Could it be prevented?

[aimeeandbeatles]

Could some -- not all -- school shootings be prevented?

A lot of the time, the person who did it has given warning signs. If they were forwarded to a specialist (I can't spell it.. pyshsococologist or something) would it help?

Debate.

 

[Perfection]

Nope, perfect psychological testing for engaging in criminal activity would be so hard that I'd describe it as impossible.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I mean if they write disturbing essays or poems, or are talking about it

 

[Brighteye]

I talk about conquering the world. Doesn't mean I'm going to try it though.

 

[IglooDame]

For all we know, we're already "preventing" a dozen school shootings per year via various means.

 

[aneeshm]

It's quite possible, and I'd even say trivially easy, for me to write an essay that simultaneously disses Jews, Muslims, Christians, and communists, while at the same time projecting myself as a potential rapist and school shooter. Without using bad language or violent imagery, either. It would be the job of a moment to make it into something that is extremely disturbing.

Doesn't mean that I'm a school shooter or suspect for the same, does it? I'm just an amateur psychologist who can get inside the mind of the perpetrator (the rapist and shooter), and also into the minds of normal people, so I know what will disturb them.

This ability - to extrapolate from your own experience, and to tailor some writing so that is produces the desired effect in the intended reader - is an art, it is precious, it is what all great authors must possess in ample measure. Curbing it because it can be used in ways you do not approve of is the worst sort of intellectual crippling imaginable.

 

[Azash]

Drop assorted nuclear weapons in order to eliminate the human race, or abolish the school system. Those are the only things that will prevent school shootings.

 

[Xanikk999]

Most likely no, because the ones who plan it out will find a way to get past security measures. (which dont exist anyway)

Id wager a very few percent would actually get cought beforehand.

 

[Masquerouge]

I'm not sure it's worth it. I'd say among school students there are easier and more important causes of deaths to prevent than this one. Drunk driving anyone?

 

[StarWorms]

Yes, no doubt about it whatsoever, and many probably already have been prevented by sending people to mental hospitals.

 

[bhsup]

Have to wonder if Stephen King could have made it through school in this day and age, or if he would have been sent away to juvenile hall instead.

 

[A Revolutionary]

Prevent some- maybe
There isn't really a method for trying to prevent them fully in place at the moment.

 

[useless]

why are we worrying about preventing school shootings when we could of prevented a darfur?