Should have been, Read this;

Florida school shooting: How was killer able to get around school security? - Sun Sentinel

With all due respect, it would be more useful to consider options that actually have a chance of happening.

LOL

Applying that criteria across the board and equitably, there would be no such thing as television/newspaper/internet news...or even TOTV for that matter. :oops:

In all fairness, that wasn't the only thing the poster suggested and some of his ideas were pretty good.

I have to agree with him though in that I think social networking sites have done more harm than good where our children are concerned and in more ways than one.

You're right.

It is what it is.

It is not the sites. It is people who read it and believe what they read. It's Facebook, get your news from real news.

The sites do not make you believe the trite you read there. Putin is laughing his backside off realizing how easily Americans are duped.

I have always said, and certainly not just me, but on the internet, you keep looking you will find a site to validate what you WANT it to say.

If you are an American and you believed supposed "news" from other than recognized news sites, you re the butt of jokes in the Kremlin.

Don't take them down, but how about educating ourselves.

Why people go to bizarre extremist sites and then accept it because they want to, and then stupidly...and sorry, but it is stupid, repeat it should be, and must be the theme of many writings

I go back to my original thought on this thread. Our society is so tuned into "getting others", "counter punching" etc, and will go where that "hate" takes them to "prove" their point. Truth does not enter the picture.

That thirst to find heir particular truth leads them to believe things from odd websites, from email mailings most always crammed with lies.

Now that affects voters as we know, but some get incredibly involved with this hateful feeling and cannot handle it. Then they lose all touch with truth and reality.

That detachment from real facts is spreading, and I really believe is at the root of much of our problems. You can laugh at me, but the political "discussions" are more loud and violence from politics is more prevelant.

Kids hear this stuff...they copy us...I am not saying this kid falls into this category because I don't know. I have apologized for linking in my first post, but haven't changed my mind about an anger that is growing in this country and the feeling that it is ok because if you think you are right, then you are.

Mental problems are a bigger issue than ever, and we need to recognize that if we will allow assault weapons to be sold. But, we wont

Most people I know do not. They watch NBC, CBS and ABC, all left leaning. They Watch MSNBC AND CNN, both left leaning and Fox, Right leaning. They read Time, Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, mostly left leaning and Reuters, Guardian, and Vox not exactly the unbiased journalism we used to have but a little more like it.

They read and hear some news, but mostly opinions and some outright untruths on News Stations and News Services (AP wire) we used to be able to take to the bank.

Grace, with all due respect....NEWS IS NEITHER LEFT LEANING OR RIGHT LEANING.

Commentary can be, but we are hearing it the way we THINK IT IS. If a news report is true, but not complimentary, we now suddenly say it's not true...we ignore all the facts, call it either left or riggt leaning.

News broadcasts are closely edited and scrutinized.

The media does NOT distort facts. You are calling a lot of great reporters liars, and it is just not true.

In addition, if you are not delving into topics, then, in my opinion, you lose the right to condemn others. This charge you are making is absolutely not true.

You should look into what it takes relative to validating facts before you can write anything, for example, in the Washington Post or the Times.

Today's indictments and the detail involved actually proves my point. We are very easily duped into accepting lies or misstatements.

I keep wondering if you’re making these comments tongue-in-cheek. You can’t possibly believe this, can you? I think even most left and right leaning politically savvy folks would disagree with you.

I’m not saying all news sources or reporters are dishonest or bad. But many, including major ‘news’ sources, do try to pass off opinion and distortion as fact...in support of their political agenda.

Dead on.

What a lot of people can't seem to discern these days, is actual news (facts)...versus opinion presented as news.

The Russian indictments today should put a quick end to those who believe certain people saying, that Russia didn't try to meddle in our democracy...but I'll bet it doesn't. :ohdear:

Apparently.

Imo, possibly the most biased “news” source in the country. Even on those occasions when they do report something resembling the facts, it is absurdly biased and skewed in an effort to advance their own all-too-obvious political agenda.

It is very scary how easy it is to manipulate people. That is why so many scams are so successful. All of those cute puppies and 100 yr old people and wounded vets on FB are just "like farming" sites to accumulate likes and shares for their pages. You can google this.

Steve9930 - I totally agree with your input.

All, everybody, are words I try not to use in any situation.

But, will ask for an example as I always do. Discerning NEWS seems to be difficult for some. Reading instead of listening seems to be difficult for some.

The detail in the indictments from yesterday show how "lazy" we really are and how we believe what we WANT to believe...much easier

Example please

This thread is about the recent school tragedy. It has veered off topic into a discussion of news reporting bias/accuracy. Please return to the topic or the thread will be closed.

Moderator

An unimaginable tragedy has occurred. Beautiful children and dedicated teachers have died. Life is over in many ways for their families forever.

No matter how we try to prevent things like this from happening, they will, and many think that if their ideas and views were heard and used, that would put an end to it.

Society has changed. People have changed. People ridicule others for sending "thoughts and prayers", people overlook "small thefts". It is more important to too many to have a successful career than to stay with a child during the early formative years, the same amount of time it takes to get a college degree. Many of us have lost our way. Many people leave people to die after a hit and run.

I don't know the answers. I don't even know the right questions.

The point is that we all keep trying to find a way to protect these kids. Obviously there were measures in place that failed on several levels. Hopefully next time they will do better. People who have ideas or who know of things have worked elsewhere need to contact their legislators and plead with them to do something.

The kids involved in the Parkland mass shooting are working on changing the system and they may well do it. I do have to write that I am so crushed that this happened yet again. We can do something but there are no easy answers but there are complicated ones.

Let us just concentrate on the victims and their families and friends and their corresponding communities and hope they can heal from this tragedy.

17 killed in mass shooting at high school in Parkland, Florida - NBC News

I want to put out a metaphor-- if you faucet sink is leaking and flooding your house you try every thing you can to stop the deluge. And as quickly as possible. And to make sure that it does not start filling the house with water yet again. You use any tool that works and/or call anyone who is able to fix the problem.

Let us try for realistic solutions that can be used rather than trying to change the prevailing majority opinion.

It again boils down to what we can hope to accomplish and what is realistic and what is unrealistic.

I think that is making schools safer with training to save lives if a shooting begins, how to break windows and escape rather than stay like sitting ducks. Maybe have safe rooms installed in schools.

Maybe retired volunteers with lifelong security clearance such as retired secret service or CIA people or retired Law Enforcement Officers who are licensed and trained to carry being used for added security.

Let's focus on what realistically can happen rather than what probably won't happen. Please keep in mind we don't have guns in our family. We don't belong to the NRA, but there are many decent, calm, people who feel safer owning a gun as they get older and can't run fast or fight hard. This is something I discovered after moving to The Villages that have people from across the country here. We must deal with the reality that gun laws will NOT be changed much or at all.

Just read this very depressing article about how training failed

Why active shooter drills didn’t help in the Florida high school shooting

We do need to do better for all our grandkids, nieces, nephews, friends' grandkids, etc.

Lots of wisdom here in the Villages. We do need to start applying it.

This could be turning point in the problem of gun violence in America affecting schools. The Parkland kids and their loved ones are very determined to do something to stop these tragedies. Or, at least, weaken the probability of these occurring.

So. Safe rooms? Breaking windows? Getting people with life long security clearance to help who are now retired and have a carry permit? As YOU say, keep thinking of ways.

There was one armed police officer at that school and he was hundreds of yards away in another part of the school when the shooting began.

What is needed is well trained armed people in every other classroom. I like Gracie's idea, but I don't know if you'd ever get enough people volunteer and the cost would be too high. I believe that it should be a requirement of the job that teachers be licensed, trained and armed when at school.

If teachers are not willing to do this, then they are not willing to protect the children whose lives that they are entrusted.

And what author of this article failed to see is that the active shooter drills may have saved many lives. We'll never know for certain, but without those procedures in place, the death toll might have been much higher. In one case, a teacher was shot and killed as he was blocking a doorway. Students were crouched behind his desk and the shooter didn't enter the room after shooting the teacher. One student who was in that room said that she though that he didn't come in because he didn't think that there would be anyone in the room. Of course, we don't know for sure, but the lives of those students might have been saved by the active shooter policies put in place.

Cameras?

I personally would not be willing to carry a firearm so I think a lot of the teachers would balk at this.

I don't think anyone should be expected or forced to carry a gun as a requirement to teach children.

Yes Pay the people who have life long permits to carry.

I am a frugal person, always careful with money, quick to vote down tax increases but I have always voted for school levies.

My suggestion is to contact your legislator because the Secy of Education has called for hearings on school shootings, and in my opinion, having seen the speed in which we conduct hearings in the past, why not THIS....NOW.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.e5f83a053d0a

Best laid plans on TOTV will change nothing.

Public hearings on specifically protecting our children at school is the way to go.

Good suggestion.

Many kids getting into the movement for change will have an impact. Hopefully us seniors or near seniors will get involved with supporting what they would like to see change.

It should be a many pronged response to change things. Approach it from every angle.

Good morning, Moderator,

May I respectfully request that this thread not be closed because the topic has veered into a discussion of the bias of “news.” Everybody is being nice, even though there are disagreements. There has been no name-calling. No ugly cartoons. Nobody is hurling anything.

News = Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? — It scares me to see how many intelligent, kind people seem to no longer be able to look for the Why?

In 1984 Orwell’s 1984 was part of the curriculum for my class. In the book, the Proles were constantly manipulated by propaganda until they could no longer think for themselves. The language was policed. Word meanings were changed. People were dehumanized. Violent movies as entertainment were a part of the propaganda so that the Proles would become immune to violence. That immunity allowed the government of Oceania to do whatever those who held the power wanted to do and to never be questioned by the brainwashed Proles. (Guns are political and lobbyists line pockets in DC. People are made paranoid that their guns will be taken away. Think about it. That cannot possibly happen. But we have to find a way to stop arming monsters.)

I hope this thread can continue. Even though some posters might be made uncomfortable by having their opinions and “news” sources questioned, that’s OK — as long as we remain civil. (Besides all that, good discussions cause people to think and that is what broadens the original topic.)

Please do not be so quick to shut this thread down. This discussion is important. We all need to look at the “Why?” that is loaded into the “news” while we still know how to think for ourselves and to question — and to discuss in a civilized manner.

The Parkland kids will keep fighting until change happens is the impression I get. We need to start helping them or continue to do so if we have been.

Long live the First Amendment. May those who insist we use only politically correct speech wane.

Hey, Gracie, you quoted me before I added a couple of thoughts about how we have to find a way to stop arming monsters and how powerful lobbies are lining pockets in DC and how language is being loaded to make law-abiding gun owners think the government is going to get their guns — not gonna happen.

And before somebody says I am a commie pinko or whatever, huh-uh, I am truly a moderate. I believe the answers are in the middle. We have to figure out this mess we are in.

Very true especially when all this hits very close to home. I should not say any more at this trying time. I do think many Villagers will be looking at this tragic Parkland shooting differently in the upcoming months. Respecting privacy though of survivors is very important. I probably should not have written this but there is a thread now about this horrifying shooting.

If you figure this out I hope you also respect the privacy of the people in question.

I concur totally.

This morning, because of this discussion, I insured that I visited each of the 3 major cable news networks and read them on line.

It was as if we were in different countries, the "news" being covered and the commentary added. Actually, it was totally as if I had access to different countries versions of everything.

You know, I suggested early on to ignore the cable news channels totally and this will allow me to reinforce that.

Mr. Moderator, you have been more than nice in allowing this thread to continue, but to support this post from BOOMER I can only say in reading yesterdays indictments and reading, we are not even discussing the same "facts" and that is scary.

I endorse everyone reading the indictments handed down yesterday and how we were taken advantage of and also endorse everyone to start READING instead of watching and having someone tell you how to feel.

I read many sources for current events. Even FOX on occasion. For a laugh usually. Been doing lot of crying as well because of the Parkland shooting but not as much as some other Villagers I know quite well. :(

I do hope that the Parkland students will really change things and from what I have seen on Facebook believe they will.

If you can read between these lines remember to respect the privacy of the people in question. Do not post names, etc., until they are OK with it and have had time to grieve. I feel a little uncomfortable even writing this.

Not sure how anyone voted pertains to either these children killed or insuring we know facts. How anyone voted seems pretty darn unimportant.

Me too. Remember that Villagers can have grandkids anywhere. I should not say anymore than that because of respect for the privacy of those involved in this matter. I will say that the Valentine's Day massacre in Parkland hit and still does extremely close to home to some Villagers. With the murder of one of these 17 kids especially but all of them are important in so many ways.

The Villages Daily Sun might do a story on this Villages' connection at some point but it is way too early for that and they would need to talk to the people involved.

Just show some sensitivity in case they read Talk of the Villages. I mean the grandparents not so much The Villages Daily Sun even if a story like this would be hard on the journalist(s) and photographer as well.