Taking responsibility for our actions... *all* of us.

[helpimarock]

I'm not sure if I can accurately express myself right now. Partially b/c I just haven't been in the writing mood lately and partially b/c this post is going to be about the Virginia Tech shootings which is probably the most frustrating incident to comprehend since the Columbine High School shootings. It is for me at any rate

Comments

[infloresence]

People don't go on killing sprees for no reason and this isn't a case where the assailant made delusional claims such as the devil told him to do itAck, yes. I was saying this to John yesterday, expressing my dismay at the coverage of the shooting here. We've got newspapers featuring the guy's face, shouting "The face of evil!" or "The dark heart of evil

[voiceboxx]

I agree about the gun thing.

Any sociopath can get a gun on the internet these days! When you get down to it, people mainly use it as a "right" to kill other people.

And, while we're on that topic, why don't they thoroughly screen people who want to buy guns? Or at least give them a full psychological evaluation beforehand, to make sure they're not some total homocidal psychopath??

[blozor]

The only problem is that they did screen him. Up to the point that he bought the gun, he was clean cut with no criminal record. Even the most clinically depressed person can put on a mask and be quite personable when it suits their needs, and depressed people are more than experienced at doning that mask so they don't have to put up with talking about their issues to people who don't understand or care

[voiceboxx]

I meant doing a psychological screening, not just a criminal background check. Even corporate jobs do this. They actually give you personality tests and other psychological tests to not only make sure you're not a nut case, but to also make sure you'll 'fit in' and do well at that kind of job.

Why can't the people who sell guns do this??

A bit of randomness

[no_no_]

Did you know that this Cho character was an MFA-creative writing student. A girl in my non-fic lit class came across a website that posted some of his stories and plays--she said that his psychosis was Very evident in his writing. Interesting.

And now to completely change the topic...here is an actual conversation I had with my roommate a few years ago:
He says, I don't believe in rhinoceros('s).
What do you mean?
I don't think they exist.
Then what are you looking at when you see them at the zoo or on TV?
A man in a rhinoceros suit.

Re: A bit of randomness

[blozor]

In my own blog I said that he was psychotic. I didn't mean that he couldn't also be depressed. The depression could have caused the psychosis, but the only thing it takes to qualify as psychotic is to believe your own skewed perceptions are right and everyone else is wrong. So, yes, I stand by my statement that he was psychotic, even if he was depressed.

I agree with Jeff, though, he needs to be held accountable for his own actions, and I agree with Charity and Jeff, more needs to be done to protect and help people before they can get to that stage.

Re: A bit of randomness

[no_no_]

Hi. I actually don't know anything about the situation. I used the word psychosis at random--it may have been the word the girl used. I really don't remember. But hey! Just below the bit on Cho check out the conversation I had with my roommate about rhinoceros('s)--now that is interesting!

Re: A bit of randomness

[blozor]

I used it very intentionally. Of course my angle was to align people's thinking when playing the blame game with media or immigration or anything else. The core issue isn't external influences or immigration, but the fact that some people are just psychotic. Some people are just going to be psychotic. You can't rationalize it, and to do so, you are ignoring the core issue instead of trying to do anything about it