In October 1999, a journalist wrote following that later became the foundation behind Styleblind.
Last April, two teenage boys walked into their Colorado school armed with guns and bombs. They killed one teacher and 12 fellow students and then killed themselves. It was not the first time American high school students had killed one another. Nor was it the last. It was followed by copycat crimes all over the U.S., though none of the others had as many victims.
Looking for reasons.
Naturally, parents, school officials, news announcers, politicians, and even other students are trying to explain the inexplicable. What makes teens attack their classmates at school? The news media reported that the two Colorado boys belonged to a group called "The Trenchcoat Mafia", whose members wore black raincoats, liked to play video games and listened to "Goth" music.
Did the music make them do it? It turned out that "The Trenchcoat Mafia" was the name given to a group of "nerds" by the school's "jocks". The nerds called themselves "The Anachronists" and took pride in being different from the popular All-American jocks, who bullied them almost every day. Did the desire for revenge make them do it?
These particular murderers spent a great deal of unsupervised time on their computers and got the recipe for their bombs on the Internet. Did the Net make them do it?
Gun control advocates point out the obvious: Once again confused and angry adolescents had easy access to guns. Did the guns make them do it?
The answer, it seems to me, is all of the above, and more. American teens grow up in violence.
Culture of violence.
Perpetrators of extreme violence don't just appear out of the thin air. They are products of a society that is already prone to violence and that holds this violence in great esteem, judging by the nature of its television programs (including the news), films and song lyrics. As such, the widespread publicity for violence transforms it into something that is not only taken for granted but also viewed as a means to an end. Problem-solving and physical violence become confused.
Peer Pressure.
Of course, school shootings are not simply the result of too many Bruce Willis films. One of the major causes of shootings and stabbings in high schools, according to the researchers, is peer pressure. The sort of peer pressure that causes one group to exclude an individual or another group. Everyone's worst nightmare is to fall off the socially acceptable branch and end up labeled as a nerd, a geek, wimp or weirdo.
Social outcasts such as these bear the burden of being ridiculed and bullied. Little by little they end up believing that they just aren't good enough. This creates a sense of insecurity and frustration, leading them to one day retaliate with violence and rage, thereby making their mark on the society that rejected them.
Absentee parents.
Then there are the parents who didn't see, or did not want to see, the warning signs of their children's marginality. These parents remained inattentive at a crucial time, too busy with their careers and their own social status.
American teenagers increasingly live in their own worlds, ignored by adult society except as target markets. TV programs, films, video games, music fashion and advertising are aimed specifically at young people, who spend most of their time in school, on the streets, in the shopping malls, in front of a screen, anywhere but in the company of caring adults. If parents do not offer love and guidance, and peers do not offer respect, these "losers" may resort to hate crime.
But perhaps we should speak of crimes of solitude, desperation and ignorance. The Colorado "jocks" didn't believe they were being violent when they bullied the "nerds". And the nerds came to believe that respect and power come only from violence. That sort of ignorance is deadly.
Please note this article does not represent the actual opinion by members of the Styleblind crew.
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SKY STARKS - I AM THE MID - "ALL MY LIFE" (PROD BY ABSOLUT-P) http://usershare.net/ase8d46h6n72
Lets network! Brand new track, "All My Life"..prod by my producer Absolut-P. Listen, then download, real rap! Brand new interview with WLAR RAW AND UNCUT RADIO below. Lets go in!
Calabrese will be playing at Wave-Gotik-Treffen (the worlds largest gothic festival) June 1 2009 with Shadow Reichenstein and Blitzkid. This show will be our European premier, opening a new chapter in the Calabrese history books. Come join us!
http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/
Also the Calabrese video for the "The Graves" is now on youtube! Check it out and leave us a comment.
We're proud to announce our debut EP 'Chemicals' will be released on Monday 22nd of June on iTunes. We will also be printing a limited number of hard copies which will feature exclusive additional artwork and available only at our shows.
Check out the tunes on our page; If not just drop by and say hello.
Thought I'd check in and say hey - hope all's well!
I've just redisigned the myspace, had a photoshoot, created a youtube channel, made a banner you can use on your own page as well as a whole load of other I Have Clones related stuff - if you're interested head on to my page to check it out!
My Dance Gavin Dance remix is also now up on the page, if you haven't already heard it, I'd love to know what you think!
Don't forget that all my music is available to download completely free from my page...
=)
Also, I've still got some merch left, if you like the music and the designs have a look before they're gone!
Lastly if you're in the UK and promote shows, know someone who does, or are in a band and want to play a show with me this Summer hit me up!
12 splinternye sange, en stribe prominente gæstemusikere (heriblandt Randi Laubek, musikere fra Didium and the Black Bonnie Picture, Kå og 180 Grader Virvar), mixet af blandt andre Carsten Heller - kan erhverves landet over fra mandag d. 6. oktober.
Besøg vores MySpace-side, og hør førstesinglen 'Europa' allerede nu.
Hey there, this is Bill. Just wanted to ask a favour. We're trying to win a contest to play with Motley Crue on their 2009 US Tour. It's one of those thingers where you need votes. Would you be willing to vote for us? If so, click the giant banner at the top of our myspace page and it'll take you to the voting area. It would be awesome if you helped. Hit us back with a comment. :) We actually ANSWER our friends. Always have, always will. :) Cheers and thanks either way! Bill
So I’ve just uploaded a new tune - it’s called ‘Long Days, Late Nights’ and you can hear it on my page right now!
Having never written and recorded an entire EP all on my own before I was perhaps a little optimistic in thinking it’d be ready for the end of August; it is nearly done, just not quite yet!
The new tune is going to be the last song on the EP - I think it has that kinda melancholy vibe, but I'd love to know your thoughts..
Online Now!
![[We Are] The End *Chemicals Video Up*](http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/103/s_301f2300021b4a728f6b116a5bb943e2.jpg)
