Such a sad and disturbing day. As much as I don't like Obama as a leader, It was tough to see him shed tears. A real smack in the face that makes you realize your own child can be gone in a few seconds. Or anyone else you love.
I grew up a couple miles down the road from that school, and one of my best friends lost a young neighbor yesterday. It's surreal to watch the news and see a community I know so well, having to get through something so horrible. As a parent I can't imagine what the victims' families are dealing with right now.
It's one of those incidents that validates that the world has gone to shit. It's unthinkable the kind of scum and fucking lunatics out there man. Fucking no one is safe. The worst part is this shit didn't happen in some third world country like Uganda, or Haiti, but in the US. Its unimaginable what those families must be going through.
But it pissed me off how many TV shows started taking advantage of this. Shows like Dateline and 20/20. I decided to watch a movie instead. Its horrible how they always manage to glorify these types of incidents with specials.
But it pissed me off how many TV shows started taking advantage of this. Shows like Dateline and 20/20. I decided to watch a movie instead. Its horrible how they always manage to glorify these types of incidents with specials.
This and also the people already using it to further their political or religious agenda. I couldn't stand the facebook posts, etc. about gun control (my frustration has nothing to do with my own personal views on it, either).
But it pissed me off how many TV shows started taking advantage of this. Shows like Dateline and 20/20. I decided to watch a movie instead. Its horrible how they always manage to glorify these types of incidents with specials.
This and also the people already using it to further their political or religious agenda. I couldn't stand the facebook posts, etc. about gun control (my frustration has nothing to do with my own personal views on it, either).
And to be fair, people from both sides of the political spectrum are trying to use it to their advantage. At least they should give it a few weeks so we can mourn the desceased, but the idiots were out in full force before the 6 PM news.
But it pissed me off how many TV shows started taking advantage of this. Shows like Dateline and 20/20. I decided to watch a movie instead. Its horrible how they always manage to glorify these types of incidents with specials.
This and also the people already using it to further their political or religious agenda. I couldn't stand the facebook posts, etc. about gun control (my frustration has nothing to do with my own personal views on it, either).
At least they should give it a few weeks so we can mourn the desceased, but the idiots were out in full force before the 6 PM news.
If people could have waited at least 24 hours before using this to further a political agenda that would have been an improvement.
first of all, tragic. i just cannot believe that someone would go and do this. my deepest heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of those directly affected.
never forget, media's first priority is to sell advertising to make money. they want the story first and any details the other guy doesnt have because the american public is rabid for news when something likes this happens. unfortunately, this leads to the reporters crossing lines (in my opinion) in order to attract viewers.
Along the lines of what Bertt said, is it really a surprise that we immediately have to be flooded with news like this? Look at what's on tv these days. Every station has some sort of reality show if not several. My wife couldn't see the connection when I brought this theory up to her but, as a society we are so interested in what's going on in other people's lives whether it's gossip, happy, depressing, etc... Why wouldn't everyone jump on something like this as soon as it happens? People want to see other people's lives. That's why there are mics shoved into 7 year old kids faces, because we need to be as involved in every facet of the story as possible.
I think what happened is a tradgedy but I'm sorry, why should I not play games I enjoy because this guy liked shooters?
Last thought; if the liberal hippie assholes get their way and all guns are banned in this country, I hope them and their families are the first ones robbed at gunpoint with weapons that the government didn't confiscate because they didn't know they existed. The kind of gun control that a lot of these blind sheep are calling for is bullshit. A majority of gun crimes are comitted with illegal, unliscensed guns. But nobody cares when a gangbanger gets gunned down with an uzi or an AK that was purchased illegally.
Hopefully this made sense. I live in NY and I'm not allowed to voice my thoughts in this "liberal" state without being called a monster.
The news media is the first to point fingers and shift the blame toward "other" media, such as violent video games - they're the easiest target because the perpetrators of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and now Sandy Hook are all in the age range that play video games. They're probably also in the age range that drinks soda, but video games sound more dangerous than soda (unless you ask Mike Bloomberg).
The reason to shift the blame? Because the worst culprit in creating these killers is the news media itself. The Sandy Hook shooter's face was on the front page of the New York Times the day after the attack. There are thousands of stories in the media, showing his photo and a deep analysis of his past and what his acquaintances say about him. We all know his name (I'm not typing it because it would kill the point I'm trying to make) - he's infamous, a celebrity, just like the VA Tech douche bag and the Columbine idiots. If some sociopath is depressed enough to off himself, all he has to do is kill a bunch of students on his way out to make himself a massive celebrity too.
The news media is the first to point fingers and shift the blame toward "other" media, such as violent video games - they're the easiest target because the perpetrators of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and now Sandy Hook are all in the age range that play video games. They're probably also in the age range that drinks soda, but video games sound more dangerous than soda (unless you ask Mike Bloomberg).
The reason to shift the blame? Because the worst culprit in creating these killers is the news media itself. The Sandy Hook shooter's face was on the front page of the New York Times the day after the attack. There are thousands of stories in the media, showing his photo and a deep analysis of his past and what his acquaintances say about him. We all know his name (I'm not typing it because it would kill the point I'm trying to make) - he's infamous, a celebrity, just like the VA Tech douche bag and the Columbine idiots. If some sociopath is depressed enough to off himself, all he has to do is kill a bunch of students on his way out to make himself a massive celebrity too.
I thought it was interesting today that it was the NRA, and not just the news media, pushing the blame to "violent" video games, music and movies.
Well, the thing no one ever wants to talk about is that just because something is a "right" doesn't mean that it can't be taken away if you're not going to be responsible.
The mother of the Sandy Hook shooter (I like JP's reason for not repeating the name; I won't either) was reportedly either autisic or had Asperger's. Either way, the moment the mother started teaching her son to shoot, her firearms should have been confiscated.
It may be cruel to point it out, but when a behavioural abnormality renders you incapable of emphathizing with others maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be trained on the use of items that have the ability to end life. And when someone does teach that person, they're "right" should be suspended.
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian, but I don't put much stock in "rights". We live in societies with others; the moment that happened, we all gave up "rights" and adopted responsibilities.
I always feel that the lack of attention focused on the fact that we all hold responsibilities towards others is the root cause of most of our societies' issues. Like what Zikan posted, only it's not a problem, that's a symptom of a problem. Primarily, that people feel entitled to shit in their lives. And I don't mean entitlement programs, (I'm socialist, after all; most of the so-called "1%" are the most entitled of all) I mean that people think that life is just supposed to be great and they're supposed to be happy if things "are going right". No personal responsiblity to make themselves happy. It's why 50% of marriages fail in the first place, and why the "fatherless" problem in Zikan's link is there at all.
I mean, one could fix the issue of disappearing fathers by removing the stigma of abortion and making abortions free. No child, no problem, right? Of course, that doesn't solve the problem of why it happens in the first place.
The NRA idea is equally stupid, and so is that of any idea calling for teachers to be armed or for police to be in all schools. Really, the solution to a rare occurance is to create an environment where the situation can happen more frequently? Because everyone has free health care, and everyone sees a therapist regularly and gets quarterly cat-scans to detect brain tumors, which is what was likely the cause of the first bell tower shooter. People do selfish, stupid things all the time. Enter in health possibilities, mental health issues, environmental stressors, and a societal taboo on discussing such issues, well, we have to live with what we create. It's an outlier, to be sure, but sending more people into confined areas, subjected to stressful, thankless jobs, and well, it'd happen more. Add to that, most people aren't willing to shoot/kill someone (ever read about the dismal rate at which soldiers would fire their weapons in WWI and WWII? Strange that; a conscript army of civilians not being willing to kill people they don't know for a war they didn't want to be involved with) and that idea is absurd. But hey, it's a "solution" that allows those that tout it to keep living in the world they wish existed. (As opposed to living in the world that does exist, and that doesn't care what any of us wish it were - it just is)
Fortunately, for all the news media puts these stories in front of us, it doesn't happen that often on a statistical basis. In a way, the NRA is right; guns don't kill people, people do. In countries with a total ban on firearms, the crazies just walk into the schools and stab kids to death. So what are we to do? Banning all firearms outright won't keep our kids appreciable safer on a statistical basis. In fact, we can't shield our kids from all harm anyway and even if we could, we shouldn't. If we fight to protect our kids from life, afraid to be hurt or fail, they'll just grow up to be afraid of getting hurt or failing. (For that link, you'd need to listen to it; it was a radio spot I listened to awhile back - it's about 17 minutes)
At the end of the day, occurances like this are why we have the word tragedy. It's incomprehensible and we want to prevent others from feeling our loss, or we want to shield ourselves from feeling the loss we see in others. But we can't. We focus on living a harm-free life with no pain or loss, instead of focusing on what we have and enjoying our lives while we're living it. And maybe, trying to show those around us a bit of empathy (different from sympathy) and take responsibility for the only lives we can; our own.
I grew up a couple miles down the road from that school, and one of my best friends lost a young neighbor yesterday. It's surreal to watch the news and see a community I know so well, having to get through something so horrible. As a parent I can't imagine what the victims' families are dealing with right now.
It's one of those incidents that validates that the world has gone to shit. It's unthinkable the kind of scum and fucking lunatics out there man. Fucking no one is safe. The worst part is this shit didn't happen in some third world country like Uganda, or Haiti, but in the US. Its unimaginable what those families must be going through.
But it pissed me off how many TV shows started taking advantage of this. Shows like Dateline and 20/20. I decided to watch a movie instead. Its horrible how they always manage to glorify these types of incidents with specials.
This and also the people already using it to further their political or religious agenda. I couldn't stand the facebook posts, etc. about gun control (my frustration has nothing to do with my own personal views on it, either).
And to be fair, people from both sides of the political spectrum are trying to use it to their advantage. At least they should give it a few weeks so we can mourn the desceased, but the idiots were out in full force before the 6 PM news.
If people could have waited at least 24 hours before using this to further a political agenda that would have been an improvement.
I'm more aggravated , disgusted and disappointed in the hacks using it to sell advertising on their "news" shows.
What adult thinks shoving a microphone in a 7 yr olds face, especially after something like this, is acceptable?
this^^^
If I'd been around.....that news crew would have some broken equipment......gif "103")
I knew society had gotten pretty damn close to the gutter w/ the other trash on tv. But I truely didn't think it had stooped to those levels.
The movie "Idiocracy" may actually be in the not too distant future.....gif "166")
first of all, tragic. i just cannot believe that someone would go and do this. my deepest heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of those directly affected.
never forget, media's first priority is to sell advertising to make money. they want the story first and any details the other guy doesnt have because the american public is rabid for news when something likes this happens. unfortunately, this leads to the reporters crossing lines (in my opinion) in order to attract viewers.
Along the lines of what Bertt said, is it really a surprise that we immediately have to be flooded with news like this? Look at what's on tv these days. Every station has some sort of reality show if not several. My wife couldn't see the connection when I brought this theory up to her but, as a society we are so interested in what's going on in other people's lives whether it's gossip, happy, depressing, etc... Why wouldn't everyone jump on something like this as soon as it happens? People want to see other people's lives. That's why there are mics shoved into 7 year old kids faces, because we need to be as involved in every facet of the story as possible.
Have a load of this: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/video-gamers-plan-national-day-cease-fire-article-1.1223684
I think what happened is a tradgedy but I'm sorry, why should I not play games I enjoy because this guy liked shooters?
Last thought; if the liberal hippie assholes get their way and all guns are banned in this country, I hope them and their families are the first ones robbed at gunpoint with weapons that the government didn't confiscate because they didn't know they existed. The kind of gun control that a lot of these blind sheep are calling for is bullshit. A majority of gun crimes are comitted with illegal, unliscensed guns. But nobody cares when a gangbanger gets gunned down with an uzi or an AK that was purchased illegally.
Hopefully this made sense. I live in NY and I'm not allowed to voice my thoughts in this "liberal" state without being called a monster.
The news media is the first to point fingers and shift the blame toward "other" media, such as violent video games - they're the easiest target because the perpetrators of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and now Sandy Hook are all in the age range that play video games. They're probably also in the age range that drinks soda, but video games sound more dangerous than soda (unless you ask Mike Bloomberg).
The reason to shift the blame? Because the worst culprit in creating these killers is the news media itself. The Sandy Hook shooter's face was on the front page of the New York Times the day after the attack. There are thousands of stories in the media, showing his photo and a deep analysis of his past and what his acquaintances say about him. We all know his name (I'm not typing it because it would kill the point I'm trying to make) - he's infamous, a celebrity, just like the VA Tech douche bag and the Columbine idiots. If some sociopath is depressed enough to off himself, all he has to do is kill a bunch of students on his way out to make himself a massive celebrity too.
I thought it was interesting today that it was the NRA, and not just the news media, pushing the blame to "violent" video games, music and movies.
Why do bad people do bad things?
Because they can. No further analysis needed.
Damn right man. For risk of it sounding stupid; Evil is as Evil does.
I personally believe that if we could solve this problem:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/25/fathers-disappear-from-h...
Most of the others, such as gun violence, would just fade away.
Well, the thing no one ever wants to talk about is that just because something is a "right" doesn't mean that it can't be taken away if you're not going to be responsible.
The mother of the Sandy Hook shooter (I like JP's reason for not repeating the name; I won't either) was reportedly either autisic or had Asperger's. Either way, the moment the mother started teaching her son to shoot, her firearms should have been confiscated.
It may be cruel to point it out, but when a behavioural abnormality renders you incapable of emphathizing with others maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be trained on the use of items that have the ability to end life. And when someone does teach that person, they're "right" should be suspended.
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian, but I don't put much stock in "rights". We live in societies with others; the moment that happened, we all gave up "rights" and adopted responsibilities.
I always feel that the lack of attention focused on the fact that we all hold responsibilities towards others is the root cause of most of our societies' issues. Like what Zikan posted, only it's not a problem, that's a symptom of a problem. Primarily, that people feel entitled to shit in their lives. And I don't mean entitlement programs, (I'm socialist, after all; most of the so-called "1%" are the most entitled of all) I mean that people think that life is just supposed to be great and they're supposed to be happy if things "are going right". No personal responsiblity to make themselves happy. It's why 50% of marriages fail in the first place, and why the "fatherless" problem in Zikan's link is there at all.
I mean, one could fix the issue of disappearing fathers by removing the stigma of abortion and making abortions free. No child, no problem, right? Of course, that doesn't solve the problem of why it happens in the first place.
The NRA idea is equally stupid, and so is that of any idea calling for teachers to be armed or for police to be in all schools. Really, the solution to a rare occurance is to create an environment where the situation can happen more frequently? Because everyone has free health care, and everyone sees a therapist regularly and gets quarterly cat-scans to detect brain tumors, which is what was likely the cause of the first bell tower shooter. People do selfish, stupid things all the time. Enter in health possibilities, mental health issues, environmental stressors, and a societal taboo on discussing such issues, well, we have to live with what we create. It's an outlier, to be sure, but sending more people into confined areas, subjected to stressful, thankless jobs, and well, it'd happen more. Add to that, most people aren't willing to shoot/kill someone (ever read about the dismal rate at which soldiers would fire their weapons in WWI and WWII? Strange that; a conscript army of civilians not being willing to kill people they don't know for a war they didn't want to be involved with) and that idea is absurd. But hey, it's a "solution" that allows those that tout it to keep living in the world they wish existed. (As opposed to living in the world that does exist, and that doesn't care what any of us wish it were - it just is)
Fortunately, for all the news media puts these stories in front of us, it doesn't happen that often on a statistical basis. In a way, the NRA is right; guns don't kill people, people do. In countries with a total ban on firearms, the crazies just walk into the schools and stab kids to death. So what are we to do? Banning all firearms outright won't keep our kids appreciable safer on a statistical basis. In fact, we can't shield our kids from all harm anyway and even if we could, we shouldn't. If we fight to protect our kids from life, afraid to be hurt or fail, they'll just grow up to be afraid of getting hurt or failing. (For that link, you'd need to listen to it; it was a radio spot I listened to awhile back - it's about 17 minutes)
At the end of the day, occurances like this are why we have the word tragedy. It's incomprehensible and we want to prevent others from feeling our loss, or we want to shield ourselves from feeling the loss we see in others. But we can't. We focus on living a harm-free life with no pain or loss, instead of focusing on what we have and enjoying our lives while we're living it. And maybe, trying to show those around us a bit of empathy (different from sympathy) and take responsibility for the only lives we can; our own.