An absolute tragedy

[GASlick]

When did society deteriorate to this point?  It's an absolute tragedy.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/21/student.killed.ap/index.html

I know that kids are going to be kids, but this is insane.  The details of this are still coming out.
I'm pretty sure we have all been picked on and teased, but I don't ever remember being in fear of my life.

[SLYinKC]

GA, I agree, It is both sad and frightening to see what we have come to.

[Robmeister]

What ever happened to the simple, good ol' fashion playground fist fights?

[Mikekoz13]

This is absolutely horrible.... I long for the days where all you had to worry about living in the City was getting the sh*t kicked out of you. I grew up in one of the roughest areas in Baltimore and attended the WORST Junior High School in the City and I never saw a kid get murdered. I saw a lot of really bad things.... things I hope my kids never see in their life times.... but never anything like this. We fought with our fists when we were pissed....... then got up and went and shot some hoops.

To me , this is an extension of what I call "The Nintendo Generation". Our youth growing up playing video games, constantly alone in their rooms instead of outside learning social skills by interacting with other kids during play, sports, etc..
This Generation has the strongest thumbs in the history of mankind and unfortunately they use them to tote guns.

This young man will be in my Prayers tonight.

[GASlick]

The poor kid had alopecia (did I spell that right?) and had been the subject of much teasing.  Why this one kid decided to finish it with a gun is beyond me.

Video games have absolutely tainted an entire generation.  We do own a PS2 and the only game we have is Guitar Hero.  It is hooked to the TV in the family room and we play as a family.  These kids playing these violent video games think life can just be fixed by pushing "RESTART".  Their concept of reality is completely screwed up.  What really amazes me is when the parents of these violent kids blame "society" for messing up their kids.

My 6 year old daughter has friends talking to her about movies that rated R!!!!!  I was NEVER allowed to watch anything above a PG until I was in high school.  Basic problem solving and civil resolution of problems seems to be fading into oblivion.  I pray for these families.

[buuckkweet]

To me , this is an extension of what I call "The Nintendo Generation". Our youth growing up playing video games, constantly alone in their rooms instead of outside learning social skills by interacting with other kids during play, sports, etc..
This Generation has the strongest thumbs in the history of mankind and unfortunately they use them to tote guns.

This young man will be in my Prayers tonight.

You nailed it Mike!!!  

[slyinglide]

I hope with all my heart that a child did not lose his life, just because he had no hair on his head!  My prayers will be with that child and his family, they will also be with boy that did the shooting.  He's going to need all the prayers he can get......I pray for his safety, and hope that he makes it to trial and get the punishment that he deserves.  If it does come out in the trail that he killed another human being for something as little as NO HAIR then I for the first time will be in favor of the death penalty for a minor....

[robo21]

Unreal. 

[marty22]

a terrible tragedy for the child and family and community.

[marshd1000]

I hope that there will be many in this young man's school who will start shaving their heads in solidarity.  The point is not for them to be sly on a long term basis.  But support for the family of this young man.

As for conditions in schools these days, I am sure glad that I am not growing up now.  I was given much grief in Junior High as I was the new kid and my dad was a cop, amongst other things.  But I didn't feel that I was going to be killed but think I could have been if I was growing up now.

[Ryan]

Unbelievable...  that someone would think murder was a solution to a school-yard problem...

How do we reinforce the value of a human life to those who treat it so casually?  Do we blame the game makers for the level of violence?  Do we blame the parents for allowing their children to become anti-social?  Do we blame society for encouraging the use of violence in entertainment?  Do we blame commercialism for keeping parents at work 50 to 60 hours a week instead of at home with their families?  Do we blame the gun laws for enabling a 15 year old to come to school with a gun?  Do we blame the school for not having better security?  Do we blame the teachers? the politicians? the media? the internet? anyone?

There seem to be a lot of theories and targets for blame, but little progress in the way of reducing the incidences of lethal violence in our countries.

That I but had the solution...

[wpruitt]

Do we blame the parents for allowing their children to become anti-social?  Do we blame society for encouraging the use of violence in entertainment?  Do we blame commercialism for keeping parents at work 50 to 60 hours a week instead of at home with their families?  Do we blame the gun laws for enabling a 15 year old to come to school with a gun?  Do we blame the school for not having better security?  Do we blame the teachers? the politicians? the media? the internet? anyone?

If we could get their asses off the computer, away from the TV, toss the gameboy in the trash, and make Mom and Dad parents again, we might have a start,

[Alexander215]

I find it interesting that many people blame this on gaming systems and TV and other media, they are just a scape goat for bad parenting.

The only people at fault here are namely the parents and the fact that the people who do these things have many other outside factors not even related to any kind of media that could "influence them"

I find it laughable that people that people are still thinking this way, but I suppose its ignorance more than anything.

[Mikekoz13]

I don't know if you have kids Shdwwlk but it isn't that simple. The kids are bombarded by the media and pure old fashioned peer pressure.

I agree that too many folks use TV, game systems, etc. as babysitters but there is no denying that many kids are less social due to these things. If you have kids, then you know what I mean. If you don't have kids..... well then maybe you have a game system bias.

[Alexander215]

I don't know if you have kids Shdwwlk but it isn't that simple. The kids are bombarded by the media and pure old fashioned peer pressure.

I agree that too many folks use TV, game systems, etc. as babysitters but there is no denying that many kids are less social due to these things. If you have kids, then you know what I mean. If you don't have kids..... well then maybe you have a game system bias.

I have nieces and nephews. Which really isn't any different. And from studying marketing I know that advertising is indeed very powerful, and so is media. But they are scapegoats none the less.