VA - Virginia Tech Shooting, 32 murdered, 23 injured, 16 April 2007

[KatK]

Did you even bother reading the second page of that news article, reb? Much less the handy excerpt which points out that in fact, crime rates have DROPPED since video games came out that I posted here? *eyebrow* There are people pointing at video games, why else would I have quoted someone's post here and responded as I did? It's more than one article, and especially the fruitcake Jack Thompson and his cadre of low intelligence followers. ETA 2: See my post number 410 and read with an open mind.

ETA: And reb, I said "the root of evils like this" in referance to the VT shootings.

 

[panthera]

Just off the top of my head, I would guess the perpetrator's time it to coincide with past horrific events. But I have no idea.

It's been known for years that Timothy McVeigh chose Apr. 19 to coincide with the anniversary of Waco. Since Cho mentions Harris & Kleibold in his video I'd also say he was trying to synchronize his timing with Columbine but missed it by 4 days.

 

[angelwngs]

It's been known for years that Timothy McVeigh chose Apr. 19 to coincide with the anniversary of Waco. Since Cho mentions Harris & Kleibold in his video I'd also say he was trying to synchronize his timing with Columbine but missed it by 4 days.

Also, the date of April 20th for Columbine was said to have been chosen in honor of Hitler's birthday.

Still and yet, the fact that many horrific mass slaughters happen in the month of April makes me wonder about my earlier question in my previous post..........:waitasec:

 

[concernedperson]

The timing is all in their minds to obsfucate the desire to rid themselves of demons. It reflects more of an opportunity than anything else.Most of these people have early signs...animal abuse, solitude, enraged behavior at insignificant happenings.

The problem is no one connects the dots.

The perp is not going to as he/she feels they are above all of it. It is going to be reading and learning over and over before the dots are connected and then it will be if someone believes it. JMO.

 

[IrishMist]

Could you offer your opinions....please...?

Waco Texas, Oklahoma City Bombing, Columbine, Virginia Tech....

Why is it that the most horrific crimes of MALE DOMINATED, 'Americans' against 'Americans' seem to occur in April?

Some people in real life have answered my question saying "Spring Fever".

I wonder what Freud would say?

Could one of the elements that falls together with insanity, psychosis etc., actually be extreme sexual repression or sexual frustration that is triggered naturally in the 'Heat of Spring Fever'?

Ladies, during the Spring, when you are driving down the street...have you not noticed the way male strangers actually leer into your car as if it is an invitation to pull your cars over and 'get to know each other better'?

I do not mean to generalize sexually against males...
Seriously, and most sincerely, I have noticed this unusal habit which happens every single spring of my life, since I have had my own drivers permit...

Have any other females out there noticed this ODD phenomenon? :silenced:

I've noticed it, but only because my birthday is the 18th. I can remember where I was at on or around my birthday, watching the news or hearing about these horrible events.

 

[angelmom]

I also wonder if some of the timing has to do with the school year being almost over. Two years ago my son was being bullied at school, and we didn't even realize it until about February or March. We were working through it and helping him cope, talking with the school, and things were going along okay until about April when he just couldn't cope anymore. He was crying every day, exploding at the least little thing, to the point that we almost pulled him out of school for the last 6 weeks.

Even though he was only ten, he tried to explain it to me. The basic gist was that he knew he had to get through each day. As the end of the year got closer and closer, it actually got harder to put up with, and the more he wished he could get even (in his mind, saying something mean back to them) just once before the year was out.

Spring break was the tipping point when we had to have a huge conference with the principal and counselor and all of his teachers. Luckily we recognized how bad it was getting and they did a great job of stepping in and putting their thumb down on these boys. The rest of the year went fine and it has never been a problem since, but I wonder how many parents, especially of older kids, would have just tried to tough it out to the end.

 

[Marthatex]

Bullying is something that all schools should have training in handling, and taken care of quickly. Students should know they will be suspended quickly.

I'm sure it makes the victims miserable and afraid to come to school - there should be zero tolerance. However, I think it takes alot more to motivate someone to commit a mass murder.

I wonder if in college, students who are withdrawn and not socializing at all should be automatically referred for counseling. Getting the most out of a college experience is not just about grades.

If he didn't stay in the psychiatric hospital, why was he not at least referred back to Student Mental Health Services for constant surveillance, if he was deemed a danger to himself?

And I think if a parent is still supporting their child through school -paying the bills - they deserve to know if their child is having problems. Maybe they would bring him home for a year, try to get help for him before sending him back to college. Young men these days are far from "grown up" when they are "over 18".

 

[s_finch]

Bullying is something that all schools should have training in handling, and taken care of quickly. Students should know they will be suspended quickly.

I'm sure it makes the victims miserable and afraid to come to school - there should be zero tolerance. However, I think it takes alot more to motivate someone to commit a mass murder.

I wonder if in college, students who are withdrawn and not socializing at all should be automatically referred for counseling. Getting the most out of a college experience is not just about grades.

If he didn't stay in the psychiatric hospital, why was he not at least referred back to Student Mental Health Services for constant surveillance, if he was deemed a danger to himself?

And I think if a parent is still supporting their child through school -paying the bills - they deserve to know if their child is having problems. Maybe they would bring him home for a year, try to get help for him before sending him back to college. Young men these days are far from "grown up" when they are "over 18".

If I'd had known that my parents would have been informed I was seeking counseling when I was in college, I wouldn't have gone to the counselor. My parents would have freaked out. I needed the guarantee of privacy in order to go to a counselor, as do many/most people. Most colleges offer counseling free of charge to students which is a great thing, but notifying the parents isn't, IMHO.

As for bullying, we had trouble with that this year with our 7th grader. At first I didn't pay too much attention to it, after all (I incorrectly thought) it was just some girls saying some kinda mean things, no threats just mean zingers. When my daughter started crying one night and begging to not have to go to school the next day, I began asking more questions and the next day I was in the principal's office. He took care of the situation by ordering that none of the girls speak to my daughter inside or outside of school and made sure that my daughter's classes were changed so that she wouldn't have any classes with the bullies--end of problem. We're fortunate that he took the time to take care of the situation.

 

[hallowedbe]

An interesting account of the shootings from within the classroom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/us/22norris.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

 

[Marthatex]

An interesting account of the shootings from within the classroom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/us/22norris.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

I've never read anything so horrible.

 

[Floh]

An interesting account of the shootings from within the classroom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/us/22norris.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Nightmare!

 

[cheko1]

An interesting account of the shootings from within the classroom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/us/22norris.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

What a tragedy to have to live with!!!

 

[Anniegirl]

Not sure if this is posted anywhere here already if so i apoligize..

Feel free to snag and pass on if you dont already have it.

 

[panthera]

Also, the date of April 20th for Columbine was said to have been chosen in honor of Hitler's birthday.

Still and yet, the fact that many horrific mass slaughters happen in the month of April makes me wonder about my earlier question in my previous post..........:waitasec:

Separating Waco and Oklahoma City from Columbine and Virginia Tech, the mass murder school shootings were related in that as you said, the date chosen for Columbine fell on Hitler's birthday; but right now we don't know exactly why Cho selected Apr. 16 other than it being on a Monday and maybe it was easier to do the deed that day of the week? It seems he did plan this well in advance to the point of having his package ready to take to the post office and mail to NBC News. I think he used Columbine as an example since there seemed to be more than a few things in common, including mentioned Harris & Kleibold on his video. I don't know if it had anything to do with the season of Spring since there have been shootings at other schools at different times of the year, but with VA Tech it also seemed time would be running out for Cho to do this since they graduate in May.

 

[panthera]

An interesting account of the shootings from within the classroom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/us/22norris.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

thank you so much for finding that article and as horrible as it is to read I can only imagine the horror those who were there had to go through.

 

[reb]

has anyone found out anything about his grades? was he passing, failing, just getting by?

 

[panthera]

has anyone found out anything about his grades? was he passing, failing, just getting by?

I haven't seen any articles about that ~ and I've been trying to find out some information. He was supposed to graduate next month though so he must have been passing the classes.

 

[Taximom]

It looks like most of the massacres occur in warmer months - from April on. The Amish shooting was October 2nd.

I agree that lack of mental health care is more the problem than video game or other violence in our society per se; but I don't think it helps if you have an introverted child with a penchant for aggressive or violent behavior, or that seems to have emotional problems -guiding them away from violent video games and into sociobehavioral activities or therapies would be wise.

My neighbor is a detective and he says crime spikes in the warmer months. I believe him. I listen to our local dispatch some nights and when it's HOT out, there are a lot of violence calls. I'm not so sure April fits in weather-wise, but if that's what history shows....~~shrugs~~.

I think everytime something like this happens, we all learn a lot more about warning signs and maybe what to do differently if it's in our control (or even if not in our control). I hope that's the case anyway.

 

[Taximom]

I haven't seen any articles about that ~ and I've been trying to find out some information. He was supposed to graduate next month though so he must have been passing the classes.

I was wondering if this wasn't part of the whole thing. He was somewhat protected as a student.

I can't imagine the fact that he was going to graduate and have to finally get a real job went over too well with him.

 

[Taximom]

(snipped)
Spring break was the tipping point when we had to have a huge conference with the principal and counselor and all of his teachers. Luckily we recognized how bad it was getting and they did a great job of stepping in and putting their thumb down on these boys. The rest of the year went fine and it has never been a problem since, but I wonder how many parents, especially of older kids, would have just tried to tough it out to the end.

My son is bullied a lot. He's the quiet, nice kid that bullies seem to have radar for. Usually the bullies end up suspended or kicked out, but during the few weeks it takes to build up to that, it's so hard on my son.

Our school has a zero-tolerance policy for hitting, etc. So if my son hits back in defense he would get suspended too. I think that sucks, but out of desperation we ended up telling him that he does have to protect himself and if he can't get out of the situation then by all means, hit back. At least the school is working with us on this.

I imagine Cho's parents weren't as vocal about the bullying (and who knows if Cho said anything to them in the first place) as some of us might be. Just my own opinion.

Bullies suck.