OT- Dark Knight Rises Shooting
The scariest thing about this is that Colorado, which is seen as a "mellow, laid-back" state, is now the site of two of the worst and most senseless civilian massacres in the US. It's like a person can't even move to a place that is "safe" anymore without the threat of random violence.
This could have happened anywhere...Virginia Tech, TX, etc...
The perception of Colorado being laid back should be reserved to mountain or hippie towns like Nederland, Buena Vista, and Manitou Springs... Colorado is like everywhere else, it's sad we've been through so much. Columbine happened in Littleton, think Novi. Last night was Aurora which in IMO is similar to Dearborn.
I don't want to get into a gun debate here, but fuck guns.
It's been strange sending out texts to your friends just to make sure they weren't there.
My buddy literally just moved to Aurora like a week ago, but I just talked with him and he wasn't indeed there and is ok.
The people of suburban Colorado have had to deal with far too much heartbreak.
the irony is not lost on me. I'm struggling with whether I go see the movie now. I think this perpetrator just ruined this movie for millions. I know its incredibly selfish to think this, but how is anyone supposed to see this film now and not be just a little unsettled and paranoid?
You are right. Thanks.
Good 2nd paragraph. Was supposed to go last night, and live only a couple miles from that theater -- although probably would have picked one slightly closer if there were tickets still available -- but ended up having to travel for work. Was sort of thinking about skipping it altogether as I watch the news (not out of fear, just sadness), but I think you're right.
I have a feeling that that was his intention.
Tailgated with her for the ND game in AA. Just absolutely unreal news. RIP Jessica.
Very sad news to wake up to. Condolences
Can that hillbilly from yesterday come in this thread and tell us about his guns again? PLEASE? He is magical.
That 'hillbilly' from yesterday (whoever he is, didnt read the thread) and his guns didnt kill anyone, so how is that even relevant?
It is relevant because there was a little gun rights tiff in a thread yesterday and now after the events of last night I wanted to see what he had to say now. Pretty coincedental, which I found to be worth a post. Then you guys don't find it funny because you would rather write something like "I'm so sorry this happened" because you think it is what you are supposed to do even though you didn't know any of the victims. Someone just got murdered while I typed this. You should really post something about how sorry you are. And then you should call out people for making jokes about it for the next week or two and then you should lighten your stance on it and then forget it ever happened all together in about a month.
So your approach is much better: come online to gloat about how you were right. You really are an asshole.
I'm one who believes that we usually learn more about human nature from the responses to these events than the events themselves. With 300 million (or 6 billion) people, we're going to see a few lunatics who do awful, awful things. A lot of people then conclude that "people are horrible," but these things also provoke countless sincere acts of benevolence, generosity, and sympathy. If you're on MGoBlog from somewhere in Michigan, there's not much that you can do but come online and express your sadness and sympathy. There's nothing wrong with that, and expressing sympathy here in no way prevents people from doing other positive things, too.
U MAD BRO?
I just dont know why this has to be about a debate regarding gun rights. What about this event even proves a point about gun rights one way or the other???
It has to do with a sick, twisted individual that ended the lives of 12 innocent people and ruined the lives of hundreds more. I would like to think that human beings could collectively grieve over a situation that really causes some people to question a lot about 'people.'
I dont know anyone who suffered in the Holocaust... I cant be sorry that it happened and feel for anyone and everyone involved?
minus youre stance on guns...which even though my brothers shop got shot up by a guy with an ak47 last month, and there are supposed to be gun laws against those...i still really have no feelings either way on gun control. Its an impossible goal to achieve anyway. Everything else you said is pretty dickish but also true. I dont care what anyone says..thats reality.
It is amazing how often it is displayed.
Terrible, terrible event. Prayers for everyone involved.
We could have a thread like this every Monday for what happens in Chicago and Los Angeles every weekend. I am following this awful story more closely than most, perhaps because it is in the news everywhere, perhaps because it is suburban, or because Dark Knight Rises was showing. But I put forth this question to the MGOcommenters: what is it about this story that attracts more attention and more empathy than the senseless violence that takes place in major cities throughout the year?
That, and I think the randomness of it too. Although there are often innocent bystanders hit by stray bullets, etc., a lot of other violence in major cities has at least a more explainable reason behind it -- revenge, money, etc. -- and the parties seem to be aiming at specific individuals. Those types of cases are easy to block out as being "somewhere else." When things like this happen, it feels like it really could be the theater down the street from wherever you are (speculating a little, as it really is the theater down the street here).
Or, along those lines of thought, why do we highlight violence as the greatest evil persisting throughout the world today? It doesn' t even compare to starvation.
The Joker's speech to Dent in TDK
Hmmm? You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan." But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds! Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos.
I'm not making social commentary here. But like the "some people just want to see the world burn" its just too close to home for my tastes.
I live in San Antonio and remember this girl from local sports radio. It's nice to see that Chris was a sweetheart to her, as she was just an intern doing her first interview. He also paid off a bet with a teammate.
are fairly common. Bath Massacre; Mountain Meadows; Ludlow, Colorado,'Rosewood; Colfax, La;, New Orleans Massacre; Tulsa City;St. Valentines Day Massacre; Pottawatomie Massacre..to name a few. I have purposefully left off government-led massacres like Sand Creek and Wounded Knee for they don't fit perfectly the point I am trying to make.
Here is a more comprehensive list of past US massacres, many of which occured 100 years or more before the current spate we have suffered since the late 90's.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_the_United_States
America is and always has been an extraordinarily violent country. History confirms this. What is interesting is the widespread belief that someone it is an issue specific only to contemporary times. As the list and link above show, it is not. We are a fundamentally violent country.Why this is I have not a clue. But it is time we start to have non-partisan(wishful thinking I know) dialogue about this dark side of America.
Humans are and always have been an extraordinarily violent species. History confirms this.
Sure, but as someone that grew up outside of America and moved here to go to Michigan, my impression is that society here in general is way more violent than most parts of the world. I have seen and experienced more violent crime here in the 6 years that I have been in the US than in the 20 I spent growing up around poverty and disparity in India.
The gun laws seemed insane to me when I first moved here. I work in an office from people from around the world (Europe, Asia, Africa) and they all share a similar sense of incredulousness. I know BISB doesn't want this thread to devolve into a gun control debate, but the truth is outside of maybe Syria or some other part of the world going through civil strife, your chances you dying of a "stray bullet" is probably the highest here. The officer who conducted self-defence training for women at my work place candidly admitted that it was easier to buy a gun than mace. What is the rationale for any Joe Schmoe to own an automatic assault rifle? If the intent is truly self-defence only sell pellets or tasers that can disable without killing. If you outlaw guns, only the outlaws will have guns yada-yada, but the fact is tighter control will make the barrier of entry much higher. It will be way more expensive and difficult to get guns and this kind of unlimited ammo on the black market with decent enforcement. Angry dude on the street who is pissed off because he got laid off won't be able to walk into some store and buy an AK-47 to blow up his office. There will still be shootings, and there will still be crazies, but make it much harder is my point. Make it harder and make it less deadly.
and we should decriminalise all weapons. I should be able to get some c4 and a grenade launcher at cvs with no stupid backround check. just for self defense and maybe some hunting... right to bear arms and all
Waking up to this story was certainly sombering, my thoughts are with the families and those involved in the shooting. I'll never understand what could make someone do something like this.
My workplace is abuzz with this and everybody is talking "crazy fucker this, crazy fucker that." To me, it seems that being "crazy" is just some cop out that almost excuses heinous acts of violence. When we look at most people that kill, whether it is a serial killer, a gang banger, or a mass murderer, they do it wantonly, and derive a sense of gratification from doing it. It's not because they weren't hugged enough, because they didn't take their meds, because "that's how it is in the hood", or because they spent too many hours playing Doom. There are just some people that are totally fucked up, plain and simple. My thoughts and prayers go out to these victims, and victims of violence everywhere.
Call me hokey, but is it too much to ask to live in a peaceful existence without all this bullshit? I'm 32 and I've probably been to more wakes and funerals than my grandparents. I'm just really tired.
in the house that she raised my wife in. The hospital that they took most the wounded to is where one of my wife's best friends work. Scary. Needless to say, my wife is a little shook up today.
I pray for the killed and wounded along with their familes, and wish nothing but the most harsh and swift justice allowed for this homicidal maniac. So glad he didnt take his own life like the gutless Columbine killers
This guy is still as gutless as any other mass murderer, if not more. He was shooting kids. Shooting kids. There was a freaking 3 month old that got taken to the hospital. Not only that, but he was in basically full riot gear. Gas mask, bullet proof from head to toe, throat and groain protectors. This guy is the epitome of gutless.
I don't even know anymore... I'm just so upset with this. We can't go to the mall, we can't go to resturants, we cannot even go to the movie theater anymore without fear of some psychopath taking our life.
I would love one minute alone in a room with this guy right now. I'll even let that coward put on all of his riot gear.
My thoughts are with all the vitcims right now. 70+ people shot for going to see a movie. Unreal.
I've read from a couple sources that this guy told the police he was The Joker. It's been documented here a little how eerie some Joker quotes from The Dark Knight are and how they seem so relevant. I have to say the similarities between the Joker and this monster are becoming all too similar. Even right down to the little details, like giving himself up to the police, revealing that there were explosives in his apartment.
Also, MSNBC has a bunch of quotes from people who knew him, one of which said that he always rooted for the villains in superhero movies. Normally that's pretty irrelevant, but maybe not in this case.
Thoughts and prayers to all the victims, may justice be swift.
There was a report that he painted his hair red, too.
Even though the Joker's hair is green.
new news saying he dyed his hair red and said he was the "Joker"... SMH