Stephen Paddock was prescribed anti-anxiety medication

[Secular Sanity]

Why did it take you so long to deny it?  

There's not enough time in the day to answer all of your loaded questions and allegations.  

Outgroup cooperation? No, there is no evidence outgroup cooperation evolved as a natural survival strategy.

Says who, you?

Apparently, neither you nor Johnson understand even basic things about religion.

Um...yeah, let's not forget that it was the link that you provided to support your statement.

Really? Political systems aren't inherently adversarial? Religions have outlasted every government known to man.

Really? Religious systems aren't inherently adversarial? There are no extinct religions?

But this is an obvious non-sequitur from your discussion of why Jesus died. Do you plan to return to that any time soon?

What are trying to say?  That Christians don’t believe in the fall of Adam?  That they don’t believe that God took human form as Jesus Christ? That they don’t believe faith in his death and resurrection will save them?

Holy shit!  I did not know that.  My friends are all fucked up.  I’ll let them know.  

Thanks!

Personally, I have no trouble seeing god's origin, like creation itself, as ex nihilo.

I’m curious as to why you’d have trouble seeing the universe as ex nihilo?  Why do you need to add a creator?

[Syne]

All murders are irrational but not all irrational acts are murder. You made the leap from irrational to murder, jumping from a "bad day at work" to killing "wife's lover". So yes, you making that leap does reflect on you.

I made the entirely logical leap from one irrational action to another, all of which share the common trait of being overwhelmed by emotion. Sinking in yet?

No, because you fail to show why one person may resort to murder while another may not. Even here you seem to just assume murder is somehow an acceptable or unavoidable result of "being overwhelmed by emotion".  

LOL! You demonstrably have no idea what constitutes proof. Again, you're arguing from incredulity, just because you can't imagine anyone having such capabilities. It's sad.

You have yet to explain how mental illness can occur if we all have freewill. It is a clear case of freewill not existing in some people. So that basically blows your whole theory out the water.

I've already explained that to you. A series of bad decisions and the human nature to justify said decisions.
Free will includes the ability to deny free will, but that doesn't mean it ever ceases to exist in a person. Only underutilized.

You're now saying they can be altered.

Somewhat. But not enough to prove freewill. Again, consult the cases of people with mood disorders. There is no glib thinking positive that makes such moodswings go away. And the fact that medications help alleviate it proves it is a brain based affliction. You do realize that being in a good mood is based on the amount of serotonin in your brain don't you?

Who said anyone could "prove" free will? O_o
Who said any "glib thinking positive... makes such moodswings go away"? O_o
Such meds only ever alleviate symptoms, if that. They do not address causes...otherwise we'd have cures instead of only treatments.
Ever heard of serotonin syndrome? And again, do you know the difference between correlation and causation?  

You can't choose to exercise? O_o
Or the secondary gains of remaining depressed are somehow thought to outweigh the suffering.
It's not about trying, it's about doing.

Right. You can alter your brain chemical makeup by exercising. They're called endorphins. But it's not like you just chose to overcome the depression and made it go away. You had to change your physical body to do it, which again points to the physical basis of depression.

So...the brain that causes the depression can choose, unbeknownst to your free choice, to exercise and alleviate the depression?
Yeah, that's called circular reasoning.

"Many psychological mechanisms have been implicated in the development and maintenance of schizophrenia. Cognitive biases have been identified in those with the diagnosis or those at risk, especially when under stress or in confusing situations. Some cognitive features may reflect global neurocognitive deficits such as memory loss, while others may be related to particular issues and experiences." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophre...chological

Neurocognitive deficits? Sounds like a brain thing to me.

Did you just quit reading as soon as you confirmed your bias?
And you still seem completely unaware of operative words like "may".

There's no evidence of causation in any of those. Where's the evidence that brain size predicts bipolar before onset? And if you think an extra 40 cases significantly increases its probative nature...

The shrinkage is typical only of bipolar brains.

Only? Cite your source.

That points to bipolarism being the cause. Mere natural neuroplasticity wouldn't be specific to one mental illness.

What do you think causes neural plasticity? O_o
Seriously, quit talking out of your ass.

An addict believes they can't change their initial free decision to use. They are only bound by their own previous decisions and ongoing excuses.

LOL. Wrong. They are bound by the chemical dependency of their brain on the drug. It has nothing to do with their beliefs. The addiction is brain based and physical in nature. A clear demonstration of people being overwhelmed by factors beyond their own willpower. Which is why addicts always need help from others like intervention from the family, jailtime, and/or rehab. There is simply no freewill to go clean and stay clean all on their own.

Ever heard of rational recovery? Educate yourself.

Empathy only promotes ingroup favoritism.

Empathy applies universally. To ingroups and outgroups and people you know and people you don't know. It is the inherent bond of being human uniting us all. But don't worry..I don't expect you to understand empathy beyond what Wikipedia tells you.

No, as I've previously shown you in that earlier discussion: https://www.scivillage.com/thread-3417-p...l#pid12692
It's basic evolutionary psychology and research.

---

Why did it take you so long to deny it?  

There's not enough time in the day to answer all of your loaded questions and allegations.  

Says the troll who is still avoiding telling us why she thinks people are/become religious.  
Or... is that a "loaded question"?  

Outgroup cooperation? No, there is no evidence outgroup cooperation evolved as a natural survival strategy.

Says who, you?

Evolutionary psychology.

Apparently, neither you nor Johnson understand even basic things about religion.

Um...yeah, let's not forget that it was the link that you provided to support your statement.

Yeah, to make the point that religion promotes cooperation...not your straw man that it was a wholly accurate description of religion.  

Really? Political systems aren't inherently adversarial? Religions have outlasted every government known to man.

Really? Religious systems aren't inherently adversarial? There are no extinct religions?

Not internally, no.
Sure, there's lot of human sacrifice gone dormant. But you're not talking about any of those, are you now?  
So...just another distracting non-sequitur.  

But this is an obvious non-sequitur from your discussion of why Jesus died. Do you plan to return to that any time soon?

What are trying to say?  That Christians don’t believe in the fall of Adam?  That they don’t believe that God took human form as Jesus Christ? That they don’t believe faith in his death and resurrection will save them?

Holy shit!  I did not know that.  My friends are all fucked up.  I’ll let them know.  

Thanks!

Where did I ever say anything like that? O_o
Another trolling straw man from SS.  

Personally, I have no trouble seeing god's origin, like creation itself, as ex nihilo.

I’m curious as to why you’d have trouble seeing the universe as ex nihilo?  Why do you need to add a creator?

I don't. IMO, both are true.
And I'm pretty sure I've explained why before.
Where's that vaunted memory of yours?

[Magical Realist]

No, because you fail to show why one person may resort to murder while another may not. Even here you seem to just assume murder is somehow an acceptable or unavoidable result of "being overwhelmed by emotion".

Some people are more susceptible to rage and envy. Others have looser moral values. Still others are more insecure and can be overcome by jealously. There's lots of variables explaining differences in people's behavior. And it certainly doesn't mean its all freewill.

Free will includes the ability to deny free will, but that doesn't mean it ever ceases to exist in a person. Only underutilized.

LOL! Oh so all these mentally ill people that can't control their thoughts or emotions or moods still have freewill only it's dormant and sleeping inside them. What kind of ad hoc horseshit theory is that?

Who said anyone could "prove" free will? O_o

Good. So you admit there's no evidence for it.

Such meds only ever alleviate symptoms, if that. They do not address causes...otherwise we'd have cures instead of only treatments.

They keep depressed people from feeling depressed.And they do it by boosting serotonin, dopamine, and/or norepinephrine levels in the brain. If that isn't working, then I don't know what is.

Ever heard of serotonin syndrome? And again, do you know the difference between correlation and causation?

What about it? Overdosing on antidepressants can cause that. So what?

So...the brain that causes the depression can choose, unbeknownst to your free choice, to exercise and alleviate the depression?
Yeah, that's called circular reasoning.

Yes. People can alter their own brain chemistry and thereby change their mood by exercising or taking meds or getting more sleep. It is an accepted fact of life. Are you actually denying people can do this?

Did you just quit reading as soon as you confirmed your bias?

Cite some studies showing cognitive deficits in schizophrenics isn't caused by their own brain chemicals and or brain structure.

What do you think causes neural plasticity? O_o
Seriously, quit talking out of your ass.

Nothing that's exclusive to bipolar patients.

Ever heard of rational recovery? Educate yourself.

Sounds like some religious bullshit to me. Tell me how it works.

No, as I've previously shown you in that earlier discussion: https://www.scivillage.com/thread-3417-p...l#pid12692
It's basic evolutionary psychology and research.

Yes..empathy is a human capacity to identify with other people's thoughts and feelings regardless if you know them or not. It is an accepted fact of human nature. Just because you are incapable of it doesn't mean it isn't part of who we are as NORMAL humans.

[Syne]

No, because you fail to show why one person may resort to murder while another may not. Even here you seem to just assume murder is somehow an acceptable or unavoidable result of "being overwhelmed by emotion".

Some people are more susceptible to rage and envy. Others have looser moral values. Still others are more insecure and can be overcome by jealously. There's lots of variables explaining differences in people's behavior. And it certainly doesn't mean its all freewill.

So you have no free will in determining your moral values, self-worth, etc.? O_o
Again, you're arguing from incredulity, simply because you do not feel you have free will in these regards yourself.

Free will includes the ability to deny free will, but that doesn't mean it ever ceases to exist in a person. Only underutilized.

LOL! Oh so all these mentally ill people that can't control their thoughts or emotions or moods still have freewill only it's dormant and sleeping inside them. What kind of ad hoc horseshit theory is that?

Where did I say anything like that? Can you not simply read what is written? Do you ever get tired of refuting straw man arguments no one ever made? Or is that just the only way you can muster a feeling of being right?

Don't you have capabilities you aren't currently utilizing? Does that ability cease to exist when unused? Or do you just have so few that you have to use everything at your disposal at all times?

Who said anyone could "prove" free will? O_o

Good. So you admit there's no evidence for it.

Again, another tired, sad straw man in a vain attempt to feel you're right.
There's about as much evidence of free will as there is determinism.

Such meds only ever alleviate symptoms, if that. They do not address causes...otherwise we'd have cures instead of only treatments.

They keep depressed people from feeling depressed.And they do it by boosting serotonin, dopamine, and/or norepinephrine levels in the brain.  If that isn't working, then I don't know what is.

And? What do you think "alleviate" means?
They give people an artificial sense of well-being.

Ever heard of serotonin syndrome? And again, do you know the difference between correlation and causation?

What about it? Overdosing on antidepressants can cause that. So what?

Think about it. Maybe it will dawn on you.

So...the brain that causes the depression can choose, unbeknownst to your free choice, to exercise and alleviate the depression?
Yeah, that's called circular reasoning.

Yes. People can alter their own brain chemistry and thereby change their mood by exercising or taking meds or getting more sleep. It is an accepted fact of life. Are you actually denying people can do this?

LOL! Where, in your vivid little imagination, do you think I said anything of the sort?
Do you even know what circular reasoning is? O_o
I mean, seriously. Look it up if you have to.
If the brain is the ultimate cause of behavior, mood, etc., how can people "alter their own brain"?

Did you just quit reading as soon as you confirmed your bias?

Cite some studies showing cognitive deficits in schizophrenics isn't caused by their own brain chemicals and or brain structure.

No need, because all the ones you've already cited fail to give any causal evidence to refute...IOW, you're just a crank yelling "prove me wrong".

What do you think causes neural plasticity? O_o
Seriously, quit talking out of your ass.

Nothing that's exclusive to bipolar patients.

Of course not. Now maybe you could answer the question instead of answering your own straw man.

Ever heard of rational recovery? Educate yourself.

Sounds like some religious bullshit to me. Tell me how it works.

Look it up, lazy ass.

No, as I've previously shown you in that earlier discussion: https://www.scivillage.com/thread-3417-p...l#pid12692
It's basic evolutionary psychology and research.

Yes..empathy is a human capacity to identify with other people's thoughts and feelings regardless if you know them or not. It is an accepted fact of human nature. Just because you are incapable of it doesn't mean it isn't part of who we are as NORMAL humans.

You keep talking bullshit but never manage to support the crap that falls out of your mouth. Check that earlier discussion. See all the sources cited?

[Magical Realist]

You obviously have nothing left to argue beyond tired repetitious accusations of strawmen and spineless backpeddling. Moving on..

[Syne]

You obviously have nothing left to argue beyond tired repetitious accusations of strawmen and spineless backpeddling.  Moving on..

Yeah, just as well. It's obvious you need to justify your own mental illness as something you cannot control...even to the point of acquitting a mass murderer of responsibility.

[Magical Realist]

And another hateful ad hom proving nothing. Like I said, you have nothing left to argue. Ta ta!

[Syne]

Never said it proved anything....but it is telling that you never deny it.

[Leigha]

Didn't read through the thread yet, but why is a guy who is prescribed anti-anxiety meds permitted to buy any guns, let alone 33 in one year?? I believe in people having agency for their actions, but the laws are definitely not tough enough if an unstable guy can buy this many guns without any red flags going off to authorities?

[Syne]

Because any doctor, not just psychiatrists, can prescribe anti-anxiety meds without even a definite diagnosis of mental illness...so it's not considered a red flag. And if a prescription alone could remove your rights, it would be without due process of law...which must show just cause to deprive you of your rights (any rights).

Gun purchases require that you not be a felon, not have any domestic abuse convictions, not have any restraining orders, not have a history of substance abuse, as well as many more restrictions. So just ask yourself...what if all those restrictions applied to your freedom of speech? Would you also allow people to just remove that right without proving just cause?

And who's to say he couldn't have attained those weapons illegally? He certainly had the money to buy them black market.