Amok

Today I heard it from my colleague at work - who, in turn, had heard it on the radio in the car: there was a shooter running amok in a town close to Stuttgart, not far from where I live, too.

To my own shame I have to admit my first reaction was a double one. On one side I was terribly sorry, for the 16 victims (17 if you count the shooter who killed himself in the end in a shootout with the police), for their loved ones, for the injured and also for the psychically scarred. It happened at a school, yet again, and was even on CNN news this evening.

On the other side I was more or less waiting for the first mentioning of “Killerspiele” yet again - because it always happens in such cases. I can’t help it, I just know the politicians and the media too well.

By now the first mentioning of “Killerspiele” has happened, but on the whole there’s more focus on why the parents and brother didn’t realize something was wrong with the young man - and where he got his guns from. He’s probably gotten them from his parents’ home - they legally own quite some weapons, which is rather unusual in Germany.

I’m still terribly sorry something like that did happen ... had to happen. At the same time I know they will not accept there’s more to this amok run than just a few violent computer games, that society is to blame for it. It’s always easier to blame others than take the blame yourself.

Weekend Update

Yes, it’s been quite a while since the last one, I know it. Fact is, I was pretty much stressed over the last weeks and didn’t find much time to write. So I’ll start this update with a look back:

What I’ve read over the last weeks: not too much, admittedly, but I went through “Ai no Kusabi 4” again. Apart from that it was a few lines here and a few lines there, a short gaze into the “Vampire: The Requiem” basics to the side.

What I’ve played over the last weeks: a few casual games and an adventure named “Ceville”.

What I’ve seen over the last couple of weeks: Some “Conan” OVAs (up to No. 10), “”Hellboy II” and “Wyrd Sisters”.

This weekend:

• Book to read: no real plan, but I’ll find something
• DVD to watch: “Soul Music”
• Game to play: “Tomb Raider: Underworld” probably

Apart from that I’ll relax and hope for a week with a little less stress - as if that will happen.