Rhino, I think you're on to something there.
I also grew up in one of these middle class suburbs that was the same as everywhere else. And the pressure to conform was brutal as you state. But being of a technical nature, I didn't always "fit in" in the popular way. It was hard, but I coped. But the difference is, the last thing on my mind -- it never even crossed my mind -- was to kill someone, let alone go on a shooting rampage over it.
But when you mix in availability to firearms and Internet access on how to build bombs, and media culture of violence as video game, maybe that could do it.
There's something about that anytown theory that makes sense. I don't know if I blame corporations for it, though. That makes it another scapegoat. It has to come down to personal responsibility, I think. And strength of character, instilled over years by a strong family unit, should transcend the need to kill because you have been brutalized for being different.
It has been a difficult day. In some ways, harder even than yesterday.
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