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My impression after reading it all is that there may be some merit to the riot theory of escalating school shootings, but that LaDue is an outlier that doesn't

My impression after reading it all is that there may be some merit to the riot theory of escalating school shootings, but that LaDue is an outlier that doesn't fit into that theory. Gladwell is attempting to draw a parallel between the "hundredth rioter" who would only riot if everyone and their mother was already doing so, and LaDue, who is a mild mannered and non-malevolent hobbyist in mass murder. But an autist who is obsessed with the concept of riots in general and goes about rioting with a clinical and scientific detachment devoid of emotion fits nowhere in the social theory of rioting which Gladwell is trying to bring in.

sageabilly 11y ago
I believe it does, as the history of school shootings itself gave LaDue material to obsess over. He is participating in the riot model because his interest was piqued by all of the shootings that had already happened and he did not have the mental ability to realize that mass murder is not a socially acceptable hobby. If the first 99 shootings had never happened, then perhaps LaDue would have found a different hobby.
- savanaly 11y ago
  Definitely, and I now realize I wasn't clear in my comment. LaDue doesn't fit smoothly into the particular series of dominoes envisioned by Gladwell. But he does fit in the much more general sense of "people who alter their actions based on what they've heard about school shootings in the past".
  - digibo 11y ago
    I think the comparison got a bit diluted, because the initial mention of a 100 threshold sounds like "pretty much anyone", while LaDue comes out more like a 50 threshold or at least something that feels like middle ground - equally (dis)interested in cold violence and empathy. LaDue is probably much less "normal" than the 99 threshold comparison near the end suggests, but I believe the idea, that this "threshold expansion" may continue and get worse, was well enough communicated throughout the article.

sageabilly 11y ago

I believe it does, as the history of school shootings itself gave LaDue material to obsess over. He is participating in the riot model because his interest was piqued by all of the shootings that had already happened and he did not have the mental ability to realize that mass murder is not a socially acceptable hobby. If the first 99 shootings had never happened, then perhaps LaDue would have found a different hobby.

savanaly 11y ago
Definitely, and I now realize I wasn't clear in my comment. LaDue doesn't fit smoothly into the particular series of dominoes envisioned by Gladwell. But he does fit in the much more general sense of "people who alter their actions based on what they've heard about school shootings in the past".
- digibo 11y ago
  I think the comparison got a bit diluted, because the initial mention of a 100 threshold sounds like "pretty much anyone", while LaDue comes out more like a 50 threshold or at least something that feels like middle ground - equally (dis)interested in cold violence and empathy. LaDue is probably much less "normal" than the 99 threshold comparison near the end suggests, but I believe the idea, that this "threshold expansion" may continue and get worse, was well enough communicated throughout the article.