Newtown hero beseiged by hate mail

[Pixilated]

Because, you know, the shootings never really happened

... and he's just a government-paid stooge ...

What the fuck is wrong with these people anyway?

[BlaqueKatt]

What the fuck is wrong with these people anyway?

paint chips are tasty?

[KabeRinnaul]

What the fuck is wrong with these people anyway?

They refuse to accept a world where bad things happen for no reason, and the internet lets them form little hives of paranoia where everyone supports their delusions and they don't have to talk to people who say they're crazy.

[fireheart17]

paint chips are tasty?

I needed that laugh...

[Racket_Man]

I saw this on another news site and thought:

WTF?????

has this country become that stupid in the last couple of years???? or is the conspirosy theory nuts just become that bold lately.

Where is this coming from???? and with such vitrole and nastiness????

I do NOT remember this kind of reaction after some of the more recent shooting (school and non school) OR even after Columbine.

[TheHuckster]

I do NOT remember this kind of reaction after some of the more recent shooting (school and non school) OR even after Columbine.

To be honest, I really think the reason this has become more and more prevalent is simply because of the increased use of the Internet.

Crackpots existed since the dawn of civilization, but they were often loners whose only method of organization was through their neighborhoods and local community, and might have gotten another crackpot or two. They were otherwise basically outcasts... the village idiot if you will.

Now, thanks to the Internet, you've got a worldwide audience, and your reach to form crackpot armies is as easy as hosting a VBulletin or phpBB forum and discussing your theories. What used to be a couple of loose screws is now a few hundred or few thousand strong group who will reenforce your beliefs, no matter how ridiculous. That enhances confidence, and you're much more able to coordinate a political assault on whomever you want, including this poor guy.

[XCashier]

No good deed goes unpunished, apparently.

[Jaden]

To be honest, I really think the reason this has become more and more prevalent is simply because of the increased use of the Internet.

This is my thought. I don't think it's America, I think it's just the internet. Any even vaguely rational people in America will recognize this man as a hero.

[BlaqueKatt]

To be honest, I really think the reason this has become more and more prevalent is simply because of the increased use of the Internet.<snip>Now, thanks to the Internet, you've got a worldwide audience, and your reach to form crackpot armies is as easy as hosting a VBulletin or phpBB forum and discussing your theories. What used to be a couple of loose screws is now a few hundred or few thousand strong group who will reenforce your beliefs, no matter how ridiculous. That enhances confidence, and you're much more able to coordinate a political assault on whomever you want, including this poor guy.

Don't forget the total BS of "everyone's opinions must be respected"*, no Ideas don't deserve respect-period. Respect people, ideas are credible or not, and do not deserve respect.


*For example-equating the bible with science, a former playboy playmate being equal to respected scientists/scholars.....

[Panacea]

Ugh. I had to listen to this shit at work today (first day of hospital clinic for my students).

I went into the break room to sit for a minute and check the weather reports (might have to cancel clinic tomorrow for bad weather). A bunch of staff were chatting, and one of the CNAs started going on about how Newtown was a "setup."

I asked her what she meant by that. She said, "you know, the government staged it."

I stared at her. "Really? You believe the government faked this? Really?" Add a dose of contempt to my vocal tone, please.

She didn't bat an eye. "Oh, yes. You just look at the pictures. No ambulances. No one was crying. The cops were just wandering around like nothing happened. The so called grieving parents were laughing with Obama on stage. It's all about taking our guns away."

I stood up at that point and said, "You know, that people would say such things to grieving parents just because they don't want gun control in this country is just despicable. Then I turned and walked out before I said something I would regret.

Stupid, paranoid bitch.

[Nekojin]

Even most gun rights advocates don't go down the crazy hole of thinking that everything is some sort of a social control conspiracy. That takes a special kind of whack-a-doodle.

[Rageaholic]

She didn't bat an eye. "Oh, yes. You just look at the pictures. No ambulances. No one was crying. The cops were just wandering around like nothing happened. The so called grieving parents were laughing with Obama on stage. It's all about taking our guns away."

I stood up at that point and said, "You know, that people would say such things to grieving parents just because they don't want gun control in this country is just despicable. Then I turned and walked out before I said something I would regret.

Stupid, paranoid bitch.

Not just paranoid, but narcissistic. It takes a lot of nerve to think that people would orchestrate this eleborate hoax just to have a reason to take their guns away. If you even suggest that they're overthinking this, they act like you are the idiot for believing what you're told. Of course, you're not an idiot for believing what ever they're telling you...

[HYHYBT]

Does it count if, on hearing about the occurrence, you thought of the whole setup/conspiracy thing on your own but dismissed the idea as nonsense?

[Rageaholic]

Does it count if, on hearing about the occurrence, you thought of the whole setup/conspiracy thing on your own but dismissed the idea as nonsense?

Na, thinking up possible conspiracy theories isn't nutty. What's nutty is assuming that your conspiracy theory is correct and trying to convince the world despite having questionable evidence.

[Pixilated]

I encountered this at work. I mentioned the whole Newtown conspiracy thing and a customer/friend of a coworker said, "Oh, I really think there's something to that."

But ... but ... what about the victims? The people who were actually there??

Oh, said she, it's the same as 9/11 -- they never really existed.



About that time I decided to go mop the floor.

Take note this is a young woman (young enough to be my granddaughter) and also a university student ... and she's studying international relations.