Does it bother anyone that everytime a mass shooting happens they describe the shooter

[theycallmetrinity]

as an introvert , quiet , not many friends

There is nothing strange about being an introvert or being quiet .

[pogglethrope]

1. No, it doesn’t bother me, not if

the description is accurate -- and it is made only after the shooter is identified.

“There is nothing strange about being an introvert or being quiet.” If it it is true that all mass murderers are quiet or introverts or both, then perhaps there is something strange about it. If that is known to be the case, it might be useful in determining who should and who should not be allowed to purchase firearms. (I favor national gun registration laws.)

My preference, though, is that firearms be removed from civilian hands altogether. That’s the only way we will be able to stop gun violence. I loathe firearms of any kind. With good reason. The fewer people who have them the better.

I see no good reason for anyone to have firearms other than the military and law enforcement officers. Let the gun nuts find other hobbies.

[Betty Karlson]

10. I think it is rather that those who harbour murderous thoughts

are likely to be found out early when they are extroverts, and may bring their plans to completion if they are introverts.

Talking about whom one wants to kill all the time is likely to lead to an early arrest. Keeping silent about it, not having anyone to talk to in the first place, and no-one will know about the danger one is. Until it is too late.

I agree about the need for blanket firearm removal from civilian ownership, though.

[delrem]

11. I don't agree. Extroverted psychos are a menace

and can be even more menacing because they are extroverted/people-friendly, and can gain adherents because of their charisma. Good with words, they can even start political movements.

Even this guy, Roof, didn't lack for extroverted psychopathic mentors.

[Betty Karlson]

12. Are you saying that extroverts are strangely excepted from

accusatory associations just because most people don't like the idea of a murderer being "just like us"?

That murderers can be extrovert or introvert, but we only dissect the mental dispositions of the latter category?

[delrem]

14. I'm unsure of your meaning.

I'm doubly unsure because you couch your statement in "are you saying that".

Nevertheless, if I glean your meaning correctly, then yes.
I think in-group/out-group, us/them, play a role in how media figures describe things, and that describing a perp as an "introvert/outcast/etc." is largely a cop-out.

eta: see my response #5, for another take on my meaning.

[romanic]

2. Not really.

And I say this as an introvert.

[alittlelark]

3. As an INTP - it does disturb me.

We seem to 'fit the weirdo mold', yet have so little interest in other people that we do not recognize or care about the mold we are cast in to.

We are the antithesis of those ppl, yet are looked at in the same way.

[Kalidurga]

4. Hi

I am an INTP too, I hardly ever see my type in real life. Probably because we are rare and tend to not be all that outgoing.

[bravenak]

6. I'm INFP AND i never see my type.

Probably because we're all inside.

[Kalidurga]

7. Yep

and when I's do go out it's not like we are looking for friends.

[bravenak]

8. True!

Just trying to get back home when I'm out.

[delrem]

5. How many Arab shooters are described that way?

If the shooter is an X or can be associated with X's and the people doing the describing associate themselves with X's, then the shooter will likely be described as an outsider. The description will contain exclusionary language - for purposes of absolution.
If the shooter is a Y or can be associated with Y's and the people doing the describing consider themselves to be at war with Y's, or fundamentally opposed to Y's, the language will be inclusionary and incendiary.

[Jamastiene]

9. Yes, it bothers me.

I am an INTJ and have no earthly urge to shoot anyone. Yet, we get lumped into that same category as those who do their heinous crimes.

It is the same with "mental illness." People say the person has to be mentally ill to do such a thing, but "mental illness" is not one thing. Most mentally ill people are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators of it.

It irritates me that they always go right to loner and mentally ill, before they even know anything about the person.

[1939]

13. INTJ here

I do think that introverts would go into deep planning before deciding to commit mass murder where an ESTJ would be more likely to "flash" and just pull a gun and begin shooting without planning it. Both type would commit mass murder, but would go about it differently.

Mass murderers (and murderers) are really a very small subset of either ESTJ or INTJ so profiling would not help.

[Shamash]

16. Seems to me that mass murderers are a very small subset of -everyone-

Regardless of any particular demographic they are part of. Except perhaps "murderers", and even then they are in a distinct minority.

[malaise]

15. It bothers me in this instance

because he did have friends- not one of whom took his threats seriously.

[delrem]

17. He picked his friends and his friends picked him,

and the fact that there was social outreach is proved by his web pages complete with photos.
The guy sitting there with a gun.

[Fumesucker]

18. What would a friend of his who took his threat seriously have done?

I can just imagine calling 911 as a twenty year old telling them my buddy is talking about starting a race war.

OK, son, just call us when he actually does something..

Even dealing with family with mental issues is a horror show of not getting help that's needed for actual serious behavior, it's an uphill battle and not one a casual acquaintance is likely to undertake.

[malaise]

19. Given his previous run ins with the law they may have

seized the gun. Listening to the friends, it is clear that he did make specific threats, but I get your point.

[1939]

20. Most kids that age

Are just "huffing" about what they say they'd do and their friends just say, "yeah, yeah, sure you will."

[WinkyDink]

21. Fear-mongering is promoted when military contracts can be had. Home-grown terror ain't worth much.