cluciano63--You and I might have known that death is forever by age 10 but I'm just not certain about teens now. There are over 1000 posts on that single Topix site and many many kids don't seem to fully grasp the enormity and finality of this murder. I realize that the murderers are sick sick guys but what causes their peers to be so clueless? I'm very curious.
Not too long ago, my 7 year old grandson asked me why I don't eat any meat and I explained that I didn't want animals to have to die to feed me. Even though he's a very bright boy with no television and a very evolved set of bright parents, you could tell that he'd never made that connection between the pretty cow or chicken and dinner. He even has backyard chickens but they are for eggs. He knows what free-range means. But it was the thought of death that he hadn't quite processed yet. I expect this to start occurring to 7 year olds--you step on the bug and it's dead. Your pet hamster dies and it's buried. Animals are killed to eat and so on.
But, I'm starting to think that this stage has been extended through the teen years somewhat. Is it just a natural societal process or is it due to media or to a distancing from death for most kids? I don't know.
I highly suggest the book, "The Primal Teen", for anyone wanting to understand the physiology of the teen brain. It's a fascinating book. I certainly hope that some psychologists are saving the Topix posts for further study and evaluation.
Not too long ago, my 7 year old grandson asked me why I don't eat any meat and I explained that I didn't want animals to have to die to feed me. Even though he's a very bright boy with no television and a very evolved set of bright parents, you could tell that he'd never made that connection between the pretty cow or chicken and dinner. He even has backyard chickens but they are for eggs. He knows what free-range means. But it was the thought of death that he hadn't quite processed yet. I expect this to start occurring to 7 year olds--you step on the bug and it's dead. Your pet hamster dies and it's buried. Animals are killed to eat and so on.
But, I'm starting to think that this stage has been extended through the teen years somewhat. Is it just a natural societal process or is it due to media or to a distancing from death for most kids? I don't know.
I highly suggest the book, "The Primal Teen", for anyone wanting to understand the physiology of the teen brain. It's a fascinating book. I certainly hope that some psychologists are saving the Topix posts for further study and evaluation.