Off Topic 2015

[Bmore Irish]

Re: Off Topic 2015

I saw a screenshot of the first-person video. That was enough for me.

Same. Saw the screenshot of him standing there with the gun pointed to her and I felt ill. No desire to see the video.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Off Topic 2015

If we're talking about the shooter's motivations, one big difference between then and now is media and social media expansion. Clearly, he wanted everybody to know that it happened and that he did it. I can see why most people would want to brag about a crime that they committed, like people calling "popcorn" in the card game B.S. just so you can let people know you got away with something. Dumb example, but definitely fair.

The less attention we give the guy (and I will never say or quote either of his two names on here) and the more we give to the victims (I am curious whether the interviewee was also shot?), the better.

I definitely agree with the latter. A week from now the two victims and their stories will be forgotten, but the killer's name will be remembered and talking heads will discuss his motivations, possible mental health problems, look for any clues in his past, etc.

Current technology and access to social media has made it easier for information to travel more quickly, but even that fame motivation is as old as the hills. Instead of simply uploading manifestos and videos to Facebook you had those that would write letters and mail them to newspapers and TV stations.

[Speedy]

Re: Off Topic 2015

Well, now is probably not the time to debate parenting tactics, but lack of discipline has always been a problem. I also don't see how "lack of discipline" suddenly leads to overly aggressive behavior. It really just feels like the previous generation saying "this generation is worse than mine, because reasons."

Either way I don't see how that is relevant in this case with an adult shooter.

My point is about consequence and repercussions but yes, now is now not the time.

[bkrich83]

Re: Off Topic 2015

My skin literally stood up when I read why Psy posted.

We're certainly naive to believe this is just a one-time occurrence...I still question where the parents are of this generation. We're raising children without an understanding of what's right/wrong.

But that's another story/topic for another time.

My soul grieves for these families...it really does.

You realize the disgruntled worker shooting former colleagues was essentially invented by our generation and the one before us. This is not a new phenomenon.

[Speedy]

Re: Off Topic 2015

You realize the disgruntled worker shooting former colleagues was essentially invented by our generation and the one before us. This is not a new phenomenon.

The sense of entitlement just baffles me.

Why do people always feel they are owed something? I'm simply thankful for the little I have.

[Blzer]

Re: Off Topic 2015

Current technology and access to social media has made it easier for information to travel more quickly, but even that fame motivation is as old as the hills. Instead of simply uploading manifestos and videos to Facebook you had those that would write letters and mail them to newspapers and TV stations.

That's my point, we always want to let others know who we are or what we did. It's just easier/quicker as ever to do so now, though. I don't know how quickly word got to the west when JFK was assassinated, because even though it hit radio airwaves and television newscasts, it's not vibrating in your pocket as an emergency text, tweet, or post. The number of people who know about this at this time might be greater than that of the JFK assassination, for instance.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Off Topic 2015

The sense of entitlement just baffles me.

Why do people always feel they are owed something? I'm simply thankful for the little I have.

Entitlement?

[Bellsprout]

Off Topic 2015

The sense of entitlement just baffles me.



Why do people always feel they are owed something? I'm simply thankful for the little I have.

Please stop. Like, for real. Now is not the time for your old man act.

[jmood88]

Re: Off Topic 2015

The sense of entitlement just baffles me.

Why do people always feel they are owed something? I'm simply thankful for the little I have.

This makes no sense whatsoever.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Off Topic 2015

Went to the Twitter account to see if the tweets were still there/legit, and unfortunately the videos were the first thing I saw. Thankfully was able to close out before it got to the actual shooting.

The people who retweeted it should be banned from Twitter for stupidity, if nothing else.

[Speedy]

Re: Off Topic 2015

I'll refrain from speaking and explaining my intent...not the time.

As far as the gunman is concerned, he used a different name than his birthname while at the station. Why?

[Psyblast]

Re: Off Topic 2015

I'll refrain from speaking and explaining my intent...not the time.

As far as the gunman is concerned, he used a different name than his birthname while at the station. Why?

I don't think it's that uncommon for someone to adopt a "stage" name. Many actors use different names. Just my opinion, but "Bryce Williams" is snappier than "Vester Flanagan."

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Off Topic 2015

I'll refrain from speaking and explaining my intent...not the time.

As far as the gunman is concerned, he used a different name than his birthname while at the station. Why?

At TV stations, sometimes on-air talent is given a different name. It may be to make them seem more local, or in the case of Vester Flanagan, aka Bryce Williams, a name easier to pronounce to viewers. I've worked with a guy named Evan Onstot whose last name was perfectly fine here, but when he moved to Fresno they changed his on-air last name to Thomas. So he's still Evan Onstot, but when he's doing the news he's Evan Thomas.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Off Topic 2015

I don't understand how you guys can even bring yourself to watch any part of it.

Speedy - this generation's parents are just as good/bad as every other generation. Human behavior has largely remained unchanged over the course of human history.

Yeah, I really can't watch it. Of course there's a small part of me that's curious since I've never seen something like that outside of the movies, but I plan on keeping it that way.

What's wild to me is that in the past month we've now seen first person views of a murder and that chemical explosion in....China, was it? It's kind of scary to think of what else we'll end up seeing in the future.

As for what Speedy said, nothing annoys me more than when people's reaction to something like this is "What is this world coming to?". You could go back decades and the same question would apply. Everything has changed but nothing has changed.

[Psyblast]

Re: Off Topic 2015

Flanagan confirmed dead by police.

Details of the manifesto he sent to ABC starting to leak. Praised the Virginia Tech shooter as his "boy". Mentioned Columbine. Said the Charleston shooting was the final straw, and the initials of the victims from that tragedy were on the bullets he used today.