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US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

theguardian.com

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Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#51

Post by plorg »

Nanana909 wrote: post #28
pphysch wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need a conspiracy theory to explain why there's a murder problem in a country with a boatload of guns, lax restrictions on violent media, and a culture where infringing on someone's right to do anything can be interpreted as "totalitarian". No foreign influence required.

The “foreign influence” part is when mass shootings are a fraction of a fraction of the deaths, yet 50% of the news coverage. Media publishes sensational pieces about what consumers demand - consumer demand is increasingly driven by online discourse, which is free to manipulate easily. The best kind of misinformation is misinformation that is true but not representative of the real situation. Have you checked our hea…

It doesn't take foreign influence for shocking violence to get attention. Sensational news has been a big part of mass media as long as mass media has existed.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#52

Post by pphysch »

Nanana909 wrote: post #28
pphysch wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need a conspiracy theory to explain why there's a murder problem in a country with a boatload of guns, lax restrictions on violent media, and a culture where infringing on someone's right to do anything can be interpreted as "totalitarian". No foreign influence required.

The “foreign influence” part is when mass shootings are a fraction of a fraction of the deaths, yet 50% of the news coverage. Media publishes sensational pieces about what consumers demand - consumer demand is increasingly driven by online discourse, which is free to manipulate easily. The best kind of misinformation is misinformation that is true but not representative of the real situation. Have you checked our hea…

You're telling me that "sensational and outrageous headlines" is a foreign influence operation?

Let's be serious. Yellow Journalism was thriving in its modern birthplace of USA long before PRC or RF even existed.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#53

Post by giantg2 »

Nanana909 wrote: post #48
giantg2 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"The “foreign influence” part is when mass shootings are a fraction of a fraction of the deaths, yet 50% of the news coverage." Not foreign influence, but simply that fear and outrage sells.

Why not both? They have the ability to make social media accounts and assist these fearful and outrages narratives, and they have the motive. I.e. they are 100%, without a doubt, doing just that

I wouldn't count social media as the media. I certainly see social media and political groups/movements as having foreign influence. I see the media proper as just about the money.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#54

Post by GaryNumanVevo »

branon wrote: post #3

Cat's out of the bag on this one. You will never get all the guns back, not without running a very real risk of instigating civil war. Ms. Jackson Lee thinks the real cause of the problem is "guns, guns, guns" - I say it's criminals, criminals, criminals. Why's Texas have so many criminals willing to use firearms for evil?

> very real risk of instigating civil war.

Doubtful. Especially considering the American Civil war was started by wealthy land owners, but fought by the poorest conscripted Southerners. I don't really think Americans are willing to give up their extremely consumerist lives to fight and potentially die over what is essentially a hobby to most.

Of course it's a convenient narrative: that Americans would take up arms in a glorious battle to defend the Second Amendment. But, ultimately it's a marketing tactic pushed by gun manufacturers, a scare tactic to get people to buy up excess inventory before the next capital 'D' Democrat takes office.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#55

Post by LastTrain »

cyclecount wrote: post #35

Why do posts like this get flagged? Are Americans not allowed to talk about their violent culture on HN?

It is an insanely divided topic that leads to heated exchanges which is not the kind of dialogue HN is trying to cultivate.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#56

Post by imtringued »

Nanana909 wrote: post #28
pphysch wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need a conspiracy theory to explain why there's a murder problem in a country with a boatload of guns, lax restrictions on violent media, and a culture where infringing on someone's right to do anything can be interpreted as "totalitarian". No foreign influence required.

The “foreign influence” part is when mass shootings are a fraction of a fraction of the deaths, yet 50% of the news coverage. Media publishes sensational pieces about what consumers demand - consumer demand is increasingly driven by online discourse, which is free to manipulate easily. The best kind of misinformation is misinformation that is true but not representative of the real situation. Have you checked our hea…

In Germany there was a guy building homemade weapons who attempted to shoot up a Synagogue in Halle. It was all over the news. There is more frequent coverage because there are more shootings. No foreign power needed.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#57

Post by [deleted] »

licebmi__at__ wrote: post #47
skyyler wrote: post #2

I can't put my finger on it precisely, but it feels like there are outside influences radicalizing people via social media with an ultimate goal of destabilizing the United States.

Or maybe American corporations amplified American problems while chasing money like usual, and then problems present themselves based on American realities. No need to look for external causes, although blaming external actors also aligns with American historical actions.

[deleted]

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#58

Post by jimmytidey »

branon wrote: post #3

Cat's out of the bag on this one. You will never get all the guns back, not without running a very real risk of instigating civil war. Ms. Jackson Lee thinks the real cause of the problem is "guns, guns, guns" - I say it's criminals, criminals, criminals. Why's Texas have so many criminals willing to use firearms for evil?

A agree you can't 'get all the guns back', but there are still reasons to consider more stringent controls, two spring to mind:

1) It's about the social permission you give to people by making guns easily available. For example, in many European countries, bars, pubs and drinking are an absolutely central part of life, whereas in the US drinking establishments often have a much more 'taboo' vibe about them. Alcohol consumption is much lower in the US than Europe. Obviously there are questions about cause and effect, but I suspect that if the US made gun ownership into a more transgressive behaviour, there would be less gun crime.

2) Sometimes a tiny bit of friction makes a big difference. In the UK you can only buy paracetamol (Tylenol) 16 capsules at a time. Nothing stops you buying more by going to multiple shops, or by going back in the same shop multiple times. But that extra bit of friction has dramatically reduced the amount of paracetamol lying around in people's homes, and suicide from paracetamol has radically reduced as a result.

I get the principle you are articulating, but, in practice, it's probably quite a bit more nuanced. Texas isn't likely to be a state full of criminals, rather it's a state with different social norms around firearms, and permissive gun laws.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#59

Post by ryandrake »

belltaco wrote: post #10

If you're queasy, don't watch any pictures or videos of the last two events, they're pretty bad and the twitter algo promoting checkmark accounts boosted them. The mall one had pictures and videos of bodies in a pile with blood all over and what looked like a kid's brains out on the sidewalk. Victims: (no gore) https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/allen-texas-outlet-m...

Maybe what the American public needs is a little gore to snap them out of whatever trance is making them constantly vote for these disasters.

Look at how vanilla and sanitized 'mass shooting' news has become:

    Talking head: "Tonight another mass shooting. Over to our field correspondent..."
    Field reporter: "Thanks, Mike! Another terrible mass shooting."
    [Camera shows vague picture of a police car]
    Police officer: "There was another mass shooting. We came here. Things happened."
    [Camera shows SFW picture of a body bag that may or may not be on top of human-like form]
    Bystander: "Yup, I can tell you there was a shooting and I was scared."
    [Camera shows an ambulance]
    Talking Head: "Well, public, you're now informed. Back to beer commercials!"
Perhaps if they actually showed the brutal, gory aftermath of these things, we might stop supporting representatives who do their best to keep them happening.

Re: US on track to set record in 2023 for mass killings after series of shootings

#60

Post by bjtitus »

LastTrain wrote: post #38
marl0 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

100% I'm surprised this isn't more obvious to others. The media certainly isn't helping the situation either.

Please be more specific when you talk about "the media", the most abused term in American culture.

Obviously they mean anyone who ever dares to publish anything. Every comment here is clearly part of "the media". /s
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