Have we become used to or immune to mass shootings?

[Griff]

*sigh*

[sexobon]

This from the guy who votes a straight ticket. *sigh*

[Griff]

Yep I did that one time, to shift power away from Trumpists.

[sexobon]

You might as well face it, you're addicted to th dem.

[Griff]

Let's hope the GOP sorts itself out before the Dems start thinking they are all that.

[henry quirk]

No, more like 'sane individuals here mockin' insane cogs with class and style'.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Glinda

My family moved to Thousand Oaks in 1969. I attended grade school and middle school in T.O., and went to high school in neighboring Newbury Park (where the killer lived).

He had no reason.

The first call to law enforcement came in at 11:19 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. The authorities arrived at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, three minutes later. They entered the building at 11:25 p.m.

Long, 28, first posted on Instagram at 11:24 p.m: "It's too bad I won't get to see all the illogical and pathetic reasons people will put in my mouth as to why I did it," the military veteran said in the post. "Fact is I had no reason to do it, and I just thought....(exploitive), life is boring so why not?" Long posted, according to ABC News and Buzzfeed.

Three minutes later Long posted, "I hope people call me insane (two smiley face emojiis) would that just be a big ball of irony? Yeah... I'm insane, but the only thing you people do after these shootings is 'hopes and prayers'...or 'keep you in my thoughts'."
He added, "Every time...and wonder why these keep happening... --(two smiley face emojis)."

Long ended the killing spree by taking his own life.

[Griff]

So fucked up

[Undertoad]

He had a reason: nihilism. A sense of meaningless of life. You will find it in all the killers that are not mentally disturbed.

[glatt]

Yep.

The first leg of the three legged stool of mass killers and terrorists, according to the article I linked in post 377 above.

For radicalization to occur, there are three necessary ingredients, according to Kruglanski's research. The first is the universal need to live a worthwhile life — to have significance. People usually satisfy this need through socially accepted means, "like working hard, having families, other kinds of achievements," Kruglanski said. Radicals instead tend to place significance on their gender, religion or race.

The second is "the narrative," which gives someone permission to use violence. Kruglanski said the narrative is usually that there is an enemy attacking your group, and the radical must fight to gain or maintain respect, honor or glory.

The third necessary component is the community, or the network of people who validate the narrative and the violence.

[tw]

Originally Posted by sexobon

This from the guy who votes a straight ticket.

Due to people who only post insults, lies, and demeaning attacks, I also did this for the first time. Because the Republican party is now dominated by people who use extremist emotion to make conclusions.

When discussing adults who are still children, then those 'child like' reply with personal attacks. And nothing that is useful or adult.

Similar people also need assault rifles to massacres others. Then use their unstable thinking to justify more assault weapons.

[tw]

The second is "the narrative," which gives someone permission to use violence. Kruglanski said the narrative is usually that there is an enemy attacking your group, and the radical must fight to gain or maintain respect, honor or glory.

The third necessary component is the community, or the network of people who validate the narrative and the violence.

Both are provided by right wing talk show radios. It plays constantly in rural radio stations. I have watched some change once they discovered and then became emotionally inspired by the hate they heard on extremist talk radio.

One was living with (and being supported by) an immigrant. She noted how he changed once he started listening to the Drudge Report. He would routinely blame his unemployment on immigrants. He claimed to be a network engineer. But could not answer basic concepts in Cisco equipment.

Then, when he drank, he became quite belligerent.

[Undertoad]

In mass shooters, not necessarily radicals, these people seem to have a specific take on step 1, and no step 3 at all.

They want significance, but rather than to prove worth, they want to prove worthlessness. So they seek to destroy meaningful lives ("See," they are saying, "Now you're dead, and all the things you thought were worthwhile are gone.") And they usually expect or plan their own death in the process ("If life has worth, I would definitely stick around - but in order to be taken seriously I must show that the worthlessness extends to myself.")

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

They want significance, but rather than to prove worth, they want to prove worthlessness. So they seek to destroy meaningful lives ("See," they are saying, "Now you're dead, and all the things you thought were worthwhile are gone.")

The one would-be mass shooter I've talked to justified it as giving them significance, that they would be more accomplished and revered as victims than anything they could manage on their own.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

In mass shooters, ... seem to have a specific take on step 1, and no step 3 at all.

I don't see facts that justify the "not step 3". What justifies that conclusion?

One may become a martyr to be relevant. Martyrs don't need to stick around for confirmation. They already know they will be praised (by their peers or by their god).