04-18-2007, 10:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-18-2007, 10:43 AM by [wcip]Angel.)
That would require an immense belief in one's fellow man, Id'd say.
How is one to trust that the fellow or lass sitting next to you, or across the hall, will be as diligent in his/her plight to take down one such mass murderer? "Well, if I'm taking a chance trying to take this guy down, I sure as hell want to be certain those people over *there* will too!" Also, most people would probably assume that the first guy out of the chair is the first one who hits the ground. Rationalising. "Hmmm, if Chris and Claire go for him first from their table, he'll hit them first, but I'll be able to take him down from this angle."
Valour and self-sacrifice are noble ideals, but realistically speaking, who among us would react instinctively and give our own life for people we hardly even know? And what if it's a person you know, but really can't stand the sight of? Would you sacrifice yourself, so that a guy/girl you don't even like could live? How many split seconds do you have to weigh all these questions before the muzzle aims at you?
If we start training people how to react in the presence of a mass murderer, I fear we're avoding dealing with the *real* problems: poverty, weapon availability, assimilation. Treating the symptoms is all well and good, but given a choice, I'd rather root out the disease itself.
edit: from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6565039.stm
A group called I'm ok at VT has been set up on facebook where information on people killed and injured in the shootings has been posted.
One student asked: "Has anyone heard about Nicole White?? She sits beside me in my Abnormal Psychology class and I really want to know if she is ok."
The reply came six postings later: "Nicole White was just confirmed to have been shot and killed yesterday, please pray for her family."
(my highlight)
How's that for irony?:(
How is one to trust that the fellow or lass sitting next to you, or across the hall, will be as diligent in his/her plight to take down one such mass murderer? "Well, if I'm taking a chance trying to take this guy down, I sure as hell want to be certain those people over *there* will too!" Also, most people would probably assume that the first guy out of the chair is the first one who hits the ground. Rationalising. "Hmmm, if Chris and Claire go for him first from their table, he'll hit them first, but I'll be able to take him down from this angle."
Valour and self-sacrifice are noble ideals, but realistically speaking, who among us would react instinctively and give our own life for people we hardly even know? And what if it's a person you know, but really can't stand the sight of? Would you sacrifice yourself, so that a guy/girl you don't even like could live? How many split seconds do you have to weigh all these questions before the muzzle aims at you?
If we start training people how to react in the presence of a mass murderer, I fear we're avoding dealing with the *real* problems: poverty, weapon availability, assimilation. Treating the symptoms is all well and good, but given a choice, I'd rather root out the disease itself.
edit: from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6565039.stm
A group called I'm ok at VT has been set up on facebook where information on people killed and injured in the shootings has been posted.
One student asked: "Has anyone heard about Nicole White?? She sits beside me in my Abnormal Psychology class and I really want to know if she is ok."
The reply came six postings later: "Nicole White was just confirmed to have been shot and killed yesterday, please pray for her family."
(my highlight)
How's that for irony?:(
