Gay youth's killing sparks tolerance debate

Boy. My English is not much better than the eighth graders that we're talking about. Sorry.
The offensive line should read; Why wasn't someone in authority doing something about
stopping Larry's actions?

Thanks

Red Wolf is right in my opinion.

What could possibly have been going through the kid's head that made him think shooting someone in the head---not once but twice---was a viable option to being teased?

Why would anyone feel embarrassed if a gay guy teased them after initiating what was probably intended as ridicule?

"Me thinks thou protesteth too much...." as Shakespeare said.

I really believe that this "straight" kid may have deeper issues and insecurities about his own sexuality---as I believe all "Straight" guys who find it viable to ridicule a gay person also have hidden issues with which they are unable to deal....and attempt to overcompensate by such actions.

Have you seen "American Beauty?" The role that Chris Cooper played, the Marine Colonel Frank Fitts, describes in vivid detail what I am talking about...and what really may have been going on here....and what may be going on when any "straight" guy ridicules a gay guy.

His life should not be ruined???? because he viciously shot another teenager in the head "his life should not be ruined..." ???????

Orvis----tell me you do not really think this way....or find such thinking and rationalization a sane statement....come on....take the "gay" out of it and reassess....

Well I'll start by agreeing with David that I agree with Red... to a point.

Almost everyone is teased at some point while going through school. In my opinion, learning to deal with people is one of the most important lessons children learn in school. I've know quite a few people who were home-schooled or sent through private schools where everyone had the same upbringing. They may very well have excellent academic skills, but a high percentage of them turned out to be social rejects. I say they turned out to be rejects because they didn't develop the skills to deal with people of totally different beliefs or cultures. They didn't learn to deal with someone teasing them for being different.

I sure took my share of being teased in school and it toughened my skin a bit. If school administrators try to keep kids from being kids, they prevent them from learning these important lessons of life.

On the other hand, kids have been showing an inability to deal with these stresses. Whether it is the Columbine shooting or the Omaha mall shooting or any of the other terrible events, kids are going over the edge as a result of the pressures of adolescence.

My question is of the chicken and egg type. Are they killing because they haven't developed the coping skills needed to handle adolescence? If so, is it because:

1) Parents and teachers in the early years took a strong stance against teasing and ridicule. Therefore, the children do not possess the necessary social skills by the time they reach their teenage years.

2) Parents and teachers in Jr. High and High schools aren't doing enough to stop the teasing that goes on in practically every school across the nation.

My disagreement with David is on a different issue.

as I believe all "Straight" guys who find it viable to ridicule a gay person also have hidden issues with which they are unable to deal....and attempt to overcompensate by such actions.

I am straight and have never felt any homosexual tendencies or feelings. Never had any doubt about my own orientation. When I was a young teenager though, I remember absolutely hating gay people. I didn't know why. I knew it was unjustified, prejudiced and wrong, but felt real disgust when I saw the very "in-your-face" gay students or celebrities.
My attitude changed over the years and I am now a staunch supporter of gay and lesbian rights. I feel perfectly comfortable in gay settings and do not feel any of the hate that consumed me as a high school Frosh/Soph.

Point being, I didn't have hidden issues when I found it viable to ridicule gay people. I wasn't overcompensating by such actions. Likewise, my acceptance of the gay community arose neither from resolving any previously hidden issues nor admitting and opening up any previously hidden issues. I think it had more to do with maturity. I was surrounded by peers and culture that told me "gay = bad". As I matured and found the strength to have my own voice, I realized there was a reason I though the hatred was unjustified, prejudiced and wrong... because it was. After feeling comfortable with the fact that the masses around me could be wrong while I was right, I was able to let go of the hate.

Alot of the hatred has to do with perceived and very real peer pressure----"if you dont hate gays you are obviously gay...."

The issue is one of core identity and therefore VERY big in everyone's eyes-----maybe because "sissy" type people make others uncomfortable----etc...

You said it, APA:

After feeling comfortable with the fact that the masses around me could be wrong while I was right, I was able to let go of the hate.

What really is very much of concern is the fact that somehow the kid who shot the other kid to death apparently felt "the masses" would be ok with what he did....or did he? Maybe there was an issue of which we are not made aware presently......

I have to wonder if here isn't more to this story---along the lines of the straight guy having been "involved" with the guy who wore dresses....and feared being exposed. such a fear could be the basis for committing such a horror.....

The only way to explain, presuming that the peer pressure around this kid would be that such a murder was NOT an acceptable thing, such a heinous act which violated both internal and external pressures against committing murder, brutally------is that there was another factor that made him discount even the fear of committing murder and its ramifications,

If not---the barbarism is far worse than we can even comprehend and this boy was a vacuous sub species degenerate. I really have a hard time believing that one.