The reality is the guy was mentally deranged.

As to your central point, I agree but you do yourself and your arguement a disservice to bring up the Tucson Az event as if it is even relevant.

totally feel you on this.

I’ve always been rough around the edges, particularly when I was younger, and I’m often not at all concerned with whom I offend when it comes to expressing my thoughts.

I started to feel like I was getting old, or perhaps even turning into a hypocrite (due to getting older, lol) because I was becoming irritated with the tone and language of younger people today. Strange, I thought, that I felt this way because I was (and still am to an extent) not one to get ruffled about people saying what’s on their mind, and obscenity in language has never bothered me in the least.

Then it really hit me- it’s that the kids now a-days (and, unfortunately, the adults they end up becoming) have no problem using powerful words which speak to horrible acts of aggressive violence like “Rape” without a second thought. You won a game of marbles on the playground by a significant margin? Little tommy didn’t beat little Nancy, he “Raped” her.

Funny thing is, I just realized while typing this that violence is so entwined in our culture, I can see why we’ve moved on to unsavory terms like “Rape” being used to express victory.. What words do we use regularly without a second though? The Packers “BEAT” Philly. Baltimore “WHOOPED” KC.

We’re a doomed race.

That “Official” you shed no tears for is a HUMAN BEING, a regular person, just like you, or your friend, your mother or your grandfather. Just a regular person with a job.

Half our problem as people when it comes to horrible acts of violence stem from a lack of empathy- more precisely, some people somehow tend to not get that we’re all just people, just like everyone else…

Figure it out.

It depends so much on the context, rather than the words themselves, I can say a brutal thing in a mockery tone, while I can politely talk about performing a hideous act.

But I do realize not all people think like me, and that the limit for this should be diminished rather than augmented.

Of course, if you go to a site like KSK, since the majority of the posters behave like that, and the ambient is real casual and light, despite the use of such terms, one cannot expect and demand sensibility.

But you’re right. It is a very touchy subject for some people, and they should be respected. It escapes me sometimes.

Just my opinion, but the people who get offended by them have issues by themselves.

Now, the internet is a public place, a poster doesn’t know the past of the readers. If people have issues with this behavior, I won’t make them out of respect.

But the internet is a casual environment. It’s a place to vent the frustrations you wouldn’t normally do in the real life, because it is the appropriate vehicle to do so.

I really wouldn’t like to frequent a place where I have to watch each and every word I post, the same way I wouldn’t like to wear a tuxedo 24-7.

I just think people make too big a deal out of the language used.

(like I said about people and issues, I think I have issues with autorithy and PI, so that may or may not have something to do with what I believe, but that’s another issue)

But as for the shooting, it’s too early to call the media’s rhetoric the reason.

In times like this the mob overheats and looks to blame something, ANYTHING. Populist politicians can shamelessly cash in on that.

There was a serious high school shooting here in Finland 3 years ago. A crazy guy had gotten a gun by joining a shooting club, and killed 9 kids, including himself.

The media blamed everything, from the gun ownership (very high in rural Finland) to videogames and violence on media itself.

In the end, once the mob mentality had died down, the government looked at the reasons it happened rationally, and made quite significant changes: Now, for a gun permit, you have to undergo a psychological evaluation. Certain types of handguns (those not used for competitive shooting or hunting) were banned.

It has worked so far. The main point is, that you don’t make decicions NOW, when there’s a hysteria. You wait, analyze and act upon it.

Abuse and elimination rhetoric should be, well, eliminated, but not because of this shooting. But because it’s plain wrong anywhere, anytime.

I can admit that, as I’m a relatively over emotional fan, in the past I have probably erupted into, “I’m going to stab you in the eye!” yell in the middle of a game. And while I never actually meant harm, and was speaking with straight emotion and no logic, it’s just not a cool thing to say. That’s on me. And that’s not the type of fan or person that I want to be. Since this realization, I’ve tried really hard to stop being a pitchfork type hater. Not because I worry that I will influence someone who doesn’t know better. But because I know better. To me, that was the point of this article. And it’s one that I fully agree with.

Insane people will get riled up and commit insane acts by virtually anything.

While I understand the frustration, perhaps its a little unfair and premature to correlate a tragedy in the political arena with the very passionate and at times star-crossed Packers fan base.

And I do agree that making obscene comments like the ones you mentioned (even in jest, something I know I’m guilty of) can be degrading to Packers fans as a whole. Its a good point that is often overlooked. A little respect can go a long way.

I think you should check out the movie “Big Fan” if you haven’t already seen it. Its a great social commentary/dark comedy about the overweening fanaticism of a particular Giants fan, played by Patton Oswalt.

I’m kidding, great post. Gone are the days of real discourse and respect … substituted instead with abusive and irresponsible rhetoric, perpetrated in anonymity. It’s effing silly.