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I've been watching the press conference with local authtorities and the President of VT. They're confirming 33 dead including the shooter. There are still several in hospitals with unknown conditions. They're discussing the level of warning students got about what was going on. Tragic event.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
Post by Sköldpadda on Apr 16, 2007 17:15:32 GMT -5
I'm a student at the University of Tennessee, and we heard about it later in the day, as I was getting out of class at 2:15 (I live off-campus). Someone even called in a bomb threat at our university a little while later, and it hits pretty close to home (blacksburg isn't very far from here). I'm not normally the lecturing type, but I don't think jokes about what the shooter ate, watched, or listened to are really intelligent. There's not much humor in kids getting executed in class, and thinking about it happening in one of my classes is pretty chilling. The media will handle it the best they can, but the main concern today should be for the kids involved in the whole situation, and their families. I won't be commenting on this any further, and I understand dry humor, but now's really just not the time for it...try to put yourself in their position.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Apr 16, 2007 17:23:46 GMT -5
With all due respect to everyone one involved, I was not making a joke about this tragedy. I was only pointing out that, like many other senseless tragedies, the media will eventually turn the focus away from the real issue. If past events are any indicator, major news outlets will end-up pointlessly discussing "what drove him to this". Being a crazy, homicidal dooshbagh is, most likely, what drove him to this. Much like the psychotic actions of those little punks at Columbine, Blaming movies or music or video games is a ridiculous cop-out. A cop-out that ultimately trivializes what happened. A feeble misdirection that will be exploited at every possible opportunity by vulture-like news agencies and sleazy, sensationalistic reporters. I thought that I had made that clear but, i guess not.
Again, I WAS NOT MAKING ANY SORT OF JOKE ABOUT PEOPLE BEING MURDERED! okay?
Last Edit: Apr 16, 2007 17:30:46 GMT -5 by oatmealschnappz - Back to Top
I've been following this story all day. I have a cousin at Tech, and I don't have word on him yet; I don't want to call and bother his grandmother (my aunt), so I'm holding off for a bit. When I called down there this morning (I have LOTS of kin in the area), my other aunt said that the last she'd heard, the shooting was in a dorm and Justin doesn't live in a dorm, so they weren't worried. But that was before reports of the second shooting.
It just makes me queasy thinking about it. And then there's the footage of the cops on campus--understandably trying to maintain control and figure out what's going on--but they've got me thinking how totally freaked out I'd be to have a cop pointing a gun at me, whether or not I was already in the midst of a situation where a shooter was loose.
I just hurt for them so much. Hearing those familiar accents on the news, and mention of places like Lewis-Gale Hospital (where all of my relatives, many of whom are over 80, spend a lot of time)...part of me just wants to jump in the car and drive down there, even though I'm not sure why and I'd be of no use to anyone.
I've just never understood this sort of violence. I'm a pacifist, but I'm not a saint; in fact, I've seen a lot of dark stuff, some of it in myself. But this isn't punching someone in a bar; this would seem to be the result of a downward psychological spiral. How can you reload, you know?
Oh, well, I'm getting myself even gloomier! Best to go distract myself. MSNBC isn't helping, although the cuddly kitty cat on my feet is doing his best....
Post by Sköldpadda on Apr 16, 2007 18:20:54 GMT -5
I wasn't targeting you, Oatmeal, I actually avoided naming names on purpose, but I felt like the situation needed to be reigned in a little bit. You and I actually have traditionally seen eye to eye on this board, and I understand what you're saying (I've said it before myself), but it just wasn't the time. I just didn't want to see the thread devolve into what it looked like it was turning into. I don't think you're a dooshbagh or anything. I actyually wasn't planning on commenting further (like I said), but I felt like in this situation, I should.
I actually didn't even recognize you because you changed your picture. Perhaps a smoke is in order at the Roo.
No hard feelings, seriously, this is just really heavy for a lot of people.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Apr 16, 2007 18:25:46 GMT -5
^It's cool, man. I didn't want to seem overly devensive but, I also didn't want to seem like I was taking this whole thing too lightly. No hard feelings at all. Sorry for getting worked-up.
I think that you're right. A smoke at Roo does sound like a good idea. See you there.
This type of sh!t always happens right around this time in April. It's weird.
My whole theory has been that the anger builds up throughout the year and then the psycos just explode in spring. Also, they might use the winter break as a "last chance" to fix their life, and when they fail in Janurary, Feburary, March, then the shit goes down.
I remember writing a paper in high school about school shootings.
I predict that the whole shooting was due to a romantic problem, the school will get attacked with accusations and the president resigns, and if it was one shooter, the kid just got trigger happy after the first few shots.
Post by oleander124 on Apr 17, 2007 8:21:44 GMT -5
oopsikillednana said:
I'm a student at the University of Tennessee, and we heard about it later in the day, as I was getting out of class at 2:15 (I live off-campus). Someone even called in a bomb threat at our university a little while later, and it hits pretty close to home (blacksburg isn't very far from here). I'm not normally the lecturing type, but I don't think jokes about what the shooter ate, watched, or listened to are really intelligent. There's not much humor in kids getting executed in class, and thinking about it happening in one of my classes is pretty chilling. The media will handle it the best they can, but the main concern today should be for the kids involved in the whole situation, and their families. I won't be commenting on this any further, and I understand dry humor, but now's really just not the time for it...try to put yourself in their position.
I'm sorry, but I think your comment was out of line. Certainly no one would make fun of what happened, nor was anyone making a joke about anyone getting executed in class. It was mostly to show that murders like that typically get blamed on outrageous reasons. Most of us are kids in college, or were kids in college, or are going to be kids in college, so no one is in a position to tell anyone else how to handle this situation. I'm close to VT myself, and I'm outraged over what happened. People grieve in their own ways, and sometimes a little humor is a way, but in no way was anyone making fun of the innocent people that lost their lives.
I'm not trying to start something, but don't say that comments like the ones made aren't intelligent. That's not true.
(Also, with a username like yours I don't think you should be telling anybody what to say/what not to say.)
Post by MickStPeter on Apr 17, 2007 21:46:55 GMT -5
I've notice alot of people on here know/knew people who went to va-tech ... I just wondered if anyone has lost anyone... I went to school with Ryan Clark he and his twin brother Bryan graduated a couple years befor I did and we were in band together Ryan was one of the first victims in the residence hall, they will be holding a memorial service at my old school this saturday I just want to take this moment to encourage everybody to get to know your fellow man and cherish every moment
what a horrible thing. why not just kill yourself? why take random people? such a waste.
and once again why do dozens of armed cops let 1 person slaughter defenseless kids until he decides he wants to shoot himself? go in there and do the job your supposed to do. im an unarmed, untrained citizen and if i was around someone slaughtering people i would run in to help. it sad to see them outside with body armor and assault rifles hiding behind a wall. do your job, please!! not to be off subject. but it just makes me angry to see that time and time again.
Last Edit: Apr 17, 2007 21:57:29 GMT -5 by Dude - Back to Top
ya it seems like the guy may have been calling in bomb threats to watch the response and make a plan. what a crazy ass. its just so impossible to understand how someone could do that.
All I have to say about this is it's a damned shame that stuff like this happens, and that my few prayers go out to the families and friends of the lost, and to everyone else who is a lot depressed about this horseshit.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Apr 17, 2007 22:20:53 GMT -5
It was the senseless and horrific act of a small, cowardly, hollow, little man! The scariest thing about this to me, is that this bullshit will just raise the psycho "bar" to a new level! Some other insignificant assmouth will eventually do his feeble-minded best to "out shine" him! Like Keith said, WHY NOT JUST KILL YOURSELF?!
My State Senator (Bill Ketron) has said he thinks the problem is that we DON'T allow weapons on campus. Every student should have a weapon. He's sponsoring a bill allowing this.
Yeah, that's what we need. Guns at drunken frat parties, pep rallies, rivalry fooball games. Now every argument can have the potential to REALLY escalate. Let's just hand them out at registration and require them on the syllabus.
Why not do this in high school too. Let's just take the security out of airports and let passengers shoot it out with hijackers.
Post by suitcasemurphy on Apr 18, 2007 7:03:25 GMT -5
Don't be scared to go to school. The chances of this happening to your school are pretty slim, and letting the media's homemade fear get to you...is not the answer.
Community (perhaps thats the answer)
shooter didn't talk to anyone, and no one would visit him at school (no parents) Everyone needs love!!!
Post by princessvwc on Apr 18, 2007 7:32:33 GMT -5
Hi guys, I'm a undergrad at Florida State University. My campus is mourning the loss of a sister campus and spirits right now is low. To add to it a friend of mine called me yesterday freaking out cause the killer was Korean. I am mostly in shock a person chose to do that. She is more concern of the aftermath reactions and generalizations that is going to take place. Two people went up to her yesterday and ask if she was a Korean. She was floored as the question and the implications behind it. We are both chinese she born in Taiwan and I from Hong Kong. Yes the guy was a person from another country but he moved here as a kid and was Americanized. I just want to point out that in this mourning period we should not let our emotions run amuck and impede on anyones rights. Should see this as that particular individual who instead of finding help to his mentality decided to externalize his hate and not of a distinct group. *sighs* I wish...that... I wish that more respect occured in the world. Respect and understanding.
Post by oleander124 on Apr 18, 2007 8:14:40 GMT -5
First of all, I want to apologize for my McDonald's comment if it offended anyone. I realize there are people on this board that may know some of the victims, and I am sorry for your grief and pain. I certainly was not making a joke, and if it came across that way to anyone, please take to heart that I would never mean it that way.
What happened Monday is a tragedy that is beyond words.
Everyone reacts differently to mega stress. It is wrong to judge anyone by what they have to do to cope.Things like this,9/11, the shuttle crashes,ect. generate such a strong respone in those of us who are 'normal' that we don't have a preset response system and have to search around to try to find a way to make it not be.
Post by Hipster Doofus on Apr 19, 2007 8:10:38 GMT -5
Fuck NBC for playing and distributing that video. They should have handed it directly over to the FBI once they received it. Instead they're giving this sicko exactly what he wanted and are terrorizing the victims and the slain victims families by forcing them to see his ugly face all over the place.
I agree 1000%. "Is the head dead yet?"says it all.NBC saw a way to pull in millions of viewers and took it.They should be charged with tampering with evidence in a capitol crime.
I agree but we have to realize we live in an age of Corporate Media. Since the 80's the requirement to serve the public good is gone and the news is all about what makes money. If NBC didn't play this they could probably have been sued by shareholders for not serving their best economic interest. The news is no longer about truth. If the truth in unpopular (can you say pre Iraq war) then don't show it.
We as the public must DEMAND responsibility of networks and, more importantly, sponsors. That and require Congress enforce the requirement to use public airwaves for the public good.
cr****
