Stupid Media
OK. So, on Wednesday, some freakshow idiot, walked into a Montreal School and started shooting people. Fortunately there were some police on campus already, and they acted quickly. The gunman was shot.
Now, the media hand wringing begins. It appears that the gunman considered himself a “goth”, and played “violent video games” and posted on “scary web sites”. The media, from the Toronto Star, to the Sun, to the CTV News. Have been giving examinations (which are really little more than a gloss) of gaming culture, and the goth scene. You know how it goes “how did ___ turn this man into a killer?”.
Sad truth for the news papers and tv news journalists. The Goth scene didn’t turn this guy into a killer. I know lots of people who are members of the goth scene. Not a single one is a murderer, hell most of them aren’t even close to violent. I also know lots of people who play video games. Again, each and every one of them knows the difference between the Game World and the Real World and would never think of actually picking up a gun.
News Flash: it wasn’t goth or video games that turned this guy into a killer. He was just crazy.
Dad on September 15th, 2006
Just to update the info’; while the gunman was, in fact, shot in the arm by the police, the fatal shot to the head was (reportedly) self-inflicted.
I agree with you that it was not goth, vampire interest, or video games that turned hiim into a killer. On the other hand, I would suggest that from the information gleaned from his blog on vampirefreaks.com - before his pages were deleted - this is a person who was repeatedly and consistently bullied and ridiculed during his years at school. The rage that finally burst out of him probably had much to do with that. I suggest that guns (and perhaps the fantasies) were a way that he used to feel empowered after a lifetime of feeling denigrated and emascualted.
As a teacher, it just serves to make me even more aware of the destructive power of ridicule and put downs. Anti-bullying programs are often dismissed with, “Oh, the kids are just joking. It’s a normal part of growing up. Come on, just ignore those people!”
There’s a price to be paid for not taking kids seriously.