But what WAS his motivation? Is this another SSRI drug crazy, or what? I want the etiology here.
I’m sure he was on SSRI’s, also like all the others. But he clearly also glorified the others, who were also made famous by the media.
Certainly with his high degree of “unpopularity”, at least some deranged soul would have at least made an attempt to get rid of the P.O.S.
My guess is we have desensitized the youth with a combination of mood altering drugs and violent video games further fueled by the non stop 24/7 coverage of these events when they happen.
Were it me, I’d attach one of these “bombs” to his balls, put him out in a field and have him watch the clock run down on the timer for the detonator. I’d broadcast that on every TV station and cable channel as it happened.
It is not so much a matter of motivation to do it, as a lack of any reason not to do it.
You are trying to reconcile his actions with your own mind. You think, naturally, that you would need a very strong incentive to overcome your natural revulsion to murder and suicide, not to mention the social, moral and religious condemnation of such things. But a kid can grow up today with none of these reactions.
Our society abjures any mention of God and condemns any objective moral standards. Violent media and video games can annihilate the natural negative reactions to murder and death. The result is a young man who can't think of a single good reason not to go on a murderous rampage that will result in his own death.
Combine that with the lionization these young killers receive after their deaths. In an attention-obsessed society, mass killers gain notoriety and are on TV for days. This is the most desirable thing these young men can think of, other than a month-long romp in the hay with some supermodel. (But what are the chances that is going to happen)
It may not seem like much of a motivation to you or me, but when there are no good reasons not to become a murderous monster, it is enough.