Aren't you tired of hearing this sort of thing?

[raccoon]

Neighbors described Adkisson (the man who went postal in the Unitarian Universalist church in TN) as a friendly man who would often work on his motorcycle outside and go on long weekend rides.

Melissa Coker, 44, said Adkisson had lived next door since she moved in four or five years ago. She said he had been a truck driver, but she didn't believe he had steady work in the last six months or so.

"He's just a really, really nice guy," Coker said. (Yeah, right.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting


You could probably find something nice to say about Ted Bundy, for crying out loud. :shrug:

[KharmaTrain]

1. They Did...

Bundy, in specific, was a textbook example of building up to knock down. "How could such a nice guy do this" bullshit. It's a standard "convention" of news coverage...trying to "humanize" the story by somehow turning a horrible creature into something likeable before they lower the boom. Or so it's thought.

What this type of "reporting" does is stick to the sizzle of the story. The victims are the result, the media becomes fascinated with the cause...trying to get into the head of a psychopath...and we have a culture that loves to play along. Look at the facination with CSI shows, Court TV and the like...people are fascinated with murder and the more sensational the more fascinating it is.

[nam78_two]

2. You know who sounds like a really nice guy?

His first victim-he was a foster dad and tried to stop this basket case. Really sad....

[fasttense]

3. Yeah, he died trying to stop a mass murder.

He was a hero. What a very brave man.

[supernova]

4. Gives us genuine loners a bad name

when some psycho goes off. I've heard them more aptly described as "failed joiners." It's not that they enjoy people sometimes and also choose to be alone (a true loner) but that they are repeatedly rejected for whatever reason and they just go off, like a stick of dynamite.

Classic sociopaths can "hide" their true natures with an engaging persona, which exactly what Ted Bundy was. Even the judge told him he could have had a very different life since he argued his own case so well.

[TexasObserver]

5. He was a self described devotee of the Confederacy.

Sounds like a REALLY nice guy!!!

Those quotes tell me his neighbor is probably a major asshole, too.

It sounds to me as if this is one of those guys who hates "liberalism," and yesterday was the day he went Postal to strike back at progressives, particularly those who are supportive of gays. He's a hater, and if someone knew his tendencies and thought he was nice, they're probably haters, too.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. That Would Seem To Explain Attacking A Unitarian Church

Can't get much more liberal than a denomination that has no dogma and accepts nearly every point of view.

An anti-liberal sure would see that as a prime target, i'd think.
The Professor

[slackmaster]

8. I'm a little surprised to see ProfessorGAC doing this

Trying to attribute rationality to an irrational act.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Sorry

That wasn't really what i was doing, but could see how you would interpret it that way.

In fact, while serial killers usually cannot be explained rationally, mass murderers often have some set of reasons, even though acting on those reasons is irrational. It doesn't mean the final act of shooting people is rational, but in their minds, they do have reasons.

But, if you want to disagree with that, i completely understand.
GAC

[TexasObserver]

12. Maybe you should stop jumping to conclusions and pay attention to the facts.

Are YOU rational?

A man like this perp has a rationale. As some of us suspected, he resented the LIBERAL bent of this church. His act was heinous, and it is based upon a common string of hatred in this country. Yes, it does matter.

[slackmaster]

13. I am waiting for the facts

...As some of us suspected, he resented the LIBERAL bent of this church. His act was heinous, and it is based upon a common string of hatred in this country. Yes, it does matter.

I suppose it does, but what can be done about it?

[TexasObserver]

14. It can be talked about. It can be exposed for what it is.

This is not madness. This is the natural result of themes of hatred being central to the beliefs of a whole segment of the population. Such notions do not get reduced unless they get addressed.

[TexasObserver]

10. Yes, UU, especially that particular church, is an obvious target of liberal haters.

I feel law enforcement and media are soft peddling this because it is likely to have such motives.

He did not pick it as a random target. He smuggled the shotgun inside in a guitar case. He knew there was a musical event taking place. I'm sure in his part of the country, such a church would be the most visible evidence of encroachment in his community of those liberal ideals he so despises.

I've known a lot of people who self identified as devoted to the Confederacy, and every single one of them has been filled with disdain for every liberal ideal, for gays, and for minorities.

[slackmaster]

6. You're right about Ted Bundy

A lot of people have said he was a real nice guy.

John Wayne Gacy too.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Especially Gacy

Pillar of the community, and all that.
The Professor