[UA] Deaths and psychology

[Rev Kev]

>>>Frankly, if it's numbers of dead, more people die in traffic accidents
and from heart attacks here than from murders.  Heck, if it was
numbers of dead kids that freaked people out, we'd ban swimming pools.

I think the freak-out is over the location ( it's a school, so it's a
gun-free zone.. so no shootings can happen there right? ) and that the
deaths happened all at once.<<<

I would also add that the deaths were the result of a deliberate choice made by a person who very easily could have sat next to you in a restaurant or the bus.  Most traffic accidents are...well, accidents.  As are drownings, tornados, and earthquakes.  But mass murders shock the collective unconscious.  While the earthquake in Kobe was utterly devastating, it was a natural act that comes about from living in such a volatile zone.  But when a group of men deliberately crash two planes into skyscrapers, the deaths receive a lot of attention, even though the death toll is less than in Kobe (I believe; correct me if I'm wrong).  

I've wondered about writing a one-shot where the players have a chance to prevent a student from going on a shooting.  And I don't mean the typical gamer bravado of chasing him down with a SWAT team.  I mean a truly psychological game where the PCs interact with a loner and have a real chance of convincing him that life is worth living.  It could be a very rewarding experience.  It could also be a bit devastating for the players if their PCs fail.

Kevin
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