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<blockquote data-quote="EvilPheemy" data-source="post: 3643704" data-attributes="member: 3700">Society has always needed a scapegoat to explain abhorrent behavior.&nbsp; It's a natural reaction because the vast majority of people do not neglect their infant children to the point of near-death (or murder their peers in cold blood, blow up office buildings, or any number of sensational, headline-creating crimes that our media pushes in our collective faces 24/7).&nbsp; Our first reaction is to ask the question &quot;why?&quot;, and especially in cases like this, the answer is far too deep and complex to present in a two minute news clip, or a 10 paragraph story.&nbsp; Society just wants to be reassured that &quot;it won't happen to *us*&quot;.Thus, the fringe hobbies come out to the front.&nbsp; &quot;They were obsessed with 'Dungeons and Dragons'&quot;, or violent video games, or the goth scene&quot;.&nbsp; Just insert anything that can be pointed at, and easily stereotyped.&nbsp; Then the &quot;why&quot; ceases to be a complicated and deep subject.&nbsp; No one has to worry that they're darling little children, or themselves might have an issue, all the &quot;average&quot; person needs to do is avoid the strange little activity pointed out in the article or story.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="EvilPheemy, post: 3643704, member: 3700"] Society has always needed a scapegoat to explain abhorrent behavior. It's a natural reaction because the vast majority of people do not neglect their infant children to the point of near-death (or murder their peers in cold blood, blow up office buildings, or any number of sensational, headline-creating crimes that our media pushes in our collective faces 24/7). Our first reaction is to ask the question "why?", and especially in cases like this, the answer is far too deep and complex to present in a two minute news clip, or a 10 paragraph story. Society just wants to be reassured that "it won't happen to *us*". Thus, the fringe hobbies come out to the front. "They were obsessed with 'Dungeons and Dragons'", or violent video games, or the goth scene". Just insert anything that can be pointed at, and easily stereotyped. Then the "why" ceases to be a complicated and deep subject. No one has to worry that they're darling little children, or themselves might have an issue, all the "average" person needs to do is avoid the strange little activity pointed out in the article or story. [/QUOTE]

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