Writers Taking Risks

Introduction

In a shocking story, Adam, a mentally ill boy, goes on a shooting rampage in which he kills his mother, 20 schoolmates, and six adults. Liza Long, the blogger, also has a mentally ill son, pseudo named “Michael”, who displays violent and unpredictable behavior (Long). The writer takes the Adam story and converts it to her own story.

Analysis of Controversial Issue

In reaction to the shooting incident, Long writes a blog about her tribulations with Michael. Although she does not state that her son committed a similar crime, she describes him as unpredictable and violent, and therefore a potential criminal. Apparently both boys suffer from autism, and the writer implies that children with such conditions commit felonies like the school shooting incident (Long).

Risks Taken by the Writer

The writer takes several risks by writing this blog. Firstly, she uses metaphor when she equates herself to Adam’s mother, using a catchy title that she is the mother of Adam Lanza (Long). The title immediately draws the attention of her readers who are curious to find the connection with Adam’s story. Secondly, Long uses drama and dialogue to narrate her story to the public, and her graphic description of tribulations with her son only serves to picture her as a drama queen.

            She uses a heroine’s tone to describe how Michael’s younger siblings result to hiding in the family car as a safety plan whenever he behaves erratically, how she wrestles the boy down, and proceeds to clear the environment of all dangerous objects and make the place child-safe (Long). Thirdly, she uses comparative to tell her story in relation to the Adam case when she compares her son’s behavior to the shooters, making Michael appear as a culpable and criminal-minded boy. Long says that she loves her son despite his mental illness, but she is terrified of him (Long).

            The writer makes a feeble effort to conceal her son’s identity, whereas she reveals her name and his picture in the post. The writer may have anticipated a hostile reaction, yet she takes the risk of writing her story and choosing a confrontational style for her narration, she elicits an initial positive reaction, followed by a mixture of indifference, ridicule, reproach and defense.  

Effects of the Risk Taking

When Liza Long captures a criminal story and presents it as her son’s situation, she resonates well with the audience. A respondent feels that Michael is misunderstood by his mother, yet another reader is displeased by the writer’s insensitivity to the son’s privacy. Other audiences feel that Long is out of order to raise her topic on social media because according to them, there is little connection between the two boys; Michael is simply sick, while Adam is both sick and criminal, and it is not right to portray autistic child as a criminal. Furthermore, Michael’s situation is trivialized because it does not involve the bigger issue of gun control.

How Writer Manages Risks

The writer tries to manage the risk by using pseudonym for her son when presenting her to the media. Long also adopts a populist stance by expressing love for her son, and flaunting her other children’s intelligence. She then justifies her extreme recourse of involving the police before taking him to hospital at the slightest provocation as fear for her and the community’s safety (Long). She presents herself as a victim and aggrieved party when describing how the terrified children seek safety in the family car whenever Michael goes berserk.

            Liza Long excuses her writing style by claiming that she has a tendency for writing what is in her mind frankly (Long). Her defensive language deflects attention to Michael’s actions from her reactions. She dramatizes her method of restraining Michael, like how she abruptly takes him to mental hospital instead of school, when he threatened to knife himself (Long). Although her action is reasonable and in good faith, many readers see it a contest of might in which she wins.

            In order to lighten the mood, the writer adopts a dramatic style of narration, for example she narrates that Michael said in an “increasingly belligerent manner” that he could dress however he pleased, and that his black-hole pupils seamed to swallow the blue irises (Long).

How Dominant (Popular) Perspective is Represented

The popular view in the story is that Long acted wrongly. Michael needs sympathy not reprimand for his medical condition. A respondent thinks that Michael’s condition has not been fully and conclusively diagnosed, and so his mother’s decision to have him committed is an overreaction to an incident. By stating that the writer is not Adam Lanza’s mother, a respondent is accusing Long of lumping together all mentally-ill people as violent people. The respondent claims every case should be seen individually and in its own merit. Another dominant view is that Liza Long’s piece is written out of context, but it gives a general view of different and intense manners in which she discusses her family.

How Alternative (Unpopular) Perspective is Represented

The alternative perspective is that the writer is right. She has empathy for Adam’s family, and care for her own family. The writer is worried for her family’s safety from a mentally ill and violent child, which is why she sympathizes with Adam who could as well have been Michael. A respondent concurs by stating that mentally-ill persons are usually the victims, not perpetrators, of crimes, considers Long to be right in discerning similarities between the two boys’ behavioral patterns and the possible consequences.

Does Writer Make Sense to Audience, Purpose, and Style

Long’s blog is in reaction to a criminal incident, which suggests that she is being judgmental about the shooter. However, she may have discerned the similarity between the mental states of both boys, and determined to absolve Michael of a crime yet to be committed.

            The writer does make a poignant story and elicit much reaction, which is what any writer appreciates and loves to get. She has a way of dramatizing a real-life story like it was fiction, and makes it interesting reading. The writer starts by describing a fairly minor issue of indiscipline where her son misses school on account of breaking the dress code rules. Then she progresses to introduce more serious issues such as irrational behavior, use of graphic and abusive language, and finally threatening violence for trivial acts of provocation. The writer exonerates herself of wrongdoing in confronting her son’s troublesomeness and seeking medical and police assistance, yet insists that her son does not belong in jail.

Who Decides Choices are Risky

The writer is the main judge of whether the position is risky or not, by choosing a dramatic title and graphic narration. She admits to being forthright about what she writes, meaning that she spoils for strong reaction, whether her perspective is dominant or alternative. The writer successfully steals one story and converts it to her story by drawing a parallel. She uses gruff language, for example, when she says that burly policemen and a paramedic wrestled Michael, it sounds as if she delights in the thought that her son is being handled by police.

Conclusion

The writer successfully takes a risk by capturing a different story and making it her own. She has conjured up the two stories in such a way that a reader is able to take a clear position. She is able to elicit both popular and unpopular perspectives to her story in equal measure, without losing control of her story. She also manages to use drama in a fiction-like manner to captivate her audience. Her story makes sense because the original story and her story are connected by a common thread, that of two autistic teenage boys.

Works Cited

Long, Liza. “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother”. gawker 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.