Hear ye, Hear ye

[From Kenny Kitzke (2005.11.09)]

<Bjorn Simonsen (2005.11.09, 12:00 EUST)>

<In some time I wish to start a thread where I ask about actions, intended
result of what and accidental side effects.>

Excellent. I changed the subject from “improper actions.”

Along the lines of what news reporters “do” versus what they could do if they accepted PCT, I noticed the following on my News Browser this morning.

There is a written report of a teenage student shooting and killing a Tennessee high school assistant principal and wounding two others. The student has been arrested.

In this report are observations about:

-wounds the shooter incurred with his own gun

-the gun was a 22 caliber hand gun

-where and when the principal was shot and where he died (at the hospital)

-how other administrators and a teacher wrestled with the shooter and took the gun away

-how the administrators acted in accordance with school emergency procedures

-by following the procedure, they kept the situation from getting much worse

-where the other two wounded were shot and their medical condition

-how the school was quickly locked down

-how the rest of the students were searched for weapons as they boarded buses

-there was a huge traffic jam at the school as bus drivers and parents evacuated students

-the school was shut down for the next week

-a pizza delivery driver near the school confirmed the evacuation details

-a parent was scared and terrified waiting for his son to come out of the school

-his wife thought she would have a heart attack driving to the school

-how counseling will be available for the students and teachers

-no decision was yet made as to whether to charge the shooter as an adult or teenager
-a former administrator confirmed that: the wounded were experienced dedicated educators

-all three men shot were family men

-the dead assistant principal was dedicated to the students

-he had been a lieutenant colonel in the Army and began teaching 8 years ago

-how this is the second killing of a school employee (bus driver) in Tennessee this year

-how police arrested 2 middle school students in August who were plotting to kill a teacher

-students said the Principal got to the intercom to lock down the school despite his wound

-the sheriff confirmed the Principal was a tough fellow and did the right thing
-one of the wounded assistants was a physical education teacher and cross country coach before becoming an administrator

Well, we have quite a few observations and perceptions by various observers reported. Without commenting on how significant they are, is there any \HPCT “up a level” comment on “why” the student shooter acted this way? Might we get an idea of why such repulsive behavior was carried out? Would that be significant to school administrators, students, parents, sheriffs, prosecutors, parents, the public?

Bjorn, here is what you might want to expound on: “I don’t know what he was thinking or what his motives were,” Sheriff Ron McClellan said."

Could the reporter ask the Sheriff if he asked the shooter “why” he did what he did? Could the reporter ask to ask the shooter himself? Perhaps in a PCT world? But, perhaps not permitted by the “rule of law?”

When will we learn how to make sense of behavior?

Kenneth Kitzke wrote:

...

When will we learn how to make sense of behavior?

Where's the mystery, Kenneth? I don't understand what
you are claiming is a shortcoming, here.

Tracy Harms

···

--
"No one will be able to be
armed. We are going to take
all the weapons."
      Deputy Chief Warren Riley
      New Orleans Police Department
      September 9th, 2005

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[From Kenny Kitzke (2005.11.09)]

In a message dated 11/9/2005 10:45:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, t_b_harms@YAHOO.COM writes:

When will we learn how to make sense of behavior?

Where’s the mystery, Kenneth? I don’t understand what
you are claiming is a shortcoming, here.

Tracy Harms

Tracy, are you aware that Making Sense of Behavior is Bill Power’s book for non-scientists?

It was a throw away line, not a mystery.

I was responding to Bjorn’s suggestion that reporters might want to report about perceptions instead of behavior. I think he makes a good point.

So, thinking about his point, I noticed this news article about a shooting that had all kinds of observations of behavior about all kinds of related behavior but the sheriff straightforwardly rejected what I thought Bjorn was tossing out: why did the student shoot the assistant principal, i.e., what perception was he controlling for when he shot the gun at the assistant. Could not the sheriff or the reporter perceive it is a helpful part of their job to ask the student and let the public know?

Is this more clear to you now?

[From Rick Marken (2005.11.09.1215)]

Kenny Kitzke (2005.11.09)]

I was responding to Bjorn's suggestion that reporters might want to report
about perceptions instead of behavior. I think he makes a good point.

I don't think this is the point Bjorn was making. I think Bjorn understands
that behavior _is_ a perception. So you can't report perceptions instead of
behavior. That makes no sense. Bjorn's point, I believe, is that journalists
should report only one aspect of the perceptions that we call "behavior" --
controlled perceptions -- rather than another -- actions. My point has been
that journalists can't really do that because all actions, except those at
the lowest levels of the hierarchy, are themselves controlled perceptions.

So, thinking about his point, I noticed this news article about a shooting
that had all kinds of observations of behavior about all kinds of related
behavior but the sheriff straightforwardly rejected what I thought Bjorn was
tossing out: why did the student shoot the assistant principal, i.e., what
perception was he controlling for when he shot the gun at the assistant.

I think everyone (the sheriff, included) wants to know why a person would do
such a thing. But I believe there are legal limits on what you can report
about events like this when they involve a minor (I don't believe they've
even said whether the shooter is a boy or a girl). There are also legal
considerations; I'm sure there are lawyers advising the kid not to talk
since it can be used as evidence against him or her.

I'm having trouble understanding what PCT is supposed to contribute to how
journalists go about their business. I think journalists generally do a
great job of reporting what happens (describing the what, when, where and
how of the behavior they observe) and trying to find out and report the
why's of what happened (in PCT terms, what people are controlling for). What
am I missing?

Best

Rick

···

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Richard S. Marken
MindReadings.com
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Cell: 310 729 1400

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From [Marc Abrams (2005.11.09.1543)]

In a message dated 11/9/2005 3:22:41 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, marken@MINDREADINGS.COM writes:

···

[From Rick Marken (2005.11.09.1215)]

Kenny Kitzke (2005.11.09)]

I was responding to Bjorn’s suggestion that reporters might want to report
about perceptions instead of behavior. I think he makes a good point.

I don’t think this is the point Bjorn was making. I think Bjorn understands
that behavior is a perception. So you can’t report perceptions instead of
behavior. That makes no sense. Bjorn’s point, I believe, is that journalists
should report only one aspect of the perceptions that we call “behavior” –
controlled perceptions – rather than another – actions.

I wonder what Bjorn has to say?

I’ll throw my hat into the action/thinking dichotomy ring. That is, Bjorn wants to know what people are thinking about (a perception) besides what actions (a perception) he sees from others.

Well Bjorn? We are all waiting with baited breath for your answer sometime very early EST. :wink:

Regards,

Marc