12 killed in Colorado shooting at Dark Knight Rises premiere - Part 2

[danoyse]

There was an armed cop on the subway when I was on my way home from seeing BB and TDK in the theater on 7/19.

He was sleeping. Or least dozing off. I just remember looking at the gun clearly visible in his holster and hoping he was awake enough to catch anyone who might try to go for it.

 

[danoyse]

The thing is that movie theatres get kind of lax after midnight when it comes to movies still playing. Even if big crowds are letting out most of the staff is gone for the night sans one or two people.

Exactly. And how many of us were at midnight (or at least late) shows where nothing happened and none of us thought for a second that something like that could happen at a midnight show?

Better security? Definitely? At the very least, get alarms on those doors.

But armed guards? Not sure I'm ready for that.

 

[Kelly]

Exactly. And how many of us were at midnight (or at least late) shows where nothing happened and none of us thought for a second that something like that could happen at a midnight show?

Better security? Definitely? At the very least, get alarms on those doors.

But armed guards? Not sure I'm ready for that.

It depends.....guards with machine guns like in foreign airports....lol.....NOOOOOOOOOOO... but security? sure....

 

[danoyse]

It depends.....guards with machine guns like in foreign airports....lol.....NOOOOOOOOOOO... but security? sure....

We have them at the Port Authority. They're not there every day, but on quite a few days I've seen the guards with the machine guns patrolling the place. That's been in place since 9/11, and I've never gotten used to seeing them.

Glad they're there in case something goes wrong, especially since these are soldiers and not security guards. But it's still unnerving.

 

[Kelly]

We have them at the Port Authority. They're not there every day, but on quite a few days I've seen the guards with the machine guns patrolling the place. That's been in place since 9/11, and I've never gotten used to seeing them.

Glad they're there in case something goes wrong, especially since these are soldiers and not security guards. But it's still unnerving.

The weirdest thing ever was when I flew Thanksgiving after 9/11 and as I walked through the airport, I saw military with machine guns.....I've seen that in foreign countries....but not here. It was so weird....

And then the cool part of waiting for my flight, and a group of military comes marching through and the people EVERYWHERE, standing and applauding....I still get chills thinking about that....

But the machine guns......sooooooooooo weird....

 

[Hotwire]

The thing is that movie theatres get kind of lax after midnight when it comes to movies still playing. Even if big crowds are letting out most of the staff is gone for the night sans one or two people.

I used to work at a theater and I can tell you, the reason those doors don't have alarms on them is quite simple. The theater encourages people to use them after the show. It helps reduce traffic through the lobby which is usually packed with people waiting for the next show. Also, you can imagine the problems it would cause whenever some little kid watching an Ice Age sequel hits the door? Honestly, alarming those doors would probably cause more problems than it would prevent.

 

[Mike_D202]

The surviving victims showed up at court today wearing Batman shirts:

 

[Kelly]

I used to work at a theater and I can tell you, the reason those doors don't have alarms on them is quite simple. The theater encourages people to use them after the show. It helps reduce traffic through the lobby which is usually packed with people waiting for the next show. Also, you can imagine the problems it would cause whenever some little kid watching an Ice Age sequel hits the door? Honestly, alarming those doors would probably cause more problems than it would prevent.

We have the technology, to arm the doors an unarm the doors....and to make the alarm, only in the main office, or wherever someone could monitor them. They wouldn't have to go off in the theater, but they could go off somewhere else....and with cameras in place the person watching could simply disarm the alarm at the time the movie is over....

Technology is cool.....we should use it more often...

 

[danoyse]

The surviving victims showed up at court today wearing Batman shirts:

I just saw that in a news story.

I bought two Batman t-shirts this week.

 

[Darthphere]

But I thought we wanted to separate the tragedy from Batman? This only helps fuel the whole "Joker" thing in the media.

 

[danoyse]

We have the technology, to arm the doors an unarm the doors....and to make the alarm, only in the main office, or wherever someone could monitor them. They wouldn't have to go off in the theater, but they could go off somewhere else....and with cameras in place the person watching could simply disarm the alarm at the time the movie is over....

Technology is cool.....we should use it more often...

The theaters I go to have people stationed by the door to collect garbage and take back the 3D glasses for the IMAX theater before the movie even ends. They can't make it part of the procedure to shut off the door alarm while people are exiting the theater?

There's got be a way to better monitor those doors.

 

[danoyse]

But I thought we wanted to separate the tragedy from Batman? This only helps fuel the whole "Joker" thing in the media.

They put Batman stuff up at the memorials by the theater too. I even saw a Spiderman balloon there.

It doesn't fuel anything, really. People know this was fueled by him being a lunatic, not because of anything from the movie.

 

[Kelly]

The theaters I go to have people stationed by the door to collect garbage and take back the 3D glasses for the IMAX theater before the movie even ends. They can't make it part of the procedure to shut off the door alarm while people are exiting the theater?

There's got be a way to better monitor those doors.

Exactly....

 

[Hotwire]

We have the technology, to arm the doors an unarm the doors....and to make the alarm, only in the main office, or wherever someone could monitor them. They wouldn't have to go off in the theater, but they could go off somewhere else....and with cameras in place the person watching could simply disarm the alarm at the time the movie is over....

Technology is cool.....we should use it more often...

Not knocking your idea but, I think you are really underestimating just how hectic a movie theater can be. Not to mention, short handed. During the week, they are often running on a skeleton crew with managers pulling double duty as projectionists.

 

[Darthphere]

Still, all I read on here is about distancing the tragedy from the character and then we applaud the victims for wearing Batman shirts. Isn't that what some of you on here have wanted. To stop calling this "The Dark Knight massacre" and the like. Seems counterproductive in this case.

 

[Kelly]

Not knocking your idea but, I think you are really underestimating just how hectic a movie theater can be. Not to mention, short handed. During the week, they are often running on a skeleton crew with managers pulling double duty as projectionists.

Then they fix that.....and my best friend is a weekend manager at our Cinemark Tinseltown....a huge theater..... They are putting into place changes that need to be made...and some are concerning the exits.....I understand just fine...

 

[danoyse]

Then they fix that.....and my best friend is a weekend manager at our Cinemark Tinseltown....a huge theater..... They are putting into place changes that need to be made...and some are concerning the exits.....I understand just fine...

Exactly. Christ, if they can block the doors to keep kids under 17 from walking into an R-rated movie (mine does), they can find a way to monitor a door.

I know how hectic the theaters are. I'm there all the time, and my sister used to work for a Loews. I realize it's going to be a pain. But rather that than something like this happening again.

They were checking the doors when I saw TDKR on opening day. They usually come in an check them during the movie before this happened. I can't imagine finding a way to monitor is going to be that much of a problem.

 

[terry78]

Basically the issue is that the only people that work at movie theatres are teenagers. Even the managers aren't technically adults. You may see like one senior citizen or something, but they don't know how to handle it if **** goes down, training or not.

 

[Darthphere]

Exactly. Christ, if they can block the doors to keep kids under 17 from walking into an R-rated movie (mine does), they can find a way to monitor a door.

I know how hectic the theaters are. I'm there all the time, and my sister used to work for a Loews. I realize it's going to be a pain. But rather that than something like this happening again.

They were checking the doors when I saw TDKR on opening day. They usually come in an check them during the movie before this happened. I can't imagine finding a way to monitor is going to be that much of a problem.

Also, most theaters I know at (from people that work there) have cameras inside the actual theaters.

 

[Slushy]

Look at his eyes in that mugshot. He has no soul!

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I'm getting tired of the saddling this with Batman. I don't watch television, I get my news from online newspapers like the Times and the Post. Incidentally though this one I got word of mouth. Someone was like "oh my God, I've been thinking about the tragedy at the Batman premiere". It was very tragic. Very large scale mass killing.

What I dislike is the "making it about Batman and the Joker". I guess this is just the media for you, especially television.

First of all, since I was out most of that weekend I didn't catch any TV at all, which is common for me.

I heard about the shooting but it didn't scare me at all. I went on a Monday, which had been packed for The Dark Knight and eight people maybe showed up. I guess I know why now...

...It never occured to me to be scared. As far as I know mass killings of that variety are rare. The crime also didn't seem that symbolic to me. He made a series of very rational choices for someone who is crazy.

He picked a night he knew would be crowded. A place he knew would be packed. A room he knew had few exits, and also a room not condusive to a crowd fleeing with great efficiency. Yet many want to make it about a fictional character.

So he likes the Joker? Doesn't everybody. Isn't that like pointing out that hot club chick likes "Boyfriend" by Justin Beiber? Or that kid from the eighties, man he seems really into Transformers in G.I.Joe.

I honestly think all his Joker crap is just a ploy for attention. Some game he's trying to pull to gain a following or try to plead insanity. I mean honestly he's clearly mentally disturbed, what he did is mentally disturbed, but that doesn't imply he can't process rationally. It also doesn't imply he really was inspired by the Joker, or Batman, or that the movie was in any danger.

In fact I think immediately following would've been the safest time to go. Ironically because so many do get scared and have knee jerk reactions. More people stay home. More heightened awareness.

So yeah, I really wish they'd stop reporting on the Batman stuff in the trial, because I really doubt the genuineness of both the man on trial and the media.

 

[Kelly]

The media didn't make it about Batman and the Joker....Holmes did....do these media outlets sensationalize this....hell yeah, but this guys choices, and choice of words when caught....made this about Batman and the Joker....the media did tell him what to say....pssst, "be sure and call yourself the Joker....it will sell more papers for us...."

And I'm sorry, but I would much rather this be connected to a movie, than a blight on this town's name forever.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

The media didn't make it about Batman and the Joker....Holmes did....

And I'm sorry, but I would much rather this be connected to a movie, than a blight on this town's name forever.

It's all a load though. He picked that night because it was going to be crowded and easy to kill a lot of people. He's probably also smart enough to figure that if he made himself about to be inspired by a fictional character, maybe he could plead insanity and avoid the death penalty.

Also, it can fall on a community, or at least the boys parents and or those immediately responsible for him should be held somewhat accountable.

I mean Columbine reported that the two killers were outcasts. You know that wasn't true? They actually had gone to prom with like eight people and were pretty normal according to many. Their parents had ignored clear psychological issues they were having.

So to me it's pretty clear why he would try to pin his delusions on a cartoon character. It plays to a trope of crazy and unfit to try, but he isn't. He knew exactly what he was doing and made a series of very rational choices about the atrocity he committed.

 

[Slushy]

The difference between psychotic and psychopath is the psychotic actually believes the refrigerator is talking to him while the psychopath knows the refrigerator isn't talking to him, but pretends that it is.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

To me he's just a psychopath then. Perfectly sane, just very angry and ignorant.