Dear Spindoc,

I just typed in “Like the eunuch at the orgy who was always first with the gossip” into google to learn a little more of the context of the quote and a link to your posts on the forum were head of the pack.

I am happy to see you included quotation marks when you used Tallis' words this time. That didn't happen here;
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=13247#229053

But as I moved down the Google list I kept finding what is a rather obscure quote around other blogs and websites over the last year or so. Then it struck me, given the context and the style these were all from you, unless of course there are a whole bunch of other Australians who have suddenly decided to employ it in similar settings.

So will you confirm or deny you are Donkey Hote posting on Michael Smith's blog?
http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2012/11/a-couple-of-points-from-the-abcs-insiders-show-on-the-weekend.html?cid=6a0177444b0c2e970d017c335a865a970b

And are you Bazza from Qld 4218 posting on Andrew Bolt's site?
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/the_good_manne/

Be that as it may from my limited reading Tallis' point was about the 'socialisation' of science so your prolific use of his quote in discussions on Climate Change on this site may have some validity. But you now want to stretch it to include this topic?

Lost me.

Tell you what, how about you tell me, in your own words this time, exactly the point you are trying to make because I will admit to being a little confused.

A word of advice. Overuse can wear some things out.

Overuse can wear some things out! A bit like CAGW links I guess?

You missed out on some other sites but what is your point? What does it matter? A great diversion I guess but still no actual response to the content, just have a stab at the messenger, is that the best you can offer?

It reads like a 'suicide by cop' scenario where the victim cannot muster the courage so puts themself into a situation where death will most likely occur.

While your perspective is different, I would not claim it as a heroic act. Athough one should be thankful for small mercies in that this fellow believed he was doing the right thing to prevent killing others.

Having had family in the police force my first thought was the awful effects on policemen who have to kill somebody to defend others. These effects should not diminished.

It is always difficult to pass judgement, people are complicated and I guess we are not in a position to be discussing what might have happened had this unfortunate person not taken this course of action.

Poirot>> I don't know that we should tag someone as a hero who sees fit to walk into an airport with three loaded weapons and who starts shooting....even if it was into the ceiling.<<

He is not a hero, if the terminal was full of armed travelers then he may have a claim to courage, but that was not the case. He was a predator with no opposition, a doddle, a selfish act meant to shatter innocent lives. If I had a piece I would have blown his brains out and I would have been a hero.

Dear pelican,

It appears Carnell shot and killed himself rather than it being the officers who fired upon him, nonetheless your point about the distress faced by officials stands. Yet his act of suicide does confuse the notion that this was a man who could not “muster the courage”.

I know two people who have had the misfortune of having to tackle the 'voices inside their heads'. At there worst they can clamour for self-destructive action and often suicide can seem a viable way of escaping them.

I am hardly an expert but Carnell's actions seem to be outside the norm for a schizophrenic. Paranoia does not seem to feature strongly here. Schizophrenics, if they are going to act violently, tend to do so in a more defensive manner as their fears most often centre around people doing them harm or constantly watching them.

On the other hand “dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that alternately control a person's behavior” Wikipedia.

We know there was a 'good guy' personality within Carnell as evidenced by his writings and actions. We also can surmise there was another identity he called the monster. It is not hard to imagine the fear in the first when the second one would take control.

“The primary identity, which often has the patient's given name, tends to be "passive, dependent, guilty and depressed" with other personalities or "alters" being more active, aggressive or hostile, and often containing more complete memories.” Wikipedia

It is not unreasonable to imagine a struggle between two identities. The possession of a loaded AR-15 Assault rifle catering for the aggressive one and a Gideon bible giving the other strength to fight it.

"Here in the last hour I yield to mercy," "When this could have turned bad Jehovah found a path to my heart, that love would conquer anger. The monster within me was getting stronger and while I could not save myself I could spare others."

csteele
It seems I did not read the entire story properly - apologies.

Indeed his condition complicates matters and I would be unlikely to judge him his actions that to him felt well intentioned.

It does seem odd to do it in a public venue, however I imagine it is inappropriate to try and use logic in situations like this when clearly his condition does not predispose him to think in those rational terms. I am also no expert in schizophrenia although have had contact with many sufferers in a previous job. There appears to be different variations of schizophrenia even if there are similar threads running through some sufferers such as delusions about voices, mind control etc.

Very sad all round.