Man Faxes Note to Cops, TV Station Before Murder-Suicide

[Peikko 1,575]

Which all goes to show that the guy obviously had mental health issues long before this turn of events came along and pushed him over the edge. It's true, most people faced with adversity don't try to escape by suicide, and even less so murder suicide so yes, a very sad and tragic outcome. Who is trying to justify his actions anyway?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well if you express any sympathy for a tragedy without finger-pointing the perp its a given that you must logically be trying to justify the crime.

I don't know - it certainly has me scratching my head.

[Jasman0717 9]

SICK

[alienlovechild 75]

Well if you express any sympathy for a tragedy without finger-pointing the perp its a given that you must logically be trying to justify the crime.

I never claimed you were somehow justifying the murderer's actions; however, some spin on this story deals with tying this family to economic hard times as if this could happen to anyone. Did you to read the link to the note? Sure the guy had problems mentally and he was busy justifying HIS actions by what happened at work.

Hard to render a judgement on the guy - not knowing what was going on in his head at the time. Suffice to say he (and most people who commit suicide) are incapable of seeing beyond their problems and getting out of a negative emotional cycle.

I don't know exactly what this guy was thinking at the time but you can get a clue from his own words.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Of course the guy would justify his own actions - people tend to frame everything in a rational way, even when they're being decidedly irrational.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think the point that re economic hard ship is valid in the 'push over the edge' theory. Had he just won the lottery, one can't imagine his reaction being the same. In other words, if you are mentally ill (prone to severe depression or whatever) a sudden downturn in one's fortune's can be the catalyst to a cataclysmic event - in this case murder/suicide. If one can learn anything from this, it would probably be to make sure that if you have a family member who is prone to suffer from depression, ensure that they are seen by a Dr on a regular basis. Aside from that, not much you can do.

[alienlovechild 75]

Of course the guy would justify his own actions - people tend to frame everything in a rational way, even when they're being decidedly irrational.

You could put that quote in your office. Seems kinda funny for a publisher. Don't people try to sell you on some book or article you matter how worthless it is? I'm sure they think it's great but it just doesn't have mass appeal.

[Peikko 1,575]

Of course the guy would justify his own actions - people tend to frame everything in a rational way, even when they're being decidedly irrational.

You could put that quote in your office. Seems kinda funny for a publisher. Don't people try to sell you on some book or article you matter how worthless it is? I'm sure they think it's great but it just doesn't have mass appeal.

I think it's a given that people who critique submitted transcripts screen objectively, in so far as an authors personal perception of their own worth will not dictate the reader's valuation of it's literary worth. Why would you think it would be otherwise?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Of course the guy would justify his own actions - people tend to frame everything in a rational way, even when they're being decidedly irrational.

You could put that quote in your office. Seems kinda funny for a publisher. Don't people try to sell you on some book or article you matter how worthless it is? I'm sure they think it's great but it just doesn't have mass appeal.

What people actually buy and what I personally find to be worth reading aren't really compatible.

You do need some understanding of marketing demographics to understand how this works.

But I fail to see what this has to do with the topic.

[alienlovechild 75]

What people actually buy and what I personally find to be worth reading aren't really compatible.

You do need some understanding of marketing demographics to understand how this works.

I'm sure your taste differ from the masses. That's pretty obvious from your posts.

But I fail to see what this has to do with the topic.

Nothing other than the irony of your quote and your profession. You're just that inspiring.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What people actually buy and what I personally find to be worth reading aren't really compatible.

You do need some understanding of marketing demographics to understand how this works.

I'm sure your taste differ from the masses. That's pretty obvious from your posts.

What do you think "the masses" enjoy?

But I fail to see what this has to do with the topic.

Nothing other than the irony of your quote and your profession. You're just that inspiring.

You buy books that you think people will want to buy based on past purchasing trends. There's nothing irrational about it.

Where's the irony?

[Peikko 1,575]

What people actually buy and what I personally find to be worth reading aren't really compatible.

You do need some understanding of marketing demographics to understand how this works.

I'm sure your taste differ from the masses. That's pretty obvious from your posts.

What do you think "the masses" enjoy?

But I fail to see what this has to do with the topic.

Nothing other than the irony of your quote and your profession. You're just that inspiring.

You buy books that you think people will want to buy based on past purchasing trends. There's nothing irrational about it.

Where's the irony?

You have to wonder. Alien's personal narrative must be a joy to behold

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What can you expect from an egomaniac who scorns "the masses".

[alienlovechild 75]

What do you think "the masses" enjoy?

I thought you had some expertise in marketing demographics? I'd think you'd know more about your own job than I would. The masses enjoy bread and circuses. Now that translates to contemporary public spectacles of watching 20 somethings on American Idle and eating whatever's on the dollar menu at McDonald's. That's not an exhaustive list.

You buy books that you think people will want to buy based on past purchasing trends. There's nothing irrational about it.

Where's the irony?

I was just speculating the authors themselves may not be rational in writing a book and get pissed because you won't buy it despite their protests that it's a work of art drenched in the sweat squeezed from their very souls.

[Peikko 1,575]

What do you think "the masses" enjoy?

I thought you had some expertise in marketing demographics? I'd think you'd know more about your own job than I would. The masses enjoy bread and circuses. Now that translates to contemporary public spectacles of watching 20 somethings on American Idle and eating whatever's on the dollar menu at McDonald's. That's not an exhaustive list.

You buy books that you think people will want to buy based on past purchasing trends. There's nothing irrational about it.

Where's the irony?

I was just speculating the authors themselves may not be rational in writing a book and get pissed because you won't buy it despite their protests that it's a work of art drenched in the sweat squeezed from their very souls.

No kidding Sherlock. If this wasn't the case, there wouldn't be any necessity to 'screen' the manuscripts submitted, everything would get published.

However, I am curious where you think you are going with this and why you are pursuing it. I am guessing it is some attempt to suggest that PD is piss poor at his job, but how you work that out from anything he has posted in this thread is beyond rational.

Edited January 29, 2009 by Madame Cleo