1 Killed in Shootings at Virginia Tech

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

And while I hope the parents of this latest killer are safe, I do think it fair to ask - How did they not know their son was in such an awful mental state? I realize the university was in a horrible situation - I know they cannot necessarily contact the parents (when I taught college I could not even give parents their children's grades because of privacy issues) - but I can't help but wonder - as, in all fairness I'm sure they are now - how could they have missed this?

While I'm sure I'm in the minority and I'm expecting people to blow a gasket with this comment, I don't believe it is fair of anyone to put any blame on the parents, of any school shooter.

Parents do the best they can. I'm not a parent but I do remember being in high school and in college and I didn't tell my parents an awful lot of what was going on in my life. That is growing up and exerting your own independence. Plus, who is to say that he didn't go home and "put on an act" for his parents?

To blame parents of what their children did is completely assinine. Not that I'm trying to justify what this person did, because I'm not, but I truly believe that he wasn't mentally stable and just broke. Everyone has a breaking point but 99% of the population WON'T pick up a gun and start killing people.

From what I've heard classmates and roomates and professors knew something was up with him, but nothing was done. That really just needs to change in our society. We can't keep brushing things off that we notice and say "that's not my problem".

Like I said, I'm sure tons of people will disagree with me, and that's totally fine, but I'm not attacking anyone so please don't attack me and my opinion.

[angelic1]

[QUOTE=ASUADPi;1432332
From what I've heard classmates and roomates and professors knew something was up with him, but nothing was done. That really just needs to change in our society. We can't keep brushing things off that we notice and say "that's not my problem".
[/QUOTE]

Basically because of comments like this (sorry to just point yours out), I have just basically had to to turn the tv off, stop reading comments, etc.

It is always just so frustrating to me to hear people talk on a subject or make comments on something that they do not know about. Honestly because this is my school it feels personal...

People saying why didn't the school do anything in those two hours? They did, it is so easy to say this when you know the outcome. They thought it was someone else. Obviously no one who even came into to contact with him afterwards realized something was up (i.e. the postal worker)

Why did everyone ignore this kid or not talk to him? People tried. I think honestly everyone who has lived with him has seemed very tolarable to him (from their interviews on tv) despite his very wierd nature more than most people could say.

Why did no one do anything about this? They did, there is only so much you can do based on the law. He was put voluntarily in a mental institution. Police were called (they can only do so much unless he actually does something criminal).

Sorry this is just makes me mad to hear these comments. I know people need to question things, I always agree with that, but sometimes you need to listen to the facts first.

[SydneyK]

I applaud you for saying this, angelic1. I wish more Tech students would speak up, because I'm sure you can't be the only one who feels this way.

Regarding the young woman who lived through Columbine and now this; she impressed me beyond belief. She was amazingly composed, and seemed to be emotionally stronger than I could ever imagine.

I'm so upset with the way the media is handling the coverage of this. Even the name they've given this (Virginia Tech Massacre) implies that the university is somehow at fault, when I don't believe it is. I really wish the media would focus on the positives at this point (the sense of community, the camaraderie, the survivors, etc.) instead of the negatives (letting the killer get his last word in by airing his tape, blaming the university, etc.)