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Is it healthy to dwell so much over it everytime some city degenerate dies and the media decides to make it a “thing”? What would you or anyone else gain from this knowledge?
On one hand, 95% of topics here have no material benefit. The Question and Wellness threads do a little better, but really, Internet commenting is a spectator sport.
On the other, examples like the OP really do emphasize that pointlessness. Mr. Penny’s use of force may have been justified, but it’s not going to hinge on a rap sheet which he couldn’t have seen. No, this is useful only for scoring points in the larger Conversation, where everyone is trying to weaponize the halo effect to make their team look saintly. Just because the media is doing it doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for this community.
On the gripping hand…I think this is truth-seeking. It’s trivia at best, and manufacturing culture war ammunition at worst, but in the end, someone will know more true things. I don’t want to discourage that.
The complete and utter vanity of the news when seen from the longterm is why I can’t help being drawn to the good news of religion. At the very least my quibbles are echos through the ages, beginning with the first quibblings of the Christians 2000 years ago. At the most, maybe I learn something that increases my happiness, who knows?
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