We are told consistently in talk shows, opinion programs, etc that "voting doesn't change anything", "nothing ever changes", "lesser of two evils", "all politicians lie", etc so that we believe that the world is just a (*)(*)(*)(*) place that won't change, that life is an uphill battle, that we should "stay the course", "pick one or the other" (but don't think outside the box). It is all demotivating and people stop wanting to fix problems, they just accept them now.
A FBI expert was interviewed on TV and discussed how this character meets the profile experts have created about murderers like him: he was a graduate of a school but only managed to get a job at McDonald's ~ like so many right wingers on this forum, he blamed others for his failings, picked on the weak and vulnerable, and when the police appeared he cowered away and submitted easily. How typical.
Word. If Holmes cheered for movie villains, you can be sure there are others out there like him cheering for him right now. These are people who somehow develop a hatred for the people around them and somehow start thinking they all should die. You're absolutely right that negative comments about such anti-heroes as these will only reinforce such views. On the other hand, though, who among us is prepared to think and say all nice things about these nuts? I honestly wish that every single person out there like this psycho would simply find a way to avoid doing this sort of thing, but obviously such a personality will not. It is their will to do evil for the sake of some self-delusion.
Common traits, but it's not an inability to get a girlfriend that drives these wackos. If anything, a girlfriend would likely become victim #1 in the coming killing spree.
No, you are correct. Geeks tend to be smarter than the average bear, but...unlike the other smart but unmotivated geeks this guy was exceptional in school, he was going places, seemingly had something to lose...then he splinters and wastes his entire future to shoot a theater full of people. Why? My theory is that he is making a statement, hence why he, unlike the Columbine shooters and other spree killers, didn't turn the gun on himself. He was covered in kevlar to stay alive--not because he feared the people in the theater, he intended to give himself up to the cops, but wanted to make sure if they shot first, he would be alive. He wants to say something. Maybe its a crazy something, but ...something.
He worked for pay at the school. Where does McDonald's fit into this? When did he "cower"? He smiled, handed his guns to the cops and told them he was the joker. Is the Joker a Republican now?
Difficulties in school and/or employment could easily have contributed towards nudging him into taking action, into escaping into his dangerous fantasy...
I don't actually see how what you're saying and what I'm saying are mutually exclusive. It sounds like they could quite possibly be totally compatible. I guess we'll see as more information comes out. You do make an interesting point about him giving up without a fight, though. Very uncommon.
I know I had a similar "downfall" in college at about his age, though never with any homicidal tendencies! It was an onset of depression, and I suddenly started doing really bad at my studies. In fact, I kind of fizzled out of school and ended up moving back home and working at factories for a couple of years or so after that. So, I'm tempted to think this guy had a similar kind of depressive onset that likewise affected his thinking and how he performed in school, but then he was also apparently a more psychopathic personality to begin with. Thus, we get a two-fold danger that came together just recently to create this tragic result..
Especially as he was armed and equipped, with the vests, helmet, etc., for maximum duration in a shoot out. But he passed on the shootout. Perhaps he ran out of bullets, as it sounded like he had limited ammo.
You'd have to be steeped in comics. The Joker liked being apprehended. It was a mind(*)(*)(*)(*) to the cops. He is being the joker by shooting people (causing chaos) then turning himself in to justice to be interviewed (make an illogical statement). The point is to cause the entire country to look at him. It's sick.
Sounds about right. I think the joke will be on him when he's showing people his ass and asking, "You wanna know how I got these scars?"
No doubt. And quite possibly to emulate the Joker as best he could. Especially with remaining booby-trap bombs in his apartment, etc. Not quite up to the theater production, or comic book, but a serious effort in his mind. As if hand-gun sales needed a promotion.
Excellent post - and you're absolutely right about human connection, affection, physical touching,etc..... that's how babies really flourish physically and mentally when they have that bonding..... I agree w/what you said about the different types of people at risk except the shy. I think those who were shy during the growing up yrs gradually overcome it as they enter adulthood - but then some who are painfully shy don't. When I was 18 I met a gal my age who I tho't was a snob until one day I really talked to her, then a few more conversations and she taught me something at that young age. I realized she wasn't a snob, but shy. The lesson she taught me was first impressions can be very deceiving and to this day we are still the best of friends, altho now living in different states......and thru out the yrs met many others who were shy, but good, stable people..... But the very quiet, standoffish ones - they're different from the shy people. They are less likely to talk about themselves, their life and their feelings about people and life in general. They always seem to be brooding and angry about something and sometimes disconnected from reality.... Trouble is, you really don't know what you're dealing with, whether they're psychotic or what.....
All I know is what they say on TV - don't know that what you say is any more truthful than what was reported. If he was tough, he would toughed it out with armed police, not helpless children. Does that make him a Republican? Well, if you say so especially since Bush invaded Iraq and Afghanistan and killed a whole bunch of them without having the guts to fight himself.
He's going to have a good case to make for the insanity plea, most people who rampage aren't smart enough to act crazy and dye their hair before the commission of their felony. He's already building a good case to get off on this and get rehabiliated in a mental hospital possibly.
Guess you forgot that Democrat John Kerry said many times "I voted for the war b/f I voted against it"........ He and all the other Reps AND Dems in Congress.... you do know that no president can go to war WITHOUT Congress' approval? Now back to the topic.....
Most likely he'll end up in a mental hospital, but from the sounds of it right now, doesn't sound like rehab will work for him.... I think he's to far gone........
Execution is too good for this guy. I think he should be in general population with a uniform labeled on the back "open for business" with an arrow pointing towards his backside.
Plenty of men gets lots of sex and feel lonely, unloved, etc. Yes, they are getting physical contact that recluses generally don't get, but it's often with strangers whom they never see again. But it's debatable whether (1) intelligent men are more prone to this sort of thing (I think that the evidence does clearly show that unintelligent males account for the lion's share of violence, and that this MIGHT be a "niche" area of violence for intelligent men), or (2) you see intelligent men usually being behind these acts because of the way society treats intelligent males. I agree. Instead of taking guns away, people should be encouraged to be nice to each other. It seems like a lot of people have the attitude "We need to persecute intelligent, introverted people even more because of incidents like this." when that attitude may have caused this incident.
Yea, and again NO ONE said anything what to do with mentally ill. They have to be in the HOSPITAL and monitored 24x7 when the first diagnosed with schizophrenia. Americans would rather spends trillions chasing one terrorist then build decent free mental hospitals across the country
