When They Severed Earth from Sky -
How the Human Mind Shapes Myth
Bob Denver said @ 6:41pm GMT on 21st May
American popular culture likes the rapid and final removal of problems. It is promoted as an effective solution in films and games. Those characters who do so are lionised. There is rarely a negotiated solution. Most highly-visible American heroes demolish their opposition, whether in business or war.
As much as I enjoyed Inception and Altered Carbon, they play to this midset. I am not saying that they cause the problem—enough research has shown that violent games and film don't incite similar behaviour in the real world. I am saying that they are a symptom—the quick fix that relieves the sense of powerlessness against corrupt authority, vast inequity, inequality, bullies, rejection and humiliation and social isolation. In the face of all of the foregoing, we seek an equaliser of some sort.
I've always defined a cowardly act as one where excessive force is used because reprisal is feared. One sees this in the activities of some police forces' actions against the US African American community, the actions of ICE and the US federal government towards the Hispanic community, the actions of the US military in countries where they don't belong (pretty well everywhere since WWII) and the very existence of the death penalty. Innocent people have died because the governor or the AG has refused to acknowledge new evidence because of fear of losing their political career.
Please note that I am not calling every individual American/ US soldier a coward. I am saying that the national psyche is cowardly and that has influenced people who have not been educated to develop the proper coping skills.
Bob Denver said @ 6:43pm GMT on 21st May
American popular culture likes the rapid and final removal of problems. It is promoted as an effective solution in films and games. Those characters who do so are lionised. There is rarely a negotiated solution. Most highly-visible American heroes demolish their opposition, whether in business or war.
As much as I enjoyed Inception and Altered Carbon, they play to this mindset. I am not saying that they cause the problem—enough research has shown that violent games and film don't incite similar behaviour in the real world. I am saying that they are a symptom—the quick fix that relieves the sense of powerlessness against corrupt authority, vast inequity, inequality, bullies, rejection and humiliation and social isolation. In the face of all of the foregoing, we seek an equaliser of some sort.
I've always defined a cowardly act as one where excessive force is used because reprisal is feared. One sees this in the activities of some police forces' actions against the US African American community, the actions of ICE and the US federal government towards the Hispanic community, the actions of the US military in countries where they don't belong (pretty well everywhere since WWII) and the very existence of the death penalty. Innocent people have died because the governor or the AG has refused to acknowledge new evidence because of fear of losing their political career.
Please note that I am not calling every individual American/ US soldier a coward. I am saying that the national psyche is cowardly and that has influenced people who have not been educated to develop the proper coping skills.
/
Bob Denver said @ 6:41pm GMT on 21st May [Score:5 Insightful]
American popular culture likes the rapid and final removal of problems. It is promoted as an effective solution in films and games. Those characters who do so are lionised. There is rarely a negotiated solution. Most highly-visible American heroes demolish their opposition, whether in business or war.
As much as I enjoyed Inception and Altered Carbon, they play to this mindset. I am not saying that they cause the problem—enough research has shown that violent games and film don't incite similar behaviour in the real world. I am saying that they are a symptom—the quick fix that relieves the sense of powerlessness against corrupt authority, vast inequity, inequality, bullies, rejection and humiliation and social isolation. In the face of all of the foregoing, we seek an equaliser of some sort.
I've always defined a cowardly act as one where excessive force is used because reprisal is feared. One sees this in the activities of some police forces' actions against the US African American community, the actions of ICE and the US federal government towards the Hispanic community, the actions of the US military in countries where they don't belong (pretty well everywhere since WWII) and the very existence of the death penalty. Innocent people have died because the governor or the AG has refused to acknowledge new evidence because of fear of losing their political career.
Please note that I am not calling every individual American/ US soldier a coward. I am saying that the national psyche is cowardly and that has influenced people who have not been educated to develop the proper coping skills.
What are we doing to cause these kids to snap in a way/frequency that we never saw as kids.
Please see comment for my whole ramble, had to cut it down for size limits
What say you SE'ers? Is it the guns, is it something else, is it a combination? What is your thought on the core of the issue?