33 confirmed dead in campus rampage

[GMoney702 0]

I still don't know what caused this wacko to do something like this? What triggered him?

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: GMoney702 

I still don't know what caused this wacko to do something like this? What triggered him?quote>

 

If you mean why now instead of last month or next month, I believe that no one has yet figured that out.  It is clear that he was, to put it mildly, troubled.

-  His roommates say he stalked three women, at least one of whom called the police.  The roommates feel they did everything they could discussing this guy's behavior with the residential assistant and the police.

-  His writing was so bizarre and unsettling that at least one of his professors refused to have him in class.  He was referred to the police and wound up at a hospital for observation.  Apparently he was released after a few days and there was no follow up treatment.  The professor feels she did all she could, turning him over to the authorities and the medical system.

I suspect that he is like most people who do things like this;  he was so angry that it became too difficult not to go ballistic.   But I don't know what made him so angry.

[Micah 16]

In my opinion, it has nothing to do with the guns. It's society.

What is this on MSNBC? "Korean-American backlash possible?" What? I bet rarely anyone was thinking of any backlash at all against Korean-Americans.

Anyway, this guy was truly sick. Especially for making that sick video for two hours between the two incidents. It wouldn't surprise me if he had bipolar depression.

[Glenni 1,447]

Christianity also seems to be a big part of this. he said something like this in the video he taped before he killed himself and 32 others:

"

I may not be anything but a piece of (beep), You have vandalised my heart, raped my soul, and torched my conscience.

You thought it was just another pathetic boy's life you extinguished, thanks to you, i die as Jesus Christ, to inspire the generations of weak and defenceless people! (later on  in the tape)

OK, i did it, i had to...  "

Obviously this guy had issues.

[coolotter88 2]

he had a logical way of thinking...

[SpecialEddie 3]

Why does everyone (news, media, even some people here) say that he's crazy? You can't just assume that he was disturbed. He had a certain view on the world, but does that make him insane? Unless, you've had a look into his mind, you don't have a right to call him anything. His tapes show his emotions and feelings, but not the workings of his mind. As far as I know, he only said that "he had to do it." not the reason why.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Originally posted by: SpecialEddie Why does everyone (news, media, even some people here) say that he's crazy? You can't just assume that he was disturbed. He had a certain view on the world, but does that make him insane? Unless, you've had a look into his mind, you don't have a right to call him anything. His tapes show his emotions and feelings, but not the workings of his mind. As far as I know, he only said that "he had to do it." not the reason why.quote>

Anyone who has enough hate to enter a campus and kill 32 students has something not right with them. And as SkiGeek mentioned above, Cho actually went to therapy sessions in the hospital to deal with his anger and disturbing behavior. And the hospital even said that there were problems with him socially and mentally. Anyone can have a certain view on the world, but its when the view threatens others (and people in that college felt threatened by him) that should be taken into consideration. Most killers are disturbed and insane individuals. I really don't think this accident was an exception.

[SpecialEddie 3]

Anyone who has enough hate to enter a campus and kill 32 students has something not right with them.quote>

Well, duh. 

But most killers aren't disturbed and insane. They usually have motives, and are actually quite sane. We may not know Cho's motives or whether he had any, but let's not judge too soon.

[hawkpride147 1]

Originally posted by: SpecialEddie

Anyone who has enough hate to enter a campus and kill 32 students has something not right with them.quote>

Well, duh. 

But most killers aren't disturbed and insane. They usually have motives, and are actually quite sane. We may not know Cho's motives or whether he had any, but let's not judge too soon.quote>

 

motives don't make a person sane.

[SpecialEddie 3]

Originally posted by: hawkpride147

Originally posted by: SpecialEddie

Anyone who has enough hate to enter a campus and kill 32 students has something not right with them.quote>

Well, duh. 

But most killers aren't disturbed and insane. They usually have motives, and are actually quite sane. We may not know Cho's motives or whether he had any, but let's not judge too soon.quote>

 

motives don't make a person sane.quote>

 

And my point flies out the window.

[Joesocwork 4]

I'd like to also state the inverse of your comment too that having a mental illness doesn't mean someone is going to be a criminal. And that is tricky in this discussion b/c under current U.S. law people w/ mental illness have a right to reject treatment unless a court deems that they are threat to themselves or others.

[Meg 368]

Below is the contents of an email that my cousin sent me today.  She told me it was okay to share it with others.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

A friend sent this to me earlier today - I didn't write it, but as a lifetime Hokie, I wish I had.  I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment about which he writes...the campus of Virginia Tech is one of the most serene, peaceful, idyllic places you could ever wish to be.  I, too, fell in love with the place.  It is tragic that most of the world will only know Virginia Tech as a place where something horrible happened.  As I feel so powerless in all of this, passing this message on helps me feel a little better and I hope that you will read it to learn just a little more about the school that captured my heart and the hearts of my fellow Hokies.   

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

I am a Hokie. Got the t-shirts. And the ballcaps. And the pennants, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, sweatshirts, license plate, bumper stickers, magazine covers and framed diploma to prove it.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm not one of those superfans with vehicles and domiciles drenched in maroon and orange, VT logos pointing every which way, plastic-wrapped programs from the 1966 Sun Bowl, vats of maroon face-paint, et cetera, et cetera. I've seen those cars, those houses, those faces. Those people aren't well. Me, I'm a simple alumnus, a Hokie citizen in the Hokie Nation, and a patriotic one at that.

I didn't know much about Virginia Tech -- and absolutely nothing about football -- before I went to Virginia Tech. My first choice was a small but well-regarded technical college on the coast of Florida -- they even gave me a scholarship! Sun and science was a lot for me to forego, so the plan was to go to Tech for a couple of years and transfer down to my choice school.

The best laid plans are usually interrupted. During my first semester, I went to a football game. I was introduced to rafting on the New River. I started hiking around Dragontooth, high up in the Alleghenies. I successfully completed the first of many Spanish courses, with some Physics and Math and Lit. A freshman became a sophomore, then a junior, and I found myself still lodging on the idyllic campus spread across the verdant valley in Southwest Virginia, issuing hellos to familiar professors. I was falling in love.

Virginia Tech is a beautiful place, an inspiring place, a place of hallowed Hokie Stone on every edifice and wildly fervent fandom on every autumn Saturday. It is a beloved and special place, not just a sprawling university but a home, a comfort zone, a favorite chair. As a naive freshman with Florida dreams, I had no idea what I was in for. As a marginally wiser adult, I now see how fortunate I have been. I get to be a Hokie. I can claim that beautiful, beautiful place, a venerable institution which is an inseparable part of my identity.

And now the infamy. One man, a disturbed young man, with two guns, too much ammo and too little something has taken the name of Virginia Tech and added the word "Massacre." He will present an image to the world of Virginia Tech that is strikingly far from reality.

But the truth will out. What Virginia Tech truly is will out. To be a Hokie is more than jumping up and down while "Enter Sandman" rocks Lane Stadium. It is more than studying against a tree by the Duck Pond, or rafting the New River, or acing the Astrophysics test, or knowing all the derogatorily cute names for the various dining halls, or playing pool in Squires or Friday nights imbibing at the Hokie House. It is more than wearing the VT hat or caravaning to another bowl game or knowing the words to "Tech Triumph."

It's about being in Wisconsin or Key West or Jamaica and noticing a shred of maroon and that familiar square-root-of-one and having an instant friend. It's about the pride of the diploma, about the pride of being part of the growth, about the pride of walking the same halls as present and future CEOs and patent-holders and Dr. Nikki Giovanni and Frank Beamer.

It's about community and goodness and excellence, about representing the university in all things, about acknowledging the unspeakable horrors of 16 April 2007 and helping Hokies heal.

We are the Hokie Nation.

We are Virginia Tech.

We will prevail.

Ut Prosim; That I May Serve.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Well said Ski.

Unfortunaly events like these bring out every one with an agenda.

What a bunch of morons.

http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI-1-20070419-08531600-bc-us-campusshootings-funerals.xml

[SpecialEddie 3]

Ski's post was actually from that lady making a speech on the VT campus. It's a great speech, and it's nice to read it in full.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Mikeaut1

Most killers are disturbed and insane individuals.

quote>

Well, according to my psychology professor, statistically normal, sane people are actually more likely to commit murders than mentally ill ones. The key is that the murders done by the sane people tend to be individual, isolated events, whereas mentally ill people are the ones that become serial killers or go on rampages.

Easy Bakes

Unfortunaly events like these bring out every one with an agenda.

http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI-1-20070419-08531600-bc-us-campusshootings-funerals.xml

What a bunch of morons.quote>

Wait, so the murders committed by a person who, in his video, spoke out against christianity were done to the victims as punishment from god for not being christian? I fail to see the logic here. Besides, who said none of the victims were christian? Given that there were 32 of them, the odds that none of them were christian are quite slim...

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes 

Well said Ski.quote>

Thanks, EB.  I didn't write it but thought it was worth sharing.

Unfortunaly events like these bring out every one with an agenda.

What a bunch of morons.

http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI-1-20070419-08531600-bc-us-campusshootings-funerals.xml  quote>

 

"shooter Cho Seung-hui was carrying out God's wishes by punishing the victims who weren't Christian"   

That's crazy.  Especially since some of the victims were.  but some people don't let facts get in the way.   Sheesh.

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

That is a very inspiring speech. Really made me think about my own choice of Uni actually.

I was originally keen on London for uni, dreams of the big city, skyscrapers, millions of people, all that cliche stuff. But yeah, cliche brings naivity. A university isnt made by Skyscrapers and sprawl, or in Skis friends case, sun and beaches. Its about the University. London was cool, but on my open days i didnt connect with the students like i did in Southampton or Brighton (unfortunatly Brighton, which turned out to be my favourite, didnt accept me). The students in Southampton seemed to be on my level, i didnt even think twice about the Portsmouth-Southampton rivalry.

What im saying is, its the students that make the university, the friends you make, the relationships, being part of something. For the students at Virginia Tech, this was taken away from them.

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes Westboroquote>

Originally posted by: Duke87Baptistquote>

Originally posted by: SkiGeekChurchquote>

These are the people who I was talking about on the previous page, and no one has ever accused them of having anything to do with facts, logic or decency. They're cultists who say god is punishing America for tolerating gays. These were the people who protested at the funerals of many US soldiers, and a lot of other places,  with signs saying:

"Thank god for IEDs"

"Thank god for dead soldiers"

"god hates your tears"

"<Gay> sin = 9 -11"

"Thank god for 9 -11"

"god hates <gays>"

"god hates <gay> enablers"

"You're going to hell"

"god blew up the troops"

"god hates America"

"<Gays> doom nations"

"Aids is god's curse"

"Pope in hell"

etc.

quote>

These people symbolise the downside of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Don't confuse this lot with sane humans.

Originally posted by: SpecialEddie Why does everyone (news, media, even some people here) say that he's crazy? You can't just assume that he was disturbed. He had a certain view on the world, but does that make him insane? Unless, you've had a look into his mind, you don't have a right to call him anything. His tapes show his emotions and feelings, but not the workings of his mind. As far as I know, he only said that "he had to do it." not the reason why.quote>

Because he stalked several girls? Because he wrote disturbing plays? Because someone refused to have him in their class unless he sought psychiatric help? Here's one: Because he stone cold murdered 30+ people?

He has given the world a look into his mind, and we do have a right to call him something. No matter what you call it, there was something funny about this guys mind. And it sure as hell wasn't funny "ha ha", but funny "somebody get this man some help".

You want to blame something over his actions? Fine: look away from the video games, pornography and godlessness, and start looking at the poor mental health care he got, and the media circus he organised for himself.

[Joesocwork 4]

My children's school system the students will be participating in a day of observance, including wearing VT colors. I think Hokie memory can also take pride in courageous members like Mr. Liviu Librescu.

These are times when I wish the media would focus and celebrate on what brings the best in people and not just the worst. Even though it is human nature to seek out "why" about something doesn't mean that shouldn't be higher priorities.

[Voar Tok 4]

Originally posted by: Joesocwork

These are times when I wish the media would focus and celebrate on what brings the best in people and not just the worst. Even though it is human nature to seek out "why" about something doesn't mean that shouldn't be higher priorities.quote>

Ditto.  My grandmother is currently watching a program that of which the subject matter was inspired by this.  One of the things that I really hate about the media is how the pundits, syndicated columnists, and others take a situation like this and reduce it to nothing but worthless discussions with "experts" who do nothing but sit there and argue about the whole thing.  A much better use of the air time would be discussions with the families (the ones that are willing to do so) about their take on the situation.  After all, these were the people who were indirectly affected by it (and I word it that way because if you're not actually there, it doesn't affect you in the same way as if you are there and have bullets flying around you).  On top of that, instead of the media using their clout to just sit there and philosophize about the incident, why not use some of that notoriety to actually help raise money or other support for the families of the victims.  Honestly, I know that they don't do that partially because if they did it for one tragedy and not another, they could get their pants sued off.  Not much of an excuse though.

[Mikeaut1 261]

We had a moment of silence in school yesterday. Really a sad week.

[Micah 16]

*Pauses for thoughts*

You know, this situation happened Monday. The Johnson Space Center shooting happened yesterday. It makes me wonder what the terrorists are thinking right now...

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: Micah *Pauses for thoughts*

You know, this situation happened Monday. The Johnson Space Center shooting happened yesterday. It makes me wonder what the terrorists are thinking right now...quote>

*thought bubble*

Man those hijabs really take the shape out of a girl. I mean look at Fatima there, such a shame. This is way depressing. Those 72 virgins had better be worth it.

Hmm that goat sure does look good.*thought bubble pops*

Oh did you mean what they're thinking about the US? I'm not rightly sure, I'm not in an extremist state of mind.

[Goldfish4209 9]

Originally posted by: Micah

What is this on MSNBC? "Korean-American backlash possible?" What? I bet rarely anyone was thinking of any backlash at all against Korean-Americans.

quote>

I take it you're not a member of an asian minority? Well, it kinda sucks being made fun of already. How would you like if if you came from, oh say, Laos, and the second question everyone asks is "are you Chinese or Japanese?"

Being a minority, we kind of think differently. I saw in Time magazine that this guy's asian student said something like "you guys think in a line. We think in a circle."

I myself am not Korean, but wouldn't you hate it if everyone started hating on you and looking at you funny if some white guy commited mass murder and the ethnic majority thinks all you white people want to shoot everyone?

Racial misunderstanding and stereotypes should be wiped out.

[coolotter88 2]

Laos is a funny country, they have lots of land mines from the vietnam war. I dunno, people from southeast asia have darker skin imo.

[IDS2 3,429]

I notice lots of us have VT banners for our avatars. Remember, be patriotic, and keep pride. It's a sorrid story, but it's not one we can't pull through.

[Micah 16]

Originally posted by: Goldfish4209

Originally posted by: Micah

What is this on MSNBC? "Korean-American backlash possible?" What? I bet rarely anyone was thinking of any backlash at all against Korean-Americans.

quote>

I take it you're not a member of an asian minority? Well, it kinda sucks being made fun of already. How would you like if if you came from, oh say, Laos, and the second question everyone asks is "are you Chinese or Japanese?"

Being a minority, we kind of think differently. I saw in Time magazine that this guy's asian student said something like "you guys think in a line. We think in a circle."

I myself am not Korean, but wouldn't you hate it if everyone started hating on you and looking at you funny if some white guy commited mass murder and the ethnic majority thinks all you white people want to shoot everyone?

Racial misunderstanding and stereotypes should be wiped out.quote>

 

I'm talking about, how in the world would Koreans be looked at differently after this event? I just don't understand; It's not like all the South Koreans did this. This was just one individual. The news article suggested that the Koreans in America would be looked at differently because of this event.

[Goldfish4209 9]

Originally posted by: Micah

Originally posted by: Goldfish4209

Originally posted by: Micah

What is this on MSNBC? "Korean-American backlash possible?" What? I bet rarely anyone was thinking of any backlash at all against Korean-Americans.

quote>

I take it you're not a member of an asian minority? Well, it kinda sucks being made fun of already. How would you like if if you came from, oh say, Laos, and the second question everyone asks is "are you Chinese or Japanese?"

Being a minority, we kind of think differently. I saw in Time magazine that this guy's asian student said something like "you guys think in a line. We think in a circle."

I myself am not Korean, but wouldn't you hate it if everyone started hating on you and looking at you funny if some white guy commited mass murder and the ethnic majority thinks all you white people want to shoot everyone?

Racial misunderstanding and stereotypes should be wiped out.quote>

 

I'm talking about, how in the world would Koreans be looked at differently after this event? I just don't understand; It's not like all the South Koreans did this. This was just one individual. The news article suggested that the Koreans in America would be looked at differently because of this event.quote>

Well, some people are really that stupid. My parents were worrying that the guy was Chinese. We're chinese, and the last thing we want to put up with is some idiot who turns it into a stereotype.

Remember, be patriotic, and keep pride.quote>

What does a shooting have to do with patriotism and pride?

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Micah

I'm talking about, how in the world would Koreans be looked at differently after this event? I just don't understand; It's not like all the South Koreans did this. This was just one individual. The news article suggested that the Koreans in America would be looked at differently because of this event.quote>

 

As I understand it, the South Korean media raised this question.  They are (or were) concerned that this incident would inspire the American authorities to expel all South Koreans from the country.

As far as I know, that was never going to be considered.  This guy was clearly a nutjob.  He happened to be a South Korean nutjob but, as you say, he was one individual, not a representative of the whole country.

[SpecialEddie 3]

Originally posted by: coolotter88 Laos is a funny country, they have lots of land mines from the vietnam war. I dunno, people from southeast asia have darker skin imo.quote>

 

Umm...wow?