# A big middle finger to the people who took advantage to politicize the school shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2018, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107 "2018-02-19T09:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/301 "2018-02-22T15:00:32Z")
Some folks are trolls. Some folks are stupid. Some folks are both. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/302 "2018-02-22T15:01:43Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Nonetheless. I have dusted off what little remains of my own personal “faith” and I have said a sincere prayer, aimed in the direction of God as Christians understand Him. My prayer was short and simple, along these lines: > > Dear God, > Please stop the gun violence in the United States by whatever means is necessary. In the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and anything else that is important to you, amen. > > So there you go. A Canadian agnostic has submitted a sincere prayer to an indifferent God. But perhaps this God has His own version of Facebook and he will not even consider the request until sufficient prayers have been submitted. He’s got mine now so I am assuming the gun violence in the US will be stopping forwith. Yep, any day now… just waiting on those last few prayers. I don’t have a problem with prayer. I offer up my prayers for the sake of others, on the off chance there is someone listening, they deserve it, and a god should not hold my personal disbelief of his existence against others. Offering up _my_ thoughts and prayers is about the most I can do. I can vote to try to get people into office that will address the problem. I can try to convince friends to vote the same way. I can go on a message board, and try to lay out arguments that may get people to vote for people that will make a difference. That is the limit of my ability to affect any change. It is when those who are in a position to affect a change that [stand back and offer their prayers,](https://imgur.com/a/KQpPY) rather than actions that it’s a bit ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/303 "2018-02-22T16:17:21Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Are you literally acting as if the other side doesn’t do the same thing? [Ah, the Both Sides Do It lie. The first refuge of the asshole.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20803521#post20803521) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/304 "2018-02-22T16:17:54Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Are you literally acting as if the other side doesn’t do the same thing? Are you of the opinion that it is o.k. to whatever the fuck you want as long as you can find someone else who does some variation of it also? ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/305 "2018-02-22T17:04:54Z")
> [@ausqb](#): > > What second amendment supporters are pointing to is not some mythical Red Dawn scenario, but a very pragmatic and demonstrable notion that ruling by violence and intimidation is far more costly when the oppressed are armed, thereby requiring government to CONTINUALLY retain a larger degree of consent from the governed. Well, if it is such a demonstrable notion, please demonstrate it, because I’m not buying it. The exact opposite appears to be happening from what I can see, where the fact that the “oppressed” are heavily armed is constantly being used as the justification for trigger happy cops and the increased militarization of the police force in America. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/306 "2018-02-22T17:15:24Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > …And the who hell cares which party commits more shootings. … Republicans do. > **[Congresswoman Says Many Mass Murderers ‘End Up Being Democrats’ (Published 2018)](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/nyregion/tenney-mass-shooter-parkland.html)** > > The remarks by Representative Claudia Tenney, a Republican from Central New York, were quickly condemned by Democrats, who called on her to apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/307 "2018-02-22T17:49:35Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Republicans do. > [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/nyregion/tenney-mass-shooter-parkland.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/nyregion/tenney-mass-shooter-parkland.html) Ah, but Democrats are potty-mouths. See? It all balances out. Now stop thinking about this and agree that the Republicans win, or I shall get quite cross and foment violent insurrection. ---
**Author:** ![ausqb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@ausqb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ausqb)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/308 "2018-02-22T18:04:16Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Ah, the Both Sides Do It lie. The first refuge of the asshole.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20803521#post20803521) Except that it’s true. Both sides are completely full of BS at this point, and the level of ignorance on the left is quickly catching up with the Fox News nonsense. The very word that the left uses to describe themselves, “progressive”, is straight out of the propaganda playbook. It’s intentionally chosen to marginalize dissent – if you don’t agree with us, you’re “anti-progress”. That’s exactly the same kind of dishonest BS you have seen on the right for years. If you don’t see this playing out, you’re being really dishonest with yourself. There are people who have literally marched for equal rights being called racists because they have some misgivings about BLM, based solely on their concern that carving people up into little groups and demonizing each other might not be the best way to achieve a lasting harmony. This is the kind of discussion that should be embraced, but the left loses their mind over it. I don’t consider myself a member of either ideological camp, so maybe it’s easier for me to see that you are all full of crap. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/309 "2018-02-22T18:13:28Z")
> [@ausqb](#): > > Except that it’s true. Both sides are completely full of BS at this point, and the level of ignorance on the left is quickly catching up with the Fox News nonsense. The very word that the left uses to describe themselves, “progressive”, is straight out of the propaganda playbook. It’s intentionally chosen to marginalize dissent – if you don’t agree with us, you’re “anti-progress”. That’s exactly the same kind of dishonest BS you have seen on the right for years. > > If you don’t see this playing out, you’re being really dishonest with yourself. There are people who have literally marched for equal rights being called racists because they have some misgivings about BLM, based solely on their concern that carving people up into little groups and demonizing each other might not be the best way to achieve a lasting harmony. This is the kind of discussion that should be embraced, but the left loses their mind over it. > > I don’t consider myself a member of either ideological camp, so maybe it’s easier for me to see that you are all full of crap. You need to be MUCH less obvious. Next time try choosing a username like “Socky McSockerton”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/310 "2018-02-22T18:14:05Z")
Great-another fake “fence sitter”. Bitching about how both sides do it by pointing out the mistakes of one side, just to “balance” things out. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/311 "2018-02-22T18:32:06Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Ah, but Democrats are potty-mouths. > > See? It all balances out. Now stop thinking about this and agree that the Republicans win, or I shall get quite cross and foment violent insurrection. Potty mouthsd? Oh the poor poor snowflakes. I’m sick of their incessant WHINING like two year olds, that we don’t give them enough respect, while they trot out pieces of shit like Ted Nugent, Dana Loesch, Dinesh D’Souza , etc etc etc spewing all sorts of hate, threats, and lies. Y’all don’t get any respect. Take yer respect and blow it out yer assholes. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/312 "2018-02-22T18:39:02Z")
> [@ausqb](#): > > Except that it’s true. Both sides are completely full of BS at this point, and the level of ignorance on the left is quickly catching up with the Fox News nonsense. The very word that the left uses to describe themselves, “progressive”, is straight out of the propaganda playbook. It’s intentionally chosen to marginalize dissent – if you don’t agree with us, you’re “anti-progress”. That’s exactly the same kind of dishonest BS you have seen on the right for years. > > If you don’t see this playing out, you’re being really dishonest with yourself. There are people who have literally marched for equal rights being called racists because they have some misgivings about BLM, based solely on their concern that carving people up into little groups and demonizing each other might not be the best way to achieve a lasting harmony. This is the kind of discussion that should be embraced, but the left loses their mind over it. > > I don’t consider myself a member of either ideological camp, so maybe it’s easier for me to see that you are all full of crap. Oh, bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![ausqb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@ausqb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ausqb)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/313 "2018-02-22T18:45:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Great-another fake “fence sitter”. Bitching about how both sides do it by pointing out the mistakes of one side, just to “balance” things out. You interpret my truth telling as a cynical attempt to undermine your side in favor of “the other”, and you double down on your own BS. What’s actually happening is that both parties are disintegrating under the weight of your nonsense and others like you, and it can’t happen fast enough for me. My country is full of ignorant fools, and it’s depressing. Hopefully the Republican party will disintegrate first, because I agree they’re more dysfunctional right now, but the Democratic party needs to be in line right behind them. I am neither fake nor on the “fence”. I don’t allow my reality to be shaped by your fake dichotomy. I am in favor of REASON, and neither side is actually embracing it right now. Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/314 "2018-02-22T18:47:42Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Are you literally acting as if the other side doesn’t do the same thing? That’s it. I for one am done wasting my time on you. Take your bullshit and your supposed “learning thinking disability” and stuff them. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/315 "2018-02-22T19:02:01Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I have dusted off what little remains of my own personal “faith” and I have said a sincere prayer, aimed in the direction of God as Christians understand Him. My prayer was short and simple, along these lines: > > Dear God, > Please stop the gun violence in the United States by whatever means is necessary. In the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and anything else that is important to you, amen. > > So there you go. A Canadian agnostic has submitted a sincere prayer to an indifferent God. But perhaps this God has His own version of Facebook and he will not even consider the request until sufficient prayers have been submitted. He’s got mine now so I am assuming the gun violence in the US will be stopping forwith. Yep, any day now… just waiting on those last few prayers. Like. Also, just in case it’ll help: Share ETA: Ahh, let’s go for the trifecta: Thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/316 "2018-02-22T19:06:06Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The US government _is_ lapsing into treasonous tyranny, you clod, and there are tens of millions of Americans celebrating the downfall of the Republic by strolling around with their MAGA hats and blathering about how happy they are that “libs” are “triggered” by it. > [@Luciano700](#): > > Are you literally acting as if the other side doesn’t do the same thing? The “other side?” You idiot, the “other side” is the side that is _ **AGAINST** _ lapsing into treasonous tyranny. By DEFINITION. Doing “the same thing” is the OPPOSITE of what they do. Seriously, just turn in your time card and ask to be reassigned to a MLP:FIM discussion board. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/317 "2018-02-22T19:16:07Z")
> [@ausqb](#): > > Except that it’s true. Both sides are completely full of BS at this point, and the level of ignorance on the left is quickly catching up with the Fox News nonsense. The very word that the left uses to describe themselves, “progressive”, is straight out of the propaganda playbook. It’s intentionally chosen to marginalize dissent – if you don’t agree with us, you’re “anti-progress”. That’s exactly the same kind of dishonest BS you have seen on the right for years. > > If you don’t see this playing out, you’re being really dishonest with yourself. There are people who have literally marched for equal rights being called racists because they have some misgivings about BLM, based solely on their concern that carving people up into little groups and demonizing each other might not be the best way to achieve a lasting harmony. This is the kind of discussion that should be embraced, but the left loses their mind over it. > > I don’t consider myself a member of either ideological camp, so maybe it’s easier for me to see that you are all full of crap. > [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > You need to be MUCH less obvious. Next time try choosing a username like “Socky McSockerton”. I think _Sockertonovich_ might be more appropriate. Still a patronymic, don’tcha know… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/318 "2018-02-22T19:22:46Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I think _Sockertonovich_ might be more appropriate. > > Still a patronymic, don’tcha know… I still like “KillMooseandSquirrel!” ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/319 "2018-02-22T19:27:58Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The “other side?” You idiot, the “other side” is the side that is _ **AGAINST** _ lapsing into treasonous tyranny. By DEFINITION. Doing “the same thing” is the OPPOSITE of what they do. > > Seriously, just turn in your time card and ask to be reassigned to a MLP:FIM discussion board. Well then prove me wrong when we got countries like Sweden, Venezuela, South Africa and Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/320 "2018-02-22T19:32:44Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Well then prove me wrong when we got countries like Sweden, Venezuela, South Africa and Cuba. How are supposed to get them-buy them, or conquer them? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107.md?page=17)