Mass murder in California

The point there being that the parents didn't know about the bomb building, and didn't suspect anything was amiss because of the college talk.

Should we be worried by how interested Faceman seems to be in Rodgers?

In the wake of Columbine, its a little harder to ignore such things, is my point. Prior to Columbine, parents could pass things off as "boys just being boys" or claim they didn't know what was going on, now, not so much. Sure, you'll always have some idiots who'll ignore things as obvious as the kids waving weapons around and screaming, "I'm going to kill me some bitches!" before heading out the door, but those are going to be the minority. And they won't have the excuse of being able to say, "Well, who ever heard of a teenager going on a killing spree before?"

Look at the rape of kids by priests. There's been jokes about it for as long as I can remember, but since the Church has started losing lawsuits, more and more people are coming out and putting pressure on the Church to do something about it. Yes, there's no doubt still people who refuse to believe little Jimmy when he tells them that Father McGropey has felt him up, but there's fewer of them today than there once was. The more we know about mass murderers, the better chance we have of stopping them before they kill. Maybe it won't be a parent that reports the next potential Columbine killers, maybe it'll be one of their friends, or maybe it won't happen at all, but its certain that nobody'll ever spot the warning signs if they don't know what they are.

I know what you're saying and get your meaning Tuckerfan but where do you start drawing lines between what's is simple juvenile mischief and what are real signs of a serious mental problem or anti social condition?

I've known teenagers who built lots of bombs....and blew up garbage cans on Halloween and New Years.

I've known teenagers who liked to have fun by taking rifles, shotguns, and other weapons and going to a junkyard, landfill, or just out in the boonies and riddling an old hulk of a car.

Now, would I prefer they find more constructive and QUIETER ways to spend their time? Obviously. But I never worried about them becoming mass murderers either.

In their own fucking garage.

This is why you study mass murderers so that you know where the line is! Otherwise you have two choices: Do nothing and stand around slackjawed whenever news of a mass killing happens or "Nerf" everything so that its almost impossible to do anything dangerous with it. Neither of those are acceptable, IMHO.

What makes them different than mass murderers? Is it something about their home life? Something about their genetics? Their schooling? How many variables are there? We only have some idea, but the more we study nutters like Rogers, the more we learn about them, and the better chances we have at stopping them before they go on a killing spree. Perhaps if one of the parents had stumbled upon the bombs that the Columbine killers were building before they killed anyone and had just said, "Hey! What the hell is this thing?" it might have been enough to stop them from going any farther.

There are lessons to be learned, and they don't have to result in anyone losing their rights or going to jail in order to prevent a mass killing. I am not so pessimistic about humans that I think we're all just mass murderers waiting to snap. I think that mass murderers have distinctive characteristics which can be spotted beforehand and that many of them if caught early enough can be helped. Look at it this way, if you know exactly what causes someone to snap and start shooting, then the argument in favor of "Zero Tolerance" policies becomes even more specious than it already is.

Well Tucker, investigate and study all you want. Collect all the knowledge you can find. I do not think it will make one noticeable bit of difference overall.

Seriously, I mean when has study and investigation into criminal motives made any difference at all?*



*this is sarcasm

Looks like another serious contender for the Dayton3's Greatest Hits page.

Key phrase in your post being, "I do not think." Bonnie and Clyde were tracked and killed because someone was willing to study their movements and recognized a pattern in them.

The FBI seems to think studying killers is rather important, because the general public has incorrect assumptions about them.

That you, an educator are dismissive of the idea that learning is beneficial speaks volumes about you, and not in a good way.

What I do to pay the bills influences my beliefs very little.

And thus, you utterly prove my point in a manner which defies all expectation.

Where's NotDayton3 when you need him to add some thoughtful commentary to a discussion?

When kids don't want their parents to know they're having sex, they go some place where they're not likely to get caught....usually thay place is outside the house.

When kids smoke pot....outta the house.

Booze, same deal.

Eric Harris had to know his parents wouldn't look thay hard if he felt comfortable enough to build all that shit and store it right in the flipping garage.

IIRC, there was a study some years ago that the most common place for teenagers to have sex was in their parents bed.

Was this study conducted by the Chicken Coop Institute by any chance?

OK, that's just weird. I'd take the back seat of a car or a couple of blankets on the floor before that.

I thought this was an interesting perspective: http://markmanson.net/school-shootings

First place I got laid? Her bed.

First place I got laid? Star Trek convention. By fuck, if you're going to do it, do it right.

Hopefully when their parents aren't still in the bed - that would be comically awkward!

Pshaw. I got mine popped in a 'Vette!































Chevette. In my best friend's driveway, with some big tittied chick I'd never seen before or since. Halfway through, her best friend opened the door on us and ran off.

^ That is awesome!

A window-less van driven by this guy. BTW would you believe I didn't find candy and puppies in the van as promised? Hey, live and learn I guess.

Not that awesome, it was November 25th in Ohio (my 19th birthday), so it was a bit cold when the door swung open, just as I was about to get my nut. I had to stop, shut the door, and start all over again, but I did learn that you always lock the door if you think there's a chance someone might will walk in on you.

Damn - the FBI defines a mass shooting as having 4 or more shooting fatalities. This incident doesn't even qualify then!

I'm sure the families of those he stabbed would appreciate that thought. Maybe you should share it with them.

Stab victims can't be shooting victims because...logic.

Apparently the word "shooting" is ambiguous.