Breaking on CNN: 1 killed in Texas courthouse shooting & 4 people

[sinkingfeeling]

stabbed in downtown Columbus, Ohio building.

It's so nice to live in a peacful society.

http://www.cnn.com/

[RKP5637]

1. Ain't America great!!! Go USA! Go USA! Go USA! n/t

[TheWraith]

2. Believe it or not, society today is more peaceful than it was 20 years ago.

A lot more peaceful. Violent crime has declined by about a third over the last couple decades; crime rates are lower than they've been since the 1960s.

The difference though? You HEAR about it. 30 or so years ago, even though there was a lot more violent crime, you wouldn't hear about a stabbing in Columbus unless you actually lived in Columbus. Today it's national news, because it gets attention and they need something to feed the 24 hour news cycle.

[Paladin]

3. So It's All The Media's Fault? Take It Over To FreiRepublik. (n/t)

[TheWraith]

6. Your personal attacks aside, it's the truth.

Check the FBI stats. And yes, the media does create a "magnifying glass" effect that dramatically over-exaggerates instances of rare crimes. Case in point, how often do you think somebody gets shot in a courthouse or goes on a stabbing rampage? They're exceedingly rare, but you hear about those and not about the mugging down the street. A perfect example is the "summer of the shark" in 2001, when shark attacks around the world got almost non-stop media attention, even though there was no actual increase in their numbers.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Yes crime is down. However, these incidents are increasing. There have been

two shootings at courthouses within the last 6 days. One in Tulsa and this one.

[MineralMan]

12. Uh, one of these wasn't a shooting. It was a stabbing.

There's a difference, although the person shot or stabbed might not think the difference is that great.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. The one in WA was a shooting...if anyone is counting. Perhaps the 'Media' made it up

as suggested? This was on Friday, unless it is trumped up media hot sauce...
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11688194-wa-courthouse-shooting-suspect-arrested

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Both Tulsa and the one in Texas were shootings.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. It is a tacky response to a just now attack. People got harmed.

To suggest it is not true, and the media makes this up is reckless, to do so as a story comes out is cold, cold, cold.
There was a shooting at a courthouse in WA on Friday. A peaceful society has none of these. The OP did not say 'worse all the time' the OP said 'shootings suck'.
And yes, they do. I offer than you should call the family of those shot in this instance and say, the Tucson and WA shootings, and tell them that the trend is so great that what actually happens to people is not worth mentioning. They will take comfort in your message, don't you agree?

[TheWraith]

17. Please respond to what I actually said.

I never said the incident was made up. But it's still true that violent crime is down, which needs to be recognized. Again, see "summer of the shark" for an excellent example of a "threat" being exaggerated by perspective. You could say that those shark attacks were real enough, but that doesn't make them into the threat they were presented as. Rational discussion is based on having an accurate understanding of the facts and statistics, not a distorted view or one colored by an emotional reaction. It's no more insulting to the people who got stabbed today to point out that fewer people are stabbed (or shot, or beaten, etcetera) than it's somehow insulting to shark attack victims to point out that their experience isn't statistically significant. It's about not living in fear because you see something frequently on the TV.

[Paladin]

22. This Blame-The-Media Excuse Is Being Used More And More By Gun Enthusiasts.

Blaming the media is a classic right-wing dodge (see the last 200 speeches/articles of Newt Gingrich). The gun rights movement has picked up on it (see the last 200 speeches/articles of Wayne LaPierre). Just further proof that the gun rights movement is overwhelmingly and self-evidently conservative, regardless of what our resident DU Gun Enthusiasts may claim.

By the way, Wraith, I feel your pain on the the complaint thread you opened up on this in Help/Meta-Discussion. I've recently alerted on a number of posts that I believe would have been eliminated at DU2---and the DU3 juries have told me to take a hike. Such is life....

[sharp_stick]

8. Talk about a reply

that deserves the good ol' shit can. Not bloody likely anymore though.

[MineralMan]

10. What the poster wrote is true. Suggesting that the point of

view is something that belongs on Free Republic is just short of a personal attack.

It is true that violent crime is down, but that the public perception is that it is up. That is, in fact, primarily due to the 24/7 news cycle, as the poster said. It's not a matter of blaming the media for anything. It is just a fact.

[aikoaiko]

20. Actually, misrepresenting a post is a better example of "FreiRepublik" behavior.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

21. Just so you know, The Wraith got upset about your post, and alerted on it

I only know this because he then started another thread in Help & Meta to complain about you and the jurors and how something needs to be done about these damned juries, etc. I like how your post just keeps sitting right where it is, undeleted, immovable.

[kestrel91316]

4. Street crime down. Domestic RW terrorism up.

I call 'em as I see 'em.

[ellisonz]

19. +1000

[madrchsod]

11. yup...

it`s the 24 hour news and the internet.

40 some years go i had to drive 100 miles to buy an underground newspaper and comics....god i`m getting old

[RKP5637]

13. Very good point!!! n/t

[LanternWaste]

23. Precious salt for the wounds of the victims...

Precious and comfrting salt for the wounds of the victims...

[fascisthunter]

5. Yeeee-hawwww... more gunz!

[belcffub]

9. and knives

[fascisthunter]

14. and sticks... guhilp... guhilp