Is it just me....?

[lv_sinnerz]

So I'm sure we've all been watching the news (at least at some point over the past month or so). Here's what I don't get.

Why bring up gun control laws after a devastating event?

Why do people do stupid things like embezzle millions of dollars of state taxes?

Why do people embezzle money from charities and claim they were doing the right thing??

Do we really need to hear about Angelina Jolie and Madonna's newest adopted child?

What new "Bushism" will be said today?

Global warming, scientific fact or scare tactic?

Then someone, somewhere, somehow decides to associate global warming with "Armageddon" the end of all things.

And to top that, someone else has managed to link the freeway collapse with the Bush Administration, linking that (somehow) to 9/11 conspiracies and the early clock change.

Okay, so those last two really weren't on the news, just things I've read on the internet.

So, I'd like to just kind of touch on all of these and see what people think. You may not agree with what I say, you may not like it, and that's okay. Good for you. Some of it may be my opinion, and a good portion of it may be truth. Whatever the case may be, it's your right to disagree with it, but please do not throw insults when you hardly know who I am as a person. Insults are childish, and anyone who engages in insulting people based on what is written by them is really just a child themselves (either mentally or otherwise) on the computer.

First up, the gun control thing. This was brought up not even a week after the VT shootings. Granted, I know it's curiosity, but let's have a moment for the victims before we start talking politics. However, gun control laws are not the issue. What the issue really is no one wants to hear, and no one wants to acknowledge either. I'm talking about enforcing existing laws with a bit of common sense.

Some might argue that the laws we have on the books aren't enough. Well, I say that's partially right. We need to "ADD ON" to the laws we have already. By that, I mean we need to start "screening" people who purchase firearms. Me personally, I've never owned a gun, and never had any intention of owning a firearm of any kind. I support the 2nd Amendment when it comes to people wanting to protect themselves, but firearms are just not my style. I'm more into knives, swords, cutlery, anything that will hurt longer than a bullet will.

Before I go off track, let me give an example of what I mean. To those who either have purchased firearms, or are considering to do so, when was the last time you walked into either a pawn shop or a store that sells firearms, and have been asked a series of questions regarding your motives, intentions, mental health issues, etc? Probably never. The only mandate (for some states, there are other mandates) is that you pass a background check and have a waiting period of (I think) 10 days (I think it's 10 business days). Some states have required that you are not only screened on the Federal level, but state, county, and local as well.

It took YEARS before it became a federal law to have a background check when purchasing firearms, and for years it was argued by civil rights leaders (cue in ACLU) that it would infringe upon citizens' rights and so forth. Now, the question becomes should we have psychological testing for people looking to purchase firearms or better yet ANY weapons at all? Again, this is where the lovely ACLU would step in and say "UH UH! NO NO!" and fight tooth and nail about it, saying it would again infringe upon rights.

I'm sure someone, somewhere, right now is typing a response to my message for even mentioning ACLU or psychological testing. Before you post it, read the entire message FIRST. This might help you understand in CONTEXT (I know, that's a really big word for people, but please try to see the bigger picture), but try to interpret what I'm saying as opinion, and not fact.

People are always ready to blame something when a tragedy like VT, Columbine, or any other school related issue comes up. The first thing that parents (of any school student, college or otherwise) want to blame is the gun stores, gun manufacturers, etc, but are rarely willing to accept that maybe their kid is really nuts, or don't want to take responsibility themselves for how they raised their kids. I can tell you from experience that I truthfully wanted to beat the crap out of those who harassed me, but I didn't because I knew better, and I had loving parents who taught me to know better. Then people blame the media (news, music, video games). What some folks don't realize is that not every kid who plays a violent video game, or listens to violent music, is going to commit a violent act or crime. I played violent video games for years, and never once acted on my urge to carry out my... um... fantasies! No matter how enticing. Again, I credit my parents for this.

The truth is guns are not the issue. It's the support network of the person who chooses to use them. Parenting, friendships, relationships, etc all play a key role, whether we'll admit it or not. I can easily go out and purchase a firearm if I so chose, be able to pass the background check, and not be looked at twice about it. What sets me apart from others is that 1) I have good friends, 2) I have a loving family, and 3) I've been taught not to do stupid shit.

Anyway, on to the next topic. It never ceases to amaze me (though, I'll admit, some of it is not surprising) that people will go to such lengths to steal money, deny the whole thing, deny any wrongdoing or involvement, but yet all evidence is pointing squarely at them. Put it this way, it's like someone who shits and pisses in their pants. You can smell it, you can see it, and you know it's them from the stains on their pants (respective crotch areas), but they will argue until they are blue in the face that they didn't crap themselves!

So why do people steal period? Is it a sense of accomplishment? Is it a sense of self-righteousness, that they feel entitled to it? Is it a bragging thing? Some people feel strongly that they are in the right when they steal, whether it's from government organizations to charities, etc. Case in point, I watched a news story the other day about a woman (I can't remember if she was white, hispanic, asian, or what) who stole money from a charity organization here in Colorado, and she claims it was to "bypass the red tape" with government, but yet her bank records show purchases from places like Wal-Mart, Pizza hut, Subway, hair salons, King Soopers (grocery chain in Colorado, Kroger owned), etc. She denied wrongdoing, but it was plain as day that she was using this money for her own expenses rather than giving to those who needed it.

I'll admit that at times, it seems like the only way out of a financial rut is to steal money. Though, again, I know it's wrong, no matter how well intentioned it may be. I feel I'm entitled to it (we all do at times), but it's just a matter of common sense, and not doing something REALLY stupid.

Another case was a trio (now a duo based on Grand Jury indictments) who were forging tax returns from the state of Colorado, and had been doing it for years (I think I last heard the figure somewhere around $5 or $6 million). I've never had a reason to lie on my tax returns. I figure if I owe, okay, and if I don't owe, GREAT. Besides, I'm one of those who feel that if I do it, I'll be the sucker who gets caught right away! It never fails. Here again is a case where someone does something wrong, got caught, and is now denying any wrongdoing.

Here's a good example. A few months ago, I was in a Walgreens store getting some "medical" items. I won't say what they are because that's a little personal. While I was in there, I overheard a black woman shouting, cussing, swearing, etc. (For those who are going to flame me, it was apparent that this was a black woman based on her level of shouting, her "dialect" of sorts, and her attitude to boot) Apparently, she had taken something (supposedly) and the manager was asking her for the receipt to verify that she had purchased it. Oh, she kept swearing up and down, shouting, cursing, and refused to give any proof whatsoever of what it was she had.

Whether she really stole the item (whatever it was) or not is not the point. It's how it was handled. A similar incident took place about a week or so prior to that when I was in Wal-Mart (at 2am in the morning) purchasing some cough medicine and a DVD. As I was walking out, a black guy and a white young woman were walking past me, and the alarm went off just as they crossed through the alarm sensors. The lady who was assigned to watch the front door tried pursuing them and asking them to empty their pockets. Again, the individuals refused, kicked, screamed, cursed, cussed, shouted, etc. They even pointed at me and said I was the one who set off the alarm.

The Wal-mart lady turned to me and asked for my receipt and also to look in my bag, and empty my pockets, etc. Gladly, I did so to prove I had nothing hidden or stolen. By this time, the couple already left, and I was the one being searched. This was a bit inconvenient, and wasteful in my view as the people who set off the alarms weren't stopped sufficiently, and yet I was the one being searched because I had the bag of items, I had the long trench coat on, and it was 2am in the morning. Go fuckin' figure.

Basically, when people do stupid things and get caught, they are usually the first ones to deny ANYTHING, and EVERYTHING and are not willing to cooperate as in the case of the woman in the walgreens store, and the couple walking out of the wal-mart store. Those that have done nothing wrong are usually the first to cooperate fully, and will provide whatever proof there is to quickly exonerate themselves and move on, such as my case when I was "searched" for hidden items. I didn't care so long as they were assured that I had done nothing wrong.

As for hearing the "gossip" of Hollywood, it just seems to me like people crave this sort of "news" or whatever it's called. Quite frankly, I could care less who Angelina's newly adopted son or daughter is, nor do I care who got hitched with what actor or actress, and who their parents are, and who they were married to, and who has been cheating on whom for the last 9 years. This kind of information is nothing I need to know, but apparently people like my mother are obsessed with knowing everything there is to know about Brad Pitt, Rod Stewart, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, etc. It's like an addiction all its own, craving the juicy details of a love affair between actors and actressed, who fucked who (literally and figuratively), and why.

The popular topic now is Global Warming. Some see this as a sign of the "End Times" or as the bible likes to refer to it as "Armageddon" or the "Apocalypse". Each year, something new about global warming is released to the news media, and then I see all sorts of documentaries about Nostradamus' predictions, Biblical revelations, etc. And like each year, there's never a nuclear war, hell doesn't open up and the devil doesn't pop up to grab souls. No massive earthquake swallows up California, and no flood lasts more than a week or two (or in the case of Hurricane Katrina, a month). Speaking of that, there are a few people across the vast internet who thought Katrina was the sign of things to come, things that will initiate the end of the world.

What is intriguing is the fact that most people have a need to associate events (disasters, natural or artificial) with Biblical references, predictions from someone who's been dead for centuries, or have a need to associate any event with "End times". This all goes back to the reason that religion was formed. It was a way to explain things that science could not, and provide comfort to those who needed that intangible security blanket. Religion has, in some ways, provided people with a tool to lash out at others whom they do not agree with, or have different beliefs. What people forget is that in any religion, any religious document or book of belief, has been used in the killing of innocent people because it was widely believed to be the just cause. Some have used it as an excuse to murder people unassociated with that person.

Anyway, global warming is an interesting topic, and one that we must pay attention to. However, some people are taking it WAY too seriously, while others are not taking it seriously enough. Is it real? I think so. 10 years ago in Colorado, you could have your window open in the summer and a really good cool breeze to come in, and you would rarely have to use the A/C. Nowadays, even here in Colorado, where one wouldn't think, it's been hot enough to use A/C and keep the windows closed up.

Lastly, there seems to be some on the internet that claim there is a link between global warming, the bees disappearing, the early clock adjustment this year, 9/11 tragedy, and other conspiracies linked to the Bush Administration. How this link came about I do not know, but it's funny if you think about it.

Anywho, I'm just your average United States citizen (I don't say American, because Mexicans are Americans and so are Canadians, since all three cultures are living in North AMERICA!) who doesn't care for the current Bush Administration, and didn't care for the Senior Bush Administration either. Though I will admit, it is both funny and ominous that we have a President who has a serious brain cramp somewhere. He'll say things that one would think to themselves "What the fuck?"

Though the reason I say ominous is because we have a president who, for reasons of his own, will be smart enough to authorize warrantless wire-taps of U.S. citizens, and yet be dumb enough to come up with new words like "Misunderestimated" and such. It can only be summed up if you watch the movie "My Fellow Americans". It's a hilarious comedy, but it has a really good point in it. I forget the exact plot of the movie, but let's just say that the Vice President character (a lot like Al Gore if you think about it) acts stupid, but was smart enough to get rid of the sitting president, and outwit the two former Presidents all to be the next sworn-in President himself.

I think of George DUBYA Bush the same way. He may ACT dumb and SAY dumb things, but it's scary the way he uses and abuses his authority to such extents that will encroach upon freedoms in every way. Does this mean I think he had something to do with 9/11 and the subsequent events? Well, one has to wonder why him and his family had such a grudge against Saddam Hussein. One has to wonder why there is such a stake with Iraq, and one also has to consider the rammifications of the oil exports from Iraq in this whole thing.

Though I came across some message board postings on AOL a few weeks ago, maybe more recent, that someone posted how Bush had a part in creating the freeway disaster in California. This is where I start to disbelieve ANY sort of conspiracy theory, no matter how much I dislike Bush. How could a man sitting in the Oval Office have any part, any influence on events that happen 4 or 5k miles away? Did he hold a gun to the semi drivers' head? Was there a bribery of sorts? Then topping that off is this individual's need to associate it (again, we go back to the need for association, whether real or not, coincidental or not) with the 9/11 tragedy and how that event shaped this one, and how the early clock change contributed to the events leading to the collapse of the freeway. I mean this person was really laying into it with the theories. I was like... Again, I'm not pro-Bush on anything, but seriously, some of these theories are just way too far-fetched to even be real. I saw one post about a year ago that claimed Bush had secretly asked the Military to initiate a weapon to cause the Tsunamis. I mean, if this was just far-fetched, it was plain science fiction gone wrong.

In any case, it just seems to me that some want to blame, some want to taunt, some like to agitate, some REALLY like to theorize to the point of not making much sense, and there are those who feel it's all Biblical.

I think people forget that it's not necessarily the President's fault that things happen the way they do, or having lost a job, a wife/husband having affairs separately, children of any age shooting other children, earthquakes, collapse of bridges, home mortgage rates rising, interest rates rising (although with his Bushisms, one would tend to agree on the interest rates rising based on that alone).

Here's one of my own that I can easily point out. I don't think it's true, but nevertheless, it's something to think about. Has anyone noticed that in the past 7 years or so since Bush took office, we've seen a steady (and sometimes sharp) rise in Gas prices? Seriously for a moment, ever since Clinton left, Gore lost the election, and Bush became our 43rd? President, we've had a sharp rise in Gas prices, and it has not gone down since. I doubt they'll go down even after we get rid of the DUBYA! He's making too much money off of it.

Now there's a conspiracy theory for ya. Granted, I don't think it's true, but it's interesting coincidence that happens to be true. Ever since George DUBYA Bush got elected and sworn in, we've had gas prices well over $2 / gal and barely got to see that dip below $2 for about 2 days back in, I think, March.

So just some things to think about. Again, all my own worth! I'm going to bed. Niters all!

[93rollaracer]

Holy long post batman! I'll read it later when I don't have a pizza to pick up

[drunken monkey]

i'm sorry but did you actually ask why people deny stealing money or some other such crime?

[lv_sinnerz]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

i'm sorry but did you actually ask why people deny stealing money or some other such crime?

For a moment, let's consider that. If you ask someone WHY they are denying the suspicious act, do you really think they're going to give a reasonable answer? I mean, I don't think I've ever heard someone say something like "Because I don't need a receipt to prove this item is mine!" even though it clearly has price tags from THAT PARTICULAR STORE on whatever it is they are accused of taking without paying for.

Does this mean they're necessarily criminal? You be the judge. All I know is that every time I've heard someone scream, shout, throw the adult equivalent of a temper tantrum in a store, deny that they did anything wrong, and curse and cuss up a storm, it usually means they've done something stupid, got caught, and now they don't want to fess up to it. It's been my experience that people who genuinely have done nothing wrong are usually the first ones to cooperate to avoid any kind of trouble with law enforcement.

On the opposite side of that, people who have something to hide generally don't want to confess, and even if they did, the WHY doesn't really matter because the person got caught doing something stupid. I doubt very much that police and other store officials will listen to a reason and drop charges based on the story given. I mean, are they really going to care about how your dog died, your wife/husband left you, and you have no money, and have no job, etc etc. The bottom line is, if you stole it, you deserve every bit of what's coming to ya. Case closed.

[Ian Szgatti]

Even having good parents and lots of love won't stop people froming doing crazy shit... Menendez brothers, OJ Simpson, Brittney Spears, Micheal fucking Jackson...

People can just wig in a minute.

You for example... I don't care how much your Mom loves you, or how many high fives Dad gave you, you know you want to smash people... I get that vibe from you. Your thoughtful, analytical, and absolutely filled to the rim with pent up rage. The only thing that holds you back is fear. It's important though to understand that the very same thing holds us all back, and I guess it's perfectly healthy. If you were really at your wits end with the world though, something would happen, as in the case of these others who went off. None of us are extraordinarily different than one another, don't think it's because your loved, it's because your brain hasn't told you to do it.


People stealing from charity? Fact is, we're all thieves who try not to get caught, but some of us have a pride that is on the verge of non-exsistence, and rely on the most basic of principals to attain some sence of self-worth, otherwise we'd not pull back the sheets in the morning. Perhaps it's not fair to put everyone in the thief catagory, but I feel like 98% of people fall into it in some capacity.

Global Warming... it's fucking real for christs' sake. take a glass with nothing in it, add water. Now theres something in the glass because you filled it. Ok so we dump millions of tonnes of shit into our atmosphere every year... we're fuckiung filling it... as a general rule, this dilution has an impact, it's just like that. People expect the change to be as sudden as a bomb blast, and we are that stupid... is that what it takes for us to believe??? Look at simple examples of science man!! It's that clear!!

[lv_sinnerz]

Originally Posted by Ian Szgatti

Global Warming... it's fucking real for christs' sake. take a glass with nothing in it, add water. Now theres something in the glass because you filled it. Ok so we dump millions of tonnes of shit into our atmosphere every year... we're fuckiung filling it... as a general rule, this dilution has an impact, it's just like that. People expect the change to be as sudden as a bomb blast, and we are that stupid... is that what it takes for us to believe??? Look at simple examples of science man!! It's that clear!!

I wasn't taking anything away from the "science" of global warming, I was just merely pointing out the masses' need to associate it with some biblical reference or some prediction made centuries ago. I don't doubt GW is happening, but rather I question the "urgency" of some who have made it seem so dire that our current population has to deal with it now.

First off, let me back up. Yes, we do have a responsibility to get things done now. Make changes in our daily lives that will (hopefully) reduce the effects, but it's not going to be an overnight change. Nothing, especially with ANY government on any level, is that quick to change. Hell, it doesn't even happen for decades. Secondly, if people were really serious about it, and wanted to start cutting down the effects, we'd stop using anything that produces greenhouse gases ... like TOMORROW! Problem is, we're too dependent on a 24/7 lifestyle that won't cease until we've destroyed the earth and then it will be too late.

Anyway, just something to think about.

[drunken monkey]

wow.. what a short sighted view of "how things are" you have.
if someone makes a fuss, then they're always 100% guilty?

do criminals deserve punishment for their crimes?
yes; absolutely but surely it doesn't take a genius to see why people would make a fuss when caught.
It also doesn't take a genius to see that if you stop me for no reason and accuse me of crime I didn't commit, I have a right to make a fuss.

[lv_sinnerz]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

wow.. what a short sighted view of "how things are" you have.
if someone makes a fuss, then they're always 100% guilty?

do criminals deserve punishment for their crimes?
yes; absolutely but surely it doesn't take a genius to see why people would make a fuss when caught.
It also doesn't take a genius to see that if you stop me for no reason and accuse me of crime I didn't commit, I have a right to make a fuss.

Me personally, I have no problem if someone wants to make sure I didn't do something wrong. But to make a fuss just for the sake of... making a fuss, then there is something wrong. Either that person truly has something to hide that they shouldn't be hiding, even if no crime has been committed right there and then, or they have some problem with authority.

[drunken monkey]

so how about that store alarm incident you mentioned?
If you had nothing to hide as it were, why did you, upon hearing the alarm stop at the door?
Surely if you didn't do anything you would've carried on walking on by.
Or did you stop to watch what was going on with the couple?
Incompentence is incompetence and the couple getting away is a fault of the woman at the door.
What also interests me in your story is that you, knowing that it must have been the couple, did nothing to stop them getting away.

Originally Posted by lv_sinnerz

Basically, when people do stupid things and get caught, they are usually the first ones to deny ANYTHING, and EVERYTHING and are not willing to cooperate as in the case of the woman in the walgreens store, and the couple walking out of the wal-mart store. Those that have done nothing wrong are usually the first to cooperate fully, and will provide whatever proof there is to quickly exonerate themselves and move on, such as my case when I was "searched" for hidden items.]

You seem to miss the fact that if I had done nothing wrong, of course I would deny everything. I'm not going to hold my hands up and say "yup, I've been stealing" even if i hadn't.


And believe it or not, co-operating isn't a 100% sign of innocence.

[lv_sinnerz]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

so how about that store alarm incident you mentioned?
If you had nothing to hide as it were, why did you, upon hearing the alarm stop at the door?
Surely if you didn't do anything you would've carried on walking on by.
Or did you stop to watch what was going on with the couple?
Incompentence is incompetence and the couple getting away is a fault of the woman at the door.
What also interests me in your story is that you, knowing that it must have been the couple, did nothing to stop them getting away.



You seem to miss the fact that if I had done nothing wrong, of course I would deny everything. I'm not going to hold my hands up and say "yup, I've been stealing" even if i hadn't.


And believe it or not, co-operating isn't a 100% sign of innocence.

Well, it's been my experience that someone who is defiant as all hell usually has something to hide. By the way, I did nothing to stop them because I was too damn tired at 2am in the mornin' and really didn't want to fight about merchandise that is really the store's responsibility to begin with. Besides, if I must fight, it'll be to defend myself, my family, or my friends, and not necessarily in that order.

Oh, and I stopped at the door, because at times even though I've made a purchase, the alarm does tend to go off. Usually it's a more "pricey" buy that sets off the alarm, not what I bought that night. I simply wanted to present my receipt just in case they decide it was me that was stealing shit, even though I wasn't. Any other time during the day, that couple could have been stopped by security. Why it wasn't present at this time in the morning is anyone's guess.

EDIT: Just a little side note. if you've done nothing wrong, and are accused anyway, why make a big ol' fuss out of nothing when all you have do to is prove otherwise and be on your merry way in .... oh... 30 seconds to MAYBE 2 minutes tops???? Unless your time is REALLY that important that you've taken the time out of your day to shop at a store, and can't WAIT another minute to go home and brag about whatever it is you bought (or if you stole it, what you "lifted" from the store and got away with).

[drunken monkey]

it's not about the time, it's about the principle.

simple question time again, how much effort would it have taken for you to point out to the lady that the couple were leaving? After all, as you say, you were innocent so it must have been them. Knowing this, you still stood by and let them walk away?

[lv_sinnerz]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

it's not about the time, it's about the principle.

simple question time again, how much effort would it have taken for you to point out to the lady that the couple were leaving? After all, as you say, you were innocent so it must have been them. Knowing this, you still stood by and let them walk away?

First off, the guy was about twice my size. I wouldn't dare go up against someone that much bigger than me... at least not when I am sick, and actually I failed to point out that I did point them out, but the lady herself wasn't in any better shape than I was being much older than I am and about several inches shorter than myself.

And that brings up my point before. You ask why I stood by and let them walk out. As I said in my original post, I was buying cough medicine along with a movie to help me sleep. Hmm.. I wonder WHY I didn't go after them seeing as I didn't feel good. Normally, I'd be happy to step in and tackle someone down, but honestly if I am not up to par, it's just not going to happen. That and it was friggin' cold outside (as it was during the winter months, and anyone who has lived in Colorado knows how cold winters can be).