How do you feel about school shootings?
By Sheepie
@Sheepie (3112)
United States
December 9, 2008 4:43pm CST
What is your first reaction to hearing a story on the news about the social outcast who has always been made fun of and alienated in a school coming in to class one day and shooting everyone he or she could, then killing his or herself?
Do you first have sympathies to the victims, the hurt and the dead, or do your first think of the shooter? I honestly do first think about the shooter. How much does a child have to go through to feel as though he or she must have no other option than to do this?
I really don't think a child who has done this could be considered out of his or her mind, at least not completely. I think he or she at least understood most of the consequences. What it really is, is a wake up call for all of us. What are we doing wrong that leads our children to torment others so much that they go off and do this?
I think that it should be more than No Child Left Behind in terms of the rights to an education for each child in the United States of America. It should also be in terms of being able to feel happy about yourself and knowing who you are, instead of being forced to turn against yourself.
How much do you think that the shooter had to go through in school that he or she felt that his or her life was not worth moving on? I think it's possible that the shooter felt as though he or she was not only rejected by his or her peers, but by the whole wide world? How bad was it to make it so he or she could not take another year of it?
It's mostly the strange kids who are targeted when it comes to be being teased in school. But the strange are the ones who think outside the box, the artists, the inventors, the writers. They have so much to live for. They should be proud of who they are and not feel as though anyone is better than they are.
Does your childhood affect your feelings towards events like these?
I was a strange one in school, and I still am, a sophomore in high school. I always knew I was different. I was always very reserved and always have had few friends. I'm trying to change now, and be around more people, because it's agonizing to not know anyone here! It feels a lot better. There are still people who try to pick on me, but it's definately not at all the center of my life, or even nearly.
I'm not going to compromise my oddities just to keep everyone quiet! I find a lot of normal people are really hard to find anything in common with, not to mention they can be really boring people. I want to be recognized, but not everyone has to like me! I would worry if everyone liked me. But not everyone is like I am! I used to be more bothered by it and take it to heart. I could have never felt better. I could have easily been the one. I really understand the shooter.
It really and truly is too bad about the losses and injuries of the victims. Even if they were the ones who had picked on the shooter [I secretly hope that's who the shooter went for first] they don't really deserve to be shot.
They could have used a little kick in the rump, though, if at all possible a way for them to learn a lesson! But it's a message that all of them are trying to show us. We have to communicate with our children about social manners and being a good person. We have to make the next generation people to be proud of.
3 people like this
9 responses
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
9 Dec 08
Hey sheepie, well my first thought when something awful like a school shooting happens, is what was the shooter thinking and what happened to him or her that was so bad that they felt so compelled to do such a terrible thing, then I start realize that the person must of been emotionally unstable to do something like that, then my thoughts immediately go to the victims and the familys of these kind of shootings, and I think about the feelings of loss the victims familys must be going through, because I know life is hard for teens these days, but I just think no amount of teasing should make a person want to take someones life, I mean I feel that if a person is feeling hurt or depressed they should talk to someone like a counselor even maybe the school princible or there parent's, I think a lot of kids these days dont feel like they can talk to there parent's, and they keep things hidden from there parents and they keep there feelings all bottled up, and I think that leads to the development of unhealthy feelings towards life and people and people in general, because when ever someone is going through something stressful it helps to talk it out, I think that parent's should become more involved with kids life and make sure that there child or teen feels comfortable talking to them openly about whats going on in there life's and in school and just keep there ears and eyes open for anything strange in there childs behavore I'm no expert on kids, but I just remember how my parent's were with me and even though we didnt always agree they made sure me and my sisters stayed out of trouble
Then I think about the safty of our schools, and just how safe they are, because someday if I have children I want them to be able to go to school and feel safe and I wouldnt want to have to worry that someones going to hurt them, I hope that that someday soon they will find a way to make schools safer for kids and teens.
@Galena (9110)
•
10 Dec 08
it's probably harsh to say, but I don't think you'd kill someone that did nothing to you if it would waste a bullet you could use for someone who did.
most of the time, those who bully are percieved by others as being nice, kind, useful members of society, and not the scum they are, by anyone but those who they torture.
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
10 Dec 08
But in school shootings the person usually trys to shoot everyone in the whole class, even the teachers, and class mates that weren't apart of bullying even class mates that may have never bullied them, I dont think its right to hurt anyone let alone entire class of people some of which may have been innocent of wrong doing, because I find it hard to believe that everyone in the whole school would bully that person, I'm sure there might have been a few descent and kind class mates in the school when those things happened, when I was younger I never bullied anyone because my folks taught me that bullying is wrong, but I have had people be mean to me, but I would never hurt anyone, and in those school shootings there were probably a few class mates that did nothing wrong. the only thing they did was go to school on the wrong day.
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
10 Dec 08
Your right maybe it is to light of a word, know person or teen should suffer any sort of bullying or be hurt in any way, but I feel that if parent's became more involved in there kids lives and taught them the impotence of treating others how they want to be treated and taught there teens not to bully others then maybe things like that wouldnt happen.
And what about all the other kids that are killed when these shootings happen some of them never bullied anyone and maybe didnt even know the shooter that well what about them, some of them had nothing to do with hurting anyone and they were killed to for absolutely no reason at all what about them?
@mzplased (255)
• United States
9 Dec 08
I always feel sorry for the shooter first. Like you said, how much did he have to go through to feel he needed to do that? Poeple are blind to the fact that bullying is a very real thing happening in schools everywhere. My son went through a horrible time in school getting picked on, strangled even. The school did nothing but make him walk with another student at all times so noone would hurt him. My son grew very depressed. i was very concerned. We decided to pull him from school because in my heart i knew something terrible would happen because he was being treated so horrible. He has been homeschooled for the past 4 years now and is now a very happy young man with many friends that are homeschooled throughout our state. Anyway, I just think that the bullying get so out of hand the kids just dont know how to handle it. Adults need to open their eyes and put a stop to it. This isnt kindergarden name calling I'm talking about. A child doesnt just walk into a school one day and decide to shoot up a school. I dont blame the parents either. i never knew until the day i took my son out of school just how bad his life was there. The teachers and principle all knew...why wasnt I informed? Luckily I noticed my son was very distant and started talking to him and made him tell me what was wrong. I told him to trust me, that I would protect him. Who knows, had I been busy with my work and not had noticed...had I decided that he could "work it out" on his own , well who knows.
This also taught my older children a lesson on how being mean to someone makes them feel. How noone deserves to be treated mean.
People just need to open their eyes and start helping these young people become better people.
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
9 Dec 08
I do understand people sometimes feel victimised and want revenge - but I also think we all need to find a bit of inner strength and self control. I'm appalled at the way the do-gooders in our country (Australia) are mollycoddling children these days - a case in point is the latest trend in not allowing teachers to use red pens, as these are 'aggressive' and could 'hurt kids' feelings'. I think a lot (not all - thankfully there are still some young people out there who are not fully focused on themselves) of young people are far too self-absorbed and obsessed with the way they are perceived - they are unable to focus on anything or anyone other than themselves and their self-image. This is a very dangerous trend, as they become almost paranoid and narcissist, and tend to think every little slight is a personal affront, when often it's not at all. Each hardship we go through (including failing at an exam, not being the pretty or popular one) makes us a better and stronger person, more able to cope with life in general. If we are wrapped in cottonwool we become 'precious', and easily knocked down by the big, bad world when it's time to leave the cocoon of home and school to enter the job market, etc. The next generation is doomed unless there is a sensible return to discipline, manners and taking responsibility for actions. These traits are sadly lacking these days. I'm middle-aged, and it saddens me that when I go for a walk, groups of young people plough right through me as if I'm invisible, and I often have to press myself against a fence in order not to be walked over. If I smile at these youngsters, they refuse to make eye contact. I sometimes think we've bred a generation of self-centred zombies who, although they like to think they're all 'different' - are actually horrifyingly the same as eachother.
@Sheepie (3112)
• United States
9 Dec 08
I think that it is when they feel as though looking out for someone who is already different would lower their "valuable" status and they're just afraid. Really, I say hi to all the crossing guards and try not to be like them. According to my imaginary friend, I'm doing a good job!
@hildas (3031)
•
9 Dec 08
Very well written. Yes! we really do need to educate and talk to our children. I think that shooter needed help and he did not no what to do or where to turn. He did Know right from wrong though and he knew not to do that. Maybe these people bullied him and pushed him over the edge, but it was still wrong.
I really think parents need to commuicate with their children. My daughters always tell me everything and I am really pleased that they come to me and can talk openly.
Some parents though really let their children down and are not there enough for them or do not even care when they do seek help.
I think by teaching our children well and even looking out and taking other children under your wings (like I have done) is very important.
My daughter had a friend years ago and her parents where drunks and she was threw out onto the streets and half the time she was hungry. She really was a good kid inside but no one give her a chance and where not allowed near her to play. Well I took her in and clothed and fed her and she could come to me with her problems. I never shut the door even when her father was arrested at 4.00am one morning.
Well she has turned out one of the nicest girls ever. I really am glad I took time for her as I dread to think of the crowd or trouble she would of got herself into.
I think teaching children well and right from wrong is so important. Even taking time to help one who comes for help can completely change them for the better.
I was strange at School. I was quiet and never there as I was often ill, so I found it hard to fit in. Years later though I can talk better and communicate well, something I could not of done even 15 years ago.
You are doing well too sheepie as you are talking on here and sharing your feelings and that is a big thing to do. I think we all have a voice and should respect what others have to say even if we sometimes do not agree. Take care and have a good Christmas if I do not see you around here.
@morningstar369 (495)
• United States
10 Dec 08
I would never support someone that goes off like this. I think the parents could have helped the child when the bullying first happened. I also thing the schools shold be more responsible with bullying situations. I never understood why children are so mean to other children. It is seriously cruel and can have a life long affect for that person. I would love to know the why there. I raised 2 Sons and they never joined in to that kind of cruel bullying when it started up. My younger Son would come home and tell me that the other kids were making fun of some kid and so he came home instead of joining in on it. I praised him for that. It isn't kids being kids, it can't be passed off as that, which is what I hear parents and school officials say. It is wrong. I feel the lesson here is for the bullies to be taught that this kind of treatment is wrong and must be stopped. For the one being bullied, some help and support to find out why the other kids were picking on him/her and how to help the child come turns with whatever it was. I have seen kids that were bullies when they were young turn out to be an older version of the bully thing as adults. Not a prety site at all. I read and responded to a discussion here on mylot about a child that had lost his father and the other kids were teasing him and he was very tramatized by it and didn't want to go to school because of it. This makes me so angry, this child has just lost his father and now is tramatized by bullying kids in the cruelst way. Makes no sence. And if you say it's human nature, then I say if that is true then humanity needs to make a change. Perhaps that is why the world is in such a mess.
@thecrazyjogger (3178)
• India
10 Dec 08
sad
very very sad
cant belive we have such ppl amoung ourselves
@riyasam (16556)
• India
10 Dec 08
i am really flabbergasted when i hear such news,i really do not know whom to feel for more,the shooter or the innocent victims.as someone put it,"Whatever is out on the street seeps into the schools." Violence, however, is no longer confined to tough areas.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
10 Dec 08
I have to say that the first thing that goes thru my mind is; What did the one that felt they had to go to that length have to endure to get to that point. I know that in our school half the time things are just ignored and it is said, "Kids will be kids". My opinion is no that isnt kids being kids, making someones life a living h3ll. (Dont know if we can say that word here).
I think that what some people deem normal is overrated too. What exactly is normal?? Everyone is different and I think that is a good thing, how boring life would be if we were all the same. That said, I also think these "normal" kids that pick and abuse and make someone else miserable are doing it because they themselves are miserable and insecure. I have always taught my kids that others that do this, do it because they have something wrong with them, NOT the other way around.
Misery loves company, something to think about isnt it? The only reason you put someone down is to feel better about yourself, if that is the only way you can feel better and good about yourself, you have the problem.
I also think when there is ANY bullying brought to anyones attention something should be done and not trying to make the bullied one fit in. But by asking the bully what is wrong in their lives that they feel the need to do this. If you get no where talk to them and let them know that you know that there is something wrong or they wouldnt need to do this. If you have to, call in the parents. Lots better then having someone snap.
I do feel for the ones that are shot too as some just dont get how far they have pushed the other person. If they are just hurt in the shooting I would hope that they would realize how they screwed up too!
For some it will make stronger, for others they will snap and yet for others they just withdraw and dont become the person they could be.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
9 Dec 08
Who knows what goes on in the mind of a person. I always instinctively felt that everyone was dangerous, that given a certain set of circumstances anyone could be a menace to himself and society.
