this post was submitted on 29 May 2026
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[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 8 points 20 hours ago

Can we stop pretending everyone doesn't do this?

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

The other 93% have already shot someone else

[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Pollster: Have you ever thought about shooting someone?

Me: Well even if I never had before, now that you've asked the question and put the idea in my head, I have, so thanks for that!

Pollster: Follow-up question: Have you ever thought of a pink elephant?

[–] enphurgen@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Id bet that in recent years that figure is much higher

[–] AnalogRegression@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

True story incoming.

A while back I was dealing with a close family member's horrific psychological attacks. This person is a true born narcissist of the highest order.

It took me 4 decades to realize that my entire life is and has always been controlled by this person. The deceptive tactics used against me are unheard of, believe me, I dare not exaggerate.

Anyhow, as any normal person might do under these extreme circumstances, I began playing out potential future scenarios wherein I might find myself backed into a corner with no way out. I have no access to guns nor would I even have the balls to try and acquire one... So the next best option would be a knife. I would think about the various knife like options I have available, particularly, a bunch of utility knives. Left with me after my dad passed away.

One day, the aforementioned narcissist came for their monthly visit to the apartment they have me isolated in. However this time they brought along a co-conspiritor, another narcissist, in this case a "flying monkey".

During the visit, they mentioned, in passing, the various utility knives my father had.

I swear on everything that is righteous and benevolent, they were READING MY THOUGHTS REMOTELY. Thus the reason they mentioned the knives, because I was THINKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY USING ONE!! AGAINST THIS VERY PERSON!!

The reason the other person was brought along was them sending me a very clear message. We control you, we are constantly monitoring you including your own thoughts, and that particular thought, is a big no no.

"Don't fuck with us"

[–] username123@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Sounds like you need psychiatric help. The good news is that if someone is trying to control you psychologically, they'll help free you from that as well.

[–] AnalogRegression@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

It was a psychiatrist that conspired with my controller when he prescribed EMSAM circa 2008. Within the first week, I went to 165lbs to 115. In the following weeks, I transformed into a golem like character. Scars all over my face and body, 5 day stretches of zero sleep and zero food and hardly any hydration to speak of. This went on for four goddamn years. Living in the house of my family, along side my narcissist controller. I even spent a week in the "looney bin" because of the effect on the drug. Guess who was the in house psychiatrist? The very same that prescribed me the drug. You'd think he'd see my appearance and decide to take me off of the drug immediately, which converts into methamphetamine metabolites in vitro, an interesting tid bit I dare say. I literally looked like the worst of the worst Faces of Meth mug shots, tho I've never used meth. The irony was brutal The thought of what I looked like never passed through my mind during the 4 years I was on EMSAM. It completely removed my depression for which I was prescribed the drug in the 7th place after many years of many SSRIs and SNRIs. it's hard to feel anything let alone depression when you're losing your mind and total sense of self including a state of absolute zero love that was supposed to be there for me. The family I so dearly loved were witnesses to all of this, and did nothing to stop it after seeing me drop to 115 in a weeks time. This is just a small but darkest time of my life full of sorrow and suffering. If I had a choice, I'd rather have been born into a poverty stricken country. Free from the medical lunatics that pervade every aspect of post modern American society. Losing oneself at the hands of a "Do no harm" hypocritic oath taker flying monkey of a narcissist of the highest order just doesn't sit well with me. I needed help and hell is what they gave me.

Make no mistake, I have immense gratitude for every experience of my life, especially the difficult ones. These are the signs and symbols I use to put back together my shattered soul. Smoke em if you got em as they say.

What's really crazy, in fact possibly insane, I just recently started up with another psychiatrist after a decade and a half after that one evil fuck. Why would I be doing this? I wouldn't if I had any free will. My entire life, especially my emotions, are controlled and dictated by you should know who by now, if that message wasn't clear enough as is.

My post EMSAM life is nothing but lying in bed all day and night, only getting up to feed myself and piss and shit as needed. Every single passion of mine is gone from my younger days. My motivation and reward system left completely decimated by the EMSAM. The only thing that drives me is the hope of an endless dreamless sleep. This isn't to say I am at all depressed. Realizing that the so-called depression was manufactured in what I can only assume to be the forges of cruelty and hatred. The very same that produced the narcissistic entity that I can't help but try and empathize, for that is my primary function from the day I entered this busted ass world. How could they be so cruel? Is the question I ask myself on a daily basis. The love I have to share becomes a heavy burden with every waking and dreaming moment of my existence. If I could understand why someone so dear to me, would do such things to me, the puzzle that is my life would be complete. Perhaps my next life I would be born a narcissist of the same highest order. Full empathetic deconstruction.

But I digress, I am at a loss for words to accurately and appropriately respond to your recommendation. I understand the need to tell people like me such things, for it is programmed into the societal American society at both ends. Your response is quite typical and should be expected but I don't expect anything when my thoughts come pouring out. It is the release that I'm focused on, but I'd be lying if I'd say some responses to my shares reopen my spiritual wounds for a moment or two, a day or two at the most extreme. This is nothing I can't handle but it sure as shit doesn't feel to great.

All I can offer is warnings at this juncture. If it happened to me, then others like me are out there and it is my instinctual duty to assist in preventing more potential unwarranted suffering.

To end this "rant" on a seemingly lighter yet unbelievable note. A few years back, I noticed that the drug EMSAM was removed from my medical history. Wtf was I? An unknowing participant in a secret human drug testing experiment? Clearly, any kind credibility is of my experience isn't great for the medical lunatics in charge of the "scientific" experiment. That's the only explanation I can come up with.

I am rooted in truth.

[–] skaffi@infosec.pub 1 points 16 hours ago

Hey man, that sounds like a rough time. I'm sorry.

Have you ever talked to a mental health professional before, or perhaps just told your doctor about what you describe here? The reason I ask is that things like the feeling that other people can read your thoughts is a typical sign of mental health conditions that can be dangerous to both yourself as well as those you care about. But even if you are psychologically a 100% well, no one should have to live under such threats and control as what you describe, and you would need help in that regard.

Remember that you can trust your doctor. It is their duty to help you, it's their job to care about your well-being, and they have sworn an oath to do no harm. If you don't know where else to turn, then you can always talk completely confidentially to your doctor, and they well help you, or guide you towards whoever can. And if you don't like your current doctor, then remember that you are always completely free to change to any other doctor of your choosing.

I wish you all the best.

Thought crimes.

[–] Hobo@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago

That's wild that 93% of Americans have never driven in New Jersey.

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 19 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] psivchaz@reddthat.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe they asked like, "SERIOUSLY thought about shooting someone" or perhaps "thought about shooting someone at a time that you actually had the means to do it" or even "made mental plans to shoot someone."

Or maybe I'm more of a psychopath than I thought I was. Like I don't actually want to hurt anyone, and I don't even own a gun, but the number of times it crossed my mind...

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 1 points 22 hours ago

I think the headline flattened the question. Most people have thought about it happening, I'd wager, but less thought about doing it.

[–] favoredponcho@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

Found a 7 percenter ^

[–] sol6_vi@lemmy.makearmy.io 1 points 1 day ago

Do we want to arm the proletariat or ban all guns? Its so hard to tell where Lemmy is at on guns sometimes.

[–] AlecSadler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 41 points 2 days ago (2 children)

That's way lower than expected and I suspect it is just because they didn't want to be on record.

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Survey: how many people are willing to be edgy on a survey?

[–] architect@thelemmy.club 5 points 1 day ago

People answer surveys as their ideal self not honestly. So yea most people, considering the constant virtue signaling about how non violent they are (lol to be proud of non violence while a pedophile rules you is a definitely a moral choice), are going to answer these surveys saying they are non violent.

They are the most violent among us and they always have justification.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 8 points 2 days ago

Yep, what a load of bollocks, the only thing this study is useful for is why would you do this.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 110 points 2 days ago (3 children)
[–] Steve@communick.news 53 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's how many are willing to admit it to a pollster, which is a subset of who thought about it. We don't know how big the larger set is.

[–] baahb@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Which is a subset who would talk to a pollster in the first place

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[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world 25 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The other 93% have shot someone.

[–] exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Without thinking about it first, it seems.

[–] redsand@infosec.pub 2 points 1 day ago

That way it's a crime of passion 🤓

[–] CombatWombat@feddit.online 18 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

The text of the question seems to be "I have thought about shooting another person or multiple people" and 7% responded "Strongly agree/agree/somewhat agree." Looking at the 160 page pdf questionnaire, I'm guessing most respondents deduced the correct answer and didn't want to cast aspersions on any of their other habits.

[–] etherphon@piefed.world 99 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I've thought about all sorts of horrible things I'd never even contemplate actually doing. I'm sure I'm not alone.

[–] Whelks_chance@lemmy.world 35 points 2 days ago (1 children)
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[–] BartyDeCanter@piefed.social 15 points 2 days ago

Absolutely, there’s a huge difference between thinking about doing something and then letting the thought go compared to doing anything on the path to actually doing it.

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[–] Siethron@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

If I ever get mad enough at someone to picture killing them it's usually a blunt force weapon, so I get the low value on shooting here.

[–] Tiral@lemmy.world 54 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Only 7%? Yeah there are a lot of people 100% lying.

[–] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemmy.zip 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Mm, you can fixate on killing someone without using a gun.

You could use a knife, a rope, poison, there are any number of things you can use to kill someone.

Maybe that 93% just very specifically envisions harming others without guns!

Lol no, many of them are lying.

[–] BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Woodchipper, car bomb, garbage compactor, fire, a single large rock, multiple smaller rocks, open windows, closed windows and some force... The list goes on and on

Update:

  • drum of boiling water
  • large cat exhibit at the zoo
  • thrown from a highway bridge
  • snake pit
  • drowning in a cesspool
  • explosive butt plug
  • fire ant
  • flying with Tom Hanks in a movie

A bit exotic perhaps, but strapped to a rocket and hurled at a building.

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I choose butt plug, what do I win!?

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[–] mavu@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 2 days ago (6 children)

I don't know how you could be older than 12 and not wanted to shoot someone ever.

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[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 32 points 2 days ago (10 children)

As an anti-gun anti-american pacific redneck, I have also thought about shooting people, at least once per week. There's only 3 people alive I would actually ever shoot though, given the chance.

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[–] Armok_the_bunny@lemmy.world 34 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And 93% of adults are liars.

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[–] eleitl@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

With someone, you mean a really long list?

[–] muhyb@programming.dev 29 points 2 days ago

Thinking about it is normal, not doing it is being civilized.

[–] deliriousdreams@fedia.io 2 points 1 day ago

Approximately 1/3 of Americans own guns.

7% seems low just because so far as I can tell it's 7% of adults in American not 7% of those who own guns.

I haven't ever fantasized about shooting someone. Throttling them to death? Yeah. Dropping a piano on someone? Certainly. Shooting them? No. For one thing I don't want to clean up a shooting. But for another at the point where you're wanting to kill someone or maim them a gun is just impersonal and hands off. I'm not a murderer. I would absolutely have to be pushed to that point.

But I have met quite a few people who really do just want to shoot someone. They are looking for a reason.

If it weren't with a firearm it'd be with a crossbow, a knife, ball peen hammer, concrete saw, etc.

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