Am I the only one? I'm referring to the guy responsible for the VA Tech tragedy, of course. I realize that he sent a 'manifesto' to NBC (between the two attacks!!!) but I think it's totally sick and self serving of the news channels to air this garbage. I have to say, I'm not educated about what's on it, because I refuse to watch it.
Here's my view. They're showing these videos and writings and whatever, portraying this guy as some scary demon, when really he was just a pathetic, mentally ill person who should have been committed long ago and gotten the help he needed to be a worthwhile human. By portraying him like this, I guarantee, there are some people out in the world who are looking up to him now, thinking "there's the answer, I'll be famous and everyone will be terrified of me. No one will ever forget me" It's my understanding that this guy made some reference to the two boys responsible for the Columbine tragedy. So apparently he thought they had the right idea. Would he have done this without that influence, which was widely broadcast across the nation, if not the world? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll never know. Maybe if those boys hadn't been so glorified as misunderstood youths, and shown more as the mentally ill, sad cases that they were, others would be less eager to be viewed like that.
Let's stop glorifying the perpetrators of violence. Our local news (VA Tech is pretty close by) has been putting a lot of focus on candlelight vigils, services for the victims, etc. That's how it should be. Let's nationally televise the ceremonies remembering the victims. There's no need for us to focus on the gunman. He's gone and will not be missed. It's a shame that no one read the signs properly early enough to get him some help, but we can learn a lesson from the stories the victims tell us, NOT from whatever delusional rants he chose to publicize posthumously.
This guy didn't talk to anyone, stalked women, wrote disturbing papers for school, etc. That's only scary because we allow it to be. If the authorities were more concerned about the safety of potential victims than the possible violation of someone's civil rights, these things wouldn't happen. When someone can explain to me why it's okay for a stalker attend a college full of potential victims, and even his roommates aren't warned about his history, then I'll eat my words.
Sorry this is so super long, but once I got started, I couldn't stop.
I agree with you - particularly about the news coverage. Same as you, I have decided not to watch or listen to coverage of this sicko's "manifesto".
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families and friends of the victims as well as all of the VT students/faculty.
Totally and completely agree. I was just ranting about this to my friend yesterday. This happens in every situation like this, I get so sick of the media. They tend to dwell on and glamorize issues. I understand the need to bring the news and get the story but there's no need to repeatedly show the same thing over and over and over again. I don't need to open my browser and see all kinds of images of that individual pointing his guns at me. Enough! Remember these victims and their families. They are the ones who should be uplifted.
While we're on the subject, another thing that gets me is when one person or station uses a word or catchphrase and they ALL run it into the ground. The word this week: manifesto. Enough.
I agree! I don't watch any of it! The guy wanted airtime after death and the media is giving it to him. If the media wouldn't give so much attention to these actions may be they would happen less often. I think it's insulting to those people who lost there lives for this maniac to be getting so much attention.
But maybe by airing what was in this guys head and what he wrote and did and said we can help to identify the people like him that need help. Maybe we can keept it from happening somewhere else because next time someone will listen when a teacher says this person is disturbed.
As someone who is personally disgusted with the mental health profession and the availability of good help, I hope it will help make changes needed. I'm not saying we should take away focus from the victims either and I do feel the news sensationalizes things way too far. But, this guy needed help and he didn't get it. You have to remember too, that he has friends and family who will miss him.
It always seems like there's a burst of these things and it always starts with the media going on about it 24/7.
I'm not a big fan of 24 hour news networks that are so desperate for something new they will seize on any little scrap they can. That's not always bad but it isn't needed and it isn't always good.
I think the thought of fame is part of why these people decide to take others with them because then they will be remembered for years to come by everyone.
I think the thought of fame is part of why these people decide to take others with them because then they will be remembered for years to come by everyone.
I totally agree. I think we'd see a lot less of this if the perpetrators were shown in a less sensational light and shown to be as ill as they are. Why are we granting this guy his last wish? 
But maybe by airing what was in this guys head and what he wrote and did and said we can help to identify the people like him that need help. Maybe we can keept it from happening somewhere else because next time someone will listen when a teacher says this person is disturbed.
I do and don't agree with this. Yes, we need to have as many clues as possible to identify future problems. But the problem is that people already knew that this guy needed help. No one did anything about it. The authorities need to stop being so darn wishy-washy and do something BEFORE we're counting casualties. I'm all for civil rights, and believe me, I don't want Big Brother in my business, but for once I'd like to see the potential victims' safety valued more than someone else's privacy. Yes, even MINE.
And I did think today about his family. I can't imagine the sorrow, rage and grief they're feeling. But, and I'll probably get flamed big time for saying this, if classmates and teachers knew that he needed help, why didn't his family notice it? And why didn't they do anything about it? Our society is moving slowly but surely away from the idea of personal responsibility. We are responsible for our children's behavior. It is our job as parents to do everything within our power to teach them to grow into responsible citizens, and if that's not possible, to provide the resources they need. This guy didn't wake up one morning angry at the world and go on a shooting spree. This has surely been building within him for years.
Umm that is why you don't believe everything you see and hear. It is the news. My husband works in media and has traveled far and wide to cover breaking news. It is what it is and that is talk.
I am not sure why but in situations such as this I see things differently. We should be fortunate that we do see what is happening in the world.
Take places such as North Koerea. They have no TV, internet or cell phone use. I just think it is the news and that is that.
And I did think today about his family. I can't imagine the sorrow, rage and grief they're feeling. But, and I'll probably get flamed big time for saying this, if classmates and teachers knew that he needed help, why didn't his family notice it? And why didn't they do anything about it? Our society is moving slowly but surely away from the idea of personal responsibility. We are responsible for our children's behavior. It is our job as parents to do everything within our power to teach them to grow into responsible citizens, and if that's not possible, to provide the resources they need. This guy didn't wake up one morning angry at the world and go on a shooting spree. This has surely been building within him for years.[/quote]
Actually, his family might not have known. My parents were probably the last ones to find out I was depressed. It's easier to let things out in papers or to stranger than it is to people you know. The other side is that maybe his parents did know and maybe they tried to help. Look at the teacher that said he needed help and there was no response. Do you think his parents had more luck? Unlikely! My husband's sister killed herself and hearing the story of how she was in and out of an institution (insurance played a HUGE role) and how DRs didn't care was appalling. And I've experienced it myself first hand. It is incredibly hard to get the help you need even when you're a willing participant. It's a sad wake up call every time something like this happens.
I saw somewhere where one of the family members of a victim said they would always struggle to replace the most recent thoughts of this guy being on t.v. doing his manifesto with the wonderful memories of their family member. I guess after you see something like that you would always wonder how the victims felt seeing him act like that themselves. I sat and cried all night when I saw that on the news. How tragic. 
And I did think today about his family. I can't imagine the sorrow, rage and grief they're feeling. But, and I'll probably get flamed big time for saying this, if classmates and teachers knew that he needed help, why didn't his family notice it? And why didn't they do anything about it? Our society is moving slowly but surely away from the idea of personal responsibility. We are responsible for our children's behavior. It is our job as parents to do everything within our power to teach them to grow into responsible citizens, and if that's not possible, to provide the resources they need. This guy didn't wake up one morning angry at the world and go on a shooting spree. This has surely been building within him for years.
not flaming here but informing anyway. I don't know what his family did or didn't do but I know that it's not easy to get help for someone with mental problems, even if it's family.
They might not have known he was that bad until after he became an adult...actually, he might not have been that bad. They might have thought he'd do better in college because alot of people who are "nerds" in school do much better in college. There's also the added thoughts of "he's a typical angsty teen" or maybe the councilors didn't think he was so bad then...
Then, once someone becomes an adult, the parents cannot do anything more than anybody else.
I have a mentally ill brother and my parents tried as hard as they could to get him some help. Granted, he never tried killing people but I wouldn't be surprised if it had gone through his mind. He is severely bi-polar and schizo-effective. My mom contacted the mental health agencies and whatnot but they couldn't do anything unless he was documented to be a danger to himself or others. In other words, he had to commit a crime that would prove him to be a danger.
Well, he did end up committing 5 felonies within a couple days when he went off the deep end one time. He stole a couple cars. One of those cars, he went on a high speed chase in and then tried to ram the cops down, then ended up crashing into a wall and escaping before it basically blew up (sounds like a movie, I know). It was then that he was finally committed to the mental hospital. Funny thing was that even then, he had to go through court and prove that he was innocent by reason of insanity. If my mom weren't there, they probably would have just thrown him in jail instead. That kinda makes you wonder how many are in jail that should be in the mental hospital.
Anyway, he's now doing fine. He's married to a girl he met in the mental hospital. While they're both still strange, at least he's not violent anymore. They volunteer at the food bank and attend church on Sundays.
What I'm trying to say is that the parents may very well have tried. I would be more inclined to blame the system than to blame the parents in this case.
La Sombra, I'm glad to hear that your brother is doing well. It sounds like your family has been through some devastating times and I hope you didn't take offense. It probably sounded like I thought every case could be 'fixed' by family intervention, and I realize that's not the case.
I realize that there are situations where the family is the last to know. Or maybe they knew he was 'odd' and didn't realize the extent of it. I'm just going on what little I've heard in the news about how he behaved in high school, etc. Perhaps I was a little harsh without knowing the whole situation. I'm no mental health professional, but it seems to me that this guy wasn't mentally ill in the traditional sense...he obviously had no difficulty planning this and kept his wits about him during the massacre. By this I mean that while his actions are unthinkable to us, he didn't go completely off the deep end, he was able to complete his 'plan'. I do blame the system more than I do his family. The 'system' obviously had enough information and even considered involuntary committal, but they backed down.
I just refuse to believe that these things come 'out of nowhere'. There are signs, whether people choose to act on them or not. Until we, as a society, are willing to be more aggressive in ensuring our own safety, there will always be unthinkable tragedies like this one.
BTW, I am sorry to be on my soapbox so much about this. I normally try to keep a lower profile...I just can't get this one out of my system.
La Sombra, I'm glad to hear that your brother is doing well. It sounds like your family has been through some devastating times and I hope you didn't take offense. It probably sounded like I thought every case could be 'fixed' by family intervention, and I realize that's not the case.
I realize that there are situations where the family is the last to know. Or maybe they knew he was 'odd' and didn't realize the extent of it. I'm just going on what little I've heard in the news about how he behaved in high school, etc. Perhaps I was a little harsh without knowing the whole situation. I'm no mental health professional, but it seems to me that this guy wasn't mentally ill in the traditional sense...he obviously had no difficulty planning this and kept his wits about him during the massacre. By this I mean that while his actions are unthinkable to us, he didn't go completely off the deep end, he was able to complete his 'plan'. I do blame the system more than I do his family. The 'system' obviously had enough information and even considered involuntary committal, but they backed down.
I just refuse to believe that these things come 'out of nowhere'. There are signs, whether people choose to act on them or not. Until we, as a society, are willing to be more aggressive in ensuring our own safety, there will always be unthinkable tragedies like this one.
BTW, I am sorry to be on my soapbox so much about this. I normally try to keep a lower profile...I just can't get this one out of my system.
It's been over 10 years now that my brother did all that but he was..."strange" in high school too. My parents thought he was rebellious at that age as so many kids are. They took him to a surprise drug test which came back negative, talked to school councilors about him, etc...really didn't get anywhere with that. Then he joined the navy his senior year and was to go to boot camp in June. Well, he didn't last long there even and they kicked him out for being weird. That wasn't even enough to get him committed. There were some huge fights between him and my other brother (they're 1 year apart), usually my other brother was either on the defense or else defending me or my mom. He tried beating up my dad also and we called the cops on occasion. Even that wasn't enough to get him in the mental hospital. They just considered it domestic disputes. It wasn't until he stole the cars,etc that they were willing to commit him.
Anyway, you're allowed to get on your "soapbox" I think. That's what we're all here for , to support each other when we need to talk. Most of us are feeling all different things about that shooting. It was a major event that we really shouldn't take lightly.
as some who has suffered on and off with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) I know first hand how difficult it can be to get help (and trust me I went looking).....and my family certainly didnt know the depth of my anxiety until MUCH MUCH later. Its easy to blame the system and I know its not perfect, but I for one do not want to live in a world where you could say I should be institutionalized and that was all it took for me to get "locked" up..... we as Americans will always pay a price for our personal freedoms and our civil liberties....sometimes that price is personal and tragic, but can we honestly say we would want it any other way???? I hear the stuff about gun control, please people, if someone wanted to do this bad enough, no law would stop them....they would just go buy the darn gun illegally!!! I dont buy that media creates more massacres, anyone who can do what this young man did, must first already have a mental health disorder IMHO.......I dont want to live in a censorship loving country....that said if you dont want to see it, dont watch, if you dont want your kiddos to see it, dont let them watch....that is how we exercise our PERSONAL freedom! We have the choice...
I certainly feel for the victims (all of them...shooter included) because no one deserved to have their life cut so tragically short.
I dont buy that media creates more massacres, anyone who can do what this young man did, must first already have a mental health disorder IMHO.......I dont want to live in a censorship loving country....that said if you dont want to see it, dont watch, if you dont want your kiddos to see it, dont let them watch....that is how we exercise our PERSONAL freedom! We have the choice...
I certainly feel for the victims (all of them...shooter included) because no one deserved to have their life cut so tragically short.
You took the words right out of my mouth!
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