Tragedy in the land of the Hokies

[Dreamin']

As the existentialists say, freedom comes with responsibility (for the choices you make).

[Basil II]

If some network declared a moratorium on covering the killer, I would respect them forever. Dedicate all coverage (if there needs to be any now) of this to the victims only. Fuck that guy.

 

 

and also adress the appalling lack of mental health avenues availible........

 

 

-Robert.

[MattZ]

The front page picture of today's NYTimes is a shot from the video with what appears to be a big superimposed "NBC NEWS" in color in the top corner of the photo. Free advertising for NBC News. Good for them. *ssholes.

[lost highway]

What are you talking about?

 

I mean to say this is another reminder that anyone can be senselessly struck down in an act of violence, or an accident. Best thing you can take from a tragedy is attention to the living people around you, because there are no gurantees for you or them. Take what you can get, it could be fleeting.

[owl]

How is this crap playing in a continous loop 24/7 considered "sensitive"?

 

NBC has no class whatsoever. Since all the other networks are now playing copy-cat, they don't either.

 

I'm sure all the newsrooms are gearing up with new custom 3-D graphics and starting a pool for the next tragedy.

 

disgusting vampires...all of them.

 

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?

 

I'm pretty sure it's not. I read somewhere that a student who had a concealed carry license got in trouble for having a gun on campus several months ago.

 

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.

[Spawn's dad]

why is this day and age different than any other?

 

in their defense, people are obviously tuning in so I'll add to the eff NBC sentiment... fuck everyone, cause we obviously went to hell in a handbasket a long time ago.

[uncle wilco]

when is st. oprah gonna have the killer's parents on her show? she can create sympathy for them as parents because of the ills of society or some shit like that.

 

where are his parents anyway?

 

good job, mom and dad...good job.

[owl]

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

[Reni]

when is st. oprah gonna have the killer's parents on her show? she can create sympathy for them as parents because of the ills of society or some shit like that.

 

where are his parents anyway?

 

good job, mom and dad...good job.

 

that is totally fucking unfair.

[Sir Stewart]

I saw some headline about the prick's parents being in a hospital somewhere.

[owl]

I am sure executives at NBC were secretly drooling over this - as this means big ratings for them.

 

Definitely.

 

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

[embiggen]

I was not happy to see his picture plastered on the cover of every paper in the city this morning. this is exactly what he wanted.

 

and um, I feel bad for his parents. from what I hear, they are very mild mannered people. he had a mental illness. that isn't their fault.

[Spawn's dad]

because he's out of the headlines?

[cryptique]

He didn't do what he did because [...] he was able to purchase guns.

I really don't want to wade into the gun control argument here, but I will say that I strongly doubt this kid would ever have gotten past the fantasy stage without easy access to guns. Guns can take a meek, disturbed kid and turn him into a dangerous killer -- they're a way to reverse roles, a way for such a kid to finally exert power over those he feels have oppressed him.

 

Without the ability to obtain guns, his options for killing large numbers of people -- or small numbers, for that matter -- would have been severely limited. Maybe he would have loaded up a Ryder truck with a couple tons of fertilizer ... maybe he would have just seethed in his room and left everyone alone -- it's impossible to say. But I disagree with your statement that he didn't do this because he was able to purchase guns. I think that's exactly why he did it -- they provided him an avenue to live out his murderous fantasies.

[uncle wilco]

that is totally fucking unfair.

in your opinion.

[owl]

because he's out of the headlines?

 

Yessir.

[Reni]

in your opinion.

 

To blame the parents is fucking ridiculous. You have said a lot of fucked up things on this board before - but that may very well take the cake.

 

--

 

I have nothing but empathy and sadness for that guy's parents. What they must be going through is unfathomable to me.

[Spawn's dad]

Yessir.

 

 

I don't think he really cares. I'd imagine (as I'm sure you were being sarcastic) that he wouldn't want to be out oof the headlines in this way. I don't really imagine the heat bothered him as much as the result does.

[uncle wilco]

To blame the parents is fucking ridiculous. You have said a lot of fucked up things on this board before - but that may very well take the cake.

does the blame solely rest on the parents?...no

 

did i say that?...no

 

do you sound like reni...no

 

do you sound like jorge...yes

 

i'd like a list of all the "fucked up things" i've said on this board and please rate them from 1 being the worst and so on so that i may review it and have a chuckle. i need one right now.

 

thank you.

 

tell st. oprah i said "hi" and to keep saving the universe for all of us little people.

[Atticus]

2 things:

 

[rant]

1.

Long before he boiled over, Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui was picked on, pushed around and laughed at over his shyness and the strange way he talked when he was a schoolboy in the Washington suburbs, former classmates say

I have fucking had it with this kind of thing. I was teased mercilessly by a group of shithead bullies when I was in grade school, I was teased in junior high and high school for not wanting to go along with herd mentality. I've not once considered taking out dozens of humans as a result of my own personal problems and/or insecurities. Do you not use this as an excuse to create even more senseless political correctness. We are never going to prevent 100% of teasing, abuse, etc. The solution is not to create a PC police state but to work with those affected and help them with self-esteem and confidence issues so that they may overcome same.

 

2. News coverage: Does anyone honestly think that what is being covered on the news channels is anything more than EXACTLY what the overwhelming majority of monitored viewers are craving? Let's look in the mirror a bit before laying all the blame on the media. They operate based on what their studies tell them that WE are watching and want to watch. I'm not saying that the media don't create their own degree of hype--and I agree with many of the comments in this thread holding them responsible. I just think that some attention must be paid to us, the consumers of this "news." [/rant]

[owl]

Without the ability to obtain guns, his options for killing large numbers of people -- or small numbers, for that matter -- would have been severely limited.

 

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.

[Lammycat]

Unless the parents contributed to him having mental illness and/or blatantly ignored his need for professional help, I don't see how the parents can be held accountable for the kid flipping out.

 

It appears the person to blame has been identified and is dead. Isn't that enough?

 

In terms of directing anger towards the media: Sensationalism in the media isn't a new deal. It's been going on for a long time. Everyone knows this. Expect that in any coverage some people will be offended. The media are a business and of course will compete for viewers/listeners/newspaper sales.

 

It is possible to filter a lot of the media if it offends you, though. Don't watch the shows. I rarely watch the news because of this. I prefer to read newspapers because I can self-edit/select what I want to know (or stop in the middle of an item I don't like/agree with). Select your sources more carefully, I guess.

 

 

ed. On the bullying thing: I'm guessing that of all the kids bullied as kids (which is a high number, most likely) each year, a ridiculously small percentage act on it through violence that results in killings.

[plasticeyeball]

that is totally fucking unfair and possibly the stupidest thing i may have ever read anywhere, ever .

 

 

fixed it

 

 

(boy do i type slow)

[owl]

It is possible to filter a lot of the media if it offends you, though. Don't watch the shows. I rarely watch the news because of this. I prefer to read newspapers because I can self-edit/select what I want to know (or stop in the middle of an item I don't like/agree with). Select your sources more carefully, I guess.

 

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.

[MattZ]

Re: the media -- there is no denying the rubbernecking phenomenon. Why do people slow down to look when they pass a car accident? It's innate, I suppose. I can't explain why most have the instinct to tune into this kind of stuff. And you are right, that's why the media feeds it to us.

 

But that being said, there is a fine line between media that gives us what we want, and media hyping situations beyond reality for effect because they are playing to our rubbernecking tendencies. I hear you, and I sympathize with much of what you say, but the media has a large role in fanning flames that aren't there. I think its reasonable for people to complain about that.