An open letter to Stephen King regarding Rage

[Boni]

It's a great novel. I wish people were less sick, and stop basing their actions on books, movies, games...

[DarkPassenger]

It's a great novel. I wish people were less sick, and stop basing their actions on books, movies, games...

People DON'T base their actions on books, movies, games, etc..

That's why Rage falling out of print is such a pointless gesture. Rage didn't make Michael Carneal shoot people, nor did it make Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shoot people. Rage should be brought back into print ASAP because it's a missing jewel in King's crown.

[fljoe0]

People DON'T base their actions on books, movies, games, etc..

That's why Rage falling out of print is such a pointless gesture. Rage didn't make Michael Carneal shoot people, nor did it make Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shoot people. Rage should be brought back into print ASAP because it's a missing jewel in King's crown.

I agree with you, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were disturbed and "Rage" had nothing to do with that. Disturbed people do find books and movies that they but the books and movies are not what make them what they are.

As far as SK deleting it from his library, he almost had to do that. I'm sure SK doesn't think that Rage had anything to do with the mental state of those boys but he doesn't want Rage and his name becoming associated with tragedies like this. Maybe part of his decision has to do with the victim's families and friends too.

[blunthead]

People DON'T base their actions on books, movies, games, etc..

That's why Rage falling out of print is such a pointless gesture. Rage didn't make Michael Carneal shoot people, nor did it make Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shoot people. Rage should be brought back into print ASAP because it's a missing jewel in King's crown.

I wish I could agree that people don't behave in response to such external influences such as the Media and the Arts. In fact, I think the Arts are meant to evoke positive internal responses. People reading sK may respond by taking up writing, for instance, or by taking up painting, if a character is a painter. The vast majority of people respond positively to art, which helps explain its longevity (please see "cave drawings").

A small minority are sick, whose consequent internal responses are negative. I agree, DarkPassenger, that the majority of people shouldn't suffer for the minority. Such is societal dilemma.

The reason I say Stephen King's decision to remove Rage from publication is not "pointless" is because he felt that if there was the slightest chance this book had resulted in or could result in the loss of life he had a responsibility to act. He stepped up. How can anyone know his doing so did not save lives? Maybe some bent sK fan out there saw sK's action and changed his mind. If so, King saved even that person's life, gave that person a reprieve, a second chance; the true humanitarian in action.