I can't wait to read the book.

Hey bowie: People are really desensitized to violence. The folks that make money off violent entertainment say that showing a bloody 90 to 180 minute movie won't make people violent. But those same people turn around and spend millions on a 90 second commercial in the hopes that it will make you want to see it.

Go figure.

Ah, America. Actually, #journaljournal, studies have been unable to show any cause/effect relationship between viewing violence and behaving violently.

Yeah, no conclusive evidence. I have been playing violent video games and watching violent movies nearly my whole life and I'm a rather kind person. If anything they are a release of things you can't do in real life :).

'The Kindness of America'

Located in the fiction section of your local library.

Well that's a reality check. Yes, there are amazingly kind, sensitive, generous, thoughtful, intelligent and talented people in America. Unfortunately, mixed in are a bunch of idiots, derelicts, thugs, and selfish hooligans. Embrace the good, but don't be naive, watch your back! Sometimes it's even hard to tell the difference until it's too late.

problem is lack of education and this is not getting better

You can also blame corn syrup It kind of messes with the brain

The bar of conclusive evidence it's high. Just because there's not conclusive evidence doesn't mean the effect is 0. It's impossible for the effect to be 0 because everything we observe has an effect whether we realize it or not.

The body count of movies is high and now even the kids are slaughtering each other on the big screen.

And yet we sit here and wonder...

I also blame alcohol and drugs. Even when people aren't under the influence, their brain function erodes with the abuse.

Films and videos do not make people violent...ever hear of the Spanish Inquisition, World War I or II, The Crusades, The TransAtlantic Slave Trade? All violent acts, and merely a few highlights, occurring prior to television or horror movies like Saw. People have always and will always find ways to be inhumane to one another. It's built into our DNA. Some call it "free will", the choice to do good or evil. God-given but not God regulated. hmmmm

He should rename the book "America: Step on my property or look at me the wrong way and you get shot"

Violent crimes are actually going down, not up. Media coverage of them has escalated.

ah . . . I've been waiting for someone to pull the "corn syrup" card on this story. Thanks, mj!

Uncontrolled capitalism, corruption, guns, social unjustice is what's wrong with your country

Exactly Lynseypug... people like this always remind me of the end of the movie "Easy Rider". Glad that type of thing isn't normal these days...

bowie - Wish I could answer that question. What IS wrong with so many people in America?

I like your picture "Poodle". Where are you from? By the way, I tend to agree with you.

Davetta: What we see effects us whether or not we realize it or not. If people were violent back then because of what they saw every day, the same way people are violent today because of what they see every day. The medium is irrelevant. Violence is learned.

There really isn't any difference between today and any time in the past. Today we see violence on TV, two thousand years ago it was in the colliseum. There have been plenty of stand ins in the mean time too. The jousts/ tournaments of the medieval ages, the travelling 'wild west' shows of the early twentieth century, etc..

The only thing that has changed is the number of 'outlets' (like no more duelling) for violence along with sociey's tolerance/acceptance of it.

He (the perp) will probably get off on the "Stand Your Ground" defense, after all, there are no witnesses, and I am sure that hitch hiker was up to no good, heck I bet he was wearing a hoodie. Anyone writing a article on the goodness of America must be a Marijuana smoker, and has a record of school suspensions.

Just a drunk, unemployed loser from out of state seeing easy work and not finding it, taking it out on a guy sitting there minding his own business.

Sadly, now we gotta squander a million bucks on this guy. Attempted murder? Hang him on Sunday and set an example for the other scum flooding into Montana for work.

He should have watched the end of "Easy Rider" before setting off into rural America.

Ever seen a road sign without bullet holes in cow country?

You don't need any studies to know you most DEFINITELY ARE affected by what you see and what you live with. Unless you're comotose--and actually even then you are affected by what you may hear.

@bowiebeauti-3221554

what is wrong with people in our country these days? Anyone have an answer for that question...I would really like to know what has become of us....

Please don't assume there is something wrong with "us" just because a few are deranged nutjobs. The vast majority of us are perfectly normal.

I don't see how they can say that there is no evidence that violent video games and TV and movies have any influence on what we do. Millions of dollars are spent to manipulate us by the advertising industry. Another thing that is evidence that we are manipulated by what we see aside from product commercials is political advertisements. No one can say we are not influenced by them. Look at the attitude shift in the people of Wisconsin from last fall to the recall election.

@journal journal

The bar of conclusive evidence it's high. Just because there's not conclusive evidence doesn't mean the effect is 0. It's impossible for the effect to be 0 because everything we observe has an effect whether we realize it or not.

Violence in movies is way up and violence in video games is at an unprecedented level yet violence in real life is significantly down. Sorry, it may sound reasonable to assume an increase in one leads to an increase in the other but the "conclusive evidence" clearly shows otherwise.

"Uncontrolled capitalism, corruption, guns, social unjustice is what's wrong with your country"

Besides social injustice (not unjustice) these are also what freed this country from British rule, rescued europe from two world wars, and made the US a world power, don't think those are what's wrong with the US. But bitterness does last hundreds of years, so I've heard.

Another fine story brought to you by the NRA.

This ain't match.com, Rustyboy.

The French Constitution of the Fifth Republic (1958) declares itself to be a “Social Republic".

Like it or not, that is the French Way.

I can't wait to read the book.

I'm interested in reading it, too.

This guy is a drunk and a coward...too bad he will not get half what he deserves.

"Uncontrolled capitalism, corruption, guns, social unjustice is what's wrong with your country". Spoken like a true far out left winger.

hey, free bullet

America has a fatal flaw....we have always been fascinated by the state of nature, the theoretical time before governments were established. We were pioneers surrounded by the forest primeval less than 200 years ago (or about 2 1/2 lifetimes these days). All most people understood were gold, guns, hunting, and violence. Although we have conquered a lot of our wilderness, the wildness in our citizens is still encouraged (as being a part of our freedom and strength to persevere). Other cultures have advanced much more in social terms than we have....even Jefferson noticed this back in the early 1800s when he lamented that Americans weren't as civil with one another as the Europeans were. This is an old problem and Americans are generally against any attempt to civilize them.

It's time AmericanPauper got an ass whoopin'

LOL...Kindness is the last word I would use to describe this country.

I'm not surprised that it was a nonresident looking for work in NE Montana. I have found Montana residents to be among the kindest and most hospitable that I've encountered. I think that people should back off of the "rural areas" comments (and I'm speaking as a lifelong city dweller, myself) and remember that NE Montana is experiencing some turmoil related to the oil boom. It is mobility coupled with anonymity that is a significant cause of crimes against strangers. Did not another kind soul stop to help him?

Freedman...you seem like a weird guy. Good luck to you....maybe one day, the world will wise up and go a hunting the troublemakers.

First, somebody will have to define just who is a troublemaker.

It's pretty obvious Americans are NOT the troublemakers.

This a sad story, hope he doesn't give up due to the hatred of a few.

Freedman...the troublemakers are usually the overly aggressive types who like to start fights. Those that are the primitive remnants of the Neanderthals....the people who think everything can only be solved through an "ass whoopin." It's time we got rid of those primitive genes from the gene pool....just like good old Herbert Spencer would have advocated.

Sorry the perp had to be from Washington. We do have our share of loons here. What can you expect, it is a Blue state after all.

Freedman1...

Please enjoy a nice tall glass of STFU.

You're a perfect exaple of why the rest of the world thinks we're a country full of A$$holes.

Like who? Russia? Buncha communists.

Who cares?

Americans are NOT the troublemakers. If you want no trouble - don't mess with Americans.

That's pretty simple.

So simple even a socialist could figure it out.

Freedman....all those poor Vietnamese farmers were "troublemakers," right? You silly fool...go do the human race a favor and jump off a high cliff.

We had to destroy them so that we could save them, Pauper.

It's called the American Way.

It worked in Germany, it worked in VietNam, it's working in Iraq.

It works anyplace it is instituted.

God Bless America!

The reason why the bar is high for standards of proof is because when you have a lower level of proof, you could just as easily claim the evidence says that violence in media and video games reduces overall violence levels by claiming it's an outlet for aggression. Both hypothesis are reasonable. If your evidence is not really conclusive, you can't claim one or the other without a high risk of your choice being no better than picking the theory at random.

Right on doggy!

If that were the case, consistent pornography users would exhibit signs of sex lust.

8 Shot dead in Chicago, 11 wounded

3 shot dead at Auburn University, 4 wounded

1 man sitting by roadside shot in MONTANA by a passing motorist

2 men shot in Phoenix Fast food restaurant

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE WORLD OF WELL ARMED MILITIAS IN THE USA !!!!

Freedman - thanks for epitomizing what is wrong with so many Americans. Unfortunately, there is no cure for ignorance that the ignorant are willing to endure.

Actually, I would argue that the biggest problems Americans have are these.

Lack of a logic class in high school.

Lack of an econ class.

An inability to do math beyond very simple algebra.

And, an inability to interpret statistical data for making statements for which the data backs. See this one all the time on forums with pitbulls, radiation, circumcision, vaccines, etc. This usually goes like this.

person 1 "I believe such and such".

person 2 "Ok, but statistical studies don't really back what you're saying".

person 1 "That doesn't matter because (insert activity here) is so incredibly detrimental. Its clearly (insert other bad thing reference, pedophilia reference, or Hitler references here)",

person 2 "But studies on the negative impact of (insert activity here) don't really show anything above very slight or non-existent...".

person 1 "Its mutilation/rape/pedophilia/corrupts our youth/etc. (pick your favorite and put it in CAPS for effect)"

person 2...Juan-Luc Picard face palm. Repeat.

Lack of a logic class in high school.

The problem started when students were allowed to use calculators in school and the art of algebra and trigonometry were lost. Not only did we have to solve the problem but had to explain how we came up with the answer. Now a calculator does the work and the student doesn't have to think. It blatantly evident by some of the comments I read on this forum.

Montana - Keepin' it classy.

/s

Once the guy made it past Chicago, the smart money was on him getting shot in Idaho. Oh well...next chapter.

Oh, the irony....

Wow Tyler... someone up thread basically called someone an "a$$hole" and you suspend the person who calls someone a silly fool? Wow.

Can anyone say special treatment?

lfergi, I think the main problem in high school math is that they teach it all wrong. They focus on computations, formulas etc. instead of why the concept works. Unfortunately, this can also be the case when having to work out a problem without a calculator. We're far to focused on wrote memorization of formulas as opposed to their derivation. But of course, that takes quite a bit of time to understand and go through.

As a good example of this, take the formula for error propagation. Very easy formula to remember, not so easy to derive. But, in order to understand when it's a good idea and not so good idea to use, you have to understand some key steps in the derivation including an assumption you make regarding the function for which you are propagating error for. If that assumption doesn't hold very well, the formula doesn't really hold well either.

Time to thin out the herd. Let's start with politicians and other world leaders.

I dunno about a plague, but at least stop supporting the lowest of society. Survival of the fittest is there for a reason, don't mess with it...

@Fenix1186 but at least stop supporting the lowest of society Starting with you..?

actually, starting with the lowest of society and politicians is the same thing.

A lot of the "lower" members of society have been put there by the "higher" members.

Satanick

I would say some but not "a lot". Most of the time it's our own fault for not being all that we can be, it's just so easy to point the finger.

Keep in mind, if you do away with the lowest end of society, you become closer to the bottom.

I agree, let's get rid of the top, then I can be closer to the top.

denouement....funny....there is empty land as far as the eye can see, especially in E. Montana. I remember driving in that area and the only town listed on the highway signs was Bismarck, ND 400-500 miles away (lot of nothing as far as the eye could see for hours and hours of driving).

Was the suspect a member of some neo-nazi group? They've got a few of them in Montana, especially around Bozeman.

The guy that shot him was from Washington state. But that doesn't change the fact that shootings in our culture have become routine news with usually more deadly consequences.

I want to start with Tom, to begin the thinning of the herd.

Fenix1186: You may need to better define the "lowest of society" because, unless I am misunderstanding you, your statement is directed at the exact people my savior spent his life succoring. Let me guess, you also hate homosexuals "because it is in the bible", right?

The intelligence of your comment is truly inspiring. The irony and pathos all wrapped up in a complete lack of understanding was epic. You were drunk posting weren't you?

If you had bothered to read the article, you would see that the shooter was from Washington state. He was not a local either.

Hey boy, you aint from around here are you? Neither am I. BLAM!

Fixed it for you.

You've just removed all doubt.

reminds me of a story about a year ago about the guy from NY that was going to ride his motorcycle cross country to denounce helmet laws and crashed about a mile from his house and died of a massive head injury...

I think the author will want to add to the title of his book too:

The Kindeness of America (Except Montana, Montana sucks)

I wonder if he also visited the slums and ghetos of America. What would the book be tittle then?

DingleB..First..Kudos on the name! I love it! and second...HAHAHAHA!!!

My guess is that the truck driver must have thought the hiker was from Chicago and wanted to make him feel at home.

punisher, the book would be named "Gone in Thirty Seconds II" if the writer visited the slums of America.

Sorry "thepunisher". I know it conflicts with your worldview, but the man hitchhiked through the urban areas of the east coast and the rust belt without a problem. Nope, he got shot outside of the kind of small town where people are supposed to be safe... allegedly due to the fact that most people own guns.

Congratulations. Can't get through a simple story without throwing some political jab in, eh? You replied to a stupid comment with an even more inane retort. Keep up the good work. :P

@ proudamericanveteran

Quote from wikipedia on Lynne Spears

"She has a strong Christian faith, and openly discusses this in her memoir.^[4] Biographers cite Lynne as the main driving force and support behind Britney's early career, but in her memoir, she explains she was not the "pushy stage mom" she has been described as, but merely a supporter of her daughter's quest to achieve her dreams."

By the way we all make mistakes and even otherwise good parents can fail.

Nice personal attack, proudamericanveteran. You have been reported and likely will be suspended for a week, not that anyone will miss the drivel you post. It's a fact her daughter got knocked up and and it isn't anti-Christian to point out an undeniable fact.

I doubt it BigTrouble.

Good snitchin' though.

The dragon killed 40 men and I was one of them...

Ycaintuseait5-3858621: I totally agree that even the best parents can fail in spite of their efforts. However, Lynn Spears does NOT belong in that category. Sorry, but when I was a kid... and when ALL OF US were kids... we had a million dreams. We typically "changed dreams" more often than we changed clothes. Whenever I had a dream that was not appropriate for my age (for example, when I wanted to race dirtbikes as a pre-teen), my parents actually looked me in the eye and said, "no". Shockingly, I not only survived, but I thrived. It is a parent's JOB to say no from time to time. No child NEEDS to be a pop star and no child becomes a pop star without his or her parents encouraging it for an extended period of time. Mind you, I am not saying a child shouldn't be allowed to take dance or music lessons or shouldn't be allowed to perform in public or do other things that make them happy and fulfilled. I AM saying that it is a parent's job to stop the proceedings long before the child gets the chance to become a commodity in the entertainment industry. A young Britney Spears could have sang and danced to her heart's content in Louisiana and been a happy, healthy child WITHOUT becoming a pop star.

Personally, I prefer the power of Iron Man.

Actually...I prefer the "Power of The Iron Man Triathlon" except the truck driver forgot to tell the dude to RUN!

No, this was the follow up book...."Douchebaggery In America"

You tell Ray I am pulling for a speedy recovery for him

This is both ironica nd unfortunate -- but I guess when you put yourself in a situation like this --you have to expect anything and be prepared. In a way, it kind of helps prove his overall position -- the exception that proves his point . Just glad the hitcher/writier is going to be OK. I am afraid that we will see more of this (not less) if the GOP/Tea Party types get more power --and/or if Mitt gets elected. Bringing down the common denincator, making the working people fight for every little thing in life while the top 1 % enjoy more and more power and money -- making the "little guys" fight amoung themselves -- Dof eat dog, "I got mine -- screw you --attitude" -- I certainly hope the general public wises up fast and does not let that degrading of our society happen.

The majority of shootings in America are committed by blacks The majority of blacks are Liberals so your statement makes as much sense as your mother being pro-life

what's a "common denincator?"

That's a man who rescues nincated people. Those who are truncated have similar issues.

The common ones do it for money, the uncommon ones do it because it's right.

Hey, if nothing else, he is getting advanced publicity about his book!

Hadn't thought of that...assuming he follows through with the book.

Wouldn't it be ironic if this was a staged shooting by the journalist? It doesn't make sense that the guy just shot him once, and allowed him to report it to the police. Killers don't do that sort of thing.

The shooter was also charged with D.U.I which may explain why he was not shot in the head

Was the shooter Barney Fife, and had only the one bullet?

Jim, think about what you said. "People are real kind and behave different when they know you are armed." Then you go on to say, you always carry concealed. How would one know you have a gun if it is concealed. And even if you were carrying......if the guy had a gun pulled on you....would you attempt to pull yours out? If so that sounds like a good way to die.

practice, practice, practice

Yes, like verno, I'm interested in how you get a different reaction from people by carrying concealed. Do you walk down the street with your shirt pulled up showing your 9 MM tucked into your pants?

Or how you expect to be able to draw and fire your weapon when someone else already has theirs drawn? By the time your hand drops to your side, you're ceasing vital functions. And what is accomplished? A dead body and a gun ripe for the taking laying there on the street.

I carry when I need to carry, but I make no attempt to think that it's a magic device that's going to save me whenever I need it, nor do I carry to get instant respect from anything other than a wild animal (in case it's not clear, I only carry when I hike and camp, the rest of the time it's only asking for trouble).

Jim-937260

of course I live in Arizona.

Duh!! Just like 3/4 of the people on newsvine!

The journalist deserved it, he had a concealed 32 oz soft drink. America must stomp out 32 oz soft drinks, or we are doomed.

So when you are armed people act differently? They act fearful? You like this?

Been to AZ a few times. Something about AZ that either brings out the worst

in people or attracts the worst of people. Maybe its because the desert is such a harsh place.

i've been to Arizona dozens of times. Never had a problem, other than Phoenix having the same summertime temperature at the surface of Mercury. At least it felt like that.

The fact that you assume that the shooter was a "wing nut" speaks volumes about you and your bigotry...

Wasn't someone asking about what's happened to us? This kind of rhetoric is part of your answer.

What? Shooting a guy at random from your vehicle who is on the side of the road doesn't constitute WING NUT? Good grief...that's not bigotry, that is simple observation. You need a better clue...

I have to agree SeanD71 didn't say if the wing nut turned left or right

Apparently you offended a wingnut.

Wingnuts are people too, ya know...

Wing nuts are so sensitive.

People from Washington state are liberals, far and away.

east coast.... Before you go assuming anyone means anything by using a particular term, maybe you ought to pick up a friggin' dictionary first? Here, let me do it for you:

wing nut noun

1 : a nut with wings that provide a grip for the thumb and finger

2 slang : a mentally deranged person

3 slang : one who advocates extreme measures or changes : RADICAL

In the context that we're speaking of, the person accused of shooting Dolin is, to put it mildly, a little "off". Only those who constantly speak of or post regarding political matters would assume that I meant something political when using the term "wing nut". Fact is, I've used it for years to describe anyone that's a little bit (or a lotta bit) crazy.

Have we really become that sensitive, folks? Not everything we talk about should devolve into political overtones. WTF..... this is NOT a political leaning article.

I think it's pretty clear the person involved in the shooting has a screw loose.

And, of course people like you poodle, who group and negatively label individuals into one large group are such a boon to our country! NOT! Just more racist crap!

Well lets see poodle Statistically drive by shootings are by majority committed by blacks and how many of them do you suppose are going to vote for the G.O.P candidate? now get back to class and leave the discussion to people with brains run along scoot

@poodlefan007 I see history is not your stong suite, rednecks were Polish. They contributed greatly to the success of the US as coal miners, a job most people would not do. The US would be much better off, if people like you stayed in school.

after her 1st comment, we can now assume that poodle is a troll. And not a very good one at that.

Poodle lives in another country, Europe somewhere. I looked at her comment list.

Punisher, the title would be "Medical Examiner's Report".

Carol, I've thought the same thing. Why should someone get a lighter sentence due to their own incompetence or their intended victim's ability to resist.