I'm going to leave the gun debate alone.

My wife and I have both noticed there are situations where people seem to purposely try to make themselves emotional, especially when comes to catastrophes that people have no connection. Things like 9/11, the Columbine Massacre, the recent shootings at the Sikh Temple in my state, people will do things like draw Batman weeping, watch the same news coverage of the tragedy over and over,  go to memorials, all to purposely drum up sad, painful emotions.  All these events are tragic, sad, and scary, but if a person does not know anyone involved why would they try to make themselves depressed or feel heavyhearted.  My wife came up with a term for this, Emotional Masturbation.  Instead of offering to help in anyway, they do things to cause themselves to put a fist on their chest, raise up their other hand with a kleenex in it, and cry. I'm not trying to belittle any of those who have suffered actual loss of a friend or loved one; they deserve their tears. But, for example, when my Governor tries show his sympathies to the victims of the temple shooting by wearing a scarf on his head, its just pointless, and stupid.