I have been reading a lot about the UCSB shooting in the last few days. Last night, though, I was informed that someone I love believed that the guy was not a misogynist and was just mentally ill. I have been reading articles from both sides of the equation and so had been weighing things from my point of view (a woman!). I know some people's views differ from mine (hey, my mum reads the Daily Mail!) but I had no idea that this person's views differed so much from mine and that they did not see the risk is equating mental illness with violence.

Apparently Elliot Roger was on the Autism Spectrum at the Asperger's end. Yes, his video blogs appear to show that he was narcissistic, but I do not know if he had an official diagnosis other than the Asperger's. I do know that his parents say he was seeing a psychiatrist. To be perfectly honest I cannot read any more about it because I am too upset.

MENTAL ILLNESS ≠ DANGEROUS except in a few psychotic cases.

Apparently, also from what I have read, he was very active in some Men's Rights Activism forums and so that may have fuelled his belief that women owed him something and that how dare they turn down his "obviously" perfect come-ons.

So, no. I cannot fathom this any more and am closing my LJ, Twitter and Tumblr tabs/apps for now. I have plenty to read else-web and offline. Perhaps I will come back online once this has all died down and/or I can take my mind off it. I foresee a lot of Diablo III in the next few hours/days.