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I've lived in Santa Barbara for three years now. When I heard about the shooting, I was on a train to visit a friend in San Diego, and not in town. The shootings happened in a college town suburb of Santa Barbara, which I rarely go to.
I knew no one who was directly hurt by the spree. I know no one who was friends with anyone who was directly hurt. The town itself is still in a state of heavy emotions and difficult conversations. It's hard to talk with friends about how it affects you, as even bringing it up seems rude.
In 2001, a student used his car to run over as many people as he could in the busiest street in Isla Vista. To this day, it's not something people talk about. He was yelling "I am the angel of death!" as we went on his spree. It's funny how we try our hardest to give these killers a narrative, as if they had a story to tell. Maybe he really thought he was the angel of death, or maybe he was just saying that to scare people.
The recent shootings has brought locusts in the form of news vans and cameras. They're all looking to make a story out of another troubled kid. Many of the students are protesting the news agencies, standing behind their shots with posters telling them to leave them alone. I applaud them. I saw a news story on it in the paper, which is pretty ironic.
I guess people want to know the story in order to make a conclusion to try to stop the next one before it happens.
On the day it happened, I received maybe a half dozen calls or texts asking if I was alright. I am alright. Nobody I knew was hurt or killed. Nobody I know is friends with someone who was hurt or killed. This isn't my tragedy.
This town went through it before, and we'll quietly go through it again. It's why I like this town.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_Vista_massacre
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honestly the shooting isn't the most upsetting thing (ppl around war torn countries are shot everyday and no one bats an eye or mentions them), but his reason for committing such heinous crime just proves that this society, this new generation, is getting soft and spoiled. i mean honestly, he has money (his father is one of the directors for the hunger games), he doesnt look unattractive, he doesnt appear to be mentally incompetent by any means.
i hate the fact that yahoo is even giving this piece of shit an article other than the actual reporting of what happened... he's 22 and yet he hasnt tried to improve himself, he based his lack of success with women, on women... how pathetic is that?
yahoo article: + Show Spoiler +http://news.yahoo.com/santa-barbara-killer-elliot-rodgers-isolation-strikes-chord-235416930--abc-news-topstories.html
just a back story to him: he's 22, he doesnt go to UCSB, but he tries his hardest to get at UCSB sorority girls. despite the fact that he, himself, goes to SB community college. that last fact just explains why some of these girls didnt want to associate with him... im not saying the girls shouldnt have given him a chance, but it doesnt justify what he did.
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
Just wanted to say that this was surprisingly well composed. Props.
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I can't agree with you more Advantageous. I hate all the people who feel entitled to everything, be it money, women, power, w/e, without WORKING for it.
This kid is a loon. Can't wait to forget him.
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Northern Ireland22208 Posts
Maybe the media should stop focusing so much on the perpetrator and giving them the glory that they were seeking.
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Those youtube videos are scary
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whenever these things happen they make me sad and angry. Lifes get taken so easily, but a mistake of this calibre is not reversible. It is a waste!
Imo it comes down to the society you live in. People follow their leaders and as long as violence, killing and power abuse is presented as a viable option people will act accordingly. You reap what you sow.
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Sorry to be harsh but it sounds like the usual monthly shooting. It's not just one individual, I've never seen any clear explanation why it happens so often in the US but there must be some reasons.
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On May 29 2014 22:15 nojok wrote:
Sorry to be harsh but it sounds like the usual monthly shooting. It's not just one individual, I've never seen any clear explanation why it happens so often in the US but there must be some reasons.
It's a combination of gun laws, human psyche, individual upbringing, socioeconomic status...blah blah blah, and it won't change anytime soon because of politics. Basically it's our culture that's at fault.
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On May 29 2014 16:08 Advantageous wrote:
... he doesnt appear to be mentally incompetent by any means. ...
He had serious mental health issues...
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On June 05 2014 10:33 CatNzHat wrote:Show nested quote +On May 29 2014 16:08 Advantageous wrote:
... he doesnt appear to be mentally incompetent by any means. ... He had serious mental health issues...
really? "serious mental health issues"? please tell me which of his "mental health issues" caused the shooting, stabbing, or vehicular manslaughter to occur. last time i checked people who are psychopaths are: 1. moderately/fairly attractive 2.intelligent 3.charming 4.confident 5."normal"/sociable personality. this guy doesnt fit any of these common traits in a psychopath (maybe #1 but i cant tell since im a guy). CatNz if you want to excuse his actions with "mental health issues" you might as well consider everyone in history who committed heinous crimes "mentally ill" because that's just an umbrella term used as an excuse when ppl don't want to look at the horrid of reality.
misogyny is not a "mental health issue"
+ Show Spoiler +http://www.neontommy.com/news/2014/06/mental-illness-guns-and-misogyny-look-what-guided-elliot-rodger
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EPT
