Virginia Tech Shooting: At least 33 Fatalities

The below is part of series of post I made against Jack "the FBI found the violent media was the common demonator" I saved this but neglected to save the first two segments. It shouldn’t be too hard to follow even thought it missing a lot of context. Sorry don’t have time to write proper post but at the same time I feel the need to counter Jack’s lies.


Just to jam yet another nail in the coffin of Jacks declaration that immersion in violent media was the sole common denominator in school shooting, as I demonstrated already the FBI and secret service caution against approach that try to explain these tragedies in terms of a single common denominator, but lets give Jack that benefit of the doubt and say that it could be consider A common denominator it still could not be consider the SOLE common denominator

Let’s have a look:
1) “Almost three-quarters of the attackers felt persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked
or injured by others prior to the incident (71percent, n=29)” page 30 of the secret service report.
Curious that Thompson rallies against the game Bully but effective turns a deaf ear to real life bulling when he calls immersion in violent media was the sole common denominator, when quite clear this is more common against school shooters.

2) “most attackers exhibited a history of suicide attempts or suicidal
thoughts at some point prior to their attack (78 percent, n=32).” Page 31 of the secret service report.

Again another more common variable

3) “More than half of the attackers had a documented history of feeling extremely depressed or desperate (61 percent, n=25).” Page 31 of the secret service report.

And another more common variable

4) “Almost all of the attackers had experienced or
perceived some major loss prior to the attack (98 percent, n=40). These losses
included a perceived failure or loss of status (66 percent, n=27); loss of a loved one
or of a significant relationship, including a romantic relationship (51 percent, n=21);”
Page 32 of the secret service report.

If some one can explain too me how Thompson concludes that some thing with a 98 percent prevalence but something with a 60% is not a common denominator I would like too know.

“For most attackers, their outward behaviors suggested difficulty in coping with loss
(83 percent, n=34).”
Page 32 of the secret service report.

5) “Experience using weapons and access to them was common for many attackers.
Nearly two-thirds of the attackers had a known history of weapons use, including
knives, guns and bombs (63 percent, n=26).”
Page 36 of the secret service report.

How is immersion the sole common denominator here?

Now for the final nail the secret service made ten key findings regarding school shooters. (which again are not meant to be looked at in isolation from one another) Notice how immersions in violent media which Thompson says was the SOLE common denominator isn’t even one of the TEN key finding of the report:

“The 10 key findings that the authors believe may have implications for the
development of strategies to address the problem of targeted school violence are as
follows:
• Incidents of targeted violence at school rarely are sudden, impulsive acts.
• Prior to most incidents, other people knew about the attacker’s idea and/or
plan to attack.
• Most attackers did not threaten their targets directly prior to advancing the
attack.
• There is no accurate or useful profile of students who engaged in targeted
school violence.
• Most attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the incident that caused
others concern or indicated a need for help.
• Most attackers had difficulty coping with significant losses or personal
failures. Moreover, many had considered or attempted suicide.
• Many attackers felt bullied, persecuted or injured by others prior to the
attack.
• Most attackers had access to and had used weapons prior to the attack.
• In many cases, other students were involved in some capacity.
• Despite prompt law enforcement responses, most shooting incidents were
stopped by means other than law enforcement intervention.”
Secret service report page 40

What part of this implies a SOLE common denominator? A sole common denominator which is not mentioned on the list no less?

I ask no one to take my word for it so here is the link to secret service study: The secret service’s report: www.treasury.gov/usss/ntac/ssi_final_report.pdf
The FBI’s report: www.fbi.gov/publications/school/school2.pdf

Can violent media play a role in these tragedies yes, but saying that it the common denominator is like coke a cola is the common denominator in diabetes.

How ya doing, buddy?