Why does someone always have to be blamed?

[Maastricht]

Stinkpalm, you are blaming someone too, and that is the shooter. Why do you blame him, what’s the use, really?

Better to blame teachers, police, parents. They are likely to feel responsible and maybe, just maybe, they might try even harder to prevent something like this happenign again. Although there’s a far bigger likelyhood they will just look with mistrust at Asian students for the next two years.

[OneCentStamp]

@Vinyl Turnip

Haven’t heard any indication of that, but I did read the CNN article today where his former roommates claimed he had an imaginary girlfriend named (I swear I’m not making this up) “Jelly,” who was a “supermodel,” and whose pet name for him was “Spanky”— which (if true) suggests a certain fixation that isn’t particularly opaque.

Well, I think we’ve found our root problem. I don’t think he was ready for that Jelly.

[Fear_Itself]

@Maastricht

Better to blame teachers, police, parents. They are likely to feel responsible and maybe, just maybe, they might try even harder to prevent something like this happenign again.

Unfortunately, that is not in their power, or anyone else’s for that matter. It is guaranteed to happen again, and again. It is part of living in an open society. The only was to prevent it is to severely limit the freedoms we associate with America. Indeed, that these tragedies still occur from time to time, is a sign that our liberty has not been compromised. The day they stop is the day we will know that America is no longer the land of the free.

[Der_Trihs]

@Cryptoderk

I bet you a tenner they find kiddy porn on his computer

@Fear Itself

I’m betting they “find” an Al Qaeda connection.

They already have found Counterstrike; be ready for another round of “Video games are EVIL !!!”

As far as why there’s so much blame placing; I expect that the most important reason is the need for vengeance. He’s dead, we can’t hurt him, so we are looking for someone, anyone to punish.

[Voyager]

@thirdwarning

Just out of curiosity, how big is your daughter’s school? I could see this happening where my daughter is, too, but it’s a very small campus. It probably could be locked down somewhat like a high school. VT is not like that, nor is pretty much any state school in the country.

About 1200 people, spread across many buildings, and taking up most of a city block. Locking down means all students are in classrooms.

I’ve been to Virgnia Tech, so I know it’s big. However, I know Maryland, which is bigger, does have a lockdown procedure, so it is possible. I don’t know if VT had a procedure they chose not to use, or didn’t even have one.

Obviously we can’t draw any conclusions yet, but I don’t think it is out of line to be asking hard questions even now.

[Fear_Itself]

@Der Trihs

They already have found Counterstrike; be ready for another round of “Video games are EVIL !!!”.

Chris Matthews is interviewing his suitemate right now, who said he never witnessed Cho playing any computer games of any kind. He said all he did on his computer was type into text documents, sometimes for hours at a time.

Microsoft Word is teh EVIL!!!

[Caridwen]

I think this media satuaration started with 24 hour news and the increasing number of channels. You have to fill the time with something, so lets call in the experts and psychologists. Then the blame starts because things are analyzed to dealth.

It was annoying recently when the governor of NJ was in an auto accident. The man was still unconscious and the blame started because he didn’t wear a seat belt. Would he have to pay a fine? Are the police going to get in trouble? I can see if this happened when the man was out of critical care, but it was the same day as the accident.

I think the public has some blame in making it happen. People are forever screaming about soft ball questions so they compete for who gets the best soundbite.

[asterion]

@Fear Itself

Chris Matthews is interviewing his suitemate right now, who said he never witnessed Cho playing any computer games of any kind. He said all he did on his computer was type into text documents, sometimes for hours at a time.

Microsoft Word is teh EVIL!!!

Well, we already knew that.

[VinylTurnip]

@Fear Itself

Chris Matthews is interviewing his suitemate right now, who said he never witnessed Cho playing any computer games of any kind. He said all he did on his computer was type into text documents, sometimes for hours at a time.

Notepad addiction. Seen it once, seen it a million times. Icon needs a warning sticker.