It's about the least consequential part of this equation.

What's your solution? No reporting because it might gratify the assailant? What does that prove?

2/15/2018 10:23:15 AM

Don't give any attention to the shooter in the media (easier said than done, i know)

But there's already tons of "What we Know About the Shooter" stories

2/15/2018 10:24:27 AM

I'm not sold. In this day and age where any kid with a phone and some social media presence can report on this themselves it seems silly to blame the media for being too responsive. Take the media out of this and word would still be everywhere on your facebook wall and twitter feeds, and almost just as fast.

2/15/2018 10:28:23 AM

I get it, that if someone doesn't pick it up then someone else will, but is it really necessary to jump all over high school kids for interviews just minutes after the last shots were fired? It's absolutely ridiculous

2/15/2018 10:35:14 AM

I'm not disagreeing with that, but we created this atmosphere when we slapped cameras and internet connectivity onto our phones. They have to keep up somehow even if it is tasteless.

Regardless of that, to me that doesn't even make it an issue to factor into resolving mass shootings.

2/15/2018 10:39:19 AM

TIL rubbernecking is the real problem.

2/15/2018 10:44:30 AM

(strawman)

2/15/2018 10:45:45 AM

Quote :

"I'm not sold. In this day and age where any kid with a phone and some social media presence can report on this themselves it seems silly to blame the media for being too responsive. Take the media out of this and word would still be everywhere on your facebook wall and twitter feeds, and almost just as fast."

it's a contagious behavior similar to suicide, google the impact of media on suicide clusters

2/15/2018 10:48:46 AM

There is literally nothing that can be done about that. The point is that even if you restrain the news media, social media is just as effective. Is it a factor? Sure. However, it's about the least controllable one in the equation.

2/15/2018 10:56:34 AM

social media moves fast, it will absolutely help not having news media give attention to shooters

2/15/2018 11:02:17 AM

News Media moves just as fast.

2/15/2018 11:05:08 AM

Is media coverage a more significant factor than the shooter's known history of violent behavior?

2/15/2018 11:16:05 AM

no. nobody said that. that's a strawman.

2/15/2018 11:20:35 AM

I'm now hearing reports that this guy was tipped off to the Feds.

2/15/2018 11:30:01 AM

^ I read the same, and also that he wasn't even allowed to wear a backpack to school before he got expelled

2/15/2018 11:44:18 AM

Quote :

"The point is that even if you restrain the news media, social media is just as effective."

True, but one would hope that legitimate media sources would stick to the facts and not pander to the macabre circus that follows these events, sticking mics into the faces of kids dealing with a horrific experience. Its bad enough when they do it to adults in similar situations. That said, the media should cover this and make sure we have the facts, otherwise social media will give a voice to every tinfoil, false flag, InfoWars loving idiot with a "news" page which then spreads like wildfire.

Point in fact, this kid: https://twitter.com/TheCaptainAidan tweeted during the shooting. He only occasionally tweets but rather randomly. He tweeted last year a few times when the power went out in his school and then several times during the shooting yesterday. Motherfuckers like this guy https://twitter.com/joargherge are pointing out its an obvious false flag and shit like that due to his small and sporadic post history. Seriously?!? Shit like that spreads like wildfire on social media and I don't know what the answer it to online stupidity except more birth control. From this guys post history though, I think ole neckbeard needs to get a job and stop sharing his stupid conspiracy theories with Alex Jones. Sadly that wasn't the only one that questioned him as RockinChic4Trump69 also tried to call him out for not posting enough. Shit like this is why I'm beginning to despise social media.

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 11:46 AM. Reason : ]

2/15/2018 11:45:58 AM

Quote :

"that's a strawman"

It's not a strawman to ask if you think media coverage is more significant than some other factor with individual applicability.

2/15/2018 11:58:10 AM

Quote :

"True, but one would hope that legitimate media sources would stick to the facts and not pander to the macabre circus that follows these events, sticking mics into the faces of kids dealing with a horrific experience. Its bad enough when they do it to adults in similar situations. That said, the media should cover this and make sure we have the facts, otherwise social media will give a voice to every tinfoil, false flag, InfoWars loving idiot with a "news" page which then spreads like wildfire."

Not entirely sure of the point you're trying to make here, but when news cycles and fishing for likes on facebook are what drive our media sources (news or social) this is what you end up with. I'm not sure of a way to stop this. Even if you somehow reign in news media you can't reign in social media without assuredly trampling on first amendment rights.

The the only change we can really affect here is to take personal responsibility in how you ingest news.

2/15/2018 12:04:50 PM

what's the downside of the news media changing how they cover these shootings? your argument is just to throw your hands up and say, "social media. oh well, we can't do anything." but you haven't explained why it would be bad for media to change how they cover shootings.

we have evidence that it made a difference for suicides, what's wrong with trying it for school shootings?

2/15/2018 12:08:50 PM

^ Exactly. If mainstream handles things professionally and accurately, downstream isn't as fucked

2/15/2018 12:11:49 PM

Or, you know, we could just not sell guns to people with a documented history of violence and FBI tips.

2/15/2018 12:16:26 PM

Agreed, that would probably help.

And it might help if the media changes how they cover these events.

Both may help.

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 12:22 PM. Reason : ]

2/15/2018 12:21:57 PM

I actually don't give a fuck, because if we addressed the actual issue of mass shootings we wouldn't need you to bitch and moan about the news cycle.

Mass shootings were happening in this country well before the news media got to where it was, and if we're being really honest here MOST of the mass shootings this year were barely touched by major news. Cherry picking incidents like Florida and griping about how fast the cameras got there seems ridiculously trivial.

2/15/2018 12:22:03 PM

Quote :

"Mass shootings were happening in this country well before the news media got to where it was"

At the same frequency?

2/15/2018 12:22:49 PM

they were not, no

2/15/2018 12:24:16 PM

This media debate is really just an alternate manifestation of the gun control debate. People who say "guns don't kill people, people kill people" have a need to show the world that this shooter was just "pure evil" and there isn't anything that could have been done to stop him. If the media only says "people died in a shooting" and leave it at that then they are taking the side of the pro-gun-control crowd by default by taking the human element out of it.

2/15/2018 12:34:14 PM

2/15/2018 12:35:09 PM

No. Frequency has definitely increased, and at a faster and faster pace since the 80s.

Does media attention fuel some of these shooters to act? Sure. I never argued against that fact. My point is that trying to reign in the media as a means to mitigate mass shootings is dumb...when we can regulate, license, educate about guns and also treat the mentally ill better. All of which will serve to lessen or eliminate this problem more than wagging your finger at CNN and FOX for getting to a scene too fast.

2/15/2018 12:39:53 PM

so you acknowledge that the media plays a part... but still think there is no point having the media change how they cover this

now you are making a false dilemma, pretending that it is either this or other changes. no part of the media changing how they cover school shootings stops other progress in regards to gun control or mental health.

2/15/2018 12:46:59 PM

The house is on fire and you want to do something about all the oxygen in the air.

2/15/2018 12:49:12 PM

Exiled sorry, my point was if mainstream media reports accurately without trying to stir up all of the emotions on any side, then we have a really good picture of what happened. That bites the social media in the ass a bit as you don't get the "liberal MSM" narrative and other horseshit form social media posters. In the end regardless of how fair and impartial it is presented, people who don't agree will bitch about what real media is reporting via social media, which basically has no filter. No idea how to resolve that though.

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 12:51 PM. Reason : ]

2/15/2018 12:50:25 PM

No I'm positing that it's much less of a problem (and also a harder one to fix) then actually fixing the root of the problem Shooters and their Guns.

I think we can all agree that one right that's held more dearly to Americans than the second amendment is the first...but yeah you go on and wage a campaign to curtail free speech.

Quote :

"Exiled sorry, my point was if mainstream media reports accurately without trying to stir up all of the emotions on any side, then we have a really good picture of what happened. That bites the social media in the ass a bit as you don't get the "liberal MSM" narrative and other horseshit form social media posters. In the end regardless of how fair and impartial it is presented, people who don't agree will bitch about what is reported on social media. No idea how to resolve that though."

I don't disagree with this point, but the problem isn't the media it's the people (us) that perpetuate it. Want to put a kibosh on the knee jerk media? Educate yourself, your kids, family, friends on the more responsible outlets of media/news.

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 12:53 PM. Reason : ]

2/15/2018 12:50:30 PM

no one is proposing that the media be censored you moron

2/15/2018 12:55:26 PM

Quote :

"My point is that trying to reign in the media as a means to mitigate mass shootings is dumb...when we can regulate, license, educate about guns and also treat the mentally ill better."

The second would be more effective. But if the media agreed to change how they cover these events, that may help too. They both can help.

Nobody's talking about limiting free speech. Just saying that the news media could decide to change how they report things (most probably won't, it's a hypothetical).

You're creating strawmen and trying to make this an either/or argument.

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 1:00 PM. Reason : ]

2/15/2018 12:55:50 PM

they changed on suicide, they can change on school shootings

2/15/2018 12:59:04 PM

Republicans will be the cause of the 2A demise. They will continue to stick their fingers in their ears, stomp their feet, and scream so they don't have to deal with reality. And at some point, there will be enough people elected to office with a brain and a backbone, that gun rights will no longer be recognizable. Because Republicans today are fine with dead children and are unwilling to help provide solutions, we will all essentially lose the bulk of 2A rights. Instead of making positive steps to reduce gun violence now and likely saving the heart of 2A rights, they are willing to take all now to lose all [most] later.

We are climbing the mountain and have no brakes. Will we crest and careen out of control on the other side, or will we pull over for a bit and at least attempt to fix the problem and save ourselves?

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 1:03 PM. Reason : .]

2/15/2018 1:00:26 PM

i live 5 mins away and my wife work near by, she said it was like a warzone.

2/15/2018 1:00:53 PM

Quote :

"no one is proposing that the media be censored you moron"

Changing how and/or how fast they report on things is not censorship? K. You're every bit of an insufferable shit as JCE ever was.

Quote :

"Nobody's talking about limiting free speech. Just saying that the news media could decide to change how they report things (it's not going to happen, it's a hypothetical). You're creating strawmen and trying to make this an either/or argument"

Would I love to see the news media change their practice? FFS of course I would, but even you acknowledge that won't happen.

I'd rather see meaningful discussion, effort, and legislation be aimed at the roots of this problem. Of which I believe media is a lesser problem, and one even more difficult to manage than gun control.

2/15/2018 1:01:45 PM

jesus fucking christ

who censored them when they changed how they reported on suicide?

2/15/2018 1:03:04 PM

Quote :

"'d rather see meaningful discussion, effort, and legislation be aimed at the roots of this problem."

oh my fucking god, you can have both you utter doughnut

2/15/2018 1:04:03 PM

Quote :

"but even you acknowledge that won't happen"

Some of them could take a stand and decide to change how they cover the events, and others could follow their lead. It is possible.

Quote :

"I'd rather see meaningful discussion, effort, and legislation be aimed at the roots of this problem. "

We're in agreement. That would be more effective. BUT BOTH CAN HAPPEN.

2/15/2018 1:05:25 PM

Band aids are clearly an effective way to treat gun shots and other traumatic injuries.

2/15/2018 1:06:10 PM

http://www.dontnamethem.org/

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 1:08 PM. Reason : i've just emailed them and told them to stop their efforts and work on gun control instead]

2/15/2018 1:07:02 PM

Fine. Both can happen.

I just think going after the media is a waste of time and effort.

2/15/2018 1:08:48 PM

dude was a member of one of those weird militias

fuck them

2/15/2018 1:15:30 PM

^^a waste of whose time and effort?

2/15/2018 1:29:14 PM

^^ AP said that so it sounds legit.

The mentions on twitter regarding anything to do with this are filled with bots and nonsense. Twitter is a compete cesspool these days.

Quote :

"Just spoke w white nationalist group spox who says FL shooter was affiliated with group & attended "paramilitary training" in Clearwater. Claims they didnt direct shooting but says theyre violent - "if people attack us we will defend ourselves & will do it in worst possible way""

[Edited on February 15, 2018 at 1:47 PM. Reason : They seem nice — that quote was from a CBS reporter btw]

2/15/2018 1:38:43 PM

I'm a jaded fuck, so I want to say everyone's.

Legislators' most definitely.

On a personal/grassroots level? Maybe not as much, but I still think you're pissing into the wind to get any of the big news outlets to change their ways. Sign all the email petitions you want, I don't think it matters.

2/15/2018 1:38:50 PM

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/04/opinion/thoughts-prayers-nra-funding-senators.html

2/15/2018 2:19:51 PM

Gotta love both our senators are in the top 5.

2/15/2018 2:21:45 PM