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Texas serial bomber made video confession before blowing himself up, police say

57 Comments
By Jon Herskovitz

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"Homosexuality is not natural," Conditt wrote. "Just look at the male and female bodies. They are obviously designed to couple ... it is not natural to couple male with male and female with female. It would be like trying to fit two screws together and to nuts together."

...guess that's why he targeted Austin? Austin's got one of the highest LGBT rate of population in the US.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Homosexuality is not natural

What a moron. Of course it's natural - it occurs in nature all the time. On top of that humans are natural, and if some humans are homosexual, that means it's natural.

8 ( +16 / -8 )

Where does the prejudice and bigotry come from, I wonder.

And why is it not being treated as terrorism?

8 ( +13 / -5 )

TahoochiToday  08:42 am JST

...guess that's why he targeted Austin? Austin's got one of the highest LGBT rate of population in the US.

Or it could just be that he lived there.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Where does the prejudice and bigotry come from, I wonder.

"Homosexuality is not natural," Conditt wrote. "Just look at the male and female bodies. They are obviously designed to couple ... it is not natural to couple male with male and female with female. It would be like trying to fit two screws together and to nuts together."

He described himself as a conservative but said he was not politically inclined. He said he enjoyed "cycling, parkour, tennis, reading and listening to music."

My god, yes. He was clearly a Hitler in the making.

And why is it not being treated as terrorism?

Probably because authorities are not prone to the caterwauling histrionics and identity politics of the lunatic left.

-19 ( +6 / -25 )

Probably because authorities are not prone to the caterwauling histrionics and identity politics of the lunatic left.

So terrorism is only carried out by other ethnicities?

Here is a young man who has murdered innocent people, causing mayhem and fear and you are calling those of us concerned about terrorism lunatics?

Hmm.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

@TH And why is it not being treated as terrorism?

He described himself as a conservative

In the eyes of some, terrorists have specific identifying features and beliefs different from this man.

However, I'll invoke the duck principle and say he was a terrorist.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

I read on BBC that his mother had mentioned he may go on a religious mission after school on her FB page. Here it's only edited to " ... maybe a mission trip," 

Is this our first Mormon terrorist?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

So.. he was a conservative suicide bomber basically

5 ( +8 / -3 )

So.. he was a conservative suicide bomber basically

Because he had conservative views from a college class 5 years ago? Well if it helps you sleep at night...

Facts are, there's no rhyme or reason for his outburst. No targeted group.

The lunatic left will, sadly, have to scratch off the "one for our side" notch on their little belts.

-18 ( +4 / -22 )

Terrorism is to terrorize and you don't need bombs to do that.

Maybe not, but bombs create terror, and anonymous bombings are terrorism.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

The lunatic left will, sadly, have to scratch off the "one for our side" notch on their little belts.

Terrorist activities are not for any side. Except the side of terrorists.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

Facts are, there's no rhyme or reason for his outburst. No targeted group.

Yet. Apparently he's left a "treasure trove" of a footprint online, so I imagine his motivations will become apparent over the next few days and weeks. The logic of carrying out such acts are usually best known to the perpetrators themselves.

The lunatic left will, sadly, have to scratch off the "one for our side" notch on their little belts.

Why do you keep mentioning "lunatic left"? People are dead.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Carl Jung described himself as a ‘psychic process over which he has very little control; only partly directs’. 

Some neuroscientists have gone farther, saying each living entity, which includes we the persons, is an amalgamation of genetically determined, organic (carbon based), bio-chemical algorithms affected by environmental, cultural, and social algorithms, and that our actions are either determined or random. 

If so, good luck sorting out motive.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

When are we going to use the term Radical christian Terrorist ? How can we prevent American youth being radicalized by christian churches and the Republican Party?

9 ( +14 / -5 )

How can we prevent American youth being radicalized by christian churches and the Republican Party?

as soon as they have evidence of someone chanting "Ronald Reagan" while stabbing people to death, they'll get right on it, Crazy Joe.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

A conservative? In Austin, TX? That's difficult to believe. Austin may be the capital city of conservative Texas, but Austin is a liberal bastion that rivals San Fransico. The motto of Austin is "Keep Austin Weird".

The city motto shirt:

https://poshmark.com/listing/Keep-Austin-Weird-Tylers-Tie-Dye-Tee-Short-Sleeve-5a81a8143316279671fa8d66?utm_source=bing&l_con=PREOWNED%2FUSED&gdm_bottom=false&campaign_id=293039826&utm_campaign=293039826&enable_guest_buy_flow=true

This psychopath decided to murder people for whatever twisted reasons he chose to believe. Is he a terrorist? Yes, he is. Does he meet the media's, or government's, or internet's definition of a terrorist? Who cares? This psychopath is a mass murdering terrorist and he just saved the State of Texas the time, and money, it takes to publically execute him. Good riddance.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

This psychopath decided to murder people for whatever twisted reasons he chose to believe. Is he a terrorist? Yes, he is. Does he meet the media's, or government's, or internet's definition of a terrorist? Who cares? This psychopath is a mass murdering terrorist and he just saved the State of Texas the time, and money, it takes to publically execute him. Good riddance.

I think the definition of ‘terrorist’ does matter because ideology matters. Practically, it helps to at least focus on particular ideologies which drive people to kill innocents. To lump those driven by political, religious or social aims in the same bin as the likes of Ted Bundy isn’t helpful.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@arrestpA conservative? In Austin, TX? That's difficult to believe.

Perhaps it's difficult to believe for those only able to see things polarly, who can't understand nuance, who can only defend a position by positing it against some opposite and extremist position, those who constantly bifurcate.

Austin's population is roughly 1,000,000. I think you'd probably find about 1,000,000 different perspectives among those living there.

But that would require dropping an over-simplified us-them way of looking at the world.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Yawn. Another false narrative busted.

Mark Anthony Conditt left a 25 minute long recorded “confession” mentioning nothing of hate.

In the recording, the suspect did not mention "anything about terrorism, nor does he mention anything about hate," the police chief said. The message is rather "the outcry of a very challenged young man talking about challenges in his personal life."

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Nah, just the right-wingers who refuse to call it terrorism due to the suspect being white.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

PTownsend - Perhaps it's difficult to believe for those only able to see things polarly, who can't understand nuance, who can only defend a position by positing it against some opposite and extremist position, those who constantly bifurcate.

Austin's population is roughly 1,000,000. I think you'd probably find about 1,000,000 different perspectives among those living there.

But that would require dropping an over-simplified us-them way of looking at the world.

OR perhaps it's because I have a daughter who lives in Austin, Texas. Even the residents of Austin will brag that they aren't like the rest of Texas. "Keep Austin Weird" is not just a saying, it's considered a way of life.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

There is no evidence that this man can fall into the ‘terrorist’ category as far as we know ( I’m working from the definition of being ideologically driven ).

I don’t trust quotes from the Punch and Judy media show either. I think I’ll read something aimed at my age group ( over 6 ) before forming my own opinion.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Even the residents of Austin will brag that they aren't like the rest of Texas.

All of them?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

What does his skin color have to do with it? Both Timothy Mcveigh and the Unabomber were white and both were terrorists.

That was back in the day when the right was willing to call white people terrorists.

The new right refuses to call terrorism by white suspects terrorism. They will only call it terrorism if it's by a non-white person.

There is no evidence that this man can fall into the ‘terrorist’ category as far as we know ( I’m working from the definition of being ideologically driven ).

Terrorism is defined as 'the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.' Ideology does form the basis behind the majority of terrorism, but it is not required for it to be terrorism.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

You can call this psychopath a terrorist if you wish to. No one is stopping you. Your attempt to control what others can, or can not, say is not interesting.

I'm not trying to control anything. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy of the right after they went on and on about Obama not using the words 'Islamic radical terrorism', they won't even call terrorism terrorism.

Has CNN identified this psychopath as a terrorist? Has NPR, or MSNBC, or ABC, or FOX, or CBS, or any of the other news media outlets identified this psychopath as a terrorist? Your white suspect/terrorist theory seems racist.

How could it be? I'm not pinning anything on a race, only on the right. I guess I'm a rightist.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Of course it's natural - it occurs in nature all the time.

This is called "the naturalistic fallacy".

0 ( +3 / -3 )

What political purposes did this bomber have then?

I never said he did. Political purposes is not a requirement for terrorism.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@Strangerland

There is a lot of discussion about the definition of terrorism, but this from the US and is the one I’m working from:

Terrorism is defined in Title 22 Chapter 38 U.S. Code § 2656f as "premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents”

I think it is worth keeping a clear definition of this word and an ideological motivation seems to give it its essence.

As I posted earlier, making this definition elastic is unhelpful. Could someone like Ted Bundy be defined as a terrorist?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

No direct congratulations from President Trump to the Austin based FBI office?

Nor from Trump's followers.

Hats off to all law enforcement personnel involved.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There is a lot of discussion about the definition of terrorism, but this from the US and is the one I’m working from:

I'm going off this one:

Terrorism:

noun

1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.

Link: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/terrorism?r=75&src=ref&ch=dic

I think it is worth keeping a clear definition of this word and an ideological motivation seems to give it its essence.

I agree about a clear definition - that's exactly why dictionaries exist. And I don't think that ideological motivation is required for that - if it causes terror, it is terrorism.

As I posted earlier, making this definition elastic is unhelpful.

Good thing we have a dictionary then.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

No direct congratulations from President Trump to the Austin based FBI office?

Nor from Trump's followers. 

Hats off to all law enforcement personnel involved.

Love the consistency here. One minute, the authorities are all white supremacists because they didn't foolishly and without any logic refer to Conditt as a terrorist or white supremacist.

Now President Trump is immediately criticized for not issuing a statement congratulating the authorities while the situation is still on-going.

Reminds me of a certain poster who just 2 days ago was outraged! President Trump had remained silent on the issue.....Ignoring a quote from President Trump in the very same story......

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Terrorism:

noun

1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.

and ill ask the same questions a 3rd time;

What were Conduit's stated political purpose? What was he trying to coerce? What group was he trying to intimidate?

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

One minute, the authorities are all white supremacists because they didn't foolishly and without any logic refer to Conditt as a terrorist or white supremacist.

That's your assumption. Personally, I was querying as to why the perp was not identified as a terrorist.

And what, exactly, this horrible scenario has to do with the "lunatic left".

As for other posters being concerned about your President's ramblings, that's down to them. Trump usually gets the timing all wrong and appears to be faster at the blame game when it comes to some terrorists over others.

Anyway, your President will soon be out on his ear and maybe the next one will have a more measured response to future acts of terrorism if and when they occur.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

What were Conduit's stated political purpose? What was he trying to coerce? What group was he trying to intimidate?

The group known as innocent people. Usually they tend to be targets of terrorism.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I don't think the dictionary is the best place to find the proper definition of terrorism. It's a word that has become politicised and who's meaning has been deliberately shifted over recent years. The dictionary has to take that shift into account, but it doesn't mean it's correct. I still follow the classic definition where you need to be targeting innocent and unrelated people for a political motive. Otherwise, nearly every violent crime could be called terrorism.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Readers, you are going around in circles. No more arguing about the definition of terrorism, please.

as soon as they have evidence of someone chanting "Ronald Reagan" while stabbing people to death, they'll get right on it, Crazy Joe.

Eric Rudolph?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Hats off to all law enforcement personnel involved.

Do you mean the beleaguered FBI conducting a witch hunt?

I am amazed that the FBI and local law enforcement closed this case so soon. They had some lucky breaks after chasing a bunch of worthless ideas, a cartel bomb mistakenly sent to a neighbor of a weed dealer.

It would be interesting to learn about the behavioral FBI group's profile of this guy. Probably close to the mark, white boy struggling with gay self-hate and religious guilt.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Probably close to the mark, white boy struggling with gay self-hate and religious guilt.

Could be. So many theories as to what causes this kind of lashing out. But I'd say having your religion call you un-natural/immoral/wrong etc can't be good on a young mind that's struggling to find their way in life.

Some are able to overcome bigotry and others turn it inward.

In a way, I suppose he's a victim as well.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Now President Trump is immediately criticized for not issuing a statement congratulating the authorities while the situation is still on-going.

Trump supporters' go-to when Trump is called out for inaction: "the situation is still on-going."

Trump supporters' go-to when Trump is being called out for mouthing off about situations that are ongoing: "Total witch hunt. If there were anything, we'd have known about it already."

Talk about consistency.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

and ill ask the same questions a 3rd time;

What were Conduit's stated political purpose? What was he trying to coerce? What group was he trying to intimidate?

I think the point is that minorities are immediately labeled terrorists before any of those questions are answered.

Like when then-candidate Trump congratulated himself for "being right on radical Islamic terrorism" on the day of the Orlando nightclub shooting before any questions were answered and before most of the victims were even identified.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

And he was proven right.

A broken clock is correct two times a day, but even still the CIA did not find any affiliation with terrorists.

The man's wife and family believed he was gay. . . . . and he expressed a lot of hate

5 ( +6 / -1 )

"First, if a women does not want a baby, or is incapable of taking care of one, she should not participate in activities that were made for that reason."

"Homosexuality is not natural,"

He sounds like a very extremely religious person coupled with a lot of intolerance of the behavior of others.

Where did he get it from, I wonder?

He is not so different from an Islamic jihadi, except he is white and hopefully isn't part of a larger group. Just a lone wolf similar to a number of other domestic Islamic terrorist wanna-bees.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

He is not so different from an Islamic jihadi, except he is white and hopefully isn't part of a larger group. Just a lone wolf similar to a number of other domestic Islamic terrorist wanna-bees.

. . . wannabees. In the sense that they want to inflict death, suffering, and fear on people because of religiously instilled values.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Bungle, as your name suggests, well need I say more

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

The lunatic left will, sadly, have to scratch off the "one for our side" notch on their little belts. well you know if they do take away the conservatives guns they can always make bombs to get their highs

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I lived in Austin for years. Miss it actually.

There are conservatives and liberals and libertarians there.

There are wacko Christians, wacko Muslims, wacko Atheists there too.

And 99.99999% normal people of mixed backgrounds who get along just fine. We appreciate each others' views.

Pflugerville is an middle to upper-middle class suburb of Austin.

I miss the BBQ there and don't get back to visit friends nearly as often as I should. Hey Ya'll!

ACC is a normal community college just like most cities have. Many of ACC students transfer to U-Tx to get the "name brand" degree.

All I get from this story is that a smart person can come up with a way to kill others for reasons that are their own. Something failed in their socialization with other, different, humans. People who don't mix with others unlike themselves don't learn that differences aren't a bad thing. The people in this forum likely don't have that issue, since we are interested in different cultures, peoples, and living in very different places. Not sure we will ever understand someone like Conditt.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The people in this forum likely don't have that issue, since we are interested in different cultures, peoples, and living in very different places.

I admire your optimism, sir.

I imagine we shall find out in time what demons or ideologies drove this kid to murder.

Wouldn't put me off visiting Austin, have heard it's a great place. It's on my list of places to see, post Republican admin, natch.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

ModeratorToday  02:33 pm JST

Readers, you are going around in circles. No more arguing about the definition of terrorism, please.

Might I suggest it would be more effective for discourse to impose a definition by posting a link or the text?

Moderator: Certainly. Just call it murder and forget about definitions and semantics.

Touche. Nice one, Mod.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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