Shootings in the U.S

It definitely seems to be the case that most, if not all, of the people responsible for mass shootings in the U.S are young men. Inevitably people always question "why" and "how" and try to devise of ways to stop it, with the most common suggestion being stricter gun laws. I can see some merit in that, but I don't think it is the answer. The first things that come to my mind when I think of this issue are the variables involved, of which there are many. I think of the people who have committed these shootings and what personally lead them to do that. It is impossible not to notice the patterns and commonalities which almost always seem to be present.

The most significant components seem to be an overwhelming dissatisfaction with everything and complete disdain for the rest of society.

These individuals have *probably* been bullied throughout their middle and high school years, or have at the very least been social outcasts. They may lack a good network of people to set them on the right path, or don't feel that they can tell anyone about their problems and even harbor feelings of animosity toward those closest to them. It seems they don't seek out proper relations with people, or don't utilize the relationships they do have to become better and more balanced individuals. In addition, they lack direction in life and likely don't have any ambitions or plans for their future. They have clearly come to see other people as worthless, and life as meaningless.

Also, from what I have read, the use of SSRI medication on adolescents seems to come with a risk of psychosis and can lead to violent behaviours.

I don't think there is an easy answer, and some of the things that I think would help contradict other ideas that I have about society and how kids should be able to function in school life. I have contemplated that kids should be encouraged to be more open and inclusive toward peers that don't necessarily fit in. However, this idea is impractical and I think that in many ways, the sooner we adjust to not always fitting in and being "liked" the better. Ultimately, these things can and should be used to make you a stronger and more resilient person. You shouldn't try to be liked by everyone and even if you're not friends with many (or perhaps any) people, you should persevere and focus on the things that you enjoy and that you want to do with your life. At the same time though, we should want to seek out relations with people we want to get to know more and feel we have something in common with. The way these young men could help themselves would be by trying to relate to other people and looking at the world around them, instead of focusing almost entirely on themselves and the way they feel. It's great to look inside oneself and to consider one's wishes when it is a matter of positive growth and development, but continually feeling sorry for yourself and blaming other people is a horrible and deeply unhelpful trait. These shooters seem to possess all the worst characteristics of teenage and adolescent angst and have manifested them in the most destructive and deadly way.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

There is one commonality you left out: their use of social media. It is the first thing the police do AFTER they go on a rampage -- search social media for their manifestos or other statements. I am not suggesting the police surveil social media, or social media censor, more than the both already do. I am suggesting that the trolls and others who make a game of belittling people and calling them names are most likely as least as big a factor as violent video games. It magnifies their already sociopathic views of the world,

SW-User

@dancingtongue There's literally nothing that can be done about this component, though. Mass shooters do seem to have engaged with social media to the degree that they've used it to express their very negative perception of the world, but to state the obvious this isn't what causes them to go out and kill people. I would say there is a lot of negativity presented in the media overall and that this is of more significance than them having a social media account. These accounts only matter after the fact, when the police use them to gather evidence. Access to social media doesn't make someone more likely to commit a mass shooting, although it could magnify things they already perceive to be problems in their lives.

Btw, I'm aware that some of these individuals make it quite obvious what their views are and that these views are often sociopathic in nature, but I'm against police surveillance into online activity because it would be more harmful than beneficial most of the time. The most reasonable compromise seems to be that parents pay more attention to what their children are posting online, even when they are no longer children. I get that this is difficult to do sometimes but it doesn't hurt to show an interest or at least try to ascertain what kind of things your child may be doing online.

Interestingly there's especially been a sharp rise in mass shootings since 2020, and it seems evident increasing political and societal division in the U.S is contributing to the problem.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@SW-User

Interestingly there's especially been a sharp rise in mass shootings since 2020, and it seems evident increasing political and societal division in the U.S is contributing to the problem.

And that the social media algorithms are designed to increase these divisions and conflict. I agree, that it is only one of many media influences that feed their sociopathic behavior, but social media does tend to magnify it. Particularly the trolls constantly feeding the paranoias.