It's fluoridation!

[tentative]

The news out of Aurora Colorado this morning… What the hell is it that has unleashed so many berserkers? Practically every day we read of another idiot who has shot up an office or killed every member of his own family. Is it fluoride in the water or something? I want to think that this is just more media coverage, that it isn’t really any worse than it used to be 20 years ago, but it sure seems like it. What is causing people to even consider mass murder/suicide an alternative in conflict resolution?

[SIATD_v2]

From the already existing thread on this topic:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=179659

@SIATD v2

@Slow John

Movies like these are violent, but the message they carry is of peace and courage in a world where veil always threatens to take over. Critics will attempt to tie this shooting with the violence in films, and a statement will be made regarding the ethics of violence in films. This is a loss for our culture. When we start blaming films for violence, it’s a slippery slope, and it can ruin films and the act of seeing them. With billions of movie fans, and one shooter, I think it is safe to say other factors were involved in this man’s psyche when he decided to become a murderer.

Batman - a masked, heavily armed, vengeful vigilante
James Holmes (the name of the apparent shooter) - a masked, heavily armed, vengeful vigilante

As numerous witnesses have now attested, he started shooting in the middle of a shooting sequence in the film, such that quite a number of people initially thought it was special effects or somehow part of the movie.

I really think you need to reconsider your position on this. Movie violence does help normalise real violence, and the Nolan Batman films are particularly brutal and utterly lacking in remorse. Heather Ledger won widespread praise for his portrayal of a sadistic psychopathic terrorist.

Besides which, anyone who goes to a cinema at 1 a.m. to see a movie they know will be horrifically violent, and takes their SIX YEAR OLD kid along with them, is hardly ‘innocent’. And that’s without getting into the question of how the police were on the scene instantly, and the implausibility of a masked gunman instantly turning himself over to the authorities without a struggle. Quite frankly, if you think this was just a lone nut going crazy and that there’s nothing more to the story then I suggest you need to get your head examined…

[tentative]

SIATD,

I know this will come as a shock, but not every mass murder in this country is a conspiracy. I almost wish it took a conspiracy to do this sort of thing. Perhaps there would be fewer innocent people killed. There is a slight possibility that you might have jumped to a conclusion based on very little info at this time. The fact that there were police in the area isn’t any indicator of a conspiracy. I spent quite a lot of time in Denver, and police presence in Aurora wouldn’t be anything new. Aurora was the ‘trouble’ capitol of the greater Denver area. We might want to wait for more info on why he surrendered before assuming we know anything…

[SIATD_v2]

@tentative

SIATD,

I know this will come as a shock, but not every mass murder in this country is a conspiracy.

I know this will come as a shock, but you being a condescending know-nothing doesn’t mean I think this was a conspiracy. I was simply pointing out the fallacious nature of the simple view that ‘this guy was just crazy and it has nothing to do with violence in movies’.

I almost wish it took a conspiracy to do this sort of thing. Perhaps there would be fewer innocent people killed. There is a slight possibility that you might have jumped to a conclusion based on very little info at this time.

I haven’t jumped to any conclusion except that the simple version of events suggested by the OP in the other thread was absurd, given the information we already have.

The fact that there were police in the area isn’t any indicator of a conspiracy.

It is an indicator, though it may have another explanation. I’m the one open to both possibilities. You, clearly, are not. And you have the temerity to lecture me about jumping to conclusion? What is this, the impotent old git show?

I spent quite a lot of time in Denver, and police presence in Aurora wouldn’t be anything new. Aurora was the ‘trouble’ capitol of the greater Denver area.

And perhaps that will turn out to be the explanation for the immediate police presence at the scene. I did say it was a question.

We might want to wait for more info on why he surrendered before assuming we know anything…

It is not so much that he surrendered, but the contrast between being masked (i.e. attempting to get away with it) and then just immediately surrendering. It doesn’t make much sense.