VT Student Adds Stone for Gunman

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/1/2007 9:50:09 AM
Author: fire&ice
First, Idol/Celebs ARE about LOOKS. It''s their marketability. So, equating those threads with society''s feelings about appearances doesn''t fly. Their appearance is part of their job.

We will always and continue to judge by appearances. Is that cool? - no - but a fact. Lots of people are made fun of. Lots of people don''t turn into homicidal maniacs. I don''t feel sorry for him. I certainly don''t view him as a victim. He premeditated the murders of 32 innocents. THEY are the VICTIMS. While I understand the grief his family may feel, those that supposedly should love him the most FAILED.

I really don''t want to prolong this thread, but if I understand you correctly, I intensely disagree. A family with a mentally ill member suffers greatly, and there is no way on this earth they can either predict horrifying events or prevent them! I consider the murderer was mentally ill, and I have the greatest sympathy for his family. They are absolutely not to blame.

 

[poptart]

Date: 5/1/2007 10:45:00 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 5/1/2007 9:50:09 AM

Author: fire&ice

First, Idol/Celebs ARE about LOOKS. It''s their marketability. So, equating those threads with society''s feelings about appearances doesn''t fly. Their appearance is part of their job.


We will always and continue to judge by appearances. Is that cool? - no - but a fact. Lots of people are made fun of. Lots of people don''t turn into homicidal maniacs. I don''t feel sorry for him. I certainly don''t view him as a victim. He premeditated the murders of 32 innocents. THEY are the VICTIMS. While I understand the grief his family may feel, those that supposedly should love him the most FAILED.

I really don''t want to prolong this thread, but if I understand you correctly, I intensely disagree. A family with a mentally ill member suffers greatly, and there is no way on this earth they can either predict horrifying events or prevent them! I consider the murderer was mentally ill, and I have the greatest sympathy for his family. They are absolutely not to blame.

I agree diamondseeker. His family is also suffering immensely and shouldn''t be blamed for something that they couldn''t control and had no idea would happen.

*M*

 

[fire&ice]

Then we have the right to respectfully disagree. This "boy" was diagnoised w/ autism at an early age. The family did not seek help. It surprises me that one can blame VT, the system, the materialistic culture, the stigma of mental illness, the judge, the gun legislation, ect - yet, blame the people most responsible for his "health" and I am just plain "wrong". The only thing we can certainly agree on is that it isn''t the politically correct thing to do.

Interesting editorial in our paper. The ACC Golf tourney was going on. One of the VT players was the son of the writer. They all were discussing this and that about the VT situation. A voice of reason from the Clemson bench rung out. "You can''t plan for crazy." Rings true in my head. Can''t make sense out of the senseless.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/2/2007 10:20:17 AM
Author: fire&ice
Then we have the right to respectfully disagree. This ''boy'' was diagnoised w/ autism at an early age. The family did not seek help. It surprises me that one can blame VT, the system, the materialistic culture, the stigma of mental illness, the judge, the gun legislation, ect - yet, blame the people most responsible for his ''health'' and I am just plain ''wrong''. The only thing we can certainly agree on is that it isn''t the politically correct thing to do.

Interesting editorial in our paper. The ACC Golf tourney was going on. One of the VT players was the son of the writer. They all were discussing this and that about the VT situation. A voice of reason from the Clemson bench rung out. ''You can''t plan for crazy.'' Rings true in my head. Can''t make sense out of the senseless.

Autism is not mental illness. If he was smart enough to graduate from high school and be accepted to VT, then he obviously was extremely high functioning and received the support needed to get to that point. That is quite an accomplishment if that diagnosis is even true. What he decided to do thereafter is not the fault of his parents. As a parent, I can most assuredly tell you that we do our best, but our kids do make their own decisions at some point and you do NOT always know what they are doing!

 

[indecisive]

I am kind of in the middle on this. I do not think the parents are to blame, as every adult is responsible for their own actions but I do think they could have and wish they had done more. I have read probably more than I should have about his life and it is a really sad story. It seems as though he had virtually no friends and was completely closed off from his family as well. I do think his parents had the best chance of anyone to recognize that he really needed socialization and help. Apparently his mom said she wished it had been him that went to Princeton instead of his sister and things to that nature. They are not to blame but I do think they could have done more.

Kaleigh - thank you. I am trying to stay as positive as I can but it is a hard thing to do. I appreciate all the support.

 

[diamondfan]

I just do not know what can be done when someone is clearly so non functional socially, academically he was fine but that is not all that matters. And austism is not usually associated with violence, so even if he was autistic I do not think anyone could know something like this would occur. Clearly he was ill and needed support, but it is a big leap to go from friendless to mass murderer...

I am sorry for all who have lost loved ones and hope healing is underway...