# Sweatshirts based on school shootings with simulated bullet holes in them? Sure, great idea! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468 "2019-09-18T23:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/1 "2019-09-18T23:35:25Z")
I wish there was a “Dumb as Fuck” thread, but really? [Somebody approved this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/09/18/bstroy-school-shooting-sweatshirts-columbine-sandy-hook/) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/2 "2019-09-18T23:43:11Z")
It’s actually brilliant. Why not use provocative attire to draw attention to the obscenity of school shootings? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/3 "2019-09-18T23:49:15Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s actually brilliant. Why not use provocative attire to draw attention to the obscenity of school shootings? There’s got to be a way to do that that doesn’t come off as tacky and exploitative as these shirts, though. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/4 "2019-09-18T23:50:15Z")
Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/5 "2019-09-18T23:54:19Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why not use provocative attire to draw attention to the obscenity of school shootings? Because it causes additional pain and suffering to the victims of school shootings. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/6 "2019-09-18T23:54:38Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > There’s got to be a way to do that that doesn’t come off as tacky and exploitative as these shirts, though. Perhaps. But some of the best ways to communicate is through non verbal means. Imagery is so powerful. I see it as satirical in the the spirit of Jonathan Swift. Maybe I’m wrong and this is just a cynical cash grab that appeals to the nihilistic elements of society. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/7 "2019-09-18T23:58:49Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s actually brilliant. Why not use provocative attire to draw attention to the obscenity of school shootings? You know what, you may be right. I might start a line of “Kill all the Police” shirts to draw attention to the obscenity of police brutality against unarmed black men. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/8 "2019-09-18T23:59:01Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Because it causes additional pain and suffering to the victims of school shootings. We have a society that tolerates so much evil. Inhumane prisons, a corrupt government, too easy of access to firearms, mumble rap, etc that sometimes the only way to move forward on an issue is to keep the shock value high. Humans don’t seem to make rational decisions. They seem to rationalize emotional decisions that are made subconsciously. So communication needs to address emotional targets. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/9 "2019-09-19T00:23:40Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Perhaps. But some of the best ways to communicate is through non verbal means. Imagery is so powerful. I see it as satirical in the the spirit of Jonathan Swift. Maybe I’m wrong and this is just a cynical cash grab that appeals to the nihilistic elements of society. [Have you seen the new PSA put out by Sandy Hook Promise?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ykNZl9mTQ) (Warning: super disturbing!) It’s doing the sort of “shock” approach to the topic you’re advocating, but in a much less douchey way. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/10 "2019-09-19T00:24:26Z")
Er, I meant “less douchey than the sweatshirts,” not “less douchey than you” there. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/11 "2019-09-19T03:02:57Z")
I mean…it’s just fucking tacky any way you look at it, and yes, hurtful too. Maybe the families of the victims that died would feel better if they got some free schwag off this deal or something. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/12 "2019-09-19T03:22:40Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Have you seen the new PSA put out by Sandy Hook Promise?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ykNZl9mTQ) (Warning: super disturbing!) It’s doing the sort of “shock” approach to the topic you’re advocating, but in a much less douchey way. And I believe that was done by a parent of one of the victims. Not thrilled that someone is profiting from the sweatshirt sales but I think it is good to show how absurd it is that school shootings have become normal. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/13 "2019-09-19T04:08:35Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Have you seen the new PSA put out by Sandy Hook Promise?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ykNZl9mTQ) (Warning: super disturbing!) It’s doing the sort of “shock” approach to the topic you’re advocating, but in a much less douchey way. Powerful commercial. That’s how you do it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/14 "2019-09-19T05:25:13Z")
Do you have something that’s NOT behind a paywall? That behind said, I’m reminded of a few years back when Abercrombie and Fitch (I THINK) had those paint-splattered Kent State sweatshirts, that looked like blood. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/15 "2019-09-19T06:38:30Z")
[Just in time for Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/16 "2019-09-19T06:49:23Z")
If their clothing line wasn’t tacky enough, they decided to add this on for good measure: > [@](#): > > He also suggested that the harsh response to the sweatshirts was rooted in prejudice, because both he and Grams are black men in their late 20s. > > “Also built into the device is the fact that our image as young, black males has not been traditionally awarded credit for introducing avant-garde ideas,” Owens wrote. “So many people have assumed our message to be lazy just because of what they’ve been taught about black men. These hoodies were made with all of these intentions in mind, and to explore all of these societal issues.” :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/17 "2019-09-19T12:05:57Z")
2 points for developing a wearable meme to put school shootings, which we do nothing about, in the public’s face -8 points for capitalizing, mundanifying (it’s a word) horror But this is low-hanging fruit for the sweater guys. Better still would be Kevlar letterman jackets sold to the current, unshot students of all schools. It’s one thing to hear about your kid going through an active shooter drill–you can forget that while you’re making dinner or whatever. But actually dressing your kid for combat every morning, well that might make the threat more real. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweatshirts-based-on-school-shootings-with-simulated-bullet-holes-in-them-sure-great-idea/840468/18 "2019-09-19T21:30:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Do you have something that’s NOT behind a paywall? > > That behind said, I’m reminded of a few years back when Abercrombie and Fitch (I THINK) had those paint-splattered Kent State sweatshirts, that looked like blood. It was Urban Outfitter.