The Legend of Super Kitty

In the quiet town of Whisker Falls, there was a cat named Miko. Miko wasn’t like the other cats who roamed the alleyways or lounged lazily in the sun. Ever since she was a kitten, she had always been fascinated by the tales of ancient feline warriors—legendary cats who once defended the world from danger, using their sharp reflexes, clever tactics, and most importantly, their mastery of Cat-Fu, a long-lost martial art.

The Legend of Super Kitty

The Contagion Effect: From Buffalo to Uvalde, 16 Mass Shootings in Just 10 Days

The latest mass shootings in Texas and New York highlight the frequency of such attacks — and how they can spread like a disease

The Contagion Effect: From Buffalo to Uvalde, 16 Mass Shootings in Just 10 Days

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Our Narrative of Mass Shootings Is Killing Us

Mass Shootings Are Contagious:

The idea that violence might be contagious is not new. Suicides often cluster, in a phenomenon known as suicide contagion, in which vulnerable people are inspired to take their own lives after reading about the details of previous suicides. In an attempt to stop the contagion, many media outlets abide by voluntary reporting standards to not sensationalize suicides.

“The contagion that appears to be apparent in the mass killings and school shootings may have something to do with the media coverage,” Towers said.

This doesn’t mean the media shouldn’t report on mass shootings, Towers said. But voluntary efforts to de-emphasize the killer’s name and portrait might help stave off additional shootings.