Gareth

Half of the TV shows out now are going by "mini-series." American Horror Story's on it's fourth season, Fargo it's second, True Detective second. Legend of Korra was originally called a mini series and it's been on for 4 years.

Oh really? I didn't know that.

Actually, I think they probably did. This was more of a publicity thing, they just wanted JEJ so that people would tune in for the ABC broadcast to get the show on the map. He probably just sent in a tape or something. I could be wrong, buts that's how I see it.

Okay well my age was inevitably going to devalue my statements and I can't do anything about that. I hear what you're saying and I can't argue with your experiences. All I can say is that in my 12 years of school I've gone from an open environment to now, being stopped every morning by an armed guard. The school that was attacked this week was supposedly prepared for this kind of thing but was defenseless in preventing it. What we're doing isn't helping. I think gun control is an issue, high schools kids shouldn't have easy access to guns, not even to defend themselves, schools should not be the danger-zone they've become. In Tennessee you can go anywhere with a gun, I don't get it. That does not make for a safer environment. Personally I don't think we can brush it all under the rug of "mental health-help." Incredibly important, but not as easy as it sounds when helping every suffering youth. Regardless, I'm about ready to agree to disagree. Point is, this a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. That's where I'll leave it for now.

Your first point is spot on but completely irrelevant. And I want to make clear that I'm talking about school shootings exclusively, what I am saying is that there are two things all these shooters have in common. One - mental issues, Two - easy access to guns. We need to be addressing BOTH issues, not which ever one is more convenient for the vast majority of Americans. High school kids should not have as easy access to weapons as many of these shooters do. Time and time again it's been seen that mental health issues and gun access are a deadly combination, regardless of what statistics you can pick and choose.

There is not a gun in my house, none of my close friends have access to guns. It wouldn't be too hard for one of my classmates to access a weapon but it would be inconvenient. Now I go to a liberal private school. EVERY SINGLE ONE of these kids lived in gun-holding houses. People with mental issues have some traumatic experience and in that emotional or mental confusion they bring their gun to school. If they don't have immediate access to a weapon, I guarantee you it would be a deterrent. Now college shootings and above are a different story. Has there really ever been anything done? I don't think so, nothing major. And it's not like we've proven they have no effect, it's constantly debated and many reliable studies have found correlations as well as some that haven't. Truth is, we don't know. Psychological Science in the Public Interest itself has done many studies to varying results. I'm not saying lets do it for the hell of it. I'm saying lets not get defensive and ignore things that might be relevant.

Fair enough. But using, "there's nothing to be done" as a justification for not addressing an issue is unacceptable. Sure, banning violent video games will not prevent violence, but you understand why they're so scrutinized. There's no reason to believe that Milk would affect a person's behaviour but going home to play games where you walk around shooting people and then for someone to go out and do it. It's a reasonable assumption to make. And not to continue harping on this issue but for a highschool Freshmen to have access to a handgun is another thing. Yet people refuse to address gun laws in any reasonable way. How many school shootings have we seen since Columbine? And how have we restricted teenagers' access to weapons? In my state it's actually become easier. The kid who acted in the most recent shooting, according to the information that's known, didn't have significant mental problems. He just went to a handgun as the answer to his feelings. That should never have been an option. Every time one of these horrific shootings occur all the issues re-emerge and then as you said, nothing happens. I think it was Einstein who said not changing behaviour but expecting different results is insanity.

Better and easier access to mental health care is an absolute must. That's easily the most pressing issue. But there is evidence of violent media affecting trouble youth, and I don't think it should be ignored. I absolutely don't think media is the primary problem, it has to do with psychological problems, that is undeniable. Infact you make all good points in your post, your argument doesn't bother me. It just rubbed me the wrong way that I see this terrible story about a troubled youth murdering children and then the top comment is something about "all these dumb journalists are going to try to ban video games now!" just seems so distasteful and selfish.

Okay, unpopular opinion time. So the Internet has made up its mind regarding media violence. "It's totally cool and has no relation to real life violence." No one with another point of view will get respect or be given credibility despite the validity of their argument. I find it somewhat disconcerting the way people today seem to be so deathly afraid of censorship and the removal of violent media. Nearly every news article regarding yesterday's shooting is evidence of this. Rather than mourning the loss and looking for prevention methods, all the top comments are analogous to "We're about to see a news report about the video game he played last night," as if it's an absurd baseless reaction, when in reality, it's a crucial detail. We are such a violence consuming culture that we cannot imagine censorship of any kind. "Freedom of Speech! Freedom of Speech!" "Right to Bear Arms! Right to Bear Arms!" Don't give me that shit when kids are being shot at school. The idea that there is a correlation may not be accurate, but the extreme adamancy that it’s not even worth considering is absurd and frustrating. The love of violent media and fear of losing it, disturbs me. "I play violent video games and I don't kill people" is not sufficient evidence for ignoring this altogether. The life and habits of violence people need to be examined and unfortunate correlations must be considered. It's been made clear that violent media can have a negative impact on some people combating mental issues. I'm not making any kind of definitive statement; I'm just offering the fact that everyone seems to be brushing off an issue. And people's obsession with violent media and abhorrence of censorship is slightly disturbing. Okay, off my soapbox.

Every aspect of film advertising has become streamlined, whether it be trailers, posters, whatever. It's been going on long before TDKR. Anyway, I'm so bored with Marvel movies and superhero in general right now, this doesn't interest me in the slightest.

You can only do so much with Dick alone..... I'm sorry

A little of both.

This movie sucks so bad, I'm not even going to watch it!

That's too bad but I gotta say, the concept art looks amazing!

Black and Linklater are a great pairing. Bernie was another great one.

How's Videodrome? I don't know whether I should listen to the Dread Media review or go in cold.

So I had lunch with Sarah Green today (John Green's wife). I'm kind of a big deal.

Nope, nope she's pretty fucking pissed. Jennifer Lawrence said on the issue: "It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime, it’s disgusting. Anybody who looked at those pictures, you’re perpetuating a sexual offense."

h o l y f u ck. Twin Peaks is actually pretty damn good though, you should watch it.

Happy Birthday!

meh.

I actually use Amazon Student. It's free for six months and gives you free shipping. No steaming though.

Damn. I wish I had money.

Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like ever since Timm left they've completely dropped the ball on trying to emulate the comic book's artstyle. Now they just use the same bland character designs because it's cheaper and easier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZfs22E7JmI