Shootin'

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Photo credit (edited), fair use

Etch A Sketch

In childhood, I spent hours doodling on an Etch A Sketch drawing toy. That was relatively long before many digital products were widely distributed (e.g., iPad), and which offer superior artistic enhancement opportunities. Regarding the toy to which I had access, one source states:

An Etch A Sketch has a thick, flat gray screen in a red plastic frame. There are two white knobs on the front of the frame in the lower corners. Twisting the knobs moves a stylus that displaces aluminum powder on the back of the screen, leaving a solid line. The knobs create lineographic images. The left control moves the stylus horizontally, and the right one moves it vertically […]

Turning both knobs simultaneously makes diagonal lines. To erase the picture, the user turns the toy upside down and shakes it. Doing this causes polystyrene beads to smooth out and re-coat the inside surface of the screen with aluminum powder.

Artistic endeavors with an Etch A Sketch required focused and intentional movement, because the slightest error could result in an undesirable outcome. Mistakes made when doodling resulted in a self-disturbed outcome during which I vigorously shook the toy to erase my drawing.

When thinking about how I upset myself when striving for perfection in childhood, a psychoeducational lesson comes to mind. This matter relates to something as simple as an etching on a toy or the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing people (murder).

REBT

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence.

From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.

For instance, when I made a mistake using an Etch A Sketch (Action), the picture I intended on creating was flawed (Consequence). From an A-C perspective, unintentional displacement of aluminum powder on the back of an Etch A Sketch screen results in errors.

However, when I made mistakes using an Etch A Sketch (Action) and unfavorably Believed, “I must create perfectly, or else I’m a failure – and I can’t stand such an awful outcome,” then I self-disturbed into anger while vigorously erasing my etching (Consequence).

Noted in my self-narrative are four major irrational beliefs which people often use: demandingness (“I must…”), global evaluations (“I’m a failure”), low frustration tolerance (“I can’t stand…”), and awfulizing (“…an awful outcome”). These are mechanisms of self-upset.

Addressing how people disturb themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Instead of an unfavorable B-C connection, I could’ve challenged my unaccommodating self-narratives.

In addition to the ABC model, REBT uses the technique of unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.

Whereas I view the ABC model as an abortive mental, emotional, and behavioral health strategy, I conceptualize UA as a preventative approach when it’s routinely practiced. Also, it’s important to understand the distinction between healthy distress and unhealthy disturbance.

It’s unrealistic to expect that REBT will cause joy or pleasure when undesirable events occur. Instead, moving from disturbance (i.e., rage, hostility, aggression, violence, etc.) to distress (i.e., frustration, annoyance, disappointment, etc.) is the objective.

Shootin’

Setting aside relatively minor self-disturbance associated with a childhood toy, I now contemplate the topic of murder and how REBT may address one’s self-disturbed actions. Thinking of this matter, a song from the videogame soundtrack NBA 2K10 comes to mind.

Hip hop’s Duo Live released the track “Shootin’” that featured Billionz, Joell Ortiz, Red Café, Uncle Murda, and M.O.P. (Billy Danze and Lil Fame). As a matter of record, I consider Billy Danze and Lil Fame to be lyricists, not merely rappers, for their unique flows and styles.

In any case, “Shootin’” makes use of a double entendre (a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué) when seemingly referring to the process of shooting hoops in regard to the sport of basketball, as well as the act of shooting a firearm.

For instance, Danze states, “They shootin’! I’ve lost my grind? Like I’ve slipped and missed my step? You’ve lost ya mind. I come up off of the bench with intention to shine. Trained to come up off of the hip with two at a time.”

Danze disputes the notion that he’s fallen behind in either the game of basketball or the game of life. Also, the lyricist expresses that just as he’s apparently skilled at moving from a basketball bench to the court, he’s capable of simultaneously drawing two handguns from his waistline.

Similarly, Lil Fame states, “It’s Fizzy Wo [nickname], dawg, sidewalk executive. Street legend, for real. Rock big necklaces. I make ya chest a mess (yes), so don’t fuck around and get Etch A Sketched! Like that (verbal sounds of a firearm in action).”

Lil Fame, who also goes by Fizzy Womack, uses lyricism to artfully address homicide (killing of one human being by another). Rather than saying that one can get shot, the lyricist advises not to “fuck around and get Etch A Sketched,” meaning that one’s life may be intentionally erased.

Now, imagine person X disrespects (expresses a low regard or esteem for) person Y (Action). Contrary to popular conception, this relatively common occurrence doesn’t result in violence with shootin’ (Consequence), upholding an A-C connection.

Rather, when person X disrespects person Y (Action) and the latter unhelpfully Believes, “I must be respected, or else I’m a failure – and I can’t stand such an awful possibility,” then person Y will self-disturb into violence with shootin’ (Consequence), using a B-C connection.

Not uncommonly, individuals “fuck around and get Etch A Sketched” when other people don’t Dispute their unfavorable assumptions in order to establish Effective new beliefs. Of course, imagined examples aren’t necessary. Let’s briefly examine one relatively recent case of shootin’.

Self-Disturbed Violence

Unique disclaimer: All individuals referenced herein are presumed innocent until or unless found guilty in a court of law. Reference to acts of shooting, violence, or otherwise herein is used with facts available at the time this blogpost is drafted and posted.

According to one source, recently, a “gunman fired repeatedly at [a] young couple outside [a] Jewish museum,” as this example of shootin’ is likely to have occurred as a matter of B-C self-disturbance. One source adds of this event:

The man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum told police after his arrest, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” federal authorities said Thursday [5/22/2025] in announcing charges in the killings they called a targeted act of terrorism.

I denounce legitimate acts of terrorism (the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims), as this event ostensibly represents this criminal qualifier. Without access to the alleged shooter’s mind, one may only offer conjecture—not to be mistaken for fact.

Suppose person Z observes the potential genocide, or likely ethnic cleansing, currently taking place in Gaza (Action). I, too, have observed these astonishing acts of cruelty (Action).

When paying attention to Israel’s state-sanctioned violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims in Gaza, as members of Hamas aren’t the sole target of Israel’s ire, I practice the ABC model and UA to keep from self-disturbing. It takes lots of effort on my part.

Now, imagine person Z doesn’t use REBT techniques when observing these astonishing acts of cruelty (Action) and instead hypothetically Believes, “I must do something, or else I’m a failure – and I can’t stand such an awful possibility.” What Consequence is likely to occur?

Using a rigid B-C frame, it isn’t implausible that person Z would self-disturb into violence while shootin’ at people, attempting to get them “Etch A Sketched.” This is an immoral and unethical, illegal, and irrational reaction to one’s own beliefs. Allow me to illustrate (no pun intended):

Form (hypothetical) –

If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.

Example –

If one opposes violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims, then the targeting of civilians is considered bad or wrong.

If the targeting of civilians is considered bad or wrong, then shootin’ ethnically or religiously Jewish people who aren’t actively serving in the Israel Defense Forces is an immoral and unethical act.

Therefore, if one opposes violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims, then shootin’ ethnically or religiously Jewish people who aren’t actively serving in the Israel Defense Forces is an immoral and unethical act.

The hypothetical syllogism I’ve used herein follows logical form. Likewise, I maintain that it upholds a reasonable standard. Noteworthy, in order for a proposition to be considered rational it empirically must remain in accord with both logic and reason.

Given the rational case I’ve outlined here, use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims (i.e., terrorism) diminishes the moral and ethical stance of one’s own argument and movement. Ergo, use of violence in protest of violence defeats one’s own cause.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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