As I cruised Facebook and Twitter last night looking to be entertained, I came to a cynical conclusion. A majority of people on social networking sites have it all figured out. They're loud, they're proud and they're gonna tell you all about it and then some!
Have a conundrum? Need advice? Screw Dear Abby, she's don't know nothing! Ditch your head-shrinker, friends and family. Head over to Facebook and Twitter where hundreds of rubes are happy to share knowledge like they're ancient philosophers. You shouldn't philosophize with hashtags and slang friendos.
Case in point: Christopher Dorner. The manhunt for the crazed ex-cop has been all the rage, especially with his recent, mysterious fiery death. With a revenge plot targeting the LAPD, the west coast of the United States was on edge as Dorner was M.I.A. Where oh where could he be?
In his lengthy manifesto, he blamed racism and corruption in the LAPD and vowed to wage "unconventional and asymmetrical warfare" against officers and their families. This revenge was a last resort for clearing his name (he was booted off the force for filing a false complaint. He challenged the dismissal and lost in court).
As hundreds of officers searched high and low, Dorner was charged with murder for killing a Riverside police officer, which is accompanied by two special circumstances: killing a police officer on duty and firing a weapon from a vehicle. He was also charged with the attempted murder of three other police officers and opening fire on two officers. He's accused of killing three people, some reports say four, including the daughter of a retired LAPD officer and her fiance. The officer represented Dorner during his hearing.
Was Dorner's body found in a burned-out cabin? Hopefully, as this news will bring much relief to the LAPD, their families and friends, and the west coast. This feeling makes sense, right? Relief. Comfort. Safety. Not so much for the thousands of people who rallied for Christopher Dorner, declaring him a crusader against police corruption. They don't care he's accused of killing four people. Facebook fan sites were created, posts and Tweets were shared with the world: "The spirit of Chris #Dorner will live on forever in our hearts, as an eternal flame - symbolic of the will to stand up in an attempt to eradicate those who would seek to oppress us, by any means necessary, when no one else would."
How do they know? Were they there? Obviously they read his manifesto and believed he was dismissed after trying to report police brutality - an LAPD officer allegedly harming a mentally ill individual. He was dubbed a hero, compared in poster form to President Barack Obama and referred to as Dark Knight, insinuating the popular Batman movie. References to the iconic book "1984" were made, a White House petition was started ... even hacker group Anonymous got involved, not condoning his violent acts but only his struggle. His fans even developed conspiracy theories, including ones dealing with gun control and drone attacks.
Am I missing something? Why are people so stupid? Why do people believe everything they hear and read? Christopher Dorner isn't Sylvester Stallone, this isn't "Bullet to the Head" (which is also good because that movie sucked) or "Rambo" (which didn't suck). I don't know who Christopher Dorner was because I've never met him. I've never lived or visited L.A., don't know any LAPD officers ... what I know came from information gathered from news reports. How do people know his lengthy manifesto isn't filled with lies?
Although the LAPD isn't helping with their unbelievable shoot-to-kill vibe as they've shot up people twice who they mistook for Dorner.
I can't help but wonder why people think they have it all figured out? Last night on Facebook, there were countless links to articles making this situation an LAPD vs. a black man thing or a corruption vs. a hero thing. How do they know? Last night on Facebook, there were countless posts about President Barack Obama's state of the union speech - over the top in favor or opposed. How do they know? How have we become experts on everything? We are all critics, ready to share our opinion but what's it worth?
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