Did Video Games Play a Role in the Connecticut Shooting?
I have to say, any discussion of the tragic shooting in Connecticut that leaves out gun availability and gun control is a bit lacking, yet what the Lt. Colonel said about video games was compelling.
Mike, we have the same violent video games here in Europe. There is a much bigger picture here. There are disturbed, brilliant kids in every culture, many of the greatest minds of our modern era could have been diagnosed with any number of behavioral syndromes now being teated by an unregulated out of control union between the massively profitable pharmaceutical industry and the AMA psychiatric industry. If you want, you can go over the stats in most of the atrocities committed by disturbed young Americans over the last 30 years and find some pretty compelling evidence to support this. It's not the games, it's not god in schools, these are all deflection techniques by the conservative gun lobby supporters in the USA. It is the nature of American culture, the isolation, the romance of guns, the fantasy of violence...I think the Lt. Colonel comes off a little bit nuts here...Look at Italy...1/8th the per capita rate firearm violence as America. Look at any European country. Look at the availability of Mental Health assistance here in Europe, then look at the defunding and closing of Mental hospitals and facilities systematically since the Reagan years. The homeless population pf California and New york State exploded due to the phony economic measure...we ended up paying billions more to compensate. The only point the Lt. Colonel could make is the role of video games coupled with the lack of protocols observed in the treatment of the mentally disturbed that could result in the self programming which has occurred and is documented in incidents which have taken place, but the US Military knows this, they use the techniques themselves on enlisted men. Don't let the Gun Lobby and their supporters pass the buck. God won't stop you from killing and killing again....
It is interesting to note that a large percentage of spree killers have a form of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (previously known a "Aspergers Syndrome"). Persons with such a mental inadequacy have little value to society, although as they are human, the State bears the duty to care for them. Such people should be required to report (or more likely delivered by their current caregivers) to a mental heath center, for an evaluation of the danger which they possess. When released into the community, they ought to be kept under regular mandatory supervision, in order to prevent such a tragedy. I would not however advocate that such a policy apply to all autistics, merely those who would be afflicted with Autistic Spectrum Disorder or "Aspergers Syndrome".
I admit that persons with such disorders tend to be quite brilliant. So brilliant that they ought to be seen as a national resource, as opposed to a mere person.
I actually think there's some merit to the "blame the video games" story, some, that's all. I say that because I would not want my very young or even teen-age children playing them. The "desensitizing" thing makes sense to me. Same with movies. Rock music with strong lyrics I think is the least of those three to be concerned with.
Nevertheless, the single most concrete and easily addressed factor in all this is gun availability.
Mikeb, you call people on my side of this argument sick and attack many things that we say, but are you going to let E.N.'s remarks pass? He says that people on the Autism spectrum have little value to society and should be sent to concentration camps. If you don't call that sick, you undermine any moral judgement that you make on any other subject.
Greg, for Christ's sake, no one is talking about banning anything. What the fuck is wrong with you? Even that fanatic in the video was calling for proper ratings on the video games not to ban them.
Mike, he is delusional. He actually believes that there is some conspiracy and that any government action that doesn't involve State-sanctioned bible-thumping or free guns, is somehow a "Ban". I refuse to dignify such idiocy with a proper response, and instead allow him to exist in his delusional State, for the sake of entertainment.
Greg's extremism illustrates the (fundamentalist/neo-anarchist) goals of the "pro-gun" or "libertarian" side. To some degree or another they want what he wants. They think as he thinks.
Mikeb, your side is calling for bans on "assault rifles" right now. Your proposals would be a de facto ban, since hardly anyone would qualify to own guns. What is wrong with you that you can't admit the truth?
E.N., you and I are not comrades and never will be. I don't know what your point was with regard to "state-sanctioned Bible-thumping," because a state-sanctioned religion is antithetical to everything I've advocated here and elsewhere. But let's cut through the crap. You make cute hints about a "proper response." I'm calling your bluff. Put up or shut up.
Take a list of those who are still alive (or are at least not confirmed dead), post your suspicions, and let's see how accurate you are. That would be interesting.
*Sigh* there's no substantial evidence to suggest video games are the cause of this violence at all. Just a load of hype. Please check out this article if you disagree. http://wp.me/p2qwMD-jz
Unless you own a gun don't tell me how easy they are to get.If you do own 1 then why are we even having this debate?
ReplyDeleteMike, we have the same violent video games here in Europe. There is a much bigger picture here. There are disturbed, brilliant kids in every culture, many of the greatest minds of our modern era could have been diagnosed with any number of behavioral syndromes now being teated by an unregulated out of control union between the massively profitable pharmaceutical industry and the AMA psychiatric industry. If you want, you can go over the stats in most of the atrocities committed by disturbed young Americans over the last 30 years and find some pretty compelling evidence to support this. It's not the games, it's not god in schools, these are all deflection techniques by the conservative gun lobby supporters in the USA. It is the nature of American culture, the isolation, the romance of guns, the fantasy of violence...I think the Lt. Colonel comes off a little bit nuts here...Look at Italy...1/8th the per capita rate firearm violence as America. Look at any European country.
ReplyDeleteLook at the availability of Mental Health assistance here in Europe, then look at the defunding and closing of Mental hospitals and facilities systematically since the Reagan years. The homeless population pf California and New york State exploded due to the phony economic measure...we ended up paying billions more to compensate. The only point the Lt. Colonel could make is the role of video games coupled with the lack of protocols observed in the treatment of the mentally disturbed that could result in the self programming which has occurred and is documented in incidents which have taken place, but the US Military knows this, they use the techniques themselves on enlisted men. Don't let the Gun Lobby and their supporters pass the buck. God won't stop you from killing and killing again....
Microdot,
DeleteYou hit the nail on the head with America's mental health system. But then still work to blame the gun lobby? Confused?
It is interesting to note that a large percentage of spree killers have a form of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (previously known a "Aspergers Syndrome"). Persons with such a mental inadequacy have little value to society, although as they are human, the State bears the duty to care for them. Such people should be required to report (or more likely delivered by their current caregivers) to a mental heath center, for an evaluation of the danger which they possess. When released into the community, they ought to be kept under regular mandatory supervision, in order to prevent such a tragedy. I would not however advocate that such a policy apply to all autistics, merely those who would be afflicted with Autistic Spectrum Disorder or "Aspergers Syndrome".
DeleteI admit that persons with such disorders tend to be quite brilliant. So brilliant that they ought to be seen as a national resource, as opposed to a mere person.
I actually think there's some merit to the "blame the video games" story, some, that's all. I say that because I would not want my very young or even teen-age children playing them. The "desensitizing" thing makes sense to me. Same with movies. Rock music with strong lyrics I think is the least of those three to be concerned with.
DeleteNevertheless, the single most concrete and easily addressed factor in all this is gun availability.
Mikeb, you call people on my side of this argument sick and attack many things that we say, but are you going to let E.N.'s remarks pass? He says that people on the Autism spectrum have little value to society and should be sent to concentration camps. If you don't call that sick, you undermine any moral judgement that you make on any other subject.
DeleteGreg, must I also denounce the Chinese treatment of Tibet in order to maintain my moral judgment on other issues?
DeleteThe natural tendency of the control freak is to find something to ban.
ReplyDeleteFor once we agree, comrade.
DeletePuritanism is the eternal fear that someone, somewhere might be happy. I am afflicted with such.
Greg, for Christ's sake, no one is talking about banning anything. What the fuck is wrong with you? Even that fanatic in the video was calling for proper ratings on the video games not to ban them.
DeleteMike, he is delusional. He actually believes that there is some conspiracy and that any government action that doesn't involve State-sanctioned bible-thumping or free guns, is somehow a "Ban". I refuse to dignify such idiocy with a proper response, and instead allow him to exist in his delusional State, for the sake of entertainment.
DeleteGreg's extremism illustrates the (fundamentalist/neo-anarchist) goals of the "pro-gun" or "libertarian" side. To some degree or another they want what he wants. They think as he thinks.
Mikeb, your side is calling for bans on "assault rifles" right now. Your proposals would be a de facto ban, since hardly anyone would qualify to own guns. What is wrong with you that you can't admit the truth?
DeleteE.N., you and I are not comrades and never will be. I don't know what your point was with regard to "state-sanctioned Bible-thumping," because a state-sanctioned religion is antithetical to everything I've advocated here and elsewhere. But let's cut through the crap. You make cute hints about a "proper response." I'm calling your bluff. Put up or shut up.
Take a list of those who are still alive (or are at least not confirmed dead), post your suspicions, and let's see how accurate you are. That would be interesting.
DeleteA ban on certain items is not a "ban" as you use the word. No one is talking about a total ban on civilian-owned guns.
DeleteMy proposals would leave the better half of you guys still snuggling up against your favorite fetish items.
*Sigh* there's no substantial evidence to suggest video games are the cause of this violence at all. Just a load of hype. Please check out this article if you disagree. http://wp.me/p2qwMD-jz
ReplyDelete