Solutions to the shooting problems...

[Belle Starr]

Let's get back our right to bare arms in public. That way when a man or woman sees that your packing fire power they know that you are potentially dangerous. Or perhaps... this problem has been happening since time began. You can't blame the public, family values or ethics. This is a part of humanity. Self preservation.. really. Is it horrid and sick..... Well, hell yes it is!

Kid's killing kids. Doctors/Nurses killing patients. Cops killing their spouses. Is it only in America?

Let's course through history... this isn't anything new. People kill one another throughout the dawn of time. Why does it seem more prevalent now? Media, computers, telephones, radio.... We have access to more types of knowledge and information than ever before. Why aren't we using it to benefit the society as a whole? What do we do each day to help someone else besides ourselves? Helping your neighbor and be a good samaritan has long since left the world. How many times have you picked up a stranger walking down the street that needed a ride in the bitter heat or cold? If you have, how many other drivers passed by before you?

We are afraid of each other... we walk on eggshells hoping that the little world we create for ourselves won't conflict with someone else's. Are you ready to be the first one to come forth and make a true effort for peace and non-violence? Become a martyr?

The question really is who will be the first?

 

[Guest]

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

There are only 250 million people in America, on a planet of 5 billion, and the violence "here" is no way comparable to the violence "there". It's a shame that our major news outlets would rather report on "Survivor" than ethnic cleansing in eastern Europe or rape as a weapon in Africa or the numerous global purposeful starvations and genoicides. It's always gone on, it still goes on. Civilization keeps it in check, but it goes on. The world is crushingly violent. But let's be thankful that it is less so "here".

And it's "bear" arms. No one's going to scare anyone with "bare" arms unless it's Louis Anderson coming at you.

 

[Mustang Sally]

It's a shame that our major news outlets would rather report on "Survivor" than ethnic cleansing in eastern Europe or rape as a weapon in Africa or the numerous global purposeful starvations and genoicides.

In defence of the media, I would have to rephrase Dixon's sentence to read "It's a shame the general population would rather hear about 'Survivor' than ethnic cleansing, etc."

The news outlets tell us what they think we want to hear. They're businesses. News is the product. They know that, sad as it may be, there's a good chance the average Joe will tune out when it comes to horrors that occur in far-off places we've never heard of, or have only heard of because they're constantly in conflict.

These issues are too complex to understand through one three-minute news blurb, so why strain your brain? Cuz, hey, Survivor's on. Besides, bring up genocide at the office water cooler and you're probably met with blank stares and uncomfortable mumblings of "yes, it's horrible." Bring up Survivor, and animated conversation ensues. Interesting commentary on our society, I think.

 

[teresafannin]

I agree about the media, they are only giving people what they want. I have spent the last year & a half dealing with the media. In most instances, they have been very cooperative with me. If the general public were truly interested in the major issues facing our world, they would demand the media provide coverage of them. It is a supply & demand world & I am afraid there are too few of us who are truly interested in something other than "Survivior". The sad truth is that most of the people who are so upset today about this latest shooting will have forgotten about it by tomorrow. I know, because it happened to me.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Nope. That's an old rationalization -- and a myth. "The media only give us what we want." It's not true. First of all, who wants reruns of Urkel?

If the media gave us comprehensive news coverage, people would watch. It's not for nothing that the longest running show in the history of television is a respected news show: Meet the Press. ABC World News Tonight regularly beats both Leno and Letterman. And no show has been in the Top 10 longer than 60 Minutes. People will watch.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Well, if you're talking about news feature shows like 60 Minutes, you probably have a rather different demographic than the Survivor fans, if that's the analogy you want to make. Those shows do cover difficult global issues, do they not? They have the time to talk about them in depth, and yes, then people will listen. So what's your complaint?

The local six o'clock news does not have the time to do those subjects justice. They consider four factors in determining a story's newsworthiness: immediacy, conflict, proximity and human interest. The headlining (or front page) stories are the ones that most satisfy all of those criteria.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

The local news DOES have time. Of course they have the time. The trouble is that local news shows, which were never supposed to make money, now suddenly have to make money, and are under the supervision of the Entertainment departments. Instead of presenting better news coverage in an effort to draw in more viewers, the major networks decided "people don't want that", and gave us wacky weathermen and car chases instead. It was a stupid corporate decision made industry wide some fifteen years ago, and we've been paying for it with increasingly stupid news coverage ever since.

In the 1970s local news shows presented the world, without zippy graphics other than the possible sound of a teletype machine in the background. The reporters actually wrote some of the stories they read, and they would NEVER spend ten minutes doing a story on an actor that just happens to be appearing on that same network's TV show later that night. No cross promotion, no fake "Unit 13" crews doing quasi investigative bullshit stories about not getting enough syrup in your slurpies. Banal local newscasting is a choice made by the same idiots who can't get more than two hit TV sit-coms a year out of thirty.

Comprehensive news is possible, and people will watch. It IS the media's fault.

 

[BrainyBeauty]

Here are the problems and the solutions wrapped up in one neat package!

BS (Really, that is an abbreviation of your name! lol )

Part of your statement is correct. It is human nature and this problem has been happening since time began. But you most definitely CAN blame the public, family values and ethics. And while it has always happened throughout history it has NOT happened on such a large scale. Those very sources you cite regarding the spread of information also cause more people to identify with the problem.

Again, as I said over on the rap music thread, you can't single-handedly blame music or tv shows or movies or video games for this increased level of violence. But taken together as a whole, you most certainly can detect a pattern.

People seem to forget that children are susceptible to their environment and are shaped by what they see. Baby see, baby do. It is called mimicking. Many studies show that kids who see their parents smoking, most likely will take up the habit themselves. In addition, all this cumulative violence desensitizes them. They become immune to it. It is like a glaze forming over their eyes. They don't recognize this as abnormal, because to them, it is normal. Over time, they begin to emulate this behavior because their heroes (celebs, athletes, actors, etc.) engage in this behavior, so it must be cool. And their parents do nothing to squelch these thoughts.

The following is something I wrote on another post many months ago but it is so apropos for this topic:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am appalled and shocked on a daily basis anymore at the stupidity, folly and behaviors of some segments of our society.

I don't know what scares me more- that people don't seem to know the difference between right and wrong anymore or that they don't care. When did apathy become a major personality trait in the human animal? Or at least tell me when it became so prevalent.

How many times have I heard reports or seen video coverage of criminals- no matter what age- showing a complete lack of respect for themselves and their fellow human beings? It aggravates me to see defendants on trial showing no remorse for their crimes. Even worse, they demonstrate a sort of pride or boasting about it. Their only regret is from getting caught- not from realizing the impact of their actions.

I think what upsets me the most is the increasing trend that people all over the world seem to share - do it if it feels good. This new decade/century/millennium is fast becoming the new ME generation. What is in it for ME? How will things affect ME? What can I get for ME? Someone spoke to the issue of entitlement on a recent thread. I have been warning friends about this dangerous trend for several years now.

These kids today (gosh now don't I sound like MY parents? LOL !!!) seem to pop out of the womb believing that they are entitled to things. Gosh, I'll get a job but I want to be president of the company making $100,000 a year say, in a week. If I don't get it, I'm outta here.

Excuse me....what the heck happened to the work ethic? I was raised on the premise that you have to work hard for what you want. You have to earn it. There is no such thing as a free lunch. You always try to do things to the best of your ability. You may not always succeed, but at least you are the better for trying. And you learn a bit about building character in the process. No one is going to spoon feed you things on a silver platter.

Or will they? You talk about parenting- and the lack thereof. Sometimes, too much of the wrong type of parenting is just as harmful and destructive as those who ignore their children. What about the overzealous parents who focus on social status or monetary concerns and who want little Susie or Johnny to have everything. A kind of pint-sized version of 'keeping up with the Joneses?' You know the folks who think 'My kid HAS to have the latest Nintendo or PlayStation. He has to have the $200 Nike shoes. Of course my kid needs to drive a new BMW!' Please- someone tell me how a child learns anything from being spoiled and treated as if the sun, moon and stars revolve around them?

Oh and let's not forget the downfall of the family- does anyone ever eat together anymore? When I was growing up we had breakfast and dinner together every night. We discussed everyone's day and any issues that came up. We talked about current events and how that impacted everyone. Does anyone do that anymore? Shouldn't they?

Not today's families who shuttle Ashley to ballet and Michael to soccer every afternoon and evening - to the detriment of the whole family. Does anyone even talk to each other anymore? Is it any wonder these parents are clueless what some of their kids are up to in the garage or what they are hiding under the bed? There was a public service advertisement on television a few years ago that was dead-on accurate. Showed kids skateboarding in a suburban cul-de-sac setting while the voice-over said Did you know 40% of kids who do drugs are from the inner city? Pause..more pics of sunny, happy suburbia....Voice "Guess where the other 60% are from? " So true!

And even those who are 'there' don't seem to be faring much better. Why is it now the norm to allow kids to have phones (cell phones even!) pagers, etc.? And computers in their rooms? Again, I was expected to do my homework every night before I could enjoy the rewards that went along with the responsibilities. Nowadays, all I read about is parents and children complaining about the amount of homework. And the adults seem to be doing the majority of the work. Again, what does a child learn that way? I did all my own work. My parents would check it, but if there was something wrong, they sent me back to do it over. They did not give me the answers!

People don't seem to have the first clue what priorities to have.

I won't even bother to address the issue of parents- from whatever socioeconomic categories who ignore their children and rely on the school system or government programs to raise their kids.

Personal responsibility has gone the way of the dinosaurs. And why wouldn't it when we make it so easy for people to blame someone else. How easy is it to file a lawsuit for every single thing these days. (No offense to Siren, Blue or Simply Southern and the other attorneys here!) My biggest complaint about this issue is Why do people think there are such things as rules? Why do we have laws? If no one is going to follow them and just go out and file a lawsuit because they don't get what they want....

For example:
"I want my kid to be able to wear black lipstick and T-shirts promoting sex and violence. Dress code at school? BAH! Call my attorney. It doesn't apply to me!"

"I'm a professional athlete and I can speed, get drunk and act stupid or molest a woman in a hotel room because I CAN! The rules don't apply to me!"

"I don't want to wait in this long line of traffic. I will just cut in front of everyone or drive over here on the median. The laws don't apply to ME!"

" Everybody is picking on me calling me nerd, geek, freak. I 'm just gonna shoot em up!"

Corporate America/private sector business is no better than the government. Where is their loyalty? When profits overtake all sense of compassion, responsibility and doing the right thing the foundation starts to weaken and crumble. Political correctness is worming its way into every facet of life and further eroding the stability of societal interactions.

I think we need to get back to basics. Respect. Work ethic. Compassion. Family. Golden Rule.