Lost Boys, Violent World

In 1999, author and psychologist James Garbarino wrote a book called Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them.  It was written before and released for publication just after the tragic incident at Columbine High School, where two students went on a shooting spree that shocked the nation. Unfortunately, it did not shock us into making any substantial changes.  Except for one.  Fear of gun control led to a buying spree of more guns.

Garbarino tried to help us understand the factors that led boys to engage in violent acts. One of them is what happens at large schools where some children fall through the cracks and don’t make the teams, don’t get a sense of community or belonging in any other group activities. 

Another is the breaking down of inhibitions that takes place when engaging in point-and-shoot video games.  We have seen more and more of these games where the goal is to shoot and annihilate other beings, often in a war-like setting that would create PTSD in a brain wired for conscience.

The circumstances that lead to disconnect and a lack of inhibition towards violence have only gotten worse since Lost Boys was released, as evidenced by more and more gun violence in our society.

Adults are now more divided and disconnected from each other than before. The parents of the Columbine shooters were shocked to learn what their children had planned and carried out.  Now we see parents equipping their children with guns (Michigan).

The new argument against sensible gun regulations is that it is not the guns, it is mental health that is the problem. And then those making that argument vote against funding for treatment of mental illness.

If the past is any indication, and the path we are on a prediction of our direction as a country, some will talk about gun control, while gun enthusiasts will further enrich the weapons industry by buying more and more firearms, our sons will play games that serve as target practice, wiring their brains for how to solve problems in real life. 

And the rest of us will shake our heads and wonder how we got here.