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STUDIES SUGGEST WHAT WE ALL KNOW: LINK IS STRONG BETWEEN VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES, YOUTH VIOLENCE

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY FEB. 21, 2018) — Common sense would tell you if you ply your brain with an overdose of anything, the experience will begin to take hold. Research into the mind also confirms that repetitive exposure to an intake of an experience produces physical changes in the brain, the creation of neural pathways to accommodate the information. These cerebral channels form the basis of learning new things and intellectually possessing them.

We are just beginning to learn of the stunning capacity of the brain. For example, the memory seems virtually unlimited. Everything that ever happens to us the brain literally records and stores, the vast majority of which rests undisturbed beyond consciousness. For example, the well-documented “my life passed before me” phenomenon occurs when the adrenalined rush of a near-death experience triggers a replay of a theretofore lost recorded moment. The “life” is indistinguishable from reality.

THE PLANET now asks you to take an impressionable early-teen mind — please. Try to picture what a six-hour daily intake of graphically realistic violence and killing does to   a lad. Right. It can and many times does produce a precipitator to a tendency for actual violence.  This, too, is common sense, a reasonable assertion based on what we know about learning and youth.

Studies seeking to test the causality of video games and violence, however, are less clear. This is so not because common sense cannot be relied upon but because of the finicky, fined-tuned nature of peer-reviewed, academic research, where conclusions are put forth with the timidity of dog face bayoneting a minefield. Moreover, graphically sophisticated, sense-invasive gaming is so new. What began as a yellow pac-man sphere eating dots has become “virtually real,” 3D surround-sound and all. The razored immersion of the virtually “real” makes the return to ordinary “reality” a trip back to a dusty, dirt road. The subject is too new for conclusive results.

However …

A recent survey of research into the link between youth violence and video games conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) strongly suggests a causal effect. The APA examined the results of the top 100 studies, with an emphasis on “shooter games” such as “Call of Duty” and “Halo.”

The APA found:

* Causal links between such games and criminal activity.

* That such games produce a statistically significant engagement in violence.

* These games produce disturbing neural changes.

Kids who regularly played shooter games showed more aggressive behavior, more violent thoughts, a reduced capacity for empathy, and desensitivity to killing and aggression. Keep in mind the studies were conducted from 2003 to 2013, a time period in the Pleistocene Age when it comes to computer sophistication. In short, the results if taken in 2018 could only be expected to be much worse, given kids’ exposure five years earlier to a wave of gory, stomach- wrenching gaming not available 15 or even 5 years ago.

Certainly, no single factor can be isolated as a “cause” for mass murder committed by young men, but video games without question can be called a common risk factor.

Oh yeah — that and a lack of parental control. Ask most any teacher in middle school about their ability to control teens not used to hearing “No. You can’t do that.”

The Florida shootings are just an advanced wave of the fun to come. Why, this week, hundreds of youth descended to Florida to protest the recent school shooting. That’s their version of political action, otherwise known to them as just another excuse to party.

Bang, bang.

Pass the hookah.

“Party’s on!!!”

——————————————————

“That man has offered me unsolicited advice every day for six years, all of it bad” — President Calvin Coolidge on his commerce secretary, Herbert Hoover.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer.

 

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Gobsig
Gobsig
6 years ago

What kind of video games did Moon and White play? Read their statements regarding raises for City employees.

Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon argued it’s important for the council to defend the purchasing power of the city’s middle class, because when it slips, the economy suffers. By that notion, she said, “We can’t afford not to give cost of living increases.”

Councilor At Large Pete White called the cost of living adjustment a fair offering that incentivizes managers to stay in Pittsfield.

“While we do have to watch every penny in the budget, this is money wisely spent,” he said.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Gobsig
6 years ago

Does she care about the purchasing power of seniors on fixed incomes?

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Wal-Mart always needs greeters.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

you arent qualified

V P of Lurning
V P of Lurning
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Excellent.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Gobsig
6 years ago

Translation: Cost of living increases in Pittsfield = So we can tax you more.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

that big 1.5 %, wow, they can get a costco membership now

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

better than nothing but then again you feel entitled to automatic raises for under performing dont you

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

I get automatic raises negotiated by my union contract. Don’t worry your precious little head, I earn my salary.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

I am worried, Unskilled labor should not be paid so muich

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

All you can do is insult me.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

Truthiness is not insults

Earl Parsnip
Earl Parsnip
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

White and Moon are from Planet Buffoon.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

Every time I go to the movies (NOT at Beacon theater I might add) so many of previews of the coming movies are incredibly violent. So their must be an appetite for it or they would not be producing so many.

But I cannot wrap my head around why the younger generation seems to feed off this stuff. Kinda scary.

Cos
Cos
6 years ago

Stay away from Star Wars.

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

Many of the earlier interactive games were gentle. Now with sophisticated technology the video games are unbelievably real and extremely violent. Nobody can tell me that these games do not cause behavior changes in the people playing them. As a glaring example, the Sandy Hook shooter was a regular violent video game player.

Hollywood also needs to clean up its act with gentle peaceful type movies. If that sounds boring it’s because Americans have become violence junkies. More Christian movies similar to those being produced by Kevin Sorbo are just what this country needs. We are what we watch should be our motto. Feeding young impressionable minds all of this gun violence and mayhem as a steady diet is not good for the mental health of the youth in this country.

The youth of this country should be protesting against violent video games and violent Hollywood movies and television shows. Government should not ban this type of media. That’s government intervention and control which is not good. It should come from the public demanding wholesome entertainment for everyone, but especially for the young.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

We are not a christian country.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Yes we most certainly are

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

Nope.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

You are wrong again. All are founding documents are based on Judeo Christian principles.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Great, so our government is based on fairytales. probably why it is so jacked up.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

It is not based on fairytales. You are making this too easy.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

The government hasn’t established any religion. But the majority of U.S. Citizens are some type of Christian. That’s all that’s ment by saying we are a Christian country.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

The Bible is fiction. It is no more real than Scientology.

real news.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

You are so obvious and laughable

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Miss Moon and Mr White Persip and Simonelli Kroll and Marchetti say 46k is too little an income….they are blund to the fact we live in a city of poverty,We Live In A City Of Poverty,WE LIVE IN A CITY OF POVERTY…..THEY clearly dont know what it means to search for money to pay Taxfield Taxes…We are higher than Lenox

dusty
dusty
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

It is too little for Pittsfield. Have they taken a survey to see how many of us are below that?????? With no chance of going above it? HUH?

Once they have done their survey I hope they will modify their comments. Have a feeling it is going to be a shocker to them

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

As a kid every show and movie was about killing…the 1960s tv could not have been more violent,

dusty
dusty
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

I once saw Bugs Bunny beat the living shit out of Elmer Fudd for no reason whatsoever. I was horrified and that was in black and white. And then he just left Elmer on the side of the road as if his life did not matter. Thank God that is not on anymore.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Dan,

Out “interactive games” were learning how to hunt fish and trap in our youth.. Killing was not a “fun” thing.

We also played football, basketball, baseball, and sledded in the winter. 6″ of snow was not a reason to cancel school, but a blessing to ski or snowshoe.

Today the “weather man” preaches 24/7 about upcoming “disasters” that were common day to day facts of life. Why? $$ and ratings for corporate news. We used to have an award winning newspaper; the Berkshire Eagle. Now we have The Left Winged Parrot. Journalism left town with the Millers… I don’t see a return soon.

We brought guns to school every fall and winter. Hunted on the way there and the way home. We did not shoot the principal, students, or staff.

So, gun grabbers, don’t say it’s guns that are the problem.

What is? What has changed? America. The liberalism of the 60s did away with the family; a Mom and a Dad who had morals and scruples.

Why didn’t God keep those killers out of our schools? Ask the liberals; God is banned from schools, but the devil and Muslims are welcome. Think about that.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Words of truth Mad Trapper. I totally agree.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

I totally agree Mad Trapper. The culture has gone downhill so quickly.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Joy Behar puts down Mike Pence for talking to his God. Would she dare say that about Muslims?

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

God shouldn’t make decisions, people with some common sense should.

Like you do realize the Bible is fiction dont you?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Thanks for confirming what i already know (you use this phrase in other forums, that the bible is fiction). Ooops.

God should assist us in making decisions.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

I happen to not post in other forums.

God isn’t real.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

God is real and your other statement is fake news

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

Send me a picture of God when you get a chance.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

Really, your are not right in the head

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

and the Point goes to Shakes

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

no i own you.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

You couldn’t own your way out of a wet paper sack.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

You got busted, again. Its getting old.

Gigi
Gigi
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Our founding fathers, who wrote the constitution, based it on biblical principles. Just take a tour of D.C. sometime and observe all the references to God inscribed in granite around statues and monuments.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Remember you said that Shaky, when you gasp your last breath on earth.

You might not get to meet God ,but Lucifer will have a hot spot for you.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Is it OK with you if she speaks her opinion Pat? You seem to be campaigning for a position on Trumps cabinet. He loves haters.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Putting down Christians has become the Progressives favorite sport. They never pick on other religions only Christians. Joy Behar can speak all she wants, but we can point out her hypocrisy which is also Christians rights for free speech.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

It seems to me that Joy Behar is the hater Dusty since she obviously doesn’t like Christians.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Apparently you needed big cash for a White House job

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Great letter by Mr. Gaetani
in Eagle Today,says he can save the City with the existing layout tens of millions. Hopefully he’ll be the relentless professional water authority against these money grubbing Consultants and no knowledge Managers we have currently working on this for the City. Turocy knows nothing about the Plants, his primary knowledge is roads. Maybe Councilor Simonelli ought to take a step back on what he votes on going forward. Look at youre roads! Can’t wait until the Planet gets involved!

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

The Croton Water project was originally estimated at $800 Million. where were the savings?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

You are wrong. The savings are clear

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

Hmm, $800M to $3.2B…. No documentation of this inflated $7.2B number fraudulently perpetuated in the letter.

I guess they use Pittsfield Math, the price increase from $800M to $3.2B is really a savings, you just can’t see it.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Do i really need to explain it you. Wow.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Considering the NY Times published an excellent article on the project here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/09/nyregion/croton-water-is-once-again-flowing-to-new-york.html

You can eat your explanation.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

The NY times is all fake news like you

H
H
6 years ago

Agree about the water pro G, but he seems to be alone wolf, City Councilors showing three so far, get it. it’s like to see Donna,Tony join the smart ones, wh need to work with each other to resolve the spending issues the Mayor, Marchetti White,Krol and Caccamo. This could be the first step. Working and thinking outside of the Just Spending Block. We can continue the way we are,going Banrupt or we can find a solution with these three items We don’t need toters,and the two other projects are being forced down out throats. Wait until what the upkeep of the new school will be,and the payment for that. The other issue I’m worried about is the rates and the funding,right now we are being led by fear, fear we will be fined, fear we will have to pay more down the road, that is a classic line at the school committee,by a former member you know well, (pay me now or pay me later) and look what happened there?
The City Council’s takes an Oath, part of the charge of the Oath is to protect the taxpayers whether it is written in the Oath or not. The spending spree lately is anything but that. One more issue is our roads, something is very wrong, very wrong, in all phases, from condition, potholes,and money spent from the accounts. There used to be a time,if the City Councilor didn’t takes care of his/her roads, forget about being re-elected.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  H
6 years ago

That oath is a joke and should be done away with. It is not like anybody has ever been held accountable and some seem almost giddy about stomping on it. Ask Krol?

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

The scary thing that Gaetani brought up on his Show was the manner in which the City gets more blood out of the taxpayer and agree with him that the formula for property assessments is just sa lie,and an imaginary figure, and how do the City and it’s leaders come up with these phony increases. How many Homes lost value, not gained in value? Where is the outcry other than the Lone Wolf Gaetani and Planet,anyone? maybe Terry Kinnas, but certainly no one the the Council. Look at the mo ey that has been thrown around the last few years, you can blame both previous Mayor’s, the School Committee and City Council are also to blame. Council 101 fix the roads.

h
h
6 years ago

The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to the Taxpayers to find ways to save taxpayers from being fleeced. Mr. Gaetani, who is not a Councilman,seems to be the only proponent of trying to save our Taxpayers from these highly questionable, needless increases.Giveaways and alike, the Covanta 500g plus for instance,are highly questionable and have to end.

Cos
Cos
6 years ago

Here’s what you got,C C run by the school vote, who cowtow most of it’s budget towards the schools, which IS the voting block, so go the schools, so goes the votes. Gaetani has been telling us for years how it works, unless we get the no voters, to Vote, we will have the nonsense we have now,which is special interests, business, employees, and the rest, you know them. Continue to use and spank the taxpayer in the ass, year after year. Look, we realize that all employees need to get increases, but at what expense?…. we have been in financially bad straights for quite a while, stop giving the store away, we will recover, but not the way we’re doing business presently.

Wilson
Wilson
Reply to  Cos
6 years ago

Raises wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t adding new positions, each employee that the taxpayers have to support for life costs millions

Madame Du Barry
Madame Du Barry
6 years ago

Look, the Planet has exposed this corruption for years, nothing is ever done. What is Gaetani or anyone else going to do when the deck is stacked, Dan can’t even get an interview with these clowns, why, because he would expose them, embarrass them. Mr. Gaetani has some great ideas, three bag system for garbage,the current water dilemma, what to do with the crappy roads, and the budget, of which he and the Planet have been expounding on for,literally years. Planet has been unable to change any course, but on the current problem concerning millions to the taxpayer,Gaetani might be the Ace in the Hole we’ve been looking for, to turn the tide. He did save the many millions with the first projects for the City,the water is fine, and you never hear anyone so far, question his integrity on anything he says concerning the building or the quality of the drinking water from the Plants.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Madame Du Barry
6 years ago

The water Whizzer cannot even spell the name of his “partner” correctly.

It is Dr. Milos Krofta, not Dr. Miles Krofta

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Whizzer is not even a word so where does that put you?

Bill Q
Bill Q
6 years ago

Well, that is the Jistt of all these Wizards posts, the man knows water, and is the Builder of the Plants. When is the next Show? Hope Dan continually exposes them, imagine not giving the premie journalist in this shit-hole any type of respect?

Bill Q
Bill Q
6 years ago

Do not turn on the S Church Street from across the C V S or you will end up at the gas station next to it, and it won’t be for a tune up. Pothole the size of France.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Bill Q
6 years ago

Trump called African countries shitholes and now you are calling France a pothole?

Oh my!

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Pittsfield is a shithole. Does that make me a racist?

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Apparently you needed big cash for a White House job

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

No ,why would that make you a racist

Levitan
Levitan
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

When frogs move in them, would you agree then?

Bill Q
Bill Q
6 years ago

Ok, size of Hinsdale.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

You have to give Trump credit for the meetings with the Florida Students and Parents, no one wanted this. We need to do something this time, it is now,TIME?

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

The leftists are using the school kids to push the gun control narrative. Disgusting!

Gigi
Gigi
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
6 years ago

Yep, Soros is funding their buses to Tallahassee, t-shirts, speakers, etc.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/374840-david-clarke-fla-students-gun-control-push-has-george-soros

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Time to blame the parents who raised these little devils, and the liberals and MSM for our societal decay.

Guns don’t shoot people, bad people do.

Paul
Paul
6 years ago

I am amazed how little our children know about US government. We have children walking out of school with their teachers leading the way.
The teachers would do us a a favor and spend that time teaching US government. Currently the average high school doesn’t know how many branches of government we have or what they do. Furthermore, they have no idea how a bill becomes a law. Teachers seem to have forgotten the definition of their job. Just to remind them it’s to teach not push you own personal agenda down their throats.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Paul
6 years ago

It’s not the teachers, for the most part they are good souls. Blame the greedy AdminisTRAITORS, the Feds who push their political agendas into education rather than learning.

I know about this from my Mother who was a teacher for many years, early on in Pittsfield, later in other towns, and finally helping students with learning disabilities.

She had advanced teaching degrees , and was thoroughly disgusted with school adminisTRAITORS and and policies of the education boards, and governments:local state and federal

They give not a rats azz about the children and this decline started in the 60s and has slid down towards chaos faster every day.

Kids get a “B” for being there if they learn or not, they get passed on where they are just a problem for the next grades teachers, then they graduate as illiterate stooges who can’t add or subtract.

Not that it much matters as jobs are few and far away for those with education and skills.

Mr. G
Mr. G
6 years ago

Dan, I thjnk this is a classic, almost reflexive arguement in cases like this. Every time theres a mass killing with a semi automatic weapon, or an SA modified to fully automatic, somebody starts bemoaning violent movies and video games. Millions and millions of kids play these. A really tiny percentage blossom into full fledged killers. I bet the percentage of kids owning or with access to semi automatic weapons who end up killing is much, much higher. Get rid of the immediate problem, high capacity, rapid firi g weapons THEN we can have a civilized research-based discussion on violent video games.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Hello Mr. G., but it is a tiny percentage of these kids who are doing the shootings. That’s all it takes to create mayhem.

The movies and video games cause people to act violently. People become scared from the violence and buy guns to protect themselves. If you want less guns then we need less violence in society. If people feel safe then they won’t feel the need to own guns to protect themselves and their families.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

My point tho Pat was that a lot of kids play violent video games and don’t commit mass murder. As a cohort group the percentage is likely insignificant. Most kids do not own ARs or any other Semi automatic killing machines, but the percentage that do and that end up killing people likely is significant. Take ALL of those off the table, then lets talk about continuous exposure to violent acts and the su sequent results. The guns aren’t the only problem, but they are a big part of the problem.

Paul
Paul
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Mr G, please tell me what mass shooting in the US was done with a weapon converted to full auto.
Children can become violent without committing mass murder. I don’t really see your point.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Paul
6 years ago

Ibelieve the Las Vegas shooter was using a bump stock conversion…but there have been so many they all blur together and I lose track. I am indeed, obviohsly, a liberal, but I do not want to take all your precious guns, just the ones that kill a lot of people very quickly.

Paul
Paul
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Sorry Mr.G but a bump stock is not full auto! This is the problem we always have when people that do not know very much about guns want to talk about them.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Sorry…classic, reflexive straw man arguement. I swear I typed that but, oh well. And I’m curious, how many aliases does Mr. Gaetani use to post here?

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Too many to count, Mr. G

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

As many as you i think

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

You are one of the quite numerous ignorant about firearms.

I brought semi-automatic weapons and shotguns to school from 9th-12th grade. Left them in car trunks or with Principal.

We had no shootings except game animals traveling to/from on the way home, and we ate the game for dinner.

You are a stooge who does not understand that the problem is not the guns but the people and our liberal society without morals and scruples.

mi
mi
6 years ago

Wunder if Ey Sis or Alkyda played video games? Dave Berkowitz or Charlie Mansoon? Same thing ain’t it?

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
6 years ago

Does Alan know that an old photo isn’t in nowadays, show your age and get a present day photo sir.

Earl Parsnip
Earl Parsnip
6 years ago

So I’m listening to Linda Tyer say one of the biggest problems in the city is the health care for the over 2000 City & Town employes. The cost is incapacitating and has a huge impact on the employees being able to handle the cities issues properly….I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WORDS Mayor Tyer!!

Bill Q
Bill Q
Reply to  Earl Parsnip
6 years ago

Early, it is your mission which you decided to accept,to keep the health Insurance as is, give projects the full amount, and also supplement the project and give raises to all public employees at any cost. Any kind of refrain, will allow you not to participate in further Council and Public discussion, your stipend will be lost and if you receive the City side insurance that will be eliminated also, this message will dissolve in five seconds.

Roberto Del Halitoso
Roberto Del Halitoso
Reply to  Earl Parsnip
6 years ago

She is truly out of touch. She lives in la la land.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Roberto Del Halitoso
6 years ago

A happy city or school employee is a pretty sure vote for the special interest candidate that feed them their goodies.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Earl Parsnip
6 years ago

And then she wanted to buy 1.5 million of totes

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
6 years ago

So if the authorities announce a “live shooter drill” in your city…..grab your spouse & kids & get the hell out of town. These drills were scheduled before the Boston marathon bombing, Sandy Hook and now Parkland. Do your research.

mi
mi
6 years ago

Will the City supply a Toter Lawyer,if my Toter is damaged and it doesn’t meet the criteria for replacement.

mi
mi
6 years ago

The whole part of the Toter program is to lower the cost to the hauler,not the resident.

H
H
6 years ago

Does the Toter have an engine? because it’s half the size of a car.

H
H
6 years ago

People don’t want it, not on my street anyway

AlaskanBushClowns
AlaskanBushClowns
6 years ago

I am the proud parent of a former garbage person. Why don’t we ever see woman garbage workers?

Harrison
Harrison
Reply to  AlaskanBushClowns
6 years ago

A woman picks up my recycling.

Bill Q
Bill Q
6 years ago

The Mayor’s wasting her time, but more important, our time. Save money on the water projects coming up and keep the millions we save on no totes.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Just hire all new employees at a 60/40split….

dusty
dusty
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

the union started drafting a lawsuit against the city the moment they read your post

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

I am a municipal employee in an extremely financially conservative community. Employee healthcare is paid for the entire family for HMO plans and subsidized at actual cost for PPO plans. THis includes vision and a fairly robust Delta Dental plan. I am not sure why Pittsfield is struggling to this extent but it seems like they should be able to contain costs better than they are.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Sure and I am the grand wizard of Portugal

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
6 years ago

And Mr. G is the grand Whizzer of WaterWorld

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Busting you is easy

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Then go ahead and do it.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

i already did

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Shakes, they should fire you. You post here all day and don’t do your work. Without you we’d save a lot and the amount of wort done wouldn’t change.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

A few days ago employees of BMC were given a letter warning them about the ramifications of another nurses strike. The letter was signed by David Phelps.

Near the top of the second page there is a reference to the future financial health of the hospital. Let me quote…….”the changes in our community (with our population becoming older, sicker, poorer and smaller).”
Now this guy has his finger on the pulse of the city and I believe every word of this statement. So while he mentions this in the context of the financial health of the hospital why or how does our mayor not seem to be on the same page, as I assume she has the same or even more detailed information? How does she think she can keep spending and taxing this “older, sicker, poorer and smaller” population and not drive the city straight into the ground? Am I missing something?

Paul
Paul
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

It’s easy dusty, she doesn’t care.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Send your thanks to Obama & Congress for passing Obamacare and destroying our once glorious world-renowned healthcare system. Let’s hope BMC doesn’t go the way of NARH.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Doctors won’t even come here anymore. So many local medical people have told me this. Doctors know that if they move to this area, they will not be paid enough. This is creating a serious shortage of all kinds of doctors and specialists in this area. Try finding a dermatologist. Most Dermatologists in this area are no longer accepting patients because they have so many and forget about getting new Dermatologists here.

As for General Care Practitioners, the shortage in this area is very critical. If a doctor retires or leaves the area, they are now bringing in immigrant doctors.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

David Phelps for Mayor….he is the 1st public person to say it.I wonder what he would think about 1.5 on totes…our emergency cash…White is nieve, Cacamo, Kroll,Marchetti, Persip….Moon what good is intelligence if you cant discern ability to pay taxes while adding new tax obligations…..Banks in Pittsfield should also call the mayor and say why would you buy a new program involving 1.5 million in totes
..

dusty
dusty
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Pittsfields mayor, and some of the city council, do not hang out with the older, sicker, poorer segment of the population, so how could they relate to them or their unremarkable finances and the hardships that may cause them?

But you can often find the mayor hobnobbing with the theater crowd and those that are worthy of tax breaks. She has a Rolodex of them folk.

Tricksie
Tricksie
6 years ago

Why hasn’t Tyer addressed the school shootings ? Show that you care….just a little – if 20 of our youths get their brains blown out by some lunatic, trashcans, potholes or health insurance won’t seem to matter very much…Pittsfield fits the profile of the next City up unless we do something.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Tricksie
6 years ago

Be careful what you wish for. This could present an opportunity for her to hire a consultant and a security firm.

H
H
6 years ago

So the reason kids fire A R ‘s is because of video games, not mental health issues, or is it a combination? If there are currently millions of kids watching videos why aren’t there millions of more shootings? The issue at hand is the availablbilty to purchase or secure this weapon, if a disturbed person was watching a video and love the Cannon or Tank that was in the video, I’m sure they would get that, of course.THAT, is not an option. So there are a couple of questions, do video games affect all kids? NO…..Is the the kid able to get an A R,he’ll yeah.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Teachers are bankrupting Pittsfield at the hand of Sheran,Moon,Yon,Taylor,Simonelli, Marchetti Kroll,Cacamo, White,Elias,Behnke Mccandless

Madame Du Barry
Madame Du Barry
6 years ago

Best post I’ve heard anywhere on this! H.if the B I can get those disturbed kids on their radar and actually do something, then you’ve got something there.

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
6 years ago

Agree that Mr. H has solid comments. It also confirms that the individual can get that A R and that for whatever reason, video or magazine or computer info,is what they’ll use. Not only do we know 9999.99 do not kill people because of video, it does narrow it down. The recent shooter should have been dealt with because we had the info. Trump is right, the FBI dropped the ball, but then he has to add the other bullcrap about investigating him instead of focusing on the killer.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Shelly Liver
6 years ago

People are just not getting it. Mentally disturbed young people are the most likely to react to the violent video games. The Sandy Hook shooter is an example of this. Although mentally ill, there were guns in his household which he used to kill his mother and many at the school. Keeping guns out of the households of the mentally ill makes sense.

Also liberals call Trump a facist, but want to round up guns. Does this make any sense to anyone? Facists are dictators. Why would you want a facist to take away your guns? The insanity from the left doesn’t end.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Hannity will this Pat. Don’t you worry about a thing. Now that Billy Ghramn is dead Hannity moves up to 2nd from God. Hail Hannity for he knows all.

Harrison
Harrison
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

So Trump’s latest budget cuts funding for mental health? Right Pat. Maybe you don’t get it.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

I will not shed a tear when AR-15s and the like are taken away from anyone, esp. all the idiots out there. And they can’t take take away handguns and hunting rifles as those are protected under 2nd amendment. Remember when Wash DC tried to take away handguns? Shot down by the Supreme Court, pun intended.

RJD
RJD
Reply to  NIB
6 years ago

NIB I bet you don’t even know the difference between a consumer AR-15 and a hunting semi-automatic rife, if you did you would know how ignorant you comment is.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  RJD
6 years ago

RJD, the difference is the AR 15 looks scary to the Moonbats.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Pat, you are making the EXACT same arguement against video games that I make against guns, and the NRA answer, and therefore the Republican (and some democrats) answer is ALWAYS the same. You can’t take away the guns of ALL the responsible gun owners just because of a few bad actors.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Completely different. Guns are owned for the most part by responsible adults. Violent video games are being played by impressionable young people. These violent games aren’t good for anybody, but especially mentally ill young people. Young people are the ones playing the majority of these extremely violent games. The whole point of the games is to kill virtual people.

Responsible adult gun owners use guns for hunting and protecting their families. Many gun owners in the mid west for example live out in the middle of nowhere. They are very isolated. I can understand them wanting to own guns for protection. Single women living alone whether in big cities or small towns often have guns for protection.

Paul
Paul
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Agreed Pat.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Fascism is an offshoot of socialism.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Your lying Pat,plain and simple.Its all to easy for regressives to lie.NRA is now painting the school victims as euro socialist

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Hey c’mon now SC. Lets be civil and not accuse people of lying. While Pat and I disagree on almost everything, she seems to be nothing if not earnest and forthright. While I almost always disagree with her, I respect her and feel everyone is entitled to that…except for the trolls.

Levitan
Levitan
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

Good one, Mr. G.

The result of Mueller ‘s revelation of Soviet meddling in US social media should teach us that the perpetually insulting posters are likely paid Soviet bloggers.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

SC , tell me where do you get your information regarding the NRA? I suspect I know.

Halo
Halo
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Trump looks more and more like an Adult.. Alfred E Neumann.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

Hannity will fix this.

Nota
Nota
6 years ago

Without hannity there would be no sanity.

Nota
Nota
6 years ago

So it is said and shall be written.

Nota
Nota
6 years ago

As opposed to……so it is said and shall be written….Rameses….II want something original, you know. Planet deserves it!

h
h
6 years ago

Be nice to Pete or Matt Tucker will kick you’re ass.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

If your a ww2 vet and barely getting your tax bill paid know that Pittsfield could care less….they walk in a parade on the 4th …joke…Pittsfield does not care about vets ability to pay