I'm sure most of you by now have heard about the shooting at that theater in Colorado. I dreaded going to work today after I heard about it this morning, because I knew exactly what would be coming. And the day, of course, did not disappoint.

The media is a funny creature. News organizations have a laser focus that is wonderful when used in the service of good, which is maybe one-third of the time if I am being kind. Other times ... well, you get a fucking circus like what occurs after every major shooting since Columbine, and this is no different. Noise everywhere. Digging into the "cause" of this tragic event. Rooting through the garbage of this man's life, picking at every detail that can be tied into some local angle. Shamefully harassing innocent people for quotes -- this guy's mother wasn't even aware of this before the media came calling!

For fuck's sake, my stupid paper even constructed a timeline of the major moments in this shooter's life leading up to the shooting. All that time, all that effort put into ... what, exactly? I don't know. I read these stories, and I can tell you nearly nothing of worth was reported in them. Certainly nothing that would lead to positive change or that would affect our culture of paranoia and gun worship even one iota.

It's shock journalism. He went to this local college -- NEWS!!!!! He grew up in this city -- NEWS!!!!! He took a dump in this public restroom in this city one time -- MY GOD, THAT'S SOME FUCKING NEWS!!!!! And, of course, a few outlets couldn't help but tie in The Dark Knight Rises into it and almost innocently wonder, "Hm, did that have something to do with it maybe?" If cancer could have been worked into this mess somehow, I'm sure every major media figure would've jizzed all over themselves all day long.

I'm not here to argue whether The Dark Knight Rises had anything to do with this tragedy. I'm here to express my continued disbelief at the media's utter lack of self-awareness. How could so many papers and websites and TV news stations put so much effort into reporting and yet be so horrifically unaware that maybe -- just maybe! -- they're the ones contributing the most to these awful tragedies by glorifying everyone with a gun and a body count. The media makes these people matter in ways they shouldn't. What should matter is getting them help before they do these awful things. But, nope, where would the story be in that?

I apologize if any of you believe it's too soon to speak about any of this. I just needed to get this off my chest, because I grew increasingly frustrated and angry about this garbage throughout the day. I honestly feel sick that I contributed in some small way to this awful mess.