Shooting at CT Elementary School. WTF AMERICA?!

[The Good Reverend Roger]

When Columbine happened I was in the 7th grade...and was anything but shocked. Our schools are breeding grounds for poor mental health. The only thing that shocks me is how infrequently these things happen. Americans are slowly but surely eating themselves, and they are going to do it with whatever tools on hand.

And it seems many of these people pick places that coincide with critical aspects of their development.

Expect this post to get ignored, Alty.  It's not pushing the right buttons for this thread.  The correct buttons are:

1.  GUNS ARE INHERENTLY BAD.
2.  GUNS ARE INHERENTLY GOOD.
3.  AMERICANS ARE INDIVIDUALISTS.
4.  GUNSGUNSGUNSGUNSGUNS

[The Good Reverend Roger]

What this means, of course, is that American society has been sold on the idea that they're individualists for really and true, they're just taking a vacation from it while the bigger, meaner individualists fix shit.

Which is, to my mind, horrormirth at its finest.

Why do I even bother?

[Cain]

Found another solution for tackling insane gunmen, which does not this time rely on the power of prayer and a moral lifestyle:

Banzai toddler charges.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Found another solution for tackling insane gunmen, which does not this time rely on the power of prayer and a moral lifestyle:

Banzai toddler charges.

[AFK]

What I want to know is why do mentally unhealthy Americans keep targeting schools? Isn't that the more critical question? Why not banks or Walmart or the airports or malls or any other crowded place?

When Columbine happened I was in the 7th grade...and was anything but shocked. Our schools are breeding grounds for poor mental health. The only thing that shocks me is how infrequently these things happen. Americans are slowly but surely eating themselves, and they are going to do it with whatever tools on hand.

And it seems many of these people pick places that coincide with critical aspects of their development.

Could you expand on that thought of schools being breeding grounds for poor mental health?  What specifically about schools do you think breeds poor mental health?


Also, an interesting note specific to the actual news story, it turns ou that Lanza in fact had no ties to this school.  He didn't go there and his mother didn't teach there, contrary to the initial reports.  So it is curious as to why he decided to target this school. 

[Cainad (dec.)]

What I want to know is why do mentally unhealthy Americans keep targeting schools? Isn't that the more critical question? Why not banks or Walmart or the airports or malls or any other crowded place?

When Columbine happened I was in the 7th grade...and was anything but shocked. Our schools are breeding grounds for poor mental health. The only thing that shocks me is how infrequently these things happen. Americans are slowly but surely eating themselves, and they are going to do it with whatever tools on hand.

And it seems many of these people pick places that coincide with critical aspects of their development.

Throwing some speculation at the question:

1) Schools are vulnerable, because kids are vulnerable. Mass killers are looking to rack up a body count, fast, with minimal resistance. Schools are not the only places that fit this criteria, but they're probably one of the best.

2) If these killers have come to the conclusion that people must die because they believe society/everyone/the world is somehow wrong and deserving of murder, schools might fit very well into a killer's mental construct as "the root of corruption."

Could you expand on that thought of schools being breeding grounds for poor mental health?  What specifically about schools do you think breeds poor mental health?


Also, an interesting note specific to the actual news story, it turns ou that Lanza in fact had no ties to this school.  He didn't go there and his mother didn't teach there, contrary to the initial reports.  So it is curious as to why he decided to target this school. 

The fuckery deepens, but I'm not too surprised. After reading Columbine by Dave Cullen (highly recommended read), I learned to be extremely skeptical of all reporting coming out of events like this.

[AFK]

It's a lens on the tragedy of the news media machine these days.  The motivstion to get "facts" on the air quickly is, of course, all one ups-manship.  Get the scoop.  But with the Internet it's been amplified.  And as soon as something goes up, it goes viral, and you can't unring the bell.  They initially fingered the wrong Lanza.  Think about what HIS life is going to be like now? 


Not only is he the brother of this idiot who killed all of those people, for many, he still IS the idiot who killed all of those kids.  Facebook is great at spreading false information but it sucks at correcting it.  But it is getting fed the bullshit by the news media.  It's just all horribly broken.

[LMNO]

What I want to know is why do mentally unhealthy Americans keep targeting schools?

Hold up.

The last three major shootings that come to mind:

School.
Movie Theater.
Political Rally.



It's called the LAW OF FIVES, PEOPLE!  I expect people on this board to be SLIGHTLY more rational!

What this means, of course, is that American society has been sold on the idea that they're individualists for really and true, they're just taking a vacation from it while the bigger, meaner individualists fix shit.

Which is, to my mind, horrormirth at its finest.

Why do I even bother?

Independence is a myth, and always has been.  It's a brave, noble narrative, made popular by 70s outlaw cinema, but it's utterly bullshit.

NOT ONLY DID YOU NOT BUILD THAT, YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO HELP.

[Salty]

What I want to know is why do mentally unhealthy Americans keep targeting schools? Isn't that the more critical question? Why not banks or Walmart or the airports or malls or any other crowded place?

When Columbine happened I was in the 7th grade...and was anything but shocked. Our schools are breeding grounds for poor mental health. The only thing that shocks me is how infrequently these things happen. Americans are slowly but surely eating themselves, and they are going to do it with whatever tools on hand.

And it seems many of these people pick places that coincide with critical aspects of their development.

Could you expand on that thought of schools being breeding grounds for poor mental health?  What specifically about schools do you think breeds poor mental health?

Well, I can't speak for other school districts, and it's kind of hard to explain because I take it for granted, but:
The schools I went to all had bullying, apathy in the staff from top to bottom, an US vs THEM mentality between the students and the staff, lack of monitoring of behavior allowing bullying and other cruelties to take place, theft, violence. And all to guarantee...what? That American kids have a basic education? For what, so that we can eventually build up a good credit rating so we can all rot comfortably on this crowded dirtball? What exactly does a light at the end of that tunnel look like?

This was my environment. Add to that the developing of a horrible human brain, how in gods name is ANYONE surprised?

Imagine all the kids that go through that and don't have the means to express their rage and horror because they've, you know, never been TAUGHT how to express those things in a safe, healthy manner.

LMNO: Yeah but how many other school shootings have there been total in the US? Compared with other countries? I remember one about ten years ago in Germany. But you are probably right, about the Lo5's, especially considering what I just posted above. I will think about that, thanks.

[Salty]

What this means, of course, is that American society has been sold on the idea that they're individualists for really and true, they're just taking a vacation from it while the bigger, meaner individualists fix shit.

Which is, to my mind, horrormirth at its finest.

Why do I even bother?

I somehow enjoy knowing that that's just another product. Like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese for your entire life. At least it makes it easier to avoid.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

What this means, of course, is that American society has been sold on the idea that they're individualists for really and true, they're just taking a vacation from it while the bigger, meaner individualists fix shit.

Which is, to my mind, horrormirth at its finest.

Why do I even bother?

I somehow enjoy knowing that that's just another product. Like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese for your entire life. At least it makes it easier to avoid.

Yeah.

Anyway, I now know not to bother challenging cherished paradigms.  Here, at least.  People just look right past it and move on.

[Don Coyote]

What this means, of course, is that American society has been sold on the idea that they're individualists for really and true, they're just taking a vacation from it while the bigger, meaner individualists fix shit.

Which is, to my mind, horrormirth at its finest.

Why do I even bother?

I somehow enjoy knowing that that's just another product. Like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese for your entire life. At least it makes it easier to avoid.

Massacres as a mass market product so you too can have something to feel outrage over.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

What this means, of course, is that American society has been sold on the idea that they're individualists for really and true, they're just taking a vacation from it while the bigger, meaner individualists fix shit.

Which is, to my mind, horrormirth at its finest.

Why do I even bother?

I somehow enjoy knowing that that's just another product. Like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese for your entire life. At least it makes it easier to avoid.

Massacres as a mass market product so you too can have something to feel outrage over.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I quit.

[Don Coyote]

What I want to know is why do mentally unhealthy Americans keep targeting schools? Isn't that the more critical question? Why not banks or Walmart or the airports or malls or any other crowded place?

When Columbine happened I was in the 7th grade...and was anything but shocked. Our schools are breeding grounds for poor mental health. The only thing that shocks me is how infrequently these things happen. Americans are slowly but surely eating themselves, and they are going to do it with whatever tools on hand.

And it seems many of these people pick places that coincide with critical aspects of their development.

Could you expand on that thought of schools being breeding grounds for poor mental health?  What specifically about schools do you think breeds poor mental health?

Well, I can't speak for other school districts, and it's kind of hard to explain because I take it for granted, but:
The schools I went to all had bullying, apathy in the staff from top to bottom, an US vs THEM mentality between the students and the staff, lack of monitoring of behavior allowing bullying and other cruelties to take place, theft, violence. And all to guarantee...what? That American kids have a basic education? For what, so that we can eventually build up a good credit rating so we can all rot comfortably on this crowded dirtball? What exactly does a light at the end of that tunnel look like?

This was my environment. Add to that the developing of a horrible human brain, how in gods name is ANYONE surprised?

Imagine all the kids that go through that and don't have the means to express their rage and horror because they've, you know, never been TAUGHT how to express those things in a safe, healthy manner.

LMNO: Yeah but how many other school shootings have there been total in the US? Compared with other countries? I remember one about ten years ago in Germany. But you are probably right, about the Lo5's, especially considering what I just posted above. I will think about that, thanks.

I want to say there might be a connection, of sorts, between school environment and the general culture that encourages this kind of thing to happen. But, I might be reaching.