Horrible news out of Calgary and U of C today.

[1argoholic]

Our niece just happens to be a student there and went to the same highschool as the murder suspect. Hard to imagine that one little looking guy could walk into a house party of 20 people and murder five by stabbing. What the hell, couldn't anyone fight back at all? Society is messed up.
Back in my school days it was fist fights if anything. I'm a firm believer that if you have unstable kids growing up playing kill em video games it could be a precursor to this kind of behaviour. Once again back in the day we played pong. No one ever died by the hands of someone who through actual ping pong balls. I don't know, too much bad news the last few weeks.

[ArgoRavi]

Our niece just happens to be a student there and went to the same highschool as the murder suspect. Hard to imagine that one little looking guy could walk into a house party of 20 people and murder five by stabbing. What the hell, couldn't anyone fight back at all? Society is messed up. Back in my school days it was fist fights if anything. I'm a firm believer that if you have unstable kids growing up playing kill em video games it could be a precursor to this kind of behaviour. Once again back in the day we played pong. No one ever died by the hands of someone who through actual ping pong balls. I don't know, too much bad news the last few weeks. We have to wait for the full story to come out. Perhaps the perpetrator is mentally ill. We just don't know the details yet. Regardless, these kinds of events are fortunately quite rare in Canada.

[LLB997]

Not a great year for Cowtown. First the floods and now this

[T-Bone]

I'm a firm believer that if you have unstable kids growing up playing kill em video games it could be a precursor to this kind of behaviour. Once again back in the day we played pong. No one ever died by the hands of someone who through actual ping pong balls.

http://youtu.be/QJfswXOmsZw

[Ron]

Must have had your eyes and ears closed "back in the day"

[ArgoRavi]

Must have had your eyes and ears closed "back in the day" Interestingly enough, when we think of modern-day school shootings, two of the earliest happened in Ontario in 1975 - one in Brampton and the second one in Ottawa. Canadian actor Scott Thompson, from Kids in the Hall fame, was a witness to the Brampton one. Anyway, that was back in the Pong days.

[1argoholic]

I'm not saying that society hasn't always been violent but it's more over the top now. Stabbing and shootings daily across North America. The same day as this mass murder some kid went into a mall in Saskatchewan and slashed or stabbed four. I don't have any interest in video games or the new style of kill everything movies. However if you have kids growing up playing and watching this there has to be a correlation. Not every kid but any suffering from serious mental illness might act out. Just my thoughts and observations is all.

Turns out that the murderer not only went to the highschool that three of our nieces went to and one still attends. He also worked at the same Safeway that one of our nieces works at plus going to U of C where she goes. Many of our nieces friends and their family members knew him or the people murdered. Amazing how people just don't give a crap about stories like this anymore.

[Wobbler]

The rate of violent crime in Canada (and the US) has been steadily declining since the early 90's (http://thefreeradical.ca/Violent_crime_in_Canada_fact_sheet.pdf). And thank goodness for that!

[ArgoRavi]

The rate of violent crime in Canada (and the US) has been steadily declining since the early 90's (http://thefreeradical.ca/Violent_crime_in_Canada_fact_sheet.pdf). And thank goodness for that! True, Wobbler! However, the strange thing is that more people have been getting locked up south of the border over the last 20 years and the federal government in Canada seems to be bound and determined to follow the same path. That doesn't seem to make much sense, does it?

[1argoholic]

Perhaps I watch too much of The First 48 and all the other type police and jail shows. Not sure I believe the stats.
But without the murders there's no First 48. When there's a repeat my wife always says, "you do realize that people have to get killed for new shows?"

[ArgoRavi]

Perhaps I watch too much of The First 48 and all the other type police and jail shows. Not sure I believe the stats. But without the murders there's no First 48. When there's a repeat my wife always says, "you do realize that people have to get killed for new shows?" The reason why so many Canadians think that we are living in an increasingly dangerous country is because of what they are exposed to in the media. When there is a murder, that is the top news item and, of course, the abundance of shows like First 48 feeds into the notion that violent crime is increasing rather than decreasing which is the reality. Regarding statistics, if you look at something like homicide which has been steadily decreasing in Canada since 1974 (and since we abolished the death penalty), you can have confidence that the statistics are accurate as dead bodies will tell the story.

[T-Bone]

However, the strange thing is that more people have been getting locked up south of the border over the last 20 years and the federal government in Canada seems to be bound and determined to follow the same path. That doesn't seem to make much sense, does it?
No it doesn't make much sense but things like private jails and mandatory sentencing have been happening under this government which doesn't help the issue. They try to justify these things by claiming they are "tough on crime." Luckily the private prisons didn't work out and the mandatory sentencing is being challenged. Here is an article (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-s-prison-population-at-all-time-high-1.2440039) that talks about the increase in prison population.


Perhaps I watch too much of The First 48 and all the other type police and jail shows. Not sure I believe the stats.
I'm sorry but do you have any idea how ridiculous this statement reads? I don't think it's because you watch too much of "The First 48" but it appears you haven't done enough research in to this subject. Perhaps read and watch the articles and videos being posted and maybe you will learn something. Use Google, there are plenty of better sources of info on the subject than "The First 48."

[1argoholic]

Well I guess my comment worked then.

[T-Bone]

Well I guess my comment worked then.

http://youtu.be/WsJSRP7cZVo

[1argoholic]

My comment was ridiculous and I know it. I'm only serious a small fraction of the time.

Once again about stats. I go on perception and my perception through experience is that violent crime is holding strong. We met 15 women in The Cowichan Valley over our time there that had been abused. I'm sure these stats get lost in the mix. Abuse of women is a world issue and pisses me off to know end. I consider these abuses to be violent. Any man who abuses any women is a Scum Sucker in my books.
Personally I don't care if gang guys go ahead and pop each other off such as in Vaughn today. It's the good people in the wrong place like the kids in Calgary that really sucks.

[T-Bone]

My comment was ridiculous and I know it. I'm only serious a small fraction of the time.
Ok, yet you have gone on again and claimed violent crime is holding strong despite the facts.


Once again about stats. I go on perception and my perception through experience is that violent crime is holding strong. We met 15 women in The Cowichan Valley over our time there that had been abused. I'm sure these stats get lost in the mix. Abuse of women is a world issue and pisses me off to know end. I consider these abuses to be violent. Any man who abuses any women is a Scum Sucker in my books.
Personally I don't care if gang guys go ahead and pop each other off such as in Vaughn today. It's the good people in the wrong place like the kids in Calgary that really sucks.
Your perception isn't the reality. The reality is violent crime is not holding strong, it is declining. No one has said that violent crimes don't happen and what happened to those kids in Calgary or the women you met in Cowichan Valley isn't horrible. Blaming video games though for what happened in Calgary or in other violet crimes is a bullshit cop out answer to a serious issue. You have to look at each of these things on a case by case basis. There are many factors as to why violent crimes happen. Also, personally I do care if gang guys go ahead and pop each other not only because it can effect people in the wrong place at the wrong time but because I'm a humanist. Gang prevention is an important issue and benefits those in gangs, those that are at risk of joining gangs and in turn innocent bystanders.

[1argoholic]

The First 48 comment was a joke. I can only spell it out in so many ways and I don'y use little laughy faces.

I personally could care less about someones stats. I come up with my perceptions from living life. Punky doodle little Duncan BC had a guy kill two women about three years back. Everyone in the town was horrified. As I mentioned multiple abused women that we met personally and that was just a drop in the bucket. How about Robert Pickton? There are issues with missing native girls and women that seemingly get swept under the stats table. One of my landscape clients lawyer son wrote a book on the topic of child exploitation. How about the internet full of all the pervs and their disgusting child porn. I could go on and on. In my view this is all VIOLENT. I could give a rats arse what googled stats say. These are my thoughts and I could care less if one views them as wrong. I don't need some googled site to make my mind up. There's more to the term violence than murder. I've witness some serious crap in some pretty seedy areas while hitting clubs to see bands. The lower east side in Vancouver opens eyes wide.

Ask the folks who just lost friends and family to the nutter in Calgary about the stats.

By the way the nutter who killed all of those kids at a camp in Norway admitted that he played violent shootem up vid games. If you have some mentally off centre nutter indulging in those games it's sure not promoting him to go out and give hugs, kisses, flowers and little chocolate bunnies to people. I'm in no way saying that everyone who plays violent video games kills people. Personally I have no use for video games and the constant stream of crap violent movies spewed out by Hollywood.

Having said this I lose no sleep over this topic. I care about the innocent folks who get caught up in any form of violence but I have no use for the violators. I'm no bleeding heart and other than friends and family I basically care more about animal issues. Now don't get me started about abuse on animals. That's a subject that really pisses me off.

I've put more than my two cents worth on this subject. Time to talk football.

[T-Bone]

The First 48 comment was a joke. I can only spell it out in so many ways and I don'y use little laughy faces.

I personally could care less about someones stats. I come up with my perceptions from living life. Punky doodle little Duncan BC had a guy kill two women about three years back. Everyone in the town was horrified. As I mentioned multiple abused women that we met personally and that was just a drop in the bucket. How about Robert Pickton? There are issues with missing native girls and women that seemingly get swept under the stats table. One of my landscape clients lawyer son wrote a book on the topic of child exploitation. How about the internet full of all the pervs and their disgusting child porn. I could go on and on. In my view this is all VIOLENT. I could give a rats arse what googled stats say. These are my thoughts and I could care less if one views them as wrong. I don't need some googled site to make my mind up. There's more to the term violence than murder. I've witness some serious crap in some pretty seedy areas while hitting clubs to see bands. The lower east side in Vancouver opens eyes wide.

Ask the folks who just lost friends and family to the nutter in Calgary about the stats.

By the way the nutter who killed all of those kids at a camp in Norway admitted that he played violent shootem up vid games. If you have some mentally off centre nutter indulging in those games it's sure not promoting him to go out and give hugs, kisses, flowers and little chocolate bunnies to people. I'm in no way saying that everyone who plays violent video games kills people. Personally I have no use for video games and the constant stream of crap violent movies spewed out by Hollywood.

Having said this I lose no sleep over this topic. I care about the innocent folks who get caught up in any form of violence but I have no use for the violators. I'm no bleeding heart and other than friends and family I basically care more about animal issues. Now don't get me started about abuse on animals. That's a subject that really pisses me off.

I've put more than my two cents worth on this subject. Time to talk football.
Correlation does not imply causation. It's not the violet video games causing the person to be violet, yet those with violet tendencies will probably play violent video games. Anyway, you have made it pretty clear you care about your opinion alone and no one else's on the subject which makes me wonder why you bothered to start a thread about it in the first place.

[Mulder]

The First 48 comment was a joke. I can only spell it out in so many ways and I don'y use little laughy faces.

I personally could care less about someones stats. I come up with my perceptions from living life. Punky doodle little Duncan BC had a guy kill two women about three years back. Everyone in the town was horrified. As I mentioned multiple abused women that we met personally and that was just a drop in the bucket. How about Robert Pickton? There are issues with missing native girls and women that seemingly get swept under the stats table. One of my landscape clients lawyer son wrote a book on the topic of child exploitation. How about the internet full of all the pervs and their disgusting child porn. I could go on and on. In my view this is all VIOLENT. I could give a rats arse what googled stats say. These are my thoughts and I could care less if one views them as wrong. I don't need some googled site to make my mind up. There's more to the term violence than murder. I've witness some serious crap in some pretty seedy areas while hitting clubs to see bands. The lower east side in Vancouver opens eyes wide.

Ask the folks who just lost friends and family to the nutter in Calgary about the stats.

By the way the nutter who killed all of those kids at a camp in Norway admitted that he played violent shootem up vid games. If you have some mentally off centre nutter indulging in those games it's sure not promoting him to go out and give hugs, kisses, flowers and little chocolate bunnies to people. I'm in no way saying that everyone who plays violent video games kills people. Personally I have no use for video games and the constant stream of crap violent movies spewed out by Hollywood.

Having said this I lose no sleep over this topic. I care about the innocent folks who get caught up in any form of violence but I have no use for the violators. I'm no bleeding heart and other than friends and family I basically care more about animal issues. Now don't get me started about abuse on animals. That's a subject that really pisses me off.

I've put more than my two cents worth on this subject. Time to talk football.

I've often wondered, if Video Games had been around during World War I and II would those wars still have happened??

[Double Dare]

The nutbar that stabbed the Calgary kids quoted and listened to Megadeth, so it wasn't violent video games that spurred him on, it was the "devil's music" ... good old rock & roll!!!

[1argoholic]

This isn't a right vs wrong thing. Life isn't all black and white. I know that if I played violent video games when I was a teen I'd want to harm people. Instead I just took it out on the ice during my hockey games. Good thing that I'm just so very mellow now.

Thankfully I have no use for video games or killy kill movies.

[T-Bone]

This isn't a right vs wrong thing. Life isn't all black and white.
I agree there is a lot of grey in life but what happened to those kids in Calgary and the women you met in Cowichan Valley was wrong both legally and morally.


I know that if I played violent video games when I was a teen I'd want to harm people. Instead I just took it out on the ice during my hockey games. Good thing that I'm just so very mellow now.
So, you used hockey as a release for aggression? Did you ever consider many people do the same thing with video games? Bottom line, violent video games and movies do not cause violence. People are smart enough to know the difference between fantasy and reality. We all have the potential for violence you can't point to just one factor, it's a complex issue. Upbringing though is a large factor in how we deal with aggression. Unfortunately some people are more prone to violence, a lot of times due to circumstances they can't control. A child that was abused is at a much higher risk of becoming an abuser in their adulthood. Many kids join gangs due to lack of structure in their lives. Sometimes it's a single parent family, that parent isn't around because they are working the majority of the time to make ends meat and the child is left to fend for themselves. That's why school and after school activities are important for children especially in these higher risk categories. This also leads in to why role models are so important for kids.


Violence in many forms is preventable. Evidence shows strong relationships between levels of violence and potentially modifiable factors such as concentrated poverty, income and gender inequality, the harmful use of alcohol, and the absence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and parents. Scientific research shows that strategies addressing the underlying causes of violence can be effective in preventing violence. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence)


Thankfully I have no use for video games or killy kill movies.
To each their own.

[1argoholic]

I do agree with you there. The biggest thing that parents can instill in their children is confidence. With that the sky's the limit with what one can accomplish in life. It truly is a deeper subject that I make it out to be.

I'm very interested to see what the professionals think about the obviously very intelligent Calgary murderer. This one really is a head shaker when you think of all this kid seemingly had going right in his life. He had to have some serious depression.

[T-Bone]

I'm very interested to see what the professionals think about the obviously very intelligent Calgary murderer. This one really is a head shaker when you think of all this kid seemingly had going right in his life. He had to have some serious depression.
Mental illness is a whole other animal. We'll just have to wait and see what comes from this case.

[1argoholic]

I live very close to mental illness as my wife suffers from clinical depression and anxiety. It doesn't help that she lives with a guy who has issues with being a total fool and clown. I just can't help being a prankster and goofball.
No one would even be able to tell that she suffers from these.

To top it all off she works at Canadian Mental Help in the accounting department. She has to take training to learn how to deal with a violent situation or what to do with a suicidal person who calls in when she covers a receptionist who is on lunch. She actually just brought up a point at work the other day about putting someone on hold. She thought that would force a hangup. They teach to just ask, "are you feeling suicidal" because they have reached out they won't hang up.

Speaking of which nothing has been mentioned on this site but many Argo fans lost a great guy in Argo Ed who left to live in the Dominican Republic about four years ago now. About three to four weeks ago we had the news that this seemingly happy guy with tons of friends commit suicide down there. Talk about horrible news. Many fun memories riding the GO train with Ed, Sacramento trip watching the Argos lose on the same night that Joe Carter hit his huge World Series winning home run.
I'm just speculating but I know Ed must have been very affected from the 911 incidents because his former company in Toronto had offices in the Twin Towers and he lost friends. I think that helped him make his choice to move to The Dominican Republic. Just my thoughts as we'll never know.

Just talk people, as no one wants to lose friends in this manner.

[294life]

I live very close to mental illness as my wife suffers from clinical depression and anxiety. It doesn't help that she lives with a guy who has issues with being a total fool and clown. I just can't help being a prankster and goofball.
No one would even be able to tell that she suffers from these.

To top it all off she works at Canadian Mental Help in the accounting department. She has to take training to learn how to deal with a violent situation or what to do with a suicidal person who calls in when she covers a receptionist who is on lunch. She actually just brought up a point at work the other day about putting someone on hold. She thought that would force a hangup. They teach to just ask, "are you feeling suicidal" because they have reached out they won't hang up.

Speaking of which nothing has been mentioned on this site but many Argo fans lost a great guy in Argo Ed who left to live in the Dominican Republic about four years ago now. About three to four weeks ago we had the news that this seemingly happy guy with tons of friends commit suicide down there. Talk about horrible news. Many fun memories riding the GO train with Ed, Sacramento trip watching the Argos lose on the same night that Joe Carter hit his huge World Series winning home run.
I'm just speculating but I know Ed must have been very affected from the 911 incidents because his former company in Toronto had offices in the Twin Towers and he lost friends. I think that helped him make his choice to move to The Dominican Republic. Just my thoughts as we'll never know.

Just talk people, as no one wants to lose friends in this manner.

A very touching story. Thank you for sharing.