Are you listening?
I felt it needed to go on a rant at the moment, so humor me please and read this.
I was watching this program on school shootings. It was so upsetting to see kids who resort to that type of violence simply for the sake of trying to get across a message that no one else would listen to. How closed off and oblivious do you have to be to not notice that type of cry for help or attention? Well, you don't have to be sheltered, simply narrow minded and stereotypical.
This isn't some blog talking about how labeling people is wrong. Prep, punk, goth, jock, whatever, they happen. Society is able to function in the way that it does based on the fact that we can relate and identify to different subjects. Lables is one way of doing that. A language is a system of lables. It would be idealistic to assume that we don't need them.
However, it would be immature to discriminate because of them. Selfishly alienating others may make you more acceptable in the eyes of someone else socially, but it's effects on the one being isolated are horrible. Not to mention its a hate crime, which can be prosecuted by law, although it never is until its too late. People hear discrimination, and automatically assume its based on race, thats so wrong. Any wrongful exclusion of another person is discrimination. Ignorance to the definition is no excuse for discriminating however. If its beating up the geeky kid who can't play sports, thats discrimination, if its harassing the girl with acne in the locker room, thats discrimination. Bullying and discrimination go hand in hand. Both are used to empower the person commiting the vile act, its sick.
We see this everyday in school. You probably see it in other places, what do you do? Do you help the person being victimized? Do you confront the person commiting the wrongful action? Do you pretend it didn't happen? Society is a singular noun, however its composed of ALL of us, making it our responsabilty.
What happens when we don't take responsability? Vicims make themselves be heard, they make us listen. Some do it by taking their own lives, or hurting themself. Others hurt other people. School shootings are disturbing and so saddening. I am in no way justifying what these kids did, but now their future is destroyed, they have this on their record. The ones who don't commit suicide might as well have, because now they get to rot away in jail. All of 'that' was preventable too, but no one paid attention, no one listened. You think from past mistakes like Columbine or the Bath School Disater, ect. we would have learned that our actions have consequences, and that YES, this kind of thing does happen.You always here on the news, the teachers or students say they are "shocked" something like this happened. "Shocked" they had such a violent student in there school. "shocked" that it happened in their town. Anyone who says they are "shocked" by this is basically saying "Im shocked we don't pay attention to students, and that we are not involved enough. Im shocked that we are totally oblivious to what goes on around us."
I don't understand this "shocked" term, at all. More, "in denial" is suiting. Nobody listens anymore, they talk and talk and talk, but it does nothing. Whats the use in talking, if you don't know what to talk about. "Violence is wrong" only goes so far.
"I wouldn't have said anything to them (Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold), I would have listened, thats the one thing nobody did"-Marilyn Manson, Bowling for Columbine interview.
Now, I didn't just pick that quote because of my insane marilyn manson obsession, its brilliant advice, I think we could all learn from. Society isn't just some pretty word used in political debates. YOU are society, and its up to everyone to contribute to it. Now its up to you: Are you "shocked" by this, or have you been listening?
I was watching this program on school shootings. It was so upsetting to see kids who resort to that type of violence simply for the sake of trying to get across a message that no one else would listen to. How closed off and oblivious do you have to be to not notice that type of cry for help or attention? Well, you don't have to be sheltered, simply narrow minded and stereotypical.
This isn't some blog talking about how labeling people is wrong. Prep, punk, goth, jock, whatever, they happen. Society is able to function in the way that it does based on the fact that we can relate and identify to different subjects. Lables is one way of doing that. A language is a system of lables. It would be idealistic to assume that we don't need them.
However, it would be immature to discriminate because of them. Selfishly alienating others may make you more acceptable in the eyes of someone else socially, but it's effects on the one being isolated are horrible. Not to mention its a hate crime, which can be prosecuted by law, although it never is until its too late. People hear discrimination, and automatically assume its based on race, thats so wrong. Any wrongful exclusion of another person is discrimination. Ignorance to the definition is no excuse for discriminating however. If its beating up the geeky kid who can't play sports, thats discrimination, if its harassing the girl with acne in the locker room, thats discrimination. Bullying and discrimination go hand in hand. Both are used to empower the person commiting the vile act, its sick.
We see this everyday in school. You probably see it in other places, what do you do? Do you help the person being victimized? Do you confront the person commiting the wrongful action? Do you pretend it didn't happen? Society is a singular noun, however its composed of ALL of us, making it our responsabilty.
What happens when we don't take responsability? Vicims make themselves be heard, they make us listen. Some do it by taking their own lives, or hurting themself. Others hurt other people. School shootings are disturbing and so saddening. I am in no way justifying what these kids did, but now their future is destroyed, they have this on their record. The ones who don't commit suicide might as well have, because now they get to rot away in jail. All of 'that' was preventable too, but no one paid attention, no one listened. You think from past mistakes like Columbine or the Bath School Disater, ect. we would have learned that our actions have consequences, and that YES, this kind of thing does happen.You always here on the news, the teachers or students say they are "shocked" something like this happened. "Shocked" they had such a violent student in there school. "shocked" that it happened in their town. Anyone who says they are "shocked" by this is basically saying "Im shocked we don't pay attention to students, and that we are not involved enough. Im shocked that we are totally oblivious to what goes on around us."
I don't understand this "shocked" term, at all. More, "in denial" is suiting. Nobody listens anymore, they talk and talk and talk, but it does nothing. Whats the use in talking, if you don't know what to talk about. "Violence is wrong" only goes so far.
"I wouldn't have said anything to them (Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold), I would have listened, thats the one thing nobody did"-Marilyn Manson, Bowling for Columbine interview.
Now, I didn't just pick that quote because of my insane marilyn manson obsession, its brilliant advice, I think we could all learn from. Society isn't just some pretty word used in political debates. YOU are society, and its up to everyone to contribute to it. Now its up to you: Are you "shocked" by this, or have you been listening?
Comments
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I completly agree
I mean the reason of the violence, is precisly the violence of the reason.
When I saw columbine I simply thought we could be those guys the victim and the asesain, because when no one listens what the point?? When no one cares.
as Cortazar once said " Someday there will be so much ppl talikng that no one will listen"
Dumbfuck, January 28th, 2007 at 09:20:54pm
Your comments is what I was talking about, not your topic story.
The Hippy, January 18th, 2007 at 06:24:00pm
You're comparing people to yourself, setting a biased standard. What you did is great, but it doesn't matter at all in their case. if everyone was exactly the same, and made the exact same descions, crimes and violence would be totally preventable. You can't compare your life to someone else in a totally different situation. This is my blog, where I state my opinion. You chose to read this, I shoved absolutely nothing down your throat.
Kurtni, January 18th, 2007 at 06:20:05pm
Alright, I feel we're starting to reach an unhealthy arguement, here. Now, I don't want any cold or hard feeling from anyone on here, so i'm just letting you know how I feel, and I respect how you feel. I think you hold a strong stand for your side. It's really impressive. Now, i'm tired as hell and my ass is going to sleep. I've got 8 classes tomorrow. Peace.
The Hippy, January 17th, 2007 at 11:28:55pm
So for reasons you don't know of, you feel like you should completely label these kids as "ignored" and that we should listen to everyone more. Well, you know what? We ALL have problems. Those boy's had a home, they had clothes, and they had an education. So what, if nobody listened to them. I grew up on the streets WITHOUT a home, clothes, or even food. My father died, and my mom was an alcoholic, do you think she listened? No. But you know what, I decided for MYSELF that I wasn't going to let people like her, affect my life. So I switched my life around, myself. Those boy's let people affect them, and they felt the only way they could end the situation was to kill themselves, and others. I DON'T nor will EVER feel bad for them. I DO however, feel bad for the random 13 people that had their lives ended short that day because of these boy's personal issues. So call me insensitive, or talk about how my "ignorance" led these boy's to react with such behavior, but I raised MYSELF to learn how to handle such situations, and I know for a fact that anyone's opinion or judgement of me won't change my behavior or actions.
The Hippy, January 17th, 2007 at 11:12:17pm
I never said you were wrong, and I was right... I think you're imaginining text, and where did I say "I WANT YOU ALL TO MINDLESSLY AGREE WITH ME!!!111" Pretty sure I didn't, and I just said I made this with intent to debate it. Would you like me to go into more detail as to why I feel you are insensitive? And now, based on your arguement, you just said you don't know why they did it. Then you come out and insult them, and degrade them? That is insane. "I don't understand, so I'll call them disgraceful." Things like that are exactly what Im talking about. People don't understand, and they judge. Then you go on to say, its their own fault they are in situations like that. Thats was what I was talking about, people judge without thinking. Thanks for providing such a great example for me.
Kurtni, January 17th, 2007 at 10:50:49pm
No I understand now. You expect everyone to agree with you and look at it from YOUR point of view and you're the one who is completely insensitive to the fact that what these boys did what for reasons nieither I, or YOU know of. To judge me, and say that I'M insensitive is a misperseption and very hypocritical. I've looked into this story many times, and what I think of the Columbine Shooting, is MY business and you have no right, to say i'm wrong, or insensitive. Also, it's NOT people like me who "forced" these kid's into the situations they've set for themselves. They decided to end their lives, then so be it. But to end other's lives along with them, disgraceful. Last, I suggest you change YOUR attitude, instead of trying to shove your own opinion's and beliefs down other's throats.
The Hippy, January 17th, 2007 at 09:54:10pm
My exact words "im in no way justifying what they did.."
But your attitude is exactly what Im talking about, you're blaming them for what they did, when our ignorance to thier issues is what caused the whole mess in the first place. You are being so insensitive, it was be narrowminded to assume that everyone handles stress in the same way. You can't compare one person life and say it's like something else, THAT is the reason tragedies like that happen. This was a political blog, I wouldn't have made it if I didnt intend to debate anything.
Kurtni, January 17th, 2007 at 09:18:38pm
Sorry, i'm not trying to start a debate with anyone. This is just how I felt about the situation. I read into it, and I was part of a Columbine Shooting Research Program. So, no hard feelings to anyone! :D
The Hippy, January 17th, 2007 at 08:03:44pm
I don't feel bad for the boy's who shot dozen+ kids because no one would listen to them, or they've been ignored all their lives. Hell, a million kids throughout the world live at home without any attention from their parents, or people at school, does that give them the right to go on a shooting rampage? No. There are other ways to handle being ignored. Those boy's took innocent lives because they felt their lives were f*cked up. The whole Columbine story is just dreadful and is always misunderstood for "Nobody ever listened to the poor boys, they were outcasts." REALLY? Wow, i've never heard of an outcast!
The Hippy, January 17th, 2007 at 08:01:27pm
I have been listening. i agree with everything in this blog. Most oof the kids involved in these shootouts have been made outcasts, no one listened to them. There is always a reason someone would o something like that.
Everyone needs to shut up and just f*cking listen.
Steph:DonaNobisPacem, January 17th, 2007 at 07:54:18pm
Exactly. There's no way that a community can be completely oblivious to things like school shootings. I agree that adults more often than not don't listen to kids because they don't like to accept that something may be wrong with them... it's pretty sad when we can't get the support from them because they're "blissfully unaware" of the things around them. You made a great point when you said that so many of the things that are screwed up nowadays can be prevented if people could just be more accepting and willing.
Great insights, btw.
Funky Platypus, January 17th, 2007 at 06:07:54pm
I was a senior in high school when Columbine happened and the very next day, all the teachers and the principals were watching all of us "weird" kids like we were serial killers or bombs waiting to explode. Yet no one did anything to help us. If we needed someone to talk to, we didn't have anyone. Small towns are just like that. It's like you said, it's not "shocked". It's denial. People in my hometown think everything is wonderful around them. That the harsh stuff that they see on the 6:00 news only happens in big cities. Sadly, they have done nothing to change things at my old high school. "Weird" kids are still treated like potential threats. Society has to want to change before anything can be accomplished.
whyamIstillhere?, January 17th, 2007 at 08:07:45am
I have been listening. This is one of those things that everyone is itching to say a bit about, but few have actually done so. Also, society has kind of been reorganizing itself for the last decade and the line between what is acceptable and what isn't becomes blurred and is moving around. That's where the labels come in. But the one thing that hasn't changed is that adults don't always listen to kids. And kids are often too caught up in themselves to listen to each other. People are selfish like that, but I don't think its concious. And when no one listens, they try to force people to listen.
But there's something else. Most schools have guidance counsellors and monthly psychiatrists (only a few private schools). Kids are given a chance to talk to the counsellors and it is the counsellors' job to listen and offer advice.
lyrical_mess, January 17th, 2007 at 05:06:34am
There’s a lot of separation into days society and I think that it has been brought about by fear and a lack of human compassion.
This Is A Crass Song, January 17th, 2007 at 01:58:53am