What keeps you from going out and shooting a bunch of people?

[Superman]

This will resonate with some of you:

Kids who have played lots of video games and killed thousands of people painlessly, effortlessly.....Let's take them hunting. Let them walk up to an animal that is still making gurgling noises after being alive just seconds ago. Sht gets real when you see that. And then you hand them the knife.

[Baz]

I'm just not a mean person at heart. I don't even like fighting with anyone on the Internet. The years I spend in corporate sales helped educate me how to handle situations with others. No matter what happens - how to maintain the high road. And represent myself the way my parents brought me up.

I'm not perfect and sometimes slip up a little. But compared to some of the nasty behaviour I have witnessed, I feel like a saint.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Why would I want to be part of a slow motion riot??
(Which by the way is what mass shootings really are)

I have NO desire to have 15 minute of fame and get marriage offers in prison or do an interview with Oprah, or have Tucker C. defend me

[URY914]

I think because I don't want to kill a random group of people.
I want to kill a defined group but I can't get them all together in the same place at the same time. And they wouldn't stand still for me long enough.

[wdfifteen]

I don't have any problems that murdering a bunch of people would solve.

[varmint]

i moved 3000 miles away from the people i really want dead.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by varmint

i moved 3000 miles away from the people i really want dead.

I have never wanted anyone to die. What's that like? Is it something you think about? What happens if you find someone in Alaska you want dead?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

My raison d'etre is to make the lives of people around me better, so that helps.

The question isn't really what keeps you from shooting other people, it is why does the United States have so many people who want to shoot/kill other people vs most other countries in the world. Most other countries suffer a dearth of people wanting to shoot people.

What makes the United States unique in people wanting to shoot other people?

[Bugsinrugs]

Shot a squirrel with a pellet gun when I was a kid. Ran up to it and watched it die. I did not like the feeling. What satisfaction these mass killers achieve is beyond my thinking.

[pwd72s]

The voices tell me it's a bad idea...

(edit) Also, I think there's something in the 10 commandments that says not to.
But few pay attention to those old things these days...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

There’s more than enough misery, suffering and death in the world already. I have no desire to add to it. For that reason I’d never consider killing something or someone that wasn’t trying to harm me - human or other. There are a lot of stupid people out there that the world would be better off without but it’s not my place to take them out of it. They usually do a pretty good job finding their own exit on their own (Darwin awards, anyone?)

There’s similarly no need to kill animals except in very rare and specific situations like “being in mortal peril” or “in order to avoid literal starvation”. There’s no excuse for it otherwise in my book. It’s just cruel, mean and disgusting. It appeals to a primitive blood lust and done for no other reason other than “because I can and I want to”. Barbarism, plain and simple. Calling it “agriculture” is a rationalization. There’s no valid nutritional need for it. None. There’s plenty of research out there to support it. Some animals (other than humans) require meat in their diets in order to survive . We don’t. That’s scientific fact. People do it because they LIKE IT and for no other reason. So-called “sport hunting” is even worse - simple blood lust rationalized by rednecks. There’s absolutely no need for it. I abhor it and don’t respect those that engage in it. They’re simply boorish and cruel - putting their own desires as a priority over that of another living, breathing thing that’s often much more intelligent and aware than they’re given credit for.

I think the value of life - including human life - is trivialized in our society and much of that comes from our turning a blind eye to industrialized animal cruelty and slaughter - simply because some people like it. Sure, violent TV shows and video games don’t help but I truly believe that being taught from infancy that killing is just fine “if you like it” creates an inherent moral conflict that some people never resolve.

Compassion and common sense are virtues, not weaknesses. Respecting nature is not primitive, it’s sensible. Being able to avoid doing a thing simply because we could is the essence of civility and will ultimately decide whether Homo sapiens survives or destroys itself. Yes, it leads to an existential problem.

The nutcases going out and mass-killing people are still nutcases, but we put them on that path by our choices and “values” - including and especially barbarism towards other living things. No question.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

My raison d'etre is to make the lives of people around me better, so that helps.

The question isn't really what keeps you from shooting other people, it is why does the United States have so many people who want to shoot/kill other people vs most other countries in the world. Most other countries suffer a dearth of people wanting to shoot people.

What makes the United States unique in people wanting to shoot other people?

Um........no.

The question IS what keeps you (yourself) from killing others.

Stop trying to muddy the water, please.

You can start your own thread on a different topic if you'd like.

Thank you....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by URY914

I think because I don't want to kill a random group of people.
I want to kill a defined group but I can't get them all together in the same place at the same time. And they wouldn't stand still for me long enough.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

My raison d'etre is to make the lives of people around me better, so that helps.

The question isn't really what keeps you from shooting other people, it is why does the United States have so many people who want to shoot/kill other people vs most other countries in the world. Most other countries suffer a dearth of people wanting to shoot people.

What makes the United States unique in people wanting to shoot other people?

We aren't unique. Plenty of folks killin' folks in other countries. They just have a harder time finding guns to use to do the deed.

[Baz]

Just to clarify - for my thread here I didn't want a big cerebral type discussion, although I usually don't have a problem with those. For this purpose I only wanted a simple answer.

Why aren't YOU going out and shooting people as we've seen in the news.

Just answer off the top of your head the first thing that comes to mind. Should be pretty basic.

For me, as I said - I was raised not to do stuff like that. Killing other human beings.

Sure - if it's someone coming after me or my family or friends that's different. So just ignore that for this thread.

[shadowjack1]

It's just not right.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I have never wanted anyone to die. What's that like? Is it something you think about? What happens if you find someone in Alaska you want dead?

You introduce them to the Clintons!

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by masraum

We aren't unique. Plenty of folks killin' folks in other countries. They just have a harder time finding guns to use to do the deed.

Some use bombs which can be far more effective.

[Esel Mann]

can i get a sense of how many 'a bunch' is before i answer the question?
need to confirm first that a firearm is even the right tool for the job...

the normal male spends 99% time contemplating sex, 1% time trying to score sex. doesn't leave much spare time for other activities. ymmv.

[rusnak]

The question implies that you'd be shooting a bunch of innocent people.

It doesnt even need to be answered.

If you were in the middle of a home invasion robbery, then it's a bit different.