Social Media (and its part in this school shooting - and, really almost every school shooting)
I haven't seen many replies about my post on this. I'm still grappling with how to present / discuss this aspect of the case - and IT IS an aspect of the case.
First, yesterday McCraw talked about the shooter's online activity. The girl in Germany he texted. And he was a gamer - participating in online gaming chats (where they talk to each other while playing). McCraw was asked about the "attitude" of some of the people they had interviewed that had interaction with SR in some of these chats. He said that some spoke willingly and admitted they while SR had seemed "kinda weird" - they didn't think anything of it really. And if they did - well they would just block him. But there were some whose attitude was more "closed off" - kinda like an I don't have to talk to you or its none of your business type attitude - not really willing to discuss the chats.
First, you have to know that these gaming platforms are not willing to "give out" information to authorities and almost always have to be subpoenaed to even get information on people they want to talk to. And these kids know this - they know they are "protected" and can act/say whatever they want without disclosure.
The gaming aspect, I think should be discussed first. I don't want to step on any toes here - I know A LOT of people play and for 98% of people - its just a game. Something to do. But for that other 1 - 2%, I believe its so much more.
These games are graphic - VERY GRAPHIC. I remember back when my son was a gamer (and he became a sniper in the army), I would go into his room to put laundry away or whatever and the minute I stepped in the room the first thing I would say is "turn the blood off". And yes, you can turn the blood off. They would make me sick to my stomach.
Acronyms you need to know - FPS - first person shooter, TPS - third person shooter, RPG - role playing game, K/D Ratio - kill / death ratio, Camper - (this means you just stay in one place and "pick off" people that come upon you - its also considered cheating among a lot of gamers).
The Sandy Hook shooter was a gamer.
The Parkland shooter was a gamer.
The Santa Fe shooter was a gamer.
The Michigan shooter (whose parents have been charged as well) was a gamer.
and now SR was a gamer.
While they are playing these games they talk to each other, laughing/joking about who they just killed or where someone they are looking for could be hiding and how they are going to "light them up" once they find them.
Some of them even wear depends so they don't have to get up to go to the bathroom -
- I kid you not!
They become so obsessed they play for 2 days straight - non-stop. Not even to eat.
Its becoming a culture of very violent socialization. And yes, its how a lot of our youth are being socialized now. While chatting they talk about IRL shootings - mass shootings, the school shootings and they joke about how many the shooter took out and that "I could have gotten more" and even review the details pointing out where the shooter went wrong here or there.
IDK what the answer is here. I don't. But I have certainly seen that its a problem when it comes to these school shootings - maybe more oversight by the gaming companies to be able to spot "red flags" - I don't know. I do know it seems to glorify that being a good shooter wins you acclaim and accolades for having a high K/D ratio. And is that what we want as a society?
Please don't be offended by this if you are a gamer. I get it. They are just games like I said. Just like the guns - they are just guns - but a gun in the wrong hands.........................well, these games in the wrong hands.........
Kids today have been raised on "screens" - giving a toddler a phone to "play with" is the norm. So these kids have grown up with this and don't see the signs of where "its just a game" crosses over a line to become an "obsession that I want to carry out in real life".
Sorry for the length of this - but I do feel this really needs to be discussed when it comes to these school shootings because it has played a part - a big part.
Thoughts?
JMHO