Many Injured in Explosions at Boston Marathon

[LaComtesse]

For someone that claims to understand psychology you don't seem to understand psychology very well.
We weren't dodging the issue. We were witholding expressing a strong view on something until more evidence was in and a better opinion could be formed.
It's actually the way intelligent people generally conduct themselves.
Unlike you we understood that this bombing could easily have been the work of a lone mad-man with mental health issues, some disaffected youths, an extreme right wing group, an anti government group etc.
But well done...you pointed out that it could have been done by islamic extremists and that seems to have been the case (although the dissafected youth angle would seem to play a part too).
I don't think anyone else has noticed that potential Islamist/bombing link so maybe you should inform interpol, the FBI, CIA, M15 etc etc?
They might want to know about it.

The fact that this could have been done by islamic extremists was the elephant in the room. But most of us could also see all the other elephants in the room too and so didn't point out that particular one until it put its trunk up and said "it was me".

But you know...you carry on congratulating yourself for noticing something screamingly obvious. Sounds like you need to to feel good about yourself and maintain your sense of self (how's that for some psychology? ).

 

[Meckenzie]

I'd call what you do 'jumping to conclusions'.
Personally, I'd like to get some facts first, and not from the media during a manhunt. What you do is searching for confirmation bias.

 

[Susy]

No wonder America has so many problems (and before Americans jump on that...everywhere has problems).

 

[mamaof2]

I'd call it stating the bleedin' obvious.
Oh look someone trying to avoid the police in a highly controlled location after being in a shoot out and after a major bombing attack that has caused widesspread lockdonw was found locally (something that could cover being 10 foot away or 10 miles).
What are the chances of that!?!
My money was on him hopping on a plane in a fake moustache and trench coat and being found sipping coffee in a Parisien cafe next week.
No wonder I'm not paid to solve problems.

 

[FroggyF]

We had a minute's silence at this morning's ParkRun, in memory of the victim's of the Boston Marathon bombing.

I felt very moved, because sometimes it's hard to really get a proper perspective on some things, but I just tried to focus on the though that they were just ordinary people like us, who turned up one day to run, to enjoy themselves, no doubt in many cases to raise money for good causes. Then suddenly their good day turned into a nightmare, and for some that nightmare won't end.

I'm glad that the perpetrators are no longer at large, and I hope that justice gets done. But I'm still thinking first and foremost of the victims.

I hope that there is a fitting commemoration at tomorrow's London Marathon, and I'm sure there will be.

 

[smittey]

Proper, scientifically conducted psychological investigations have nothing to do with speculation regarding the root causes of specific 21st Century acts of terrorism.

And Psycho-analytic approaches - which is what DP largely falls under - are even more removed from that kind of discourse.

Psychological training does not make you the equivalent of a jack-of-all-trades CSI operative. That kind of nonsense is believed by first-year undergrads who swap subjects as soon as they find out that their degree involves statistics.

 

[jimmyt]

and yet here in canada stephen harper criticized justin trudeau for saying just what you said - look for causes.



That is terrific.

 

[SashaH]

It's certainly been on my mind a lot every time I'm out running after storing all my winter fat on my cold running hiatus. It's my motivation to dig a little deeper and push a little harder as I build my stamina back up.

 

[Rudy]

I've just got in from training and switched the TV on to watch the London Marathon.

The crowds are always good here, but the commentators are saying this is the best ever turn out.

Good to see after recent events.

You can cause disruption, even take lives, but you can't it seems stop a communities spirit.

Let's hope Boston next year sends out an even stronger message.

 

[SNIPERHUNTER71]

And rightfully so!.

Trudeau is an idiot for trying to make himself stand apart - he used it for political agenda and platforming and that is not a good sign that he is someone that is suitable to lead the party let alone the country. All flash no substance

You don't say to a rape victim or their family "well there must be a psychological reason why this happened" - you seek and punish the offender and enter into the realm of predictive analysis AFTER

 

[aydoubleyou]

The sun always seems brightest after a storm; so it is with human nature. The best "revenge" is to live well

 

[Josephe]

Yeah thats right. You punish them first then you try to find out the causes of crime (I think there are many many causes) to try and prevent it.

Trudeau was right though, and the MAP poster is right too, to look for causes. But if they mean it the way you put it, of course that is wrong.

 

[BigP]

If someone is mugging you do you look for the cause or deal with the immediate threat?

Same thing

 

[suziq]

It seems there were so many people on facebook and local news who thought the country of origin of the Boston Marathon brother suspects was the Czech Republic that Gandalovic, the country’s ambassador to the USA, felt he had to to keep the record straight.

"As many I was deeply shocked by the tragedy that occurred in Boston earlier this month. It was a stark reminder of the fact that any of us could be a victim of senseless violence anywhere at any moment.
As more information on the origin of the alleged perpetrators is coming to light, I am concerned to note in the social media a most unfortunate misunderstanding in this respect. The Czech Republic and Chechnya are two very different entities—the Czech Republic is a Central European country; Chechnya is a part of the Russian Federation.
As the President of the Czech Republic Miloڑ Zeman noted in his message to President Obama, the Czech Republic is an active and reliable partner of the United States in the fight against terrorism. We are determined to stand side by side with our allies in this respect, there is no doubt about that."

Hope no citizen of the C.Republic has been themselves has had to suffer any hate due to ignornace.

Raz

 

[PeterW]

Poor buggers! They've spent dog knows how many years telling people that they're not Czechoslovakian....and now that they're not Chechen.

 

[watchout]

Some people would find life a whole lot simpler if there were only two countries in the world: Us and Them. So much easier to remember.

(And before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusions, I'm NOT having a dig at Americans. Ignorance is universal.)

 

[Lost_G20]

It is somewhat amusing though:

http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/48547675807/the-definitive-people-who-thought-chechnya-was-the

Especially the "Czech Republicans" one.

 

[GEMSUSPENDEDAGAINt]

While I can't say much for the Facebook posts of everyday people commenting on the Czech Republic because sadly I expect that kind of laziness, for professional sources (even if it's local news) to get it wrong is appalling.

I'm not a genius or anything, probably not even 'smart'. Hell, I'm not even familiar with the Czech Republic and I couldn't point to it on a map either (although I would probably get the hemisphere right, at least), but just because two identities start with a C and look vaguely similar (which really they don't) it is not a legitimate way to make a speculation/association. Off the top of my head I would assume people from the Czech Republic are referred to as Czechtians, or Czecht.

(does google search)

Yep, would appear so. And people from Chechyna appear to be referred to as Chechnyan. The only similarity is the C. Why don't people get fired for this kind of laziness in the world of instant information?

 

[tjgonzalez]

Oddly enough, the Russian troops slang for "Chechens" during the war was "Czechs", though this is not likely connected to the US situation. As I understand, it was just easier and faster for the troops to say in Russian, specifically "Chehi" (Czechs) vs "Chechenci" (Chechens).

 

[DrKnowlItlAll]

Czech are lovely people, had a couple of friends in Uni. East of Germany West of Poland, great sausages, great beer!

I have spent countless hours with either Polish or Czech friends each telling me why their sausages or beer is superior to the counter part. (They tend to have a rivalry of sorts). Prague's a beautiful city with great beer!

Back in the Middle Ages the Czechs were the Bohemians. One of the smallest states standing against the Germans (Holy Roman Empire).

Chechnya is a Russian province. I don't understand why the media won't just call them Russians. If it was a British terrorist they wouldn't be saying for example, it was a man from Yorkshire, or the Midlands or the Devon, they would just say British or English.

Perhaps it's Russia regarding Chechnya as second class citizens and differentiating between them?

I know the USSR had huge problems with Chechnya because they wouldn't assimilate to Atheism, and they share more similarities to Kazakhstan/Uzbek than they do Moscow and St Petersburg.