Txdigest.com

truep wrote:Does anyone else think that the excessive press coverage cause more copycat killers? These "Loners" want to go down in a "blaze of Glory"
so everyone remembers them. Maybe the press could tone it down and prevent some of these copycat killers.

truep wrote:Does anyone else think that the excessive press coverage cause more copycat killers? These "Loners" want to go down in a "blaze of Glory"
so everyone remembers them. Maybe the press could tone it down and prevent some of these copycat killers.

Violent events are often covered by news outlets in great detail and spread immediately through mass media and social media. Experts believe that this media coverage can inspire others to copy these actions or commit similar crimes.[1] This is often called the media contagion effect, and it happens with suicide, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings. Other experts report that a better explanation is the tendency for people to imitate behaviors that get a lot of attention.


Credit: Pia Guerra, Washington Post.
Do you remember the name of this hero from the Parkland shooting? The killer got much more publicity than Aaron Feis, the coach who saved students’ lives.

Shooters get enormous attention: their name, photo, motivations, and story are often shared for days following the event. The American Psychological Association points out that this “fame” is something that most mass shooters desire.[2] This sometime inspires a copycat shooting, where the potential shooter typically tries to kill more people than their predecessor.

Sangersteve wrote:Studies show

Violent events are often covered by news outlets in great detail and spread immediately through mass media and social media. Experts believe that this media coverage can inspire others to copy these actions or commit similar crimes.[1] This is often called the media contagion effect, and it happens with suicide, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings. Other experts report that a better explanation is the tendency for people to imitate behaviors that get a lot of attention.


Credit: Pia Guerra, Washington Post.
Do you remember the name of this hero from the Parkland shooting? The killer got much more publicity than Aaron Feis, the coach who saved students’ lives.

Shooters get enormous attention: their name, photo, motivations, and story are often shared for days following the event. The American Psychological Association points out that this “fame” is something that most mass shooters desire.[2] This sometime inspires a copycat shooting, where the potential shooter typically tries to kill more people than their predecessor.

https://www.center4research.org/copy-cats-kill/

I'm not saying it's not an issue. Of course it's an issue. But what is the answer? You can't just ignore these things. Something this significant is going to be, and needs to be, covered extensively.

Shooters get enormous attention: their name, photo, motivations, and story are often shared for days following the event. The American Psychological Association points out that this “fame” is something that most mass shooters desire.[2] This sometime inspires a copycat shooting, where the potential shooter typically tries to kill more people than their predecessor.

BigTex wrote:Richard Jewell would have probably preferred a little less news coverage.

planosteve wrote:

BigTex wrote:Richard Jewell would have probably preferred a little less news coverage.

At least he won't be buried in a flag draped casket with military honors like Charles Whitman.

rusty wrote:So when these things happen they should just sweep it under the rug?