I really doubt that this happened because a kid was so conditined by materialistic culture that he was compelled to go back for a hat. I think John O'L and Riginslinger have the truth of it. Young people generally haven't the least notion that they are mortal, nor the maturity to pause and evaluate a dangerous situation. A perfectly intelligent kid can also happen to be a little immature "for his age" at the time. Most of us got away with scrapes and bruises, maybe a broken arm. But the moments happen when someone ends up standing over a broken body. So some sorry sonofabitch gets his kicks by making a little joke of it, on a forum where he's never been heard from before.