What is this world coming to.

[steel]

Yea it is hard to keep a cool head when someone is bleeding in front of you. I have to deal with those situation sometimes as a lifeguard.

[Millenniumfalsehood]

Agreed. Luckily(for me, not others) I've been exposed to enough situations like that that I'm a really level-headed guy when the time comes.

Regarding why kids today don't feel responsible and feel like they can do anything:

I don't blame rap so much as video games and adult's attitudes(not ours, others). Listening to music can only go so far. But when you're immersed in a 3D environment which replicates the world around you and you can do anything without reprimands or consequences, you tend to believe you really can do anything provided you're sneaky and skilled enough. The thing is, in real life there is no reset button to make what you did go away. This effect is real, btw. I've experienced it: in video games I play I discovered that it's quicker just to walk in a straight line towards whatever my goal is. I never noticed that that's what I do in RL until I almost got ran over one day. Adults' attitudes towards kid's self-esteem being so important that it overrides the need for self-discipline is revolting to me. Can't people see that a kid with no self-control will end up in trouble or be the cause of it? I don't care what Dr. Spock says: kids need to know when they're doing wrong. I remember what I was feeling when I was a kid. I felt the need to push my boundaries. When I was told 'no' I didn't feel belittled. I just figured out that I'm not supposed to do that(I got mad because I couldn't do what I wanted, but that's beside the point).

Sorry for rambling on, I just have strong feelings about this.

[Pramrider]

Originally Posted by Millenniumfalsehood

Adults' attitudes towards kid's self-esteem being so important that it overrides the need for self-discipline is revolting to me. Can't people see that a kid with no self-control will end up in trouble or be the cause of it? I don't care what Dr. Spock says: kids need to know when they're doing wrong. I remember what I was feeling when I was a kid. I felt the need to push my boundaries. When I was told 'no' I didn't feel belittled. I just figured out that I'm not supposed to do that(I got mad because I couldn't do what I wanted, but that's beside the point).

As a parent, I totally agree with your comments. Of course, discipline doesn't mean a child has to be spanked over every little thing. Discipline should match the wrong that was done and administered because you love your child and want them to turn out as a responsible young adult. A serious wrong usually requires some physical discipline to emphasize the seriousness of the act. Lesser infractions can need only a word or even just a look for the child to get the point. Discipline should never be given in anger because your sense of reason will be off. Better to wait until you've calmed down if very upset over what was done so as to be able to administer the proper punishment and not go overboard. One gripe I have with parents is when they don't let their 'Yes mean Yes and No mean No' which only causes confusion on the part of the child in what they really should or shouldn't do. I've even heard of an extreme case where failure on the part of the parents in that regard led to their child's accidental death.

Just my personal opinion, but with computer generated graphics becoming more realistic I think it is confusing the minds of the users to some extent so that make believe and reality are harder for the mind to distinguish. Especially so if they're heavily into such games. Engaging in computer game violence in a very realistic setting could help desensitize the user's mind to a degree, making it easier to commit similar acts in real life, whether by accident or not. Again, not a psychologist, just offering an opinion. I'm sure there's other factors involved when a person commits a violent act such as this.

~Pramrider

[Emigo]

Personally I blame capitalism. Capitalism teaches that being a 'thug" is cool. I mean why are the most successful/rich people always so rotten? It's because if you treat the world with a thug (selfish) mentality, you'll go far in life.

[weswissa]

Originally Posted by Kenshin Himura

1) Rap music

If people are that dumb to listen to music or play a video game or watch a tv show or movie and then go out and do it... then they have no right to even be in the public's eyes... let alone alive...

~Weswissa

[Incomplete Dude]

I think the reaction of the other people is two fold, it's either don't want the percieved hassle of getting involved, or they believe it is uncool and shameful to "snitch".

Sometimes I think war is inevitable. After a big war, people focus on rebuilding and co-operation, but eventually their children's children forget all those lessons, and inevitably start the wars again. Although, perhaps in modern society we have now advanced from killing each other to simply screwing over each other economically just enough to take away their luxuries but not drive them to violence. In this sense, it's only a matter of time before the middle class is sufficiently gutted socially and economically by their own negligence to promote co-operation. The question is if this next generation has become stupid enough to accomplish that. I also wonder who will be the ones to fatten themselves with the remains of the American dream. I just hope it's Europe, because the alternatives are not too pleasent imho.

Then again, I'm probably just being pessimistic.

[Dave]

I know people that have been shot at and may have shot people, they don't really like to talk about it, but seriously there are places where its kill or be killed. If I had been in that situation I would've pulled out the gun I have in my glove box and put a few bullets in the shooter. I might come off a certain way, however I would never hurt someone if it didn't benefit the world at large. For example that kid was shooting someone for probably no reason and will likely shoot someone else so by shooting them I prevent their further violence. I feel like the system is so corrupt that if you don't take matters into your own hands nobody else will. People complain about how the world is always going to shit and my opinion is take matters into your own hands. If you think the world is ****ed up I met a kid the other day that told me he could get me a military grade hand grenade for like 25-35 dollars depending on how much the case cost him. Plus that and the fact that America is fighting a "humanitarian" war in Iraq when in reality what was happening in Iraq wasn't half as bad as all the things happening in Africa. This world is going to hell and we are the only ones who can stop it. I hope that in order to make the world a better place I can use my words, actions, and passion and that the gun in my glove box goes unfired till the day I die.

Sorry, I could have lived a mildly sheltered life in my little suburb near Baltimore but I chose not to. I have gone out of my way too experience, and meet the worst people I could because I wanted to help them. So I know what these people who would kill for a dime are like and I can tell you I'll never go back to that life unless I have to.

The only major things I have done to help people were setting up food drives and doing habitat for humanity and I got two of my friends from Baltimore to stop selling drugs and get an education. So I have a long way to go before I can really tell anyone how to make things better but for now I feel very passionately about this almost to the point where if this was irrational I wouldn't even know. So if it is please lemme know how it is so I can go on and make change

[Incomplete Dude]

Originally Posted by Dave

I know people that have been shot at and may have shot people, they don't really like to talk about it, but seriously there are places where its kill or be killed. If I had been in that situation I would've pulled out the gun I have in my glove box and put a few bullets in the shooter. I might come off a certain way, however I would never hurt someone if it didn't benefit the world at large. For example that kid was shooting someone for probably no reason and will likely shoot someone else so by shooting them I prevent their further violence. I feel like the system is so corrupt that if you don't take matters into your own hands nobody else will. People complain about how the world is always going to shit and my opinion is take matters into your own hands. If you think the world is ****ed up I met a kid the other day that told me he could get me a military grade hand grenade for like 25-35 dollars depending on how much the case cost him. Plus that and the fact that America is fighting a "humanitarian" war in Iraq when in reality what was happening in Iraq wasn't half as bad as all the things happening in Africa. This world is going to hell and we are the only ones who can stop it. I hope that in order to make the world a better place I can use my words, actions, and passion and that the gun in my glove box goes unfired till the day I die.

This is a further example of what I mean, the breakdown of social structure. Even the well-meaning people are driven to vigilantism. But once a critical number of people start doing that, it's every man for themselves, tribal warfare. The well-meaning few try to protect what's left of their immediate surroundings, but they are surely alone and without the greater structure necessary for large scale protection of anything. That's the breakdown of society to which I refer. And after that balkanization of society, it comes under the control of the greater and more organized powers that remain.

[Dave]

Dude just so you know I even wrote it in the last line I hope it never comes to that. I hope that I can change the world with my actions, passion, and by speaking out against that which I see as wrong but there is a point when everything may become so corrupt and money hungry that I might have to use violence because even Mohandas Gandhi once said that when your options include violence or being a coward that one should always choose violence. So otherwise I was basically saying I will try to change the world using non-violence until non-violence becomes cowardice. If the world comes to that point then I will become violent

[Jeremiah]

Luvsgurl, I am sorry to hear that you witnessed such a tragedy. Thankfully, you took the time to ensure that the victim received the attention he deserved. Your quick call certainly speaks well of your concern for others.

American society is rapidly headed toward the gutter. Blaming video games, rap music, parents, and guns is only looking at superficial symptoms. Our society has a disease that is tearing away social norms, common decency, and ethics. The root cause stems from something deeper than music, software, or metal. Social norms such as the golden rule have disappeared. Common decency has given way to rude, vulgar, and selfish people. Ethics have eroded to the point that ending a person's life for small stuff is way too common. Until we find the disease and treat it, our society will only get worse.

Originally Posted by Lukie

I sure hope they catch that little bastard and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. Other than that, it just makes me incredibly glad that I live in country where there is insanely strict gun control. Even nowadays I feel confident that I can walk down the street and not get gunned down.

Yes, the killer should have the book thrown at him. However, I fail to understand how "insanely strict gun control" would have prevented this.

Originally Posted by ayanna

THAT is the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. What they NEED is metal detectors in schools so kids can't bring in guns/knives/etc!

If every other kid had a gun, there would have been more blood shed...mass chaos...and people would have ended up DEAD!

Please find an example of a very safe school with metal detectors. IMHO, metal detectors at schools protect those who are planning to break the rules. I agree that more bloodshed would have been possible if others had guns, but the shooter would have been easier to catch.

Originally Posted by Peachy

I think there's something seriously f*cked up going on there. No one should consider it "cool" when their "friends" bring a gun to school and show it around. It should make everyone jump and run for help before that "friend" could do any harm. The same applies to any other weapons.

Personally, I think parents need to show more responsibility for their children and teach them morals. No metal detector or gun control law will stop anyone from being aggressive and hurting others if that person assigns to value to other people's lives or opinion. Respect doesn't fall from the sky - it has to be taught, and preferably right from birth, with constant reminders.

Peachy

I could not agree more with the above statements.

Originally Posted by Emigo

Personally I blame capitalism. Capitalism teaches that being a 'thug" is cool. I mean why are the most successful/rich people always so rotten? It's because if you treat the world with a thug (selfish) mentality, you'll go far in life.

Capitalism allows companies to respond to market demands. It cannot create demand for unacceptable products. Someone must have wanted to listen to thug music before a company would market the songs. Then again, not all successful people are rotten or selfish. We only hear about the most shocking ones.

Luvsgurl, again, I am sorry that you experienced such a tragedy.