Quick thought on Virginia Tech news coverage

[Lew]

Obviously a horrific tragedy, none of my comments are directed towards the families of those who were killed/wounded.

But...

I remember even on 9/11, the blame game didn't start for a few weeks. It was during Katrina that I first became aware of the phenomena of immediate blame-gaming; I mean, the hurricane was still over the Gulf Coast, and we had the mayor and the governor and the President and everyone one else blaming everyone else.

Well, there I was watching CNN last night, not even 10 hours after the shootings, and already we're hearing complaints about what the university did wrong. To me, it's interesting how one can conclude what was done wrong before one actually has a full understanding of what happened in the first place. Which, I'm sorry, we don't know yet. That's why they use the term "investigation." The police "investigate." They gather evidence, and then draw conclusions based on that evidence.

Of course, that takes time. And in this day and age, we don't have time. So, within a few hours, we're already laying the groundwork for our lawsuits.

Let me say this- the university may or may not have acted improperly. But at this point, we do not have enough to make that determination. And it's sad that you have a tragedy like this, and the very same day you have the media doing what they do worst when the crisis is still unfolding.

[cincygreg]

I sincerely hope that we dont have to listen to any nonsense about having sympathy for the homicidal lunatic who commited these murders. Having a bad childhood or facing some form of rejection in life is not an excuse to commit murder or any other crime. You cant decided to murder inocent people because something didnt go your way or because someone didnt like you. There are a lot of people in this world who have personal problems, even psychological ones but they dont go around killing people because of it. I suppose that thoise who will sorry for the killer think it's just fine to use a break up or a bad grade as an excuse for murder, or in this case mass murder. That line of thinking would make it ok for any idiot to go around killing people or commiting other crimes just based on the fact that they failed at something ot because someone said they didnt like them. Boo fricken hoo! Grow a pair and realize that life is full of little disapointments and that you have to overcome them or be able to move past them. Picking up a gun and going on a killing spree or commiting any other crime based on the fact that you were dumped or disliked by someone is beyond lame.
THERE ARE NO EXCUSES IN THE WORLD THAT MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS OK IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM!
Not 1 of these families should feel anything for the murderous piece of trash that did this, though having sympathy for his family for having to be linked to him is proably a good idea. They are victims as well, victims of being related to a homicidal maniac with no reguard for human life. And that, cant be easy to deal with either.
OK, I'm off the soap box for now!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 17, 2007 09:17 AM: Message edited by: cincygreg ]</font>

[Beachcomber]

Did any of you recognize Charles Steger, the President of Virginia Tech? He was the president of UC when I went there from 1983-1987. He took over the role from Dr. Winkler when he retired. I didn't know he was no longer at UC until I saw his name associated with this event.

Tragic indeed, but it will only serve the anti-gun lobby to impose more restrictions on gun ownership. I too have seen the media coverage Lew, and notice in Europe and Australia they are screaming about lack of gun control in the US. Does anyone even know if he used a hand gun or was it an automatic rifle? Gun control or not in place, someone like him will get the weapon they want....

[cincygreg]

Joseph Steger was President of UC from 1984-2003, he has much to do with all the progress that has been made at UC over the last few decades [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
Nice guy too!

[jumper69]

The University is fucked.....and it's not their fault. VT did nothing wrong. I watched the initial press conference with the university pres and the police chief and the questions they were being asked bordered on ridiculous.

You could almost see the exasperation in both Dr. Steger's and the Chief's faces and having to answer what were clearly retarded questions asked by retarded reporters trying to find ANY angle to outscoop their competition.....even if they have to make something up.

One reporter said "I heard there were chains on some of the doors..." and I thought to myself, oh man, their screwed now....

The more I am in my current job, the more I become disgusted by the media. I have had the opportunity to be a part of events and witness what actually happened only to see it reported in a completely different way.

My sympathy to the parents and families of the murdered students and faculty. There can be no preperation for this kind of thing.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 17, 2007 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Law Dawg ]</font>

[travelinman]

Va Tech is a gun free zone

[Lew]

Well, technically that's not true, Jumper. The university could have been made secure like a military facility. A perimeter wall/fence, with X number of entrance-ways. All vehicles/persons entering the campus are searched for weapons and contraband.

Of course, had they done that, it's doubtful that anyone would have been killed, not because the incident wouldn't have occurred, but because no student would go there in the first place. The bottom line is, we have several places where we gather in large numbers and where, theoretically, we're vulnerable. Fountain Square at lunchtime. High school sporting events. A shopping mall.

Again, we are far from understanding what truly took place in this incident, and it will probably be months. I'm sorry if that's not good enough for the blogosphere, but quite frankly the blogosphere can....I won't say anything, I'm too nice a person.

And if we do start to lockdown campuses, everyone will whine about that as well. Which I don't want to see that. We have a culture and standard of living here that we shouldn't have to revolutionize based on fear. We did with the airlines, and maybe we had to there, but I do not believe in secure shopping malls or college campuses or any of that. I don't know what the answer is, but it's not paranoia.

[cincygreg]

When I did a little serch to see what that thing he had written on his arm meant, I didnt come up with too much but I did come up with this.

When entered together you get references to two mathmaticians Ismael Herrera and Ismael Fontana the latter did work in a social accounting matrix
You also get a reference to the books of Ed McBain (AKA Evan Hunter) who had a book titled "Ax" in his 87th precinct series

Probably nothing there, but that's what I came up with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ax

[cincygreg]

Yep, he was a stalker.

Va. killer had contact with police before attack
Cho was accused of stalking 2 women, was taken to mental health facility

Virginia Tech
Cho Seung-Hui, who immigrated to the United States at age 8 in 1992, lived in Centreville, Va., a suburb of Washington.

MSNBC and NBC News
Updated: 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The gunman blamed for the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history had previously been accused of stalking two female students and had been taken to a mental health facility in 2005 after his parents worried he might be suicidal, police said Wednesday.

Cho Seung-Hui had concerned one woman enough with his calls and e-mail in 2005 that police were called in, said Police Chief Wendell Flinchum.

He said the woman declined to press charges and Cho was referred to the university disciplinary system. During one of those incidents, both in late 2005, the department received a call from Cho?s parents who were concerned that he might be suicidal, and he was taken to a mental health facility, he said.

Flinchum said he knew of no other police incidents involving Cho until the deadly shootings Monday, first at a girl?s dorm room and then a classroom building across campus. Neither of the stalking victims was among the victims Monday.

Saw an interview with his old roomates who said he had an imaginary girlfriend!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 18, 2007 11:18 AM: Message edited by: cincygreg ]</font>

[travelinman]