12 killed in Colorado theater shooting.

[QuicksandMania]

I can see the point, but on the other hand, such an area also would wind up with people calling in about "this guy Sydney that lives upstairs, we've seen him come down several times the past year dressed in women's clothes." And in some areas, just like that, I'd find myself locked away with the man with the eating disorder.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about someone who's a recluse, though.

In other news, I should probably at least learn the names of at least my most immediate neighbors here.

I agree that there is much prejudice against the loner for no good reason. As a loner myself, I sympathize with your cautions against persecuting them. A good book is Party of One: The Loners' Manifesto by Anneli S. Rufus which makes a vigorous defense of loners as needed for a fully functional world.

I extend my sympathies to the victims of this horrifying event.

[Nessie]

As a loner myself, I sympathize with your cautions against persecuting them.

Outside of the quicksand world, I too do not have a big social life. I am, yes, a loner.

There is unhealthy kind of loner where you are unhappy with your lonely and feel rejected and wish more people would love you and pay attention to you. These are the people that eventually get angry enough to lash out.

And then there is just natural introversion.

Introverts, like me, are simply able to entertain themselves adequately without outside help. We don't dislike people but we do reach social limits faster than most. Many of the things we like to do work best when one is alone, too (it's mighty hard to draw a picture at a party). I suspect we tend to value our privacy and I do know that I have a sensitivity to "social noise"...events like parties wear me out in a hurry whereas others thrive at them.

I'm fine by myself. Really. No reason for concern at all.

More people are social than are loners, though, and that means that most people think something is wrong when somebody else wants to be alone.

Nessie

[julie]

I was like that in Middle school my parents had just moved here and I didn't know anybody and since I like Black I was considered by the school system as " loner with possible violent tendencies" and that took me till my senior year to get off my record, and I never did anything to anybody, I high school I didn't date the football star so i was an outcast there too. but there's no way I would ever do what that moron did, but the part that unnerves me more than anything is what my boy friend told em today. he said he was going to email the State of Colorado and offer his services to dispose of Helms for them, ok, yea he's been to Iraq three times and doesn't sleep the best, but its not what he said that scared me its how he said it, there was no emotion on his face at all....none, like he would have enjoyed doing it for them. Then all of a sudden he was fine. I guess that's why he goes to the VA huh?

[Lomax]

This doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about someone who's a recluse, though.

Oh dear, are we recluses a problem now?

Mind you, it seems I'm not alone (er, maybe I should re-phrase that). Perhaps we should form an organisation called Introverts Anonymous. I wonder if anyone would turn up?

Meanwhile, in Colorado, I hear that gun sales have gone UP in the wake of Aurora.

[BSink42]

This doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about someone who's a recluse, though.

Oh dear, are we recluses a problem now?

Mind you, it seems I'm not alone (er, maybe I should re-phrase that). Perhaps we should form an organisation called Introverts Anonymous. I wonder if anyone would turn up?

Meanwhile, in Colorado, I hear that gun sales have gone UP in the wake of Aurora.

Even though I'm not a fan of Facebook, sometimes I wish boards like these had a 'like' button. That Introverts Anonymous comment is one of these times.

Yeah, gun sales usually go up in the wake of tragedies like this. It's still sad and disturbing to see that happen.

[Sydney]

This doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about someone who's a recluse, though.

Oh dear, are we recluses a problem now?

Mind you, it seems I'm not alone (er, maybe I should re-phrase that). Perhaps we should form an organisation called Introverts Anonymous. I wonder if anyone would turn up?

By some people's definition, I qualify as a recluse. I spend 3-4 nights a week at home after work, doing fairly solitary things. For them, if I'm not attempting to maximize my human contact, except for the time necessary to do errands and chores, I'm anti-social.

The irony of an Introverts Anonymous group... it isn't that people don't go to the meetings... it's that they don't call a lot of attention to the group or their membership in it... and it's not about getting over their "problem" through a 12-step plan.

[Mynock]

I'm pretty sure this dude had bigger mental problems then just being a loner....during the week I pretty much come home from work, screw around on the internet or watch TV for a few hours and then go to bed but I've never felt the need to shoot up a movie theater.
For the record, gun sales are up all over the country, mostly because of mall ninjas being afraid of December 21st. Unfortunately I don't see how any amound of legislation could have prevented this from happening, the guy had a clean record before he went nuts so no amount of background checks would have prevented the sales from going through.

[jadokast98]

...but the part that unnerves me more than anything is what my boy friend told em today. he said he was going to email the State of Colorado and offer his services to dispose of Helms for them...?

To some extent, that is how the sucessful Service Member (idk if he is a Marine, Soldier, or what have you) deal with an adversity; head on. Task; Take Out the Garbage. Conditions; Given a full garbage can, empty garbage bags and a untidy area around the garbage can. Remove the garbage from the waste basket, replace empty bag, place everything in the area back in their respective areas. Standards Take full Garbage Bag to the proper collection area and do this is such a manner others will not have to clean after you, and that you are back infront of the TV before the commercial is over.

...yea he's been to Iraq three times and doesn't sleep the best...

May I suggest Melatonin? I have a bottle right next to me now. It is not a cure all, but if I can arrange for 9 hrs sleep I'm happy. I still wake up in the middle of the night while I'm here; UAVs taking off and landing, A/C unit blaring, People walking in and out of the tent, and lets not forget bad dreams- gf getting chased by Russian Mob so she can work as a stripper. (that fine little tidbit was with the Melatonin and the malaria pills.) Ask if the VA has the little pre-recorded music players; very soothing.

...but its not what he said that scared me its how he said it, there was no emotion on his face at all....none, like he would have enjoyed doing it for them. Then all of a sudden he was fine. I guess that's why he goes to the VA huh?

Your bf understands the value of human life, please understand that. Re; taking out the garbage comment above- we aint smilin' when we do it. Same thing when we go on an Op, patrol, convoy, guard duty or just plain "goin' to the office". There are things we will have to do, no matter what, and not enjoy a bit about it. What you should have truly worried about was if he had a gleeful smile when he said it. You had the honor of seeing him "in Iraq, getting his Game Face on, talking to the "hot chick", "Yea, I'll be back in a bit. I got a sum-sum to do." I'm worried, you tell him. "Nah, everything fine. I just get like this. I just wanna protect my girl." Yea, we can switch it on and off to some extent. V.A. helps us more now, because there are more resources than were available to us than a 'Nam vet or a Korean vet. The VA learned their mistakes and is tring hard to help any vet that comes in. I have 3 former National Guardsmen I was here in Afganistan with working there. I am seeing a "resiliency specialist" to deal with my own deamons here in my time off.


"I just wanna protect my girl." I'm proud of the men that protected their ladies that night. Toast; to Real Men and the Women we love.