How much are we to blame for the increase in mass shootings in America?

[aaronleland]

It's easy to blame copycat shooters on the media's 24 hour coverage of the shooting and gunman, but then aren't we the ones to blame? The media is only selling us what we want to see. We're horrified, yet fascinated. When we first hear about a mass shooting we can consume most of the information the media has available in less than five minutes, but we aren't happy with that. We'll keep the channel on for hours waiting for an update. We could easily turn the TV off for the day, and pickup any updates the next day, but we want a constant stream of the horrific details. We want every detail about the shooter, from his family life to whether or not he played violent video games. Yet, what are we even doing with this information?

 

[Tijn Von Ingersleben]

Remind me of a song...here go!

 

[TNHarley]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

 

[aaronleland]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

 

[Tijn Von Ingersleben]

It is the confirmation of life and the realization of impermanence that draws our fascination to it. We want details because death is a thing for everyone. We see the dead and the horror and our scenario plays in our mind. We transpose ourselves into that place...what...where...when...how WOULD I have survived?
We all know...some day we are all gonna go there.
Whether it is in a hospital bed surrounded by family or in a hallway of schoolhouse we are all going. Death haunts everyone because it is the one thing none of us will ever escape. Yet in our minds...this time we did. Likewise in our imaginations, those details may help us cheat the inevitable...but.

 

[Missourian]

There is no increase...in fact, there has been a statistical decrease, especially considering population growth.

1980s: 32

1990s: 42

2000s: 28

The history of mass shootings in the U.S. | HeraldNet.com
​

And 26 so far in the 2010's (http://timelines.latimes.com/deadliest-shooting-rampages/)

The population in 1990 was 60 million fewer than if was in 2010 (250M in 1990 to 309M in 2010) ... it's 326 million today.

 

[OldLady]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

Actually, Aaron, maybe it's all those things.

 

[Moonglow]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

It's from a lack of warfare and conscription....

 

[Moonglow]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

Actually, Aaron, maybe it's all those things.

Teflon coating I would surmise...

 

[aaronleland]

There is no increase...in fact, there has been a statistical decrease, especially considering population growth.

1980s: 32

1990s: 42

2000s: 28

The history of mass shootings in the U.S. | HeraldNet.com
​

And 26 so far in the 2010's (http://timelines.latimes.com/deadliest-shooting-rampages/)

The population in 1990 was 60 million fewer than if was in 2010 (250M in 1990 to 309M in 2010)

The increased stats only go back to the 1980's, and none are far off from each other in number. What has changed much other than the coverage of them?

 

[KeiserC]

It's easy to blame copycat shooters on the media's 24 hour coverage of the shooting and gunman, but then aren't we the ones to blame? The media is only selling us what we want to see. We're horrified, yet fascinated. When we first hear about a mass shooting we can consume most of the information the media has available in less than five minutes, but we aren't happy with that. We'll keep the channel on for hours waiting for an update. We could easily turn the TV off for the day, and pickup any updates the next day, but we want a constant stream of the horrific details. We want every detail about the shooter, from his family life to whether or not he played violent video games. Yet, what are we even doing with this information?

It's dithering, guilt ridden individuals (like yourself) seeking some sort of catharsis (that are 1/2 of the problem...! Don't get in the way of law abiding citizens having guns... out in public...teachers in the schools etc. F'n snowflake, 'obfuscation-ist'...

 

[Moonglow]

There is no increase...in fact, there has been a statistical decrease, especially considering population growth.

1980s: 32

1990s: 42

2000s: 28

The history of mass shootings in the U.S. | HeraldNet.com
​

And 26 so far in the 2010's (http://timelines.latimes.com/deadliest-shooting-rampages/)

The population in 1990 was 60 million fewer than if was in 2010 (250M in 1990 to 309M in 2010)

The increased stats only go back to the 1980's, and none are far off from each other in number. What has changed much other than the coverage of them?

In the 1920's a school was blown up and forty four kids died from a guy that blew it up after killing his wife and burning his house....The biggest mass killing of kids at school in US history...

 

[aaronleland]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

Actually, Aaron, maybe it's all those things.

While we do have more powerful guns nowadays we aren't subjected to much more violent imagery. People used to gather in the town square by the hundreds to watch people hang. Today kids shoot at pixelated men on a screen.

 

[aaronleland]

It's easy to blame copycat shooters on the media's 24 hour coverage of the shooting and gunman, but then aren't we the ones to blame? The media is only selling us what we want to see. We're horrified, yet fascinated. When we first hear about a mass shooting we can consume most of the information the media has available in less than five minutes, but we aren't happy with that. We'll keep the channel on for hours waiting for an update. We could easily turn the TV off for the day, and pickup any updates the next day, but we want a constant stream of the horrific details. We want every detail about the shooter, from his family life to whether or not he played violent video games. Yet, what are we even doing with this information?

It's dithering, guilt ridden individuals (like yourself) seeking some sort of catharsis (that are 1/2 of the problem...! Don't get in the way of law abiding citizens having guns... out in public...teachers in the schools etc. F'n snowflake, 'obfuscation-ist'...

What the fuck are you going on about?

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Who is ‘we’?

 

[TNHarley]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

Respect, responsibility and medication for starters.

 

[KeiserC]

Society is the problem. It goes a lot deeper than whats in the OP, too. IMO anyways.

What has changed that much in society in the past 20 years that accounts for the increase in mass shootings? It's not guns. It's not violent imagery. It's not like we have more crazy people today.

Actually, Aaron, maybe it's all those things.

While we do have more powerful guns nowadays we aren't subjected to much more violent imagery. People used to gather in the town square by the hundreds to watch people hang. Today kids shoot at pixelated men on a screen.

We'd be a better society if we went back to watching public executions by hanging.... Do you understand the concept of 'gratuitous violence'... Hangings, for most, don't fit that bill.. the whole reason for the big not in the rope... It is intended to kill upon impact...breaking the neck / spinal column... gratuitous violence would be enjoying the process of one dying over a protracted period of time or enjoying the methodology used in taking a life... Not the swift / (hopefully) just meeting out of justice!

 

[Carl in Michigan]

It's not violent imagery

Seriously? Our youth is ENTERTAINED by violent movies and video games.

 

[KeiserC]

It's easy to blame copycat shooters on the media's 24 hour coverage of the shooting and gunman, but then aren't we the ones to blame? The media is only selling us what we want to see. We're horrified, yet fascinated. When we first hear about a mass shooting we can consume most of the information the media has available in less than five minutes, but we aren't happy with that. We'll keep the channel on for hours waiting for an update. We could easily turn the TV off for the day, and pickup any updates the next day, but we want a constant stream of the horrific details. We want every detail about the shooter, from his family life to whether or not he played violent video games. Yet, what are we even doing with this information?

It's dithering, guilt ridden individuals (like yourself) seeking some sort of catharsis (that are 1/2 of the problem...! Don't get in the way of law abiding citizens having guns... out in public...teachers in the schools etc. F'n snowflake, 'obfuscation-ist'...

What the fuck are you going on about?

U... and people like U

 

[Mac1958]

It's easy to blame copycat shooters on the media's 24 hour coverage of the shooting and gunman, but then aren't we the ones to blame? The media is only selling us what we want to see. We're horrified, yet fascinated. When we first hear about a mass shooting we can consume most of the information the media has available in less than five minutes, but we aren't happy with that. We'll keep the channel on for hours waiting for an update. We could easily turn the TV off for the day, and pickup any updates the next day, but we want a constant stream of the horrific details. We want every detail about the shooter, from his family life to whether or not he played violent video games. Yet, what are we even doing with this information?

That's all true, but it goes beyond that. We've created and nurtured a culture of violence from music to TV to movies to video games. Then we isolate people - many of them badly damaged - on the internet. And after that we break ourselves into little tribes and refuse to hold our own tribe accountable for ANYTHING they say or do. All that does in enable more bad behavior.

It's a freakin' miracle it's not worse.

So yeah, we're all complicit. That's what makes it a cultural issue.
.