I agree that this is an insightful sociological analysis. freedomforall's quip does make a point: at some level, individual action is not reducible. Even when people speak of their motives and motivations, they may be deceiving themselves. So, understanding from the outside can go no further. That said, the essay was far from "a profusion of words signifying nothing." When you examine people in their social context, their behaviors can be understood more deeply and across wider contexts. That is the value in epistemological abstraction.

I really liked Gladwell's book, "The Tipping Point" but I suppose he is rather long winded.

What I found interesting was the idea that these crazy kids were not always all that similar, and the idea that some would not commit these acts unless some number of others had done it before (see his analogy to behavior in a riot).

Do you remember the Texas tower sniper (they made a movie about it). Similar thing, but it happened it 1966...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072852/

Another prompt for mass shooting is the life like video games. Sixty years ago we used our imaginations, played hide and seek, rode our bicycles and otherwise palled around. Today video games are dress rehearsals for school violence and mass shootings. Hip hop helps contribute to this with "gangsta" lyrics. No wonder some many young people have lost their moral compass - we glorify victims and discard the truth in police action and blame the weapon, not the perpetrator for the crime.

That wild period isn't allowed any more. Once upon a time the local cops would say 'boys will be boys' but today boys aren't allowed to be boys. Instead they either suppress all masculinity (except for on the football field or basketball court ... which excludes non-neanderthals from being boys) or go to jail. One more way the fedgov has ruined the culture.

I believe that a big impact on school shooting is psych meds. When I was a kid we NEVER heard of these things. Just look at the expected side effects and the odds now with so many on meds...not a stretch. Add to that the wild period men go through 18 to 25. Look at all these shooters. What do you see? How many are young women? How many are the school star quarterback?

Let me sum up this profusion of words signifying nothing: Shit happens.