<p>I thought, as this is a forum of people who are either aspiring or present college students and/or their parents, all of us are plugged in not only to the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, but also the modern culture which has produced Columbine and scores of other similar rampages.</p>
<p>NBC is airing video of Cho, vaulting him up to an international icon when he was, in fact, a cowardly suicidal young man who was twisted beyond comprehension. They claim it is newsworthy, and the public has "the right to know", in order to better understand the motives of the killer. I say it is the same kind of ratings-grabbing sensationalism that prompted them to saturate the airwaves with the untimely death of a former stripper sparse on talent but high on the pop culture scale.</p>
<p>Psychologists are now saying this sends a terrible message of validation of others on the edge...</p>
<p>The bodies are not even all buried yet, and they are playing this sick young man's videotaped rants.</p>
<p>Sickens me--what about the rest of you? I'm particularly curious to hear what the younger generation thinks of this... Do we need to be seeing this guy's manifesto? Or will it hurt our society more than it will help it?</p>
<p>We are giving him what he wants by showing his videos on national TV....Attention. It makes me wonder how many other angry kids are out there watching how famous he has become and wondering if they could top his body count. Maybe we should be showing stories about the lives of those who have died instead.</p>
<p>No, I do not think it should be shown. I also don't think that Greta should talk about this on Fox for the rest of time, but she will. I understand it is a big news story, and I respect that, but with how much attention we have given this kid we are begging for copy-cat events. Look at how much they have looked into his life, heck, I think Fox even went to his residence hall. For someone who feels ignored and unappreciated in a sick way, I can see how watching all of this could encourage you to do it, you know? This kid is now famous in a sick way and his name will be known like Harris or Kleibold. That is just asking for a copycat to me.</p>
<p>Then again, what do we do? We have to cover the story and America wants answers, so I don't know. It just seems a bit much. I have stopped watching the news and will pick it up again when this all is over for everyone but Greta...since Greta will talk about it until the next Anna Nichole or Aruba.</p>
<p>I agree with everyone on this post... today in the middle of school we had to evacuate the building in an emergency exit to our football stadium because during a locker check something was found in someone's locker (rumors have been that there were blueprints of the school with plans for "bombs" tomorrow on the Columbine anniversary)...</p>
<p>whatever it may be these sick kids that are ignored their entire life want the attention that is given to those who have murdered many, and it is really getting scary... our school is in complete chaos and tomorrow there are supposed to be over 20 cops plus several dogs in our school all day--nice learning environment... how can someone be that mentally sick... i cannot even fathom but i'm seeing concrete effects from his actions and the news that is covering it</p>
<p>Jvon, that's awful to hear what is going on in high schools these days...and on university campuses. The more things happen, the more seriously schools have to take the threats that something will happen--even if they are idle threats--subsequently spawning even more threats in the climate of tension.</p>
<p>I am amazed by all the armchair analysis of the rambling Cho videos beamed across the airwaves. What was he thinking? What does the symbol on his arm mean? As if this twisted, sociopathic, narcissistic killer were some sort of guru, with his epistles broadcast across the globes. It is akin to trying to glean the deeper meanings of a 3 year-old's scribblings on the wall (except for the fact that 3 year-olds don't chain the doors shut on a classroom building and begin firing.)</p>
<p>How are kids hanging in there through this?</p>
<p>Jvon same thing here....my school is almost in lock down no one leaves the class no one enters cops are all over the school rumors are that someone wants to pull the firealarm to get all the kids out of the school and start to shoot them. The teacher said that if the alarm goes off them we follow fire drill procedure I'm scared......
my BF sent me a text if a the alarm goes off my sister his brothers and I all meet at his car. i dont trust the teachers to control anything PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR US....we need it now. What has our world come to.....?</p>
<p>wow that is so scary isabella... yeah we had school today and at least 3/4 of the school didn't show up because of the bomb threat yesterday... it's kinda sad... but i guess they found wires, plastic gloves, and other "suspicious materials" in the kid's back and evidently he said to our principal "i got a lot more useful stuff at home" the *<strong><em>ing kid just wants some attention and it *</em></strong>es me off because now we're behind in all our classes when we're struggling to finish before ap testing as it is... i'm suspended somewhere between fear and anger because the majority of these "threats" are kids wanting attention with no legitimate plan for anything...</p>
<p>I didn't like the airing of the videos on television at all - they were purely disturbing and they gave Cho what he wanted, which because of his actions he did not deserve. I know he came off as angsty and obviously unstable, but I do know that there are people out there (unfortunately) who will somehow "feel his pain" and try to top him. I've had several discussions with peers and teachers and that's how I feel. Those airings (all of which are for higher ratings and money on the networks' part) don't do anything more than pour salt on the wounds of those grieving these tragic days and I, personally, feel like it could well be a threat to my safety, and others, in the future as to who's watching these videos and following him.</p>