Reply #40

In the discussion thread: Man left (wounded) fiance & kids at Aurora theater and drove away. Web is beating him up. [View all]

Response to TwilightGardener (Reply #22)

Fri Jul 27, 2012, 07:32 PM

REP (18,497 posts)

40. It's kind of terrifying to realize what you've done, too (at least for me it is)

I just don't do things like leave the keys in the ignition of my unlocked car or the keys in the front door lock over night of any other of the bizarre things I was doing; that's not normal for me, and having no memory of having done them or the events around them was as bad the thing itself.

So while I very much hope I wouldn't leave a loved one in a situation like that, I have an inkling how it may have happened.

Of course, it's possible he's a douche, but maybe not.

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245 replies	Author	Time	Post
Man left (wounded) fiance & kids at Aurora theater and drove away. Web is beating him up. [View all]	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	OP
That article doesn't even mention a young guy who was wounded trying to help this woman	LisaL	Jul 2012	#1
yeah, but other articles do.	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#3
link to the story of the kid who saved this family	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#9
Not judging him, since everyone has a different reaction in the face of danger	Cooley Hurd	Jul 2012	#2
I've heard it's situations like this when you find out what you're made of. He was a coward.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#120
Yes, and you're SUCH a peach.	Occulus	Jul 2012	#129
Read the definition of "coward." A little education goes a long way.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#132
He was in a blind panic. Could you relate an instance when you were in a similar situation?	TalkingDog	Jul 2012	#165
I agree with you, Talking Dog.	kurtzapril4	Jul 2012	#182
+1,000,000,000 x 1,000,000,000 - Well put and definitely	coalition_unwilling	Jul 2012	#242
You know, I wish you are NEVER in any kind of danger	nadinbrzezinski	Jul 2012	#195
I was with this guy up until the point he put his infant down and ran out of the theater.	Drunken Irishman	Jul 2012	#4
Actually, I think he threw the baby aside...from what I heard.	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#5
Yikes...I understand panic, but yikes.	Drunken Irishman	Jul 2012	#8
Actually the worst part of this story is that he proposed to her	malaise	Jul 2012	#78
That says a lot about the dynamics	marlakay	Jul 2012	#123
Pathetic.	Codeine	Jul 2012	#6
Apparently, he wasn't a "wuss."	Fawke Em	Jul 2012	#69
I stand corrected.	Codeine	Jul 2012	#71
part pussy part wimp	arely staircase	Jul 2012	#186
"Wimp" is "imp" with the "woo."	Fawke Em	Jul 2012	#217
In the face of this kind of male cowardice,	whathehell	Jul 2012	#227
then limp dick it is nt	arely staircase	Jul 2012	#228
Fear is powerful. No one can predict "what they would do"	Arctic Dave	Jul 2012	#7
wise words, dave	elehhhhna	Jul 2012	#43
No one can predict whether or not they would prove to be a coward.	Marr	Jul 2012	#96
If that makes you feel better, so be it.	Arctic Dave	Jul 2012	#98
The man is a scumbag to the nth degree...	Missycim	Jul 2012	#243
He panicked.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#10
He drove off. Apparently, she had to call him on the phone before he returned.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#12
the problem is his driving away and how he came back only when she called him to	JI7	Jul 2012	#19
he left his babies to die! sorry, he gets no slack from me. his fiance should dump him.	ellenfl	Jul 2012	#49
Im sure shes giving him the treatment.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#53
sorry, i have to disagree. they're HIS KIDS. this says so much about his character . . .	ellenfl	Jul 2012	#55
The way I read this only the infant was his	left is right	Jul 2012	#110
Since he was holding his infant, if he just run from the theater with the infant,	LisaL	Jul 2012	#133
this is what got me	magical thyme	Jul 2012	#196
Cowardice is not the norm...	Mike_Valentine	Jul 2012	#62
In his case the flight instinct was stronger.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#80
I don't think military career would be a good fit for this guy.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#93
Definately not. Nt	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#95
I'm thinking Neocon national security adviser to Mitt might work for him.	CanonRay	Jul 2012	#139
I'm thinking GOP chickenhawk.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#158
I agree...	Mike_Valentine	Jul 2012	#113
Yes, perhaps norm was a poor choice of word.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#157
you raise	arely staircase	Jul 2012	#159
Yes, its a natural instinct for mothers.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#160
but the driving force	arely staircase	Jul 2012	#162
I think even the worst of parents would	fried eggs	Jul 2012	#74
Easy to say when you're not in that position.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#77
I don't think anyone here suggested that he should be somehow punished.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#92
Well, the OP said he was getting a beating on the web,	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#97
He found out just who he is at his core. He found out that he is a coward.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#121
My own feelings echo yours.	dixiegrrrrl	Jul 2012	#161
Yeah, and I'm sure his child, when old enough	Le Taz Hot	Jul 2012	#99
Did you read 1984?	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#106
Video clip of dude running away	alcibiades_mystery	Jul 2012	#11
Yeah, it was a Costanza thing to do...BUT, not all of us rise to the occasion	TwilightGardener	Jul 2012	#18
there was this same video on youtube with subject "jamie rohrs" exclusive footage	JI7	Jul 2012	#20
That's hilarious.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#21
not sure what I would do under the circumstances	Whisp	Jul 2012	#13
I'M think it should read ex-fiance.	sarcasmo	Jul 2012	#14
he asked her to marry him after all of this happened at the hospital	JI7	Jul 2012	#23
That much stress and fear, it's easy to do stupid shit	REP	Jul 2012	#15
Yeah...I was once so preoccupied that I pulled into a supermarket parking lot	TwilightGardener	Jul 2012	#22
It's kind of terrifying to realize what you've done, too (at least for me it is)	REP	Jul 2012	#40
HE LEFT HIS KIDS! eom	ellenfl	Jul 2012	#50
But he put his baby down and left him. How could anyone do that "stupid shit"?	pnwmom	Jul 2012	#116
And it's his son.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#138
I hope neither one of us are in that sort of situation to find out first-hand exactly what we'd do	REP	Jul 2012	#223
the GUy is a Loser, not because he ran out but because he even drove away	JI7	Jul 2012	#16
It's interesting	Dash87	Jul 2012	#148
Says a lot about human nature, that.	redqueen	Jul 2012	#230
None of us knows how we, personally, would react...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#17
it's not him leaving the danger zone, but him driving home and how she had to call him	JI7	Jul 2012	#25
Yes it was not a shining moment...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#86
He could have been in shock. n/t	kurtzapril4	Jul 2012	#190
Yes, that's very possible...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#213
Once he was out cops were there	marlakay	Jul 2012	#137
The worst part, IMHO, was putting his baby boy on the floor and abandoning him	pnwmom	Jul 2012	#172
Since he is the one who gave interviews and told this story, why exactly should he be left alone?	LisaL	Jul 2012	#26
True, he's out there giving interviews...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#85
It's his KID	laundry_queen	Jul 2012	#30
Yes it's his kid...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#84
I really don't think that prtecting one's child is atypical.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#237
Yeah, well if I reacted the way he did	NYC Liberal	Jul 2012	#101
He seemed surprisingly unconcerned about it...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#141
He wouldn't have had to be heroic to keep holding the baby he was holding	pnwmom	Jul 2012	#117
Yes, that is very true...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#140
Yes, it was a gut reaction. His survival instincts kicked in. Now he knows: he's a coward at hiscore	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#124
Again, I am not saying he did not act in a cowardly fashion...	ljm2002	Jul 2012	#143
this is what happens when you have a culture of emasculation	datasuspect	Jul 2012	#233
i do - but i have situational awareness and extensive urban combat training.	datasuspect	Jul 2012	#232
is it emasculation or is it self absorption?	newspeak	Jul 2012	#234
i already conceded your point	datasuspect	Jul 2012	#235
Tempted to say something, but I also haven't been shot at before. (nt)	Posteritatis	Jul 2012	#24
Coward!!!!	Cali_Democrat	Jul 2012	#27
If its fair for me to say that some people were brave then I think I can say he was cowardly.	aikoaiko	Jul 2012	#28
We are all different	HockeyMom	Jul 2012	#31
Well we know what he did, though.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#90
Is this the guy who proposed to his fiancé after they went to the hospital?	Gin	Jul 2012	#29
yes, it's that one	JI7	Jul 2012	#33
Geez....he was crying and sobbing.....	Gin	Jul 2012	#39
yes. he ran from theater. Another guy saved his family. He returned and proposed.	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#38
Of course he left. It's what the Republican Party taught him.	Scuba	Jul 2012	#32
Well, looks like that relationship is finished. nt	valerief	Jul 2012	#34
Last I hears she plans to marry him, since she accepted his proposal.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#36
no. They are now engaged.	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#37
Two reactions: I have pity for him personally, but I like the public condemnation...	reformist2	Jul 2012	#35
There was plenty of pressure in days past in one's own community. We don't need THIS.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#56
You can pick a pResident,	klook	Jul 2012	#65
Great point...	Mike_Valentine	Jul 2012	#114
Absurd. There are no "cowards" in a firefight.	Robb	Jul 2012	#41
Is running away while leaving an infant behind normal?	LisaL	Jul 2012	#42
Depends on how romantic your view on humanity is.	Robb	Jul 2012	#45
I think she is not getting more praise because people expect that a parent will try to save	LisaL	Jul 2012	#46
People do expect that, I agree.	Robb	Jul 2012	#47
As a guy with attention deficit	caseymoz	Jul 2012	#83
A coward puts his baby on the floor to die so he can save himself.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#125
Would you like us all to say what we think of YOU now?	Occulus	Jul 2012	#131
Coward: a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#134
Coward is not a presentation of facts.	caseymoz	Jul 2012	#180
I understand that no one really knows exactly what they'd do...	liberalmuse	Jul 2012	#44
i thought him not mentioning the guy who did help save his girlfriend and kids	JI7	Jul 2012	#48
When I lived in Hollywood in the late '70's	kurtzapril4	Jul 2012	#197
When I was a kid, my mom left us swimming with a shark.	Bonobo	Jul 2012	#51
Let's talk about the Internets-that-never-forget, can we?	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#54
If you want to keep your mistakes private, it might help if you don't give interviews describing	LisaL	Jul 2012	#58
I believe he was caught on video.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#60
What video?	LisaL	Jul 2012	#66
I am 100% sure that I would not leave my kids in an ocean if a shark was spotted.	Bonobo	Jul 2012	#64
The fact that other people might have reacted the same way doesn't make it NOT cowardly.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#187
I can't judge him.	Ilsa	Jul 2012	#52
There is only ONE villain in this story (and it's not this guy)	Tom Ripley	Jul 2012	#57
Obviously he was in shock	Generic Brad	Jul 2012	#59
Not going to judge him, not until I am in his shoes. People are wired differently.	sabrina 1	Jul 2012	#61
When I've been in this guy's shoes, I will feel qualified to judge him	Downtown Hound	Jul 2012	#63
And sometimes, a person whose arm is blown off will pick it up and attempt to stick it back on.	Poll_Blind	Jul 2012	#67
I didn't realize DU had so many heroes... n/t	cherokeeprogressive	Jul 2012	#68
I'm conflicted over whether this guy deserves the scorn he's getting.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#102
Or so many "perfect" parents.	kentauros	Jul 2012	#105
Nobody knows how they'll react to when the shit hits the fan till it actually does.	Kaleva	Jul 2012	#70
But this guy now does!	LisaL	Jul 2012	#72
Society expects the man to sacrifice himself in order to defend others.	Kaleva	Jul 2012	#79
Three men reportedly did just that during the massacre.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#82
Society expects Parents to Sacrifice for children, he threw his baby aside	JI7	Jul 2012	#94
Yup, everyone's quick to judge.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#103
Again, if you don't want your issues to be aired in front of the world, don't go on TV	LisaL	Jul 2012	#136
You seem to be really adamant about this.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#198
When somebody tries to make it personal, I assume it's because they can't argue any other way.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#202
It looks like you're the one making it personal.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#210
Yep. Easy to be heroic sitting behind a keyboard.	HooptieWagon	Jul 2012	#81
That guy deserves the Congressional Medal of Dishonor (nt)	Nye Bevan	Jul 2012	#73
What a cowardly thing to do.	Alduin	Jul 2012	#75
Count down to "former" fiancee... 5,4,3,2,1	jaysunb	Jul 2012	#76
Leave your kid? Yeah former if she has any sense.	lonestarnot	Jul 2012	#87
Well flight or fight def kicked in for him.. I can't judge	nadine_mn	Jul 2012	#88
More powerful in some than others.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#89
FYI--I found a post on HuffPo about a fundraising site for the young hero:	tblue37	Jul 2012	#91
Who is he? George Costanza?	Initech	Jul 2012	#100
For all the idiots here cutting this guy some slack, I give you the wisdom of Chris Rock	NickB79	Jul 2012	#104
Um, yeah, I love Chris Rock too	Downtown Hound	Jul 2012	#107
"I take care of my kids. You're supposed to, ya dumb motherfucker!"	NickB79	Jul 2012	#108
Is it really necessary to call people names? n/t	kurtzapril4	Jul 2012	#201
Calling DUers who disagree with you 'idiots'? That's against DU rules.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#221
I hold no judgement of him. I cannot imagine what it must have been like in that theater.	FedUpWithIt All	Jul 2012	#109
he panicked.	barbtries	Jul 2012	#111
That is the definition of cowardice.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#126
i never said it was okay.	barbtries	Jul 2012	#167
I haven't seen anyone suggesting he should be brought up on any charges.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#177
I have no idea what I would do under these circumstances,	Are_grits_groceries	Jul 2012	#112
That YOU may have done the same thing doesn't make it not cowardly.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#127
I may or may not have done the same thing.	Are_grits_groceries	Jul 2012	#153
I don't know why you need your own definition. Just read the one in the dictionary.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#173
Until bullets are flying,no one knows how they will act.	Swede	Jul 2012	#115
Some behave cowardly.	alphafemale	Jul 2012	#118
True. Some seem to think that if they had done the same thing, that makes it not cowardly.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#128
It is what coward means. Dropping a baby to save your own hide is disgusting.	alphafemale	Jul 2012	#144
wow...the sheer number of people on this thread giving this guy a pass	ProdigalJunkMail	Jul 2012	#119
I thought the same thing. People think that if they had done that, that would make it okay.	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#130
Who said it was okay? Who said leaving a baby in a crowded theatre full of gunfire was OKAY?	TalkingDog	Jul 2012	#206
It goes w/o saying he was in panic mode, just like everyone else. That's another way of trying	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#207
I agree.	Alduin	Jul 2012	#149
Thank you! I totally agree!!	Carolina	Jul 2012	#151
Kids that age at that movie at that time?	FreeJoe	Jul 2012	#122
thunk	alphafemale	Jul 2012	#154
NO	Sherman A1	Jul 2012	#203
Panic is a motherfucker.	Iggo	Jul 2012	#135
I think you put it best Iggo. None of us know what we would do in a panic. I would sure hope	southernyankeebelle	Jul 2012	#142
We might not know what somebody else would do, but we know what this guy did.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#145
Yes your right. So what does that do? What is going to change for him? He already feels terrible	southernyankeebelle	Jul 2012	#193
That woman isn't married to him yet.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#200
No discuss all you want. I don't care. All am saying it isn't going to change what happened.	southernyankeebelle	Jul 2012	#204
Ya know what is REALLY disgusting?	99Forever	Jul 2012	#146
Well, yes, until one is in danger, one is not going to find if he or she has courage or not.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#147
Precisely.	99Forever	Jul 2012	#150
yes, fight or flight is the most basic of human responses but	Carolina	Jul 2012	#152
Were you there?	99Forever	Jul 2012	#164
His was holding his infant. He put the infant down and escaped.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#171
I expect people to...	99Forever	Jul 2012	#185
Did ANYONE else at the theatere throw down their babies to be trompled on, and run for the hills?	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#192
Another...	99Forever	Jul 2012	#199
no, but I have had a baby and	Carolina	Jul 2012	#224
Says it all:	99Forever	Jul 2012	#226
Cowardice: Failing to have courage in a dangerous situation. If a lot of people acted that way...	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#183
You say...	99Forever	Jul 2012	#188
+100,000. I'd hope that I don't panic when shit happens.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#222
They are trying to convince themselves this would never happen to them	treestar	Jul 2012	#218
Well, if we are going with psychoanalysis. And what would be reasons for defending the guy?	LisaL	Jul 2012	#229
A realization that humans are flawed	treestar	Jul 2012	#236
In my view, "the most heroic" thing would be go wrestle the gunman, or start saving strangers.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#240
You're moving a goal post	treestar	Jul 2012	#244
It's called panic - and it's probably driven by Adrenalin.	hedgehog	Jul 2012	#155
hmmm	arely staircase	Jul 2012	#156
um. two kids under 5 yo in a theatre after midnight? or did we already have that flame-fest?	KG	Jul 2012	#163
Sounds like both parents make poor decisions.	eilen	Jul 2012	#166
or get a baby-sitter if they really wanted to see the movie now.	spooky3	Jul 2012	#169
The mother did manage to save both her kids, while getting wounded.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#178
Their mother appears to be quite brave. She didn't run out of the theater without her children.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#179
that was exactly my question.	spooky3	Jul 2012	#168
yeah, one cable news has so many comments about the approprietness of two babies	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#231
Brave Sir Robin...	EX500rider	Jul 2012	#170
" felt remorse and a bit of self-loathing " leave him alone. is my answer. i am sorry we have the	seabeyond	Jul 2012	#174
Again, if someone wants to be left alone, it's not a good idea to go on TV and give interviews.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#181
i dont feel the need.... to beat him up. i have never been much into the bullying	seabeyond	Jul 2012	#184
To call out something for what it is, is not bullying. Bullying is picking on an innocent victim...	Honeycombe8	Jul 2012	#189
If you go on TV and give interviews, you should expect that people will discuss it.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#191
This is an opportunity for everyone who HASN'T been in that situation to feel self-righteous.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#241
personally, i find it disgusting and endemic of who we have become	seabeyond	Jul 2012	#245
At least he turned back	tawadi	Jul 2012	#175
He drove away and she had to call him before he turned back.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#176
Won't judge	nadinbrzezinski	Jul 2012	#194
+1 (nt)	NYC_SKP	Jul 2012	#238
So, in who's interest is it to take a victim...	99Forever	Jul 2012	#205
the Guy is a MEdia Whore which is the problem , and the fake crying all the time	JI7	Jul 2012	#209
Yeah right.	99Forever	Jul 2012	#219
Sorry but this dude is a total punk.	MrSlayer	Jul 2012	#208
I hope that his fiancee is now his former fiancee.	Beacool	Jul 2012	#211
He actually proposed to her after the shooting. And she accepted.	LisaL	Jul 2012	#214
Wow	tawadi	Jul 2012	#215
Then she's a fool.	Beacool	Jul 2012	#216
.	boston bean	Jul 2012	#212
I know how I'd likely react	nadinbrzezinski	Jul 2012	#220
I understand.	Beacool	Jul 2012	#225
I dub him 'Sir Robin'	Cherchez la Femme	Jul 2012	#239

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