The Logic of Murderous Rampages: Do Unto Others

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Wednesday January 16, 2013 · 5:58 AM PST

2013/01/16 · 05:58

Why did he do it? In his own mind, Omar Thornton and other men who go on rampages did to others what he believed had been done to him. He experienced hurt beyond his capacity for reason. He hurt back. This article is a case study of Omar Thornton who killed colleagues at his workplace in August 2010. What I say about Omar fits many other men who go on murderous rampages. This is a chapter from the book The Logic of Murderous Rampages and Other Essays on Violence and Its Prevention.

JaneGilgun

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Wednesday January 16, 2013 · 5:04 AM PST

2013/01/16 · 05:04

Most people want to be happy. Unhappy people may be unhappy in their own ways, but happy people are similar to each other. Happy people have good relationships with others, manage their emotions well, and have beliefs that promote their own well-being and the well-being of others. The purpose of this brief article is to show how these three ideas lead to happiness.

JaneGilgun

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Tuesday January 01, 2013 · 10:47 AM PST

2013/01/01 · 10:47

Picture two boys growing up in the same neighborhood. Both are 10. Both live in middle-class neighborhoods. Both are in-telligent. Both witnessed their fathers beating their mothers. Their fathers beat both of them. Both experienced sexual abuse. The person who sexually abused Rob was his father. The person who sexually abused Marty was an older kid in the neighborhood.

One will grow into responsible adulthood: optimistic, a lov-ing husband and father, and a dependable employee. The other will become a prison inmate.

What creates the difference in these two lives?

Poll

21 votes Show Results

Listening to boys' troubles makes them sissies.

21 votes Vote Now!

Listening to boys' troubles makes them sissies.

True

0 votes

False

3 votes

Boys grow into real men when other people care about their troubles.

18 votes

Real men handle things on their own.

0 votes

When Parents Commit Suicide

JaneGilgun

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Monday December 31, 2012 · 11:10 AM PST

2012/12/31 · 11:10

When parents commit suicide, children often believe that their parents did not love them. They may also think that if they had been better children and made their parents happy, the parents would not have committed suicide. This article provides guidelines for parents and other adults about what to do for children when a parent commits suicide. Suicide affects the entire family and is difficult to deal with. This article provides information that can be helpful to children, teens, and adults.

JaneGilgun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday December 31, 2012 · 10:07 AM PST

2012/12/31 · 10:07

Countless officials have once again labeled a murderous rampage “senseless violence.” This time the massacres took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, USA, on 14 December 2012. Twenty children, ages 6 and 7, and 8 adults died. A parent asked, “Who would do this to our poor little babies?” That’s a good question. Answering it will lead to prevention of violence.

Who indeed. The gunman, whom police have not identified, is a man who did to these children and adults what he believed had been done to him. It’s that simple. He was getting back at others in the most terrible way imaginable. One of the persons he murdered was his own mother. I have interviewed more than 150 people who have committed violent acts including serial killers. Through talking to them, I have seen similar patterns repeatedly.

Poll

17 votes Show Results

Do we need a national campaign on how to build trusting relationships?

17 votes Vote Now!

Do we need a national campaign on how to build trusting relationships?

yes

12 votes

1 vote

I'd like to think about it.

3 votes

It would not work.

1 vote

I'd like to be part of the campaign.

0 votes

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The Logic of Murderous Rampages: Do Unto Others

On Being Happy: Three Ideas

Two Boys, Similar Backgrounds: One Goes to Prison and One Does Not: Why?

When Parents Commit Suicide

School Shootings are Not Senseless: Gunmen's Actions Make Sense to Them