BREAKING: Shooting at Conn. Elementary School

[Maggot]

I don't think that video games and music lyrics can make a balanced sound-minded person turn into a killing machine. But, I'm open to the possibility that they can contribute to an already imbalanced person (especially a kid) acting out violent impulses by reinforcing them through visual stimuli. IDK, it's possible, imo.

I wanna know what was going on in Adam Lanza's life with his mom and what the other influences were in his life.

I think that the use of video games as a way to babysit kids instead of doing stuff with them is really the meat of the matter. They become disconnected from reality at some point because they are in the la-la land of unreality. Parents should allow only a certain amount of free time with games and then get them out in the real world more often. Its a lazy way of parenting to deny them this big ole world.

[username]

There ya go.
It wasn't bad gun laws
It wasn't bad schools
It wasn't bad guns
It was a fucking retard that was allowed to live and wasn't taught right from wrong

I have to process this. You're basically stating that it's fucked up parenting/coddling kids which has caused the type of violence we see now vs. how things were 20 years ago or so when instances of mass-shootings were rare. Hmmm.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Pretty much, yes. Process away.
While your at it, think on no prayer in schools, pants hanging off their ass, rap music, welfare forever, wall to wall coverage of Bill Clintons taste for blow jobs, 15 year olds that look ike hookers etc..
I figure you probably raise your kids better than that from what I see you post in here so if I read about your kids it will be something good.

[Duchess]

Hey! Hey! Don't bring Bill into this.

[Maggot]

There ya go.
It wasn't bad gun laws
It wasn't bad schools
It wasn't bad guns
It was a fucking retard that was allowed to live and wasn't taught right from wrong

I have to process this. You're basically stating that it's fucked up parenting/coddling kids which has caused the type of violence we see now vs. how things were 20 years ago or so when instances of mass-shootings were rare. Hmmm.

You do see these crazys coming out at a younger age it seems, and taking a more insensitive robotic type rational.

[Adub]

A Gunman, Recalled as Intelligent and Shy, Who Left Few Footprints in Life

He carried a black briefcase to his 10^th-grade honors English class, and sat near the door so he could readily slip in and out. When called upon, he was intelligent, but nervous and fidgety, spitting his words out, as if having to speak up were painful.

Pale, tall and scrawny, Adam Lanza walked through high school in Newtown, Conn., with his hands glued to his sides, the pens in the pocket of his short-sleeve, button-down shirts among the few things that his classmates recalled about him.

He did all he could to avoid attention, it seemed.

Until Friday.

The authorities said Mr. Lanza, 20, wearing combat gear, carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in the nation’s history. He killed 20 children and six adults at the elementary school where his mother worked, they said. He then apparently turned his gun on himself. Earlier, the police said, he also killed his mother.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregi...er.html?hp

[HairOfTheDog]

I think that the use of video games as a way to babysit kids instead of doing stuff with them is really the meat of the matter. They become disconnected from reality at some point because they are in the la-la land of unreality. Parents should allow only a certain amount of free time with games and then get them out in the real world more often. Its a lazy way of parenting to deny them this big ole world.

I remember lots of the same reasoning regarding latch key kids and television when more and more women entered the work force.

Anyway, I don't disagree with what you or Six or MS has stated as being possible contributors to increased violence these days (not necessarily the frequency of violence, but the scale). Too much time spent in fictional/fantasy scenarios without sufficient real life socialization and guidance regarding right vs. wrong can desensitize children (and sometimes adults), imo.

Still, most won't become killers, but odds are greater for them than children that have adults who are engaged in their lives (if those adults are not completely over-coddling or otherwise nutjobs themselves) and actively assist the child to become independent and responsible in society.

And yet, there do occur plenty of instances when children from decent homes turn out to be scum of the earth, while those from hell holes wind up being salt of the earth. But, I think those are more of the exception than the rule. All JMO...

Just read that Adam Lanza's mother wasn't a teacher at the school, but perhaps used to be a volunteer there. Also, she is said in linked article to have been very rigid and that Adam didn't play with other kids. The story has been changing a lot, so I take this with a grain of salt, but thought I'd mention it as it ties into this discussion. Here's the link:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticu...MvtjU7TnmI

[blueberryhill]

Thiis is so heartbreaking! Several years ago, i bought a video game (Grand Theft Auto) and was appalled at the violence. Shooting police (I think it was) was the goal and there were points for every "kill." If one has the propensity or is unstable already, this can
certainly be a catalyst for violence as it reinforces any anti-social, etc. behaviors already manifesting itself in patient.
Decades ago, we had hospitals which treated only the mentally ill. It was sometimes difficult to get someone admitted as you had
to substantiate that the patient was capable of harming self and/or others. As insurance companies became less inclined to pay for
long term mental health treatment, these facilities were phased out (IMO). Today, the mentally ill walk among us because we do not
have a system in place to identify, assess/evaluate and treat the mentally ill. The doctors prescribe medications but who is going to ensure that meds are taken. There are very few in- patient psychiatric facilities and out-patient treatment is minium and often not effective. Again, it is difficult to "force" a mentally ill person to go to treatment. Even when family and school identifies behavioral
problems, there is just no plan in place to follow up with these individuals. I think these dangerous people should be locked up but we
have to look at society's plan of action for the mentally ill and that is going to be a tough one. For now, they walk among us.

a

[Adub]

b

[ZEROSPHERES]

According to the news articles posted above the Lanzas were married in 1991 and divorced 17 years later in 2008. Adam was born in 1992 making his mother's pregnancy plausible but his older brother being 24 challenges the logic of them being married in 1991 but mom being pregnant with the older brother in 1988 a full 3 years before their wedded bliss.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregi...er.html?hp

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticu...MvtjU7TnmI

[Adub]

So Ryan was a bastard, but not so much Adam?

[blueberryhill]

re post 89, you are funny!

[cannongal]

There is no hope for the human race....I am truly disgusted with the media.

I don't think any of the major news outlets are even trying to confirm facts. One station says Adam shot his mother at the school. Another is saying the mother was found dead at the house. Yet another station said all the guns used belonged to the mother.

I've also heard Adam may or may not be Autistic (depending on which news channel)
He may or may not have had a personality disorder.
He may have had a friend that knew what was going to happen-
I wish the fact checkers would get their thumbs outa their
asses.

And shoving cameras in everyone's face at the vigil? WTF, Do ratings really mean so much to the media? If I see one more child being asked to relive the horror and fear one more time, I'm gonna

[Duchess]

And shoving cameras in everyone's face at the vigil? WTF, Do ratings really mean so much to the media? If I see one more child being asked to relive the horror and fear one more time, I'm gonna

Yes, ratings do mean so much, it means everything in the news business, everything.

Stop blaming the media for the kids being interviewed, it's up to the parents to say no, the media is just doing their job. Why would you blame someone for doing their job for christssake.

[cannongal]

Why would you blame someone for doing their job for christssake.[/i][/size]

Why? It's the media's job to report the news. Since when is asking children to re-live their grief on National TV News?

you're right-parents do bear some responsibility. Unfortunately, Most of those parents are still in a state of shock and clearly not thinking logically.

The media are being total vultures about this, and I'm not surprised-just disgusted.

[Duchess]

The media are doing what they are paid to do, it's their job, if they didn't try to interview sources they would be remiss. I understand your disgust but all the parents have to do is just say no and there would be no interview. Would you be incapable of looking out for your children's best interests? I doubt it...don't make excuses for parents who are the shits in this.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

I am with Duchess on this one, the media are assholes and have always been. Its the parents responsibility to protect their kids, no matter what. You got your kids out safe, now take them home and keep them that way instead of standing there in the media circus being an attention whore

[Duchess]

You got your kids out safe, now take them home and keep them that way instead of standing there in the media circus being an attention whore

Exactly! Many parents couldn't get their kids away from there fast enough.

[Duchess]

Principal Dawn Hochsprung -



Adam Lanza -



CNN is reporting that the bodies are still in the school and could possibly remain there until tomorrow, however it's expected that the names of those killed will be released this morning. I suppose that's when we'll start seeing photographs of the kids.

[Midwest Spy]

Now I'm hearing a report that not only was Lanza's mom NOT a full-time Kindergarten teacher at the school, she was NOT a substitute teacher there either.

So, no connection whatsoever for this fucking lunatic (other than he attended there when he was a youngster).

Fucking animal.