Omaha Mall Shooting
Thursday, December 6th, 2007 - 3:19am
Some degenerate killed 8 people in Omaha today, and there was one section of the news report that will surely be focused on:
"Though he had his troubles, Hawkins was gentle and loved animals, Maruca-Kovac said.
But he also had a drinking problem and would occasionally smoke marijuana in his bedroom, she said. Hawkins liked to listen to music and play video games "” "normal teenager stuff," she said."
MaxShrek .. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it.
Horror Vacui
I wish the press would stop identifying these guys by name, since these guys seem to do this partly because they want to die famous.
Also, I'm guessing that his favorite games were not Viva Pinata and Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
Only if he attacked people with a shovel.
MaxShrek .. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it.
Horror Vacui
What he said. It is ridiculous that they still get their 15 minutes of fame after they do this.
Playing WoW as: Vilius (70 NE Druid)
“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” John K Galbraith
Based on what I've heard of his suicide note, it's not partly, it's entirely. But the press still flash his picture and name up on the television.
Fedaykin98 wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
I don't even know what to say. This selfish type of action is just beyond words... again.
Unfortunately this type of violence is common enough these days, that no, he won't be famous, other than reviled in the minds of his victims and the immediate community. It is just one more attack by one more selfish copycat idiot. His name will be forgotten soon enough and it will end up being the Omaha Mall Shooting of 07. Someday it will be Mall Shooting ###.
I'm sure the nation will be curious to see where the media and civil courts point the finger of blame, as shooters often transform into 'victims' themselves or some 3rd party is suddenly accountable for his finger muscles pulling the trigger X number of times into targets he chose.
I think people remember the Columbine killers because it was some sort of wake up call. Not sure we figured it out what that call really was, but the innocent simplicity of sending your kids off to school and that they were safe during that time was shattered.
I guess in reading over my own post, the last thing I would want is for some arm's race of violence amongst these type of killers in the vain and sick hopes of getting their names remembered.
Wasn't there once a broader line distinguishing fame and infamy? How a person is remembered seems more important to me than the mere fact of being remembered.
Xbox Live: Irongut | Playstation ID: Irongut_GWJ
The reporting I saw this morning about this seemed to focus more on things like how his parents kicked him out of the house. I'm sure there are a million things that lead him to feel unappreciated, ultimately, and a lot of the "normal teenager" things he did were probably coping mechanisms.
Also: I really want to quote Counting Crows lyrics from Omaha, but they don't seem to fit quite as well as I'd like.
Elysium: The democratization of the web ... has installed an illusion of a digital first amendment that protects speech no matter how poorly spelled or stupid.
XBL: E Munnie
elementsofmeaning.blogspot.com
I don't know this guys name and purposely haven't looked it up simply for the reason of him wanted fame.
Over the holidays too; WHAT A DICK!!!
...If dat b*tch can't swim, she's bound to drizzown!
Actually now that you mention it.... I don't know it either. I think I'm doing the same thing as you, just unconsciously filtering it out when I read the news or hear about it on tv.
Xbox Live: Irongut | Playstation ID: Irongut_GWJ
Well, there's a lot of ways to see that sentence, really....
Some people just crack.
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
When did the flip happen, exactly, that the way to express teenage angst was to grab a rifle? I mean, the Texas Belltower guy was mostly colossally insane, but Christ.
Also, can we please stop making the guys who want to die famous famous? I mean, I know we, as a culture, kind of have a thing for glorifying, occasionally idolizing and analyzing murderers to the Nth degree (See: Manson, Bundy, Dahmer, and so on, and so on) but for Christ's sake.
Here's my alternate headline: "Emo Choad Kills 8, Should Just Killed Himself First"
Quote:
XBL Tag: Prederick
I'd also like the press to stop calling every semi automatic firearm in the world an "assault rifle". Fcukwits.
This is the internet! In our natural environment, atheists run in packs and have dictionaries! --- JoeBeDurndurn
Nope. Americans have long championed the cause of criminals. From novels about Western gangs to early 20th century bank robbers and murderers, it's a cultural tradition to take up for the underdog, especially when that underdog actually takes out government types and has a certain style, however gruesome. We're not too bright as a people to avoid this - we even glorify the Civil War, despite it's dire effects. We confuse lost causes with nobility of purpose, I think.
"Sometimes I go around saying, 'Kommisar Paulson has seized the commanding heights of the economy!'" - Paul Krugman, asked if recent changes to banking are socialistic.
Well some people do. You can probably tell I'm from the north with that eye-rolling statement.
I still glorify the mighty Iron Brigade.
Elysium: The democratization of the web ... has installed an illusion of a digital first amendment that protects speech no matter how poorly spelled or stupid.
XBL: E Munnie
elementsofmeaning.blogspot.com
Glorifying the efforts of soldiers is a bit different from glorifying the causes of the war (hello, neo-Confederacy movement).
Though I agree to some extent, I think there are grey areas where the distinction between the two can be pretty fuzzy. The obvious extreme is glorifying the achievements of a group like Tottenkopf or Das Reich.
This is the internet! In our natural environment, atheists run in packs and have dictionaries! --- JoeBeDurndurn
True. I suppose I should have qualified that with "morally clean efforts."
Being somebody who reads alot and has lots of Civil War books, I find glorify is a strange word to use. I think it is "glorified" the same way Robert E. Lee thought of war: "It is good that war is terrible, lest we grow too fond of it." or something of the like. Or "The older men in town thump their chests and take their turns swearing that we will win what they insist will be a short, decisive war. They boast of the certain valor of those who, in front of their aging eyes, have grown from playful lads into strong young men."
MaxShrek .. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it.
Horror Vacui
Quote:
XBL Tag: Prederick
It's actually glorified, as in defense of the Confederacy and it's principles. My point being that we Americans not only love the underdogs, we can't let go of lost causes, even after they are dead and buried. It's a national character, I think.
"Sometimes I go around saying, 'Kommisar Paulson has seized the commanding heights of the economy!'" - Paul Krugman, asked if recent changes to banking are socialistic.
What really scares me, is at this rate we're going to need to get a catch all thread for shooting sprees for this month.
First this one then Colorado, and now apparently Nevada...
"Also, I have four legs and am covered in wool. Baa!" *Legion* reveals his inner furry.
True, I look at it from the side of Northern Aggression. We love underdogs, but I think only in-country problems and stuff we're not involved in.
MaxShrek .. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it.
Horror Vacui
What aren't we involved in, these days? The sun never sets on American troops...
"Sometimes I go around saying, 'Kommisar Paulson has seized the commanding heights of the economy!'" - Paul Krugman, asked if recent changes to banking are socialistic.
Well, we haven't invaded Canada yet for that good stuff: ice, syrup, trees, and hockey pucks!
MaxShrek .. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it.
Horror Vacui
I think we're trying to Culture Flip them. It would work, too, if they would just stop cranking out comedians.
Fixed.
Elysium: The democratization of the web ... has installed an illusion of a digital first amendment that protects speech no matter how poorly spelled or stupid.
XBL: E Munnie
elementsofmeaning.blogspot.com
Xbox Live: Irongut | Playstation ID: Irongut_GWJ
You just wait until they find that we can turn all of those things into oil. We'll be in there faster than R. Kelly chasing a school bus.
"Everyone's always in favour of saving Hitler's brain but when you put it in the body of a great white shark, ooh, suddenly you've gone too far."
Anyone think that it's odd they won't show a guy that streaks onto a baseball diamond or drunkenly runs out to try and shake a players hand - so as not to encourage copycats - But the media thinks nothing of spattering these killer-dickwad's manifestos, names, and pictures all over the place?
Hmm.
You don't have to call me Lieutenant, Rosie......
Woof Woof! That's my other dog imitation...
XBox Live: SwampYankee68
But Swampy, some kid might see something dangerous if they show a streaker!
"Sometimes I go around saying, 'Kommisar Paulson has seized the commanding heights of the economy!'" - Paul Krugman, asked if recent changes to banking are socialistic.