12. absent: No specific hazard is named; the protective protocol does not state shooter, bomb, or other threat.
  13. absent: No specific hazard is named; it only references Run, Hide, Fight protocols without naming a threat.
  14. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives lockdown actions without stating the threat.
  15. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives lockdown actions without saying what the threat is.
  16. absent: No specific threat is named; the Run-Hide-Fight protocol is invoked without naming the hazard.
  17. absent: It gives lockdown instructions but never names a specific threat such as a shooter or weapon.
  18. absent: No specific hazard is named; the text gives only lockdown protocols without stating the threat.
  19. absent: No specific threat is named; it gives protocols but never states the hazard such as shooter or fire.
  20. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives lockdown actions without stating the threat.
  21. absent: No specific hazard is named; it references "emergency communication" but never states the threat.
  22. absent: It does not name a specific hazard; it gives lockdown actions without stating the threat.
  23. absent: It describes Run, Hide, Fight protocols but never names a specific threat in the given text.
  24. absent: No specific hazard is named; only protective protocols are described without saying what the threat is.
  25. absent: No specific hazard is named; it gives lockdown actions without stating what the threat is.
• Locationpresent25/25

  Final assessment

  All reads agree location is present; the alert references campus and the College.

  Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. present: It refers to "campus" and "the College", location references.
  2. present: It references "campus" and the College, location cues.
  3. present: It references "campus", a location.
  4. present: It specifies "campus" and "the campus".
  5. present: It says "campus" multiple times, a location reference.
  6. present: It says "off campus", "campus", and "the campus", locations.
  7. present: It references "campus", a location.
  8. present: It references "campus" and tells off-campus people not to come, a location.
  9. present: It refers to "campus" repeatedly, a location.
  10. present: It says "off campus" and "campus", location references.
  11. present: It references "campus" and a college emergency webpage, a location reference.
  12. present: It refers to "campus" repeatedly, a location reference.
  13. present: It refers to "campus" repeatedly, a location reference.
  14. present: It refers to "campus" and being "off campus", location cues.
  15. present: It cites "campus" and "the campus", location references.
  16. present: It references "campus" and "the campus", location cues.
  17. present: It references "campus", a location.
  18. present: It references "campus" and instructs those "off campus" not to come, a location.
  19. present: It references "campus" and instructs off-campus people not to come to campus, location references.
  20. present: It references "campus" and directs off-campus people not to come "to campus".
  21. present: It refers to "campus" and "off campus", location references.
  22. present: It references "campus" and the emergency webpage, a location cue.
  23. present: It refers to "campus" and "off campus", locations.
  24. present: It references "campus" multiple times, a location.
  25. present: It refers to "campus" and "off campus", location cues.
• Guidancepresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Unanimous that guidance is present; recipients are told to lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight, and not come to campus.

  The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and avoid campus, protective actions.
  2. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight ... DO NOT come to campus", protective actions.
  3. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and "Maintain silence", protective actions.
  4. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", a protective action.
  5. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", protective actions.
  6. present: It instructs to "lock doors, turn off lights", use "Run, Hide, Fight protocols", protective actions.
  7. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", protective actions.
  8. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and Run, Hide, Fight.
  9. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and "DO NOT come to campus", protective actions.
  10. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", protective actions.
  11. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", protective actions.
  12. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and Run, Hide, Fight, protective actions.
  13. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and not come to campus, protective actions.
  14. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and use "Run, Hide, Fight" protocols, protective actions.
  15. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and Run-Hide-Fight, protective actions.
  16. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", protective actions.
  17. present: It instructs to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" using "Run, Hide, Fight protocols", protective actions.
  18. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and use "Run, Hide, Fight."
  19. present: It instructs to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and use Run, Hide, Fight, protective actions.
  20. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" using "Run, Hide, Fight protocols".
  21. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight", and Run, Hide, Fight, protective actions.
  22. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and Run, Hide, Fight.
  23. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and "DO NOT come to campus", protective actions.
  24. present: It instructs "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and "Run, Hide, Fight", protective actions.
  25. present: It instructs recipients to "lock doors, turn off lights, stay out of sight" and "DO NOT come to campus", protective actions.
• Timepresent24/25

  Final assessment

  Near-unanimous that timing is present; until further notice conveys a recency cue, with one read finding no time stated.

  When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. present: It says "until further notice", a recency/timing cue.
  2. present: "until further notice" conveys a recency or duration cue.
  3. present: It says "until further notice", a duration cue.
  4. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
  5. present: It says "until further notice", a recency/duration cue.
  6. present: It cites "until further notice", a recency cue.
  7. present: "until further notice" conveys a timing reference.
  8. present: "until further notice" and "as it becomes available" convey recency.
  9. present: "until further notice" is a timing cue.
  10. present: It says "until further notice" and "as it becomes available", recency cues.
  11. present: It uses "until further notice", a recency cue.
  12. present: "until further notice" conveys a timing cue.
  13. present: It says off-campus people should not come "until further notice", a recency and duration cue.
  14. present: "until further notice" is a duration/recency cue.
  15. present: "Until further notice" conveys a recency and duration cue.
  16. present: It says "until further notice", a recency cue.
  17. present: The phrase "until further notice" conveys an ongoing time frame.
  18. present: "until further notice" conveys duration/recency.
  19. present: It says to wait "until further notice", a recency or duration cue.
  20. present: It uses "until further notice", a recency cue.
  21. present: It uses "until further notice", a duration/recency cue.
  22. present: "until further notice" conveys a recency and duration cue.
  23. present: It says "until further notice", a recency/duration cue.
  24. present: "until further notice" conveys an open ended timing cue.
  25. present: It says "until further notice", a recency and duration cue.
• Impactabsent7/25

  Final assessment

  Absent by an 18 to 7 majority. The alert gives lockdown and run-hide-fight protective guidance without stating any specific harm or severity; the minority read the evade-or-defend instruction as implying a violent threat.

  What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. absent: It gives run hide fight protective guidance but states no explicit harm or severity of the threat.
  2. absent: This gives lockdown and run/hide/fight protective guidance without stating any specific harm or potential consequence.
  3. absent: Gives extensive shelter and evade-or-defend guidance but states no explicit harm or severity.
  4. present: Directing people to prepare to evade or defend using Run Hide Fight implies a violent threat capable of causing harm.
  5. absent: Gives evade or defend guidance but states no explicit harm or consequence of the threat.
  6. present: The instruction to prepare to evade or defend using Run Hide Fight implies a threat capable of harming people though it is largely guidance.
  7. absent: Gives detailed run-hide-fight and silence guidance but never states what the threat could do or its severity.
  8. absent: Gives detailed lockdown and run/hide/defend guidance but never states the harm or severity the threat poses.
  9. absent: Gives lockdown and run-hide-fight guidance but does not state any harm or potential consequence.
  10. present: The instruction to prepare to evade or defend using Run Hide Fight implies a life-threatening attacker.
  11. absent: Gives detailed lockdown guidance and run-hide-fight protocols but states no specific harm or consequence.
  12. present: The instruction to prepare to evade or defend under Run Hide Fight implies a life-threatening attacker capable of harm.
  13. present: Instructions to prepare to evade or defend using Run, Hide, Fight imply a violent threat capable of harming people.
  14. absent: Lists run-hide-fight protocols and procedural guidance but never states what the threat could do or any specific harm.
  15. absent: Provides lockdown and evade/defend guidance but does not state any harm or consequence of the threat.
  16. absent: Gives detailed lockdown and evade or defend guidance but states no explicit danger or potential harm.
  17. absent: Provides protective protocol instructions only without stating what the threat could do.
  18. present: Instructs preparing to evade or defend implying a violent threat capable of harm, beyond mere guidance.
  19. absent: Provides lockdown and run hide fight guidance but never states what the threat could do or its severity.
  20. absent: Gives run-hide-fight and silence guidance but states no harm the threat could cause.
  21. absent: Pure protective guidance about hiding and run hide fight protocols with no stated danger or consequence.
  22. absent: Gives detailed run-hide-fight protective guidance but states no explicit harm or severity of the threat.
  23. absent: Gives detailed lockdown and evade-or-defend guidance but states no explicit danger or potential harm.
  24. absent: Detailed protective guidance but no stated harm or severity of the threat.
  25. present: The Run Hide Fight protocol to evade or defend strongly implies a life-threatening armed-attacker situation.