Bill Maher of HBO’s “Real Time” recently argued for a total media blackout of mass killers.
“How about we have a blackout on the shooters and what they did,” said Maher during last Friday’s recording of the show.
“Yesterday was the opening of the baseball season,” he continued. “When somebody runs out on the field the camera doesn’t show it. They don’t give that person any publicity. Why can’t we at least do that in this country?”
“I don’t want to hear anything about it… I don’t want to know what orientation this person is, how old they are, what their manifesto said,” Maher added. “I don’t give a shit about any of it because it’s just going to inspire the next one.”
Maher’s argument is not without merit. There is evidence to suggest that media coverage of mass shootings can contribute to the spread of copycat crimes. The phenomenon of “suicide contagion,” in which an increase in suicides is observed after a highly publicized suicide, has been well-documented. A similar effect may be at work with mass shootings.
SEE ALSO: Video Proves Bill Maher is A Closeted Pro-Gunner
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson concurs though he stops short of a full blackout. Instead, he simply wants the media to stop naming the killer, as GunsAmerica previously reported.
We have to agree to never publicize the names of school shooters and other publicity-seeking mass murderers. This is not a gun or even a "mental health" issue. It's an issue of malevolent narcissists weaponizing mass media. Stop publishing their names and the problem will end.
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) May 26, 2022
I think some details should be made public, including the motive. It’s important to understand the “why” behind these tragedies.
In the case of the Buffalo shooter, for example, it is clear he was radicalized by white supremacy. In the case of the Nashville school shooter, it appears she (or he) was motivated by anti-Christian beliefs.
Understanding the “why” helps us identify ideologies that have the potential to radicalize at-risk youths, which in turn may help us prevent future attacks.
That said, I do agree that the names of these shooters should not be made public. What are your thoughts?
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Bill Maher is still a douche bag, nothing changed.
It seems to me that LIEberal Bill Maher is becoming more conservative in his older years.
As paul harvey said, yearsnyears ago, on reporting about an evil person having done an evil deed, “im sure he would want me to mention his name”
I agree with the not publicizing the names. Several good reasons:
1. With the shooter unidentified to the public, the innocent family members will not forever be harried due to what their relative did. Past cases families were forced to move, change names etc.
2. Dont give them their 15 minutes of fame, book deals, jail interviews etc, where the perpetrator is able to get their message to possibly radicalize another.
3. Refer to them as Mass shooter # 112 or some such, fuzz out face and sealed courtroom, thus removing the sense of pride the actor feels. Gender, age, race, religion, national origin etc.
4. Future actors may decide the worth of the action as it wont get them the attention, they just die at the scene or die in prison as a nobody.
This could be done relatively easy if Congress passes a bill that makes mass shooters a Domestic Terrorist. If arrested alive they go to GitMo and are tried by military tribunal and sentence is carried out be it death or life in super max. After all a drive by shooting by its very nature is a terroristic action. ie: Headline news, Domestic terrorist #xxx was found guilty and sentenced to death today, and was carried out by Military Firing squad 1 hour after sentencing. Case closed. The proper defense as well as all facts are brought to court and Military capital tribunals are extremely thorough.
Excellent Post!
While I am not a follower of Bill Maher, I have to agree with him on this one. I believe that the mass media frenzy that follows these types of devastating events just adds fuel to the fire. Certain details need to be released but to make it page one for the next two weeks is more harm than good. Again, just my opinion.
I have been saying this for years. There is a social contagion which grips sick minds. Under no circumstances should the name, photo, or likeness of the perpetrator be published. More than half the time they are suicidal, either by self or by cop, and the motive is irrelevant. They all have a beef—mad about their own failings, a job loss, relationship breakup, bullied at school, financial loss, can’t figure out how to get laid, and so on. The media enables them with a forum. They go from being a nobody and a nothing to being somebody courtesy of the media. There needs to be a voluntary moratorium on reporting these events, or at least the name and photo of the sick dude murdering people. The observer effect in physics states that the mere act of observing an event affects that which is observed. Exact same thing is happening here. Reporting this news creates more of the same.
The Nashville shooter was a “she”. No “he” in the equation whatsoever. Her gender dysphoric brain, hyped up with hatred for anyone who would question her choices or her sanity, may have been what set her off. Without access to the medical records that we will never see, it is impossible to know if she was on testosterone supplementation, at quantities her female brain should have not been exposed to.
We should know the mindset of these killers. Sounds like potential to cover up of the growing trend of tranny killers like the one in Highland Park or this most recent freak.
I will NOT sign on to the total blackout of information.
Absolutely, these sociopathic losers should not be named in the public at large. Doing so, provides them the very infamy they desire. I agree with author’s position.