I remember when Ted Bundy made national headlines when he was finally captured in 1978. I remember people talking about how handsome and well-educated he was and how he wasn’t your typical murderer.
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When his photo was posted, pittsburgh pressI remember watching it with an interest in what I might call a “desire in my heart.” president jimmy carter Said once. That’s why I stared at the photo of Bundy. Keep in mind that back then, there were actually only three television stations and an evening or morning newspaper. The images that filled the pages and screens were primarily of middle-aged, brooding white men like Carter, Walter Cronkite, and the Three. pope.
But that’s no excuse to pardon Bundy. He was a gruesome, cold-blooded, horrible murderer. He may have been handsome, charming, and educated, but he was fierce. No one can get a pass based on looks or smarts.
I see the same thing happening Luigi Mangionethe man authorities say shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. First, in a case of “I should know better,” when a shirtless photo of him was posted, I clicked on it to enlarge it and googled it several times to see if he was gay. I even searched for it. Or straight.
Then I read the comments under his pictures and posts about him. So many people saw him as a vigilante trying to right the wrongs of the health care system. Yes, we get extreme up by it. When I attempted suicide, my insurance company told me that I would need to contact them the next time I needed to go to the hospital. Seriously?
But my complaints and those of millions of others cannot, and should not, assuage the hurt inflicted on us by a health care system that is only for profit. Thompson had family, friends and loved ones. Business problems cannot be solved by extinguishing the lives of the people who run the business.
When news of the Thompson shooting death broke, I posted an article internally saying this could be a harbinger of things to come. There is so much anger in our society and so many people who see corporate CEOs as ruthless enemies. A convicted felon who preached hatred and violence is headed to the Oval Office. People feel encouraged when they see the president-elect succeed despite being a criminal and hatemonger.
The would-be assassins are encouraged when they see people courting Mangione, the suspected gunman. Why not? People are praising Mangione’s alleged actions as defending the helpless little guy when it comes to battling corporate bureaucracy.
It doesn’t take much to tip the scales of someone angry and seeking revenge. Copycat murders have been seen throughout history. Look at what happened after Columbine in 1999. Now we shrug our shoulders in anger, think and pray, and wait for the next school shooting. The same goes for the department store massacre. flat Jeffrey Dahmer Incited copycat crimes. flat bandy There were imitators.
Remember when the mugshot of convicted felon Jeffrey Meeks was widely distributed? He served time for firearms possession and grand larceny, but people overlooked that aspect. Not only that, but ignored.
I’m not a psychologist, but I talked to a psychologist today and found that violent people, especially those with mental health issues, are more concerned about the criminals who committed the crimes they imagine. Agreed that you should pay attention to how you are treated. I can’t imagine what those who seek to cause harm feel about Mangione’s treatment.
The media is partially or almost entirely responsible. This case has all the bells and whistles of a made-for-TV movie. You have a handsome, highly educated perpetrator defendant with Ivy League credentials and a very wealthy family. And then there’s the CEO of a large company who was shot on the streets of New York City. Because of this, I became obsessed with all things Mangione 24/7 and cared less and less about Thompson’s death.
Thompson’s shooting The conversation was lively Companies exchange opinions on how to protect their CEOs. Other health insurance companies have also taken steps to protect their CEOs, including removing their online presence, including their profiles and photos, and canceling in-person events. USA Today. They pay close attention to what is being said and the emotion behind it. They know that any praise given to Mr. Mangione for allegedly harming a hated health insurance company will only inspire others to do the same.
But targeting CEOs of “bad companies” will only do more harm than good, and will encourage change to help companies better serve their customers or become more human. There is no. But would-be assassins don’t see it that way, and they definitely see it that way when Mangione is being flattered and praised for what he’s accused of doing. .
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