owl

It might depend, though. Remember, this is a 23-year old college student, ostensibly an adult who lived away from home, not a 16-year-old highschooler. Many people commit murder in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, or even 80s (check TSG's geriatric mug shots section). Are the parents still to blame?

It is especially tough when you're in a public place, though, and they have the TV blaring with 24/7 coverage. And I agree with what Neil is saying about the news coverage, but there is more to it. Just because people want information, does not mean the majority of people want it in this way, or the way that makes the most money is the best way. It's up to the news stations to decide how to deliver it, and they, for the most part, always choose the most obtrusive, graphic ways, and they almost always present sensationalism as information, when actual information is in a minority.

It certainly doesn't help that although it is unlawful to purchase guns if you've been committed by the state to a mental health institution, it is also on the honor system to declare this information on your gun application.

Yessir.

Definitely. I'm was thinking that Don Imus might be secretly a little glad, as well.

Lady, that is one you got there.

I'm waiting for someone to say that they're going to produce his play.

Last night, I saw some newscaster say "In this day and age, it's important to get as much information out there as possible." Then, I went to CNN and they had links to upload cell phone pictures and movies of the violence. And they had links to photos of bleeding kids and a menacing picture of the killer. Well done. Way to contribute to the spread of...information? Usually, if you want to keep a firearm in your dorm for whatever purpose (i.e. hunting), they make you lock it up in the security office.

Screw you!

By the time it's written, it probably won't sell. Then, it will be pulped.

One late night, after drinking at the local watering hole, I went to the gas station and bought some Fun Dip. When the guy asked me "Anything else," I replied, "Just this Fun Dip." Then, he looked at me funny. Note: This conversation did not take place via email.

Yeah, the coverage is pretty gross, with student testimonials about how weird he was, and news segments like "Profile of a Killer," narrated in the scary announcer guy voice.

So in the event that a terrible, unprecedented event occurred, how would you effectively communicate with as many students as possible?

Might as well just send out emails, I guess. Come on, if it helps some people, how can it hurt? LED signs are inexpensive. If you see one on your way out of the dorm that says "Stay in your room," I think it would help, even if it is a false alarm. I'm not sure why it's worth vehemently arguing against. Maybe there are better solutions. Why not test something like that out and see if it works before you write it off as a stupid waste of money. Your reasoning seems to be "It will cost money, and it wouldn't work for me, so therefore it must be pointless." Ask students if they'd rather have

yessir

The person who originally emailed this to me said: I have to check their catalog for those "honky-white" end tables I've been lacking.

This is really strange: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/200265

You may find that in certain self-defense situations, a gun might work to your advantage. But when someone is on a suicidal rampage, a gun might also lessen your chances of survival, especially if you're not action-movie accurate.

I know, but I'm not going to assume that all of the money is going to the right place. I guarantee you that cost is one reason why many colleges lack the communication systems that would've helped here.

I think you're right to a large extent, but I think it's also obvious that communication and procedures were inadequate. Whether the administrators and police made the right decisions with the resources they had is important too, and people will probably justly and unjustly be lauded and fired, etc., etc. But at this point, determining absolution or blame is probably not as important as identifying what could've helped the situation, and implementing those changes wherever applicable at VT, in Virginia, and anywhere else. I guarantee you, in the next few months/years, schools everywhere

Bush Admin spokesman: "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed." Hopefully, out of this, schools will opt for more positive changes in communications and procedures during crisis response, and not merely turn themselves into maximum-security prisons full-time. Some (relatively inexpensive) things that could be done: Electronic message boards in high-traffic areas, maybe even outside of campus Intercom systems in dorm hallways Remote lockdown mechansm Catastrophe training at student orientation There should also be gov't

"What's Your Name" and/or "That Smell," by Lynyrd Skynyrd

"base" If Baseballs Had AIDS On Them - David Cross I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement - Ramones Building Skyscrapers In the Basement - Ted Leo/Pharmacists "burn" (dedicated to emo)

Oops, I guess someone should've created a separate thread for analysis. This one is for shock and emoticons only.

Yeah, that makes sense. But what if the means are different while the ends remain the same? After events like this, administrators always want to take away the fear and make people feel more secure, and the planning always seems to mirror the planning that would follow an act of terrorism.