I admit I've been having a morbid fascination with the killer because of all his contradictions. In all appearances, he seemed to have everything money could buy, he wasn't bad looking, and he seemed intelligent judging from his writing and vocabulary. How could such a person become so depressed and misgonystic to the point of committing murder?
I've been reading his Manifesto and while I don't believe everything he wrote down as truth, it was a good glimpse on how HE saw the world. I do think his parents tried their best to help him, but did not expect the level of psychological disturbance their son had. Elliot Rodgers had zero emotional growth from kindergarten to college. He was bratty and extremely selfish as a child, as many children are/ It's a phase most people grow out of, but he never did.
He considered himself to be a superior being, yet acknowledges that he is weak, pathetic, and shy. He thinks the popular kids are obnoxious, yet he wants to be part of them. He compares himself to anything and everyone, falling short on just about anything except maybe video games. He craves attention, and as he can't get it by being popular, he resorts to making trouble to gain recognition. Bundle of contradictions if I've ever seen one.
His problem is rooted in how he sees the world. It's all about ME, ME, ME. He expects everything to be handed to him on a silver platter just by virtue of existing. I don't think he even truly tried to talk to girls because of his fear and anxiety. But he needed them to feel validated by society. He was self-aware of many of his faults, and yet he it never occurred to him to look within and find the answer, to escape from the hole he dug for himself. How can anybody be so introspective and yet so out of touch?
Maybe if he had a friend who stuck by him and put up with his PITA personality, helping him become more self-aware or entertaining him so his pain is alleviated even just a little, the tragedy wouldn't have happened. Instead, all he got was ridicule which only served to fan the flames. I've been depressed many times in my life and just having *someone* there helped tremendously in centering myself and prevented me from letting go of life.
Next time, maybe you should befriend that shy, weird kid who's always alone and bullied by the other guys. He may not be the best guy and may even tick you off, but keep at it anyway. You just might make a difference.