School Shootings: The 'Elephant in the Room'
School Shootings: The 'Elephant in the Room'
The "elephant in the room" for (many) of these mass school shootings is "How was the kid treated in school? Was he bullied, tormented, extremely socially rejected endlessly? Who was participating, to what level, and who was complicit? Everyone? Did anyone do anything about it on any significant, relevant scale? If the treatment is so bad, why didn't the parents pull him out for Homeschooling rather than torture? etc. etc.
Again, people do not like to consider such matters, and instead scapegoat the weapon of choice as the root cause of the issue--when, clearly, it is not. Logically, the same event could occur with bombs, suicide bombing, etc. etc. Furthermore, the reason why people do not like to consider it is that it destroys the "Disney Channel"/idealized-version of themselves, other people, and the world generally. As culpability is (often) partially reflected in the mirror.
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It's often true that the kids who become shooters were victimized in school. And if in turn those kids commit violence specifically against their agressors or the authorities who refused to help them then it mitigates my disdain for the shooter somewhat. BUT, what is happening more often then not is the shooters are killing everyone and anyone they have the opportunity to kill, which actually makes them worse than the classic bully who makes people miserable but otherwise let's them live. If you shoot someone utterly innocent just because you're angry then the book needs to be thrown at you. Or to use your Elephant in the Room analogy, I understand if you're worried about the elephant, but if you shoot the antelope, chimp, and falcon along with the elephant then you're the type of poacher who needs to be put away long and hard. School Shootings: The 'Elephant in the Room' The "elephant in the room" for (many) of these mass school shootings is "How was the kid treated in school? Was he bullied, tormented, extremely socially rejected endlessly? Who was participating, to what level, and who was complicit? Everyone? Did anyone do anything about it on any significant, relevant scale? If the treatment is so bad, why didn't the parents pull him out for Homeschooling rather than torture? etc. etc. Again, people do not like to consider such matters, and instead scapegoat the weapon of choice as the root cause of the issue--when, clearly, it is not. Logically, the same event could occur with bombs, suicide bombing, etc. etc. Furthermore, the reason why people do not like to consider it is that it destroys the "Disney Channel"/idealized-version of themselves, other people, and the world generally. As culpability is (often) partially reflected in the mirror. What I would like to discuss is essentially what the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" began to explore (which, apparently, many people were unable to handle). That is, the contributions your 'average' person makes to the daily suffering of others in their 'reach' through forms of extreme social rejection, bullying, dehumanization, etc., with the exceptions being very rare. Furthermore, how a person in such a perpetually painful/tormented state becomes necessarily 'unwell', often 'cries out for help' which goes ignored or the subject of further ridicule, deeper resentfulness builds as they become more withdrawn and is highly susceptible to lashing out in very dangerous, unhealthy, and counterproductive ways toward either themselves (i.e. self-harm, suicide) and/or to others in their personal mission of what is often imagined to be 'vigilante justice' on their behalf (i.e. hurting others who have often in some hurt them). (Side note: Consider the joke in Billy Madison, when Adam Sandler calls a guy from High School he used to bully, who then crosses his name off a 'hit list' once he hangs up the phone OR, in the movie "Full Metal Jacket") I would add, the common euphuism/scapegoat is often 'mental health issues'--while, of course, anyone who is extremely socially rejected & ostracized (i.e. a 'social leper') will necessarily have substantial 'mental health issues'. Hence, why solitary confinement is internationally considered torture. If given the option, human beings would prefer to be around serial rapists, torturers, & murders at least part of the time rather than alone. It is a simple fact of our Biology, and much has been learnt about through Neuroscience & other disciplines, although, of course, much more research is necessary to gain further insights. As just noted, quite a bit is now known about this phenomena as a matter Neuroscience/Biology, so the level of 'debate' occurring around it (or, rather, not happening) now is truly pathetic (dangerously so)--as, unfortunately, is often the case. The reality is (which people are aware of, though want to 'brush under the rug'); Tragedies such as Columbine, Parkland, etc. would be logically impossible if even 20% (or less) of people were of high-level empathy--as the kids' lives would have been functionally completely different, which leads to superior mental health & stability, less resentment, etc. etc. [Note: Now, of course, there actually are some people with strictly innate mental health issues, though that is not what we are discussing here, in this context] What would be interesting, though still highly tragic, would be if such a kid organized an effort very similar to what is portrayed in the movie "Seven Pounds" by Will Smith's character, rather than leaving the world as a mass murderer. That is, instead of focusing on all of the sh'tty people in the overwhelming majority who made their life 'hellish', seek out the rare 'good people' who may be in need, and offer what is possible through donations, including bone marrow, and organ donations prior to and upon self-inflicted death. In this way, they could get their story out, explain their reasoning, life experiences, etc. in a final letter to humanity which could potentially touch the 'hearts' of the 'average' person, who often/overwhelmingly contribute to the tragedy. This would give them that last bit of 'power'/'redemption' they are looking for--though, of course, the way it is happening now through mass murder is just absolutely nightmarish for everyone involved and is not going to help get through to people whatsoever; thus, perpetuating the cycle of torture & death, rather than throwing a 'wrench in the plans', as is often intended. Link to "Seven Pounds" trailer here: I don't know if it's "logically impossible" for these scenarios to occur if "20% (or less) of people were of high-level empathy". I also don't know what you mean by high-level empathy; any human that isn't a quantifyable sociopath is capable and very active in exercising empathy; it's just in what that's the issue. But that aside, do you have any proposed solutions to this problem? I understand spreading awareness of the issue is the beginning of a solution, but I'd assume you have given at least some thought to how you think we could raise "empathy levels" in ourselves; or, the way I feel it should be phrased, our ability to exercise empathy towards that which would see benefit from it? Massacre at Columbine High https://www.youtube.com/ 1 hour long--well worth the time. Do note, particularly, the time between 31:00-34:00 minutes Massacre at Columbine High
I found a few videos of people on YouTube discussing this topic. Links below: (A) https://www.youtube.com/ (B ) https://www.youtube.com/ (C) https://www.youtube.com/ (D) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHH9F8xA Thoughts? The Parkland High Shooter Was Bullied by Peers for at Minimum 5-6 Years
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@NKJV But how can you remove guns from society without people with guns to enforce the gun laws and confiscate the guns? There are really only two options, either citizens can have guns or tyranny. If you don't understand this then you are a domesticated slave monkey. If someone else has a gun and you don't then they have power over your life, and wearing a uniform doesn't make them any more trustworthy. In fact, people in uniforms with guns have killed more citizens without guns than anyone else. |
