# Shooting at a Maryland Newspaper

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 28, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947 "2018-06-28T19:48:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947/81 "2018-07-04T16:26:21Z")

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> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> It’s like I’m talking to a brick wall

Pot, meet kettle.

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**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947/82 "2018-07-05T06:59:29Z")

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> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> Sure. You really believe that the intent of the words and intonation was not to intimidate and cast a chilling effect?

I think the primary intent of the words was to advertise a show, I really do. I don’t dispute that there might have been a secondary “chilling effect”, but I don’t believe it was her _intent_.

> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> I get that you would defend this sort of speech. It is carefully tailored to not actually cross lines to call to action…

I’m glad we found some agreement at least on this point.

> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> … you know that the reason for this was to upset people, while giggling and hiding behind what you think others recognized as a pedantic civility.

No, I disagree. I do not dispute that it has upset some people, but I don’t believe that was “the reason for this”. The _reason_ was to attract viewers for a show.

> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> I suppose you also would like to defend her “curb stomping” comments as not violent imagery, but simply flowery prose, too.

I believe [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPl1boVxeGA&feature=youtu.be&t=1m30s) is the comment you’re referring to (from November 2016). It too was not a call for “the action their members should take”, but I certainly don’t dispute that the imagery is violent, and I wished she hadn’t used that particular phrase. Bad Dana. I have a hard time getting too worked up about it because this statement sat out there for 20 months without, AFAICT, anyone really caring until last week, but I would not, actually "like to defend her “curb stomping comments”.

Certainly, the world would be a better place if we were all a bit more civil to each other, and avoided unnecessarily-inflammatory language and ridiculous hyperbole. I assume we agree on this point too?

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**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:** [July 5, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947/83 "2018-07-05T13:39:17Z")

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> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I think the primary intent of the words was to advertise a show, I really do. I don’t dispute that there might have been a secondary “chilling effect”, but I don’t believe it was her _intent_.

And the Kathy Griffith shenanigans were intended to be funny, not any sort of actual threat. Yet, not only did the right not find it funny and contemned, but so did the left. Which one still has their job?

> [@](#):
>
> I’m glad we found some agreement at least on this point.

Yes, and so is “Nice shop you have here, sure would be terrible if something happened to it.”

That someone carefully tailors words to not cross the legal threshold of threats doesn’t mean that there is no threat behind the words.

> [@](#):
>
> No, I disagree. I do not dispute that it has upset some people, but I don’t believe that was “the reason for this”. The _reason_ was to attract viewers for a show.

I mean, I guess, yeah. The reason for it was to attract viewers. Viewers who like language and imagery like curb stomping reporters. That really doesn’t make it better in my opinion.

> [@](#):
>
> I believe [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPl1boVxeGA&feature=youtu.be&t=1m30s) is the comment you’re referring to (from November 2016). It too was not a call for “the action their members should take”, but I certainly don’t dispute that the imagery is violent, and I wished she hadn’t used that particular phrase. Bad Dana. I have a hard time getting too worked up about it because this statement sat out there for 20 months without, AFAICT, anyone really caring until last week, but I would not, actually "like to defend her “curb stomping comments”.

There was a furor of commentary at the time, but the same things were said then. “It’s not really a threat”. There were also quite a number of other things going on at the time with the trump election, so it was, while rather vile, something that got swept up in the daily chaos.

> [@](#):
>
> Certainly, the world would be a better place if we were all a bit more civil to each other, and avoided unnecessarily-inflammatory language and ridiculous hyperbole. I assume we agree on this point too?

I’ll agree with that.

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**Author:** ![AHarris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@AHarris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHarris)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947/85 "2019-04-30T14:59:51Z")

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> [@Emiliyseth](#):
>
> The live demonstration featured the introduction of a complete computer hardware and software system called the oN-Line System or, more commonly, NLS. The 90-minute presentation essentially demonstrated almost all the fundamental elements of modern personal computing: windows, hypertext, graphics, efficient navigation and command input, video conferencing, the computer mouse, word processing, dynamic file linking, revision control, and a collaborative real-time editor (collaborative work). Engelbart’s presentation was the first to publicly demonstrate all of these elements in a single system.

Reported.

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**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947/86 "2019-04-30T17:08:21Z")

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Well, since in got (possibly in error), might as well update:

He’s pleaded insanity (this time apparently listening to a lawyer)

> **[Capital-Gazette shooting suspect enters insanity plea](https://www.wbaltv.com/article/capital-gazette-shooting-suspect-jarrod-ramos-enters-insanity-plea/27311989)**
>
> Attorneys for Jarrod Ramos, the man charged in connection with the deadly Capital-Gazette newspaper attack, said he is now pleading not criminally responsible by reason of insanity.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-a-maryland-newspaper/816947/87 "2019-05-01T00:39:39Z")

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Well, the boy is off his nut, but no more crazy than many, many other people. He certainly needs treatment. I would not want to say if he is too nuts to be punished.

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