Why do you watch?

[thyme4change]

After things like the school shooting, there is always someone who says that media is too focused on this stuff, and they cause copy-cats, or plant the idea in people's heads. However, the news outlets keep covering it, because we keep watching the coverage and reading the articles.

This morning my husband and I asked each other why we were watching it. We don't know anyone. We know we aren't going to get "answers" as to why this guy did this. What are we getting out of it?

I had a theory that when I first heard about it, I felt bad - but I wondered if I felt "bad enough." I didn't have any outrage. I didn't immediately demand tighter security and bullet proof glass at my kids' school. I didn't cry. But, I did cry when I saw the video of the Dad talking about his daughter who had been killed. We aren't that much older than kindergarten, and I still remember so vividly how sweet that age is. So, I will read those stories periodically to make sure that I am as grief stricken as the people around me, just to make sure I don't appear like a cold, horrid monster.

Why do you watch the continuing coverage of these types of things? What do you get out of it? Does it make you feel a certain way? Does it make you feel connected to people? Do you do it to find answers that will never come? Do you hope that having shared outrage will lessen your outrage? Do you just want to make sure you are informed, so you can correct people around the water cooler when the inevitably say something stupid?

[swamp]

I can't watch it. I cry.

[Deleted]

I don't watch either.

[Colleenz]

Thank you Swamp. I thought I was crazy. (I still might be )

[thyme4change]

I can't watch it. I cry.

My husband keeps watching it and crying. That is why we had this conversation. I don't know why he is doing this to himself.

[swamp]

Dec 17, 2012 11:00:03 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I can't watch it. I cry.

My husband keeps watching it and crying. That is why we had this conversation. I don't know why he is doing this to himself.

Mine does too. We have kids the age of the kids that were killed. I have no idea what he's thinking.

[Waffle]

I watched a lot less news than usual this past weekend, because I got tired of crying. And yet, I found myself watching again this morning as I was getting ready for work. I don't think I really know why I watch stuff like this.

[thyme4change]

At least with the Tucson shooting, we had several connections, and my husband was worried that judges were being targeted. We watched a LOT of coverage on that - even after it was all over. It was very close to home. I felt the need to be informed on that one.

[mollyanna58]

I did not obsessively follow the stories about Columbine, Virginia Tech, or Aurora, but I can't stay away from this one. I don't know why this one affected me so much. Maybe because they were just so young and no one survived.

[midjd]

I'm also avoiding the TV, and I haven't logged onto Facebook for 2 days (except to post a pic of my brother's graduation). All the grandstanding on gun rights and God in schools (on FB) makes me sick to my stomach.

[Phoenix84]

I don't watch the news or follow this (or most news) that closely. I've read a couple of news stories on it to get details but that's about it.

Truth be told I don't "feel" that upset our outraged towards the shootings. I know they're bad and aweful but I haven't cried nor felt like doing so. Maybe I'm, as Thyme said, a heartless monster. Maybe I'd feel different if I "saw" the images on TV, but I doubt it. And maybe I'd feel stronger emotions if I had kids of my own. And I don't even try to make sense of the senseless.

[swamp]

Dec 17, 2012 11:09:09 GMT -5 midjd said:

All the grandstanding on gun rights and God in schools (on FB) makes me sick to my stomach.

If one more idiot posts "arm the teachers and put God back in teh schools" I'm going to strangle them.

[Bluerobin]

I am trying to avoid watching this "news". Yes, I do believe it causes copy cats.

Arm the teachers and put God back in the schools.
Seriously, a little better security might be in order. A reporter went to several elementary schools friday afternoon. In some he was buzzed right in, not even asked his name or purpose. Others asked what he wanted.

[Deleted]

This story has hit me hard. I know I should disconnect myself, but I can't help but keep listening and reading coverage.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I can't watch it. I purposely turned off my television set this weekend because I knew I was going to see the pictures of those babies - who were smiling and laughing just 5 minutes before. So much crying...it's just too hard.

I don't have to personnally know anyone to be affected by this. Any feeling person is affected by dead children (and adults). Lives snuffed out when they had only barely just begun.

I wonder if people watch in an attempt to make sense of it all. Hoping someone somewhere can tell them why this happened in the hopes that if we know the "why", perhaps we can prevent it. I don't know.

[thyme4change]

If one more idiot posts "arm the teachers and put God back in teh schools" I'm going to strangle them.

Mine was the mother who is constantly railing about how mismanaged our tax dollars are - doesn't want to raise another dime. But now she wants a bullet-proof shield around our school. Who the f is going to pay for that? I'd rather they hire another teacher.

[swamp]

Dec 17, 2012 11:11:12 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

I am trying to avoid watching this "news". Yes, I do believe it causes copy cats.

Arm the teachers and put God back in the schools.
Seriously, a little better security might be in order. A reporter went to several elementary schools friday afternoon. In some he was buzzed right in, not even asked his name or purpose. Others asked what he wanted.

I'm not necessarily opposed to some additional security in the schools.

However, it appears taht Adam Lanza just blew a hole in the door with his rifle to get in. Not sure what additional security would help here. He probably would have shot the security guard too.

[Phoenix84]

My prediction is there will be a lot of political hand wringing as people use the shooting to further their political agenda such as school security, gun control, or banning violent video games.

But in the end I don't think anything will be done about it.

[Bluerobin]

Better doors, with less glass would be a start!

[swamp]

Dec 17, 2012 11:13:19 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

If one more idiot posts "arm the teachers and put God back in teh schools" I'm going to strangle them.

Mine was the mother who is constantly railing about how mismanaged our tax dollars are - doesn't want to raise another dime. But now she wants a bullet-proof shield around our school. Who the f is going to pay for that? I'd rather they hire another teacher.

yes, I'm also seeing lots of "cut the government conservatives" now advocating armed guards in schools. I don't think they realize that's an expansion of government.

[Phoenix84]

I don't know what the answer is to security in schools. I don't think it's unreasonable to have a couple of armed security guards or cops at the school. Of course locking the doors and scrutinizing visitors is a common sense step.

[Waffle]

I suspect most people watch it and think of children in their own lives - for a lot of people it's their own children, for me it's mostly my God children - they are adults now, but I think back to when they were 6 or 7 and think my God how could I and the rest of the family ever have recovered if we had lost them to some stupid violent act?

[Waffle]

Dec 17, 2012 11:15:47 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Better doors, with less glass would be a start!

I think those things would just lead to a false sense of security and for the most part be a waste of money. Someone sufficiently armed and motivated could find a way (ways) to get through most security systems - or just move their target time or area. We can't put bulletproof glass around everyone and everything.

[thyme4change]

I don't think it's unreasonable to have a couple of armed security guards or cops at the school.

Our school doesn't even have a librarian because they have cut the budget so much. I would much rather use those dollars to educate the children.

Maybe we could encourage every linebacker in the NFL to get a primary education / library science degree, and they could do double duty.

[Phoenix84]

"yes, I'm also seeing lots of "cut the government conservatives" now advocating armed guards in schools. I don't think they realize that's an expansion of government."

Conservatives differ on what level of government is acceptable, and even the most die hard conservatives have little problem with government fullfilling it's constitutional madates. Obviously some government is necessary.

For example, I'd like to see the department of education abolished, but I've never advocated for discontinuing public schools.

[Phoenix84]

Dec 17, 2012 11:21:12 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I don't think it's unreasonable to have a couple of armed security guards or cops at the school.

Our school doesn't even have a librarian because they have cut the budget so much. I would much rather use those dollars to educate the children.

Maybe we could encourage every linebacker in the NFL to get a primary education / library science degree, and they could do double duty.

Yes that's true. Statistically schools are still among the safest places. So I'd be fine with schools not having security guards if they can't afford it. With any risk there's only so much you can do to minimize the risk.

[Deleted]

I just found out that I was in Uconn marching band with the father of one of the girls killed. I was not friends with him, but keeps hitting close to home.

[thyme4change]

Archie - the little girl that was killed in the Tucson shooting was my friend's daughter's friend. (Did you follow that?!) So, I know how it feels to be only one arm length away from it. It is heartbreaking.

[Phoenix84]

An acquaintance's younger brother was accidentally shot and killed by a cop. When I was a kid there was a triple murder in my neighborhood, in a house I used to play in as a young child. I know it can happen to anyone.

[thyme4change]

The most likely way you are going to die is by or in a car.

That said - when we were shopping for cars, we heard a lot about safety features. So, Americans must be putting their money in to protect themselves.