They should stop airing videos by a murderer, and we should stop watching them

[NNguyenMD]

on TV or online.

As mentioned by others earlier, we are fulfilling the sick fantasy of a murderer by giving his last messages our undivided attention.

As a nation in mourning, we are dishonoring the memories of the victims by shifting our attention away from their tragedy, and into his madness.

Email MSNBC here

[e-mail]

[YvonneCa]

1. I agree...

...totally. Thanks for the email info.

[rwheeler31]

2. no

We need information.

[progressivebydesign]

8. what purpose does it serve to get that type of info? Can it prevent it?

Nope. it already happened. Will it encourage others with the same ideas. No doubt

[EFerrari]

3. No. We need to see and understand the consequences

of our disregard.

peace, Doc

[bdamomma]

4. NBC is just making this guy a martyr, he apparently got his

way from being isolated and alone to "like look at me" not to say how many more out there will feel they will have their moment too like Cho. Very dangerous to keep on showing the same thing over and over again, and apparently any disaster or insane killers they will keep disaster fresh in the minds of people, we saw it with the Twin Towers etched in peoples minds forever. And then they wonder why there is so violence in our society.

[babylonsister]

5. I saw a few minutes, and I'm done. The guy was sick, and any video won't

bring back those he slayed.

[bdamomma]

6. what bothers me, that every channel he went through just let him

go. We have a broken system for mental health issues and treatment, and there will be more cases hopefully not as extreme as this, but points to our own soldiers who will be coming back with many mental health issues. Mental Health seems to be a forgotten topic, and it shouldn't be.

[smtpgirl]

13. We just have a broken system and a nation

[realisticphish]

17. just pointing out

that therapy doesn't work unless the subject was willing. He was not. I definately agree about the shoddy state of our mental health system, but I don't believe that contributed here.

[NJCher]

47. a book I posted about addresses this topic

every channel he went through just let him


See my thread at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=209&topic_id=5258&mesg_id=5258

The second half of the book Halfway Heaven discusses the responsibilities of the university and how these violent students "slipped through the cracks." In some cases, they weren't cracks--they were chasms.



Cher

[progressivebydesign]

7. THANK YOU!! I thought I was the only one that thought so!

I find it totally sensationalistic and disgusting that they are airing these things. The one thing that slime wanted was to "tell the world" about his twisted views, and in the interest of selling ad time and getting big ratings, NBC is obliging. It's sick. I think the world could clearly understand his motive without actually giving his insane rantings, and desire for attention, air time. Its' wrong wrong wrong.

Truly what purpose does it serve other than to promote ratings? What will anyone really learn by watching the horiffic rantings? Does it make us a better country? Or does it encourage more angry and ill people to do the same to get publicity.

The thing is.. as with that asshole that shot up the Tacoma Mall at Christmas.. they ALL do it with the idea that they are getting attention for it. The guy that shot up the Tacoma Mall did it, they all do it. They are dying to be heard, literally. It does no good to air his rants. It's what he wanted. Dont' fucking give it to him.

[rwheeler31]

9. Let people know what

mental illness looks like.

[adigal]

10. It keeps us from hearing about Iraq

and Gonzalez, and that abortion rights are being chipped away by right wing nutjobs on the Supreme Court. Don't you think??

[Gormy Cuss]

11. I agree that now is not the time to show these videos.

There is no public need to see the wild ramblings of this man while the incident is so fresh and the mourning of his victims has just begun. Perhaps later, as a case study, but not now.

[silverojo]

12. Now is the time.

Don't you think the family and friends of those slain want answers to their questions of why this guy killed so many people? I've had a senseless death in the family, and THE most important thing is to understand why on earth a death happens out of the blue.

Cho Seung-Hui wasn't just an evildoer hell-bent on killing people (that position is already taken by B~sh). He was severely mentally ill, and people need to know how that kind of mind works, so that they can understand what happened. Others need to know how to recognize the signs before another tragedy occurs, and the way to do that is to see and hear how a killer is acting and thinking. Hearing a bunch of clueless talking heads blather on endlessly is not informing is at all.

If you don't want to watch the video, change the channel. Hasn't the world had enough of the Joe "V-chip" Lieberman mentality? :eyes:

[Gormy Cuss]

14. The family and friends can see it privately.

I doubt that the videos will provide any solace at this very moment, but it's up to those directly affected to decide that. The rest of us can understand sufficiently from text descriptions. Note that I wrote perhaps it would be instructive at a later time to air them, but at this very moment the talking heads may be blathering about the need to show the videos to help us understand, but it's about titillation, ratings and revenue. It's just one more piece of voyeuristic programming, like Survivor.
I guess some people feel the need to watch such crap.

[NNguyenMD]

18. I think that is perfectly reasonable to play it at a later time when we have had more time to

process everything that has happened.

My main point, which has already been mentioned by many others and yourself, is that we are dishonoring the memory of the 33 victims killed by allowing ourselves to obsess over a madman's rantings, that at this moment, will yield very little benefit other than to inspire other twisted minds to desire the same national spotlight.

There will come a time and a place when as a country we will can use these tapes to better understand mental illness, but in my opinion this is not that time. And I feel very uncomfortable rewarding MSNBC with advertising dollars and ratings by falling into a sick man's trap.

[mod mom]

15. I only watch KO and tonight turned it off and emailed him and let him know

how disappointing his show was today.

[soothsayer]

16. Actually I found that it humanized him, reducing him from a bogeyman

to just a verrry messed up young man with a nice smile. It made him smaller and sadder rather than elevating him.

[wiley]

19. It also encourages the mentally unstable and thrill seekers to copycat

type actions.

[Toucano]

20. Yes, let's bury the truth and bury our heads in the sand.

That always makes things better.

[NNguyenMD]

21. lets get real here, these videos are being played repeatedly for one purpose

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It has little to do with the truth or understanding motives, and everything to do with sensationalizing, hyping, and ratings.

There is nothing to see here except lunatic rantings and provocative images of him brandishing firearms infront of the camera the same way he did it to the people he murdered.

[Toucano]

23. No, you get real. That ad time was sold MONTHS ago!

So fuck off with the conspiracies about profit.

Ignorance never produced anything good. Are you happy to let SOMEONE ELSE describe him as MENTALL ILL? Were you content to let someone else tell you Saddam had WMD's?

Well, I'm not. I prefer to make the evaluation of all available evidence myself, thank you.

I have a right to witness all the information available to me. They have a right to broadcast all the information available to them.

Stop trying to silence the truth, and learn where the "OFF" button is when you've had too much.

[NNguyenMD]

24. I'm sorry if I offended you, but there really is no need for that kind of language.

You're obviously very comfortable with what you see, go nuts.

While others will prefer to show some respect for the dead, instead of becoming apart of the "cult of celebrity".

I never argued against NBC's right to air the videos, I was calling for them to show some margin of decency for those in mourning for their love ones.

If somehow you feel that there is something inside of you that feels the need to watch something like that, I am not stopping you.

All I am saying is, I feel that you are disrespecting the dead and their families by doing so. That is my opinion, it likely means nothing to you. But just as you have the right to watch it, I have the right to criticize you and NBC for fulfilling this killer's last torment to his victims.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Toucano]

32. Good luck with that.

Sorry, but I have CREDENTIALS.

What have you got besides the worst of everything the right accuses us of being?

[BigBearJohn]

31. .

[omega minimo]

22. Never started

:hi:

[KharmaTrain]

25. That's What The Off Knob Is For

I'm hitting the saturation point with this story as many are, but there are still relevant new facts that are coming to light and these videos and writings may provide the answer that many of us out here are asking: why. Is there something in those rantings that one can see in their own kid or friend? To a certain extent I wanted to see the look in his eyes, the rage in his voice...see if I can feel that rage that led him to do such evil...and is this something we see in others and can help prevent another incident such as this.

By learning about this killer, we honor those who were killed as the lesson learned here...and there will be...will be applied to prevent or detect similar incidents from occuring in the future.

Regarding those mourning...throughout the day I saw a parade of victims friends and family who paid tribute to their loved ones...should we turn that off as well? Shouldn't they be at home mourning and not on camera? I don't think so...this is part of the story and part of their grieving process. Also, if it were my loved one, I would want to know more about the person who killed my loved one and see if I can get something/anything of closure in this matter. The why will live with all the survivors for the rest of their lives.

Now with the killer dead, how do we fulfill a fantasy? That said, as soon as I saw a few minutes of this, I turned it off...I'd heard enough, seen enough. I didn't need the analysis or see it repeated...thus I turned off the news and enjoyed some music for a while and then watched a ballgame.

[NNguyenMD]

35. Well...I think that by sending those videos to NBC it can be inferred that

his intention was to have them air it after committing this terrible crime; which you can say was part of his motivation, if not fantasy, to do something like this.

Yes he is dead now, and some may see me as naive for saying this, but I feel that the most appropriate thing to do with these tapes is to deny him the infamy that he sought from doing this.

I suspect you agree that there already is an immense amount of information to mull over without the tapes.

My beef with the airing of his "message", and seeing FOX/CNN/ABC/NBC/CBS plaster images of him brandishing guns and knives on the web and airwaves is that it sensationalizes what he did.

I don't think that thats what the country needs right now, and that it is offensive to the memory of the people who were killed. I'm not trying to be a censor nanny, I just think that we can show some more patience and respect for the people who have been affected by this by turning off our TV dials, and telling NBC that their attempt to garner ratings in this manner is not appreciated. Which, yes, is why the knob on my TV is in the off position.

Glad we are able to carry this discourse with mutual respect.

[Matsubara]

26. Disagree.

The media's motivation in airing them is mercenary and exploitative,

but people want to know what was going through this kid's mind as he

did this. If his rants can give any insight to help prevent the next VT

slaughter, then it's worth airing.

[NNguyenMD]

28. maybe so, but it also inspires other sick and twisted people into desiring the same infamy

Just as there are people who want insight, there will be others who will feel inspired by similar acts of murder.

I'm not asking that these videos be denied to the public, I'm saying that they be held until people get a better grip on everything that has happened since Monday. It would be better to process his messages when things aren't so sensationalized and excited, and when we're not consumed with so much anger, confusion and fear.

[Toucano]

34. "I'm saying that they be held until people get a better grip on everything"

What makes you think you know when people will have a "better grip" or that you're qualified to make that decision?

Nanny much? GAWD!

[NNguyenMD]

36. how about at least until after the families have been allowed to bury their dead

that would seem like a decent start

[Toucano]

37. As defined by the Torah? The Quoran?

Or by your own nanny insticts?

I disagree with you on this because you won't see how your attempt to impose your PERSONAL moral view on everyone else is EXACTLY like the fundie Christian right trying to impose it's view on everyone.

If you don't like something on television, to exercise your greatest power is to TURN IT OFF.

As I have said, I want to hear what the killer had to say. I did that, and I turned it off.

You didn't want to hear what the killer had to say, but you watched anyway and then decided to MOTHER HEN the rest of us by telling us what we SHOULD and SHOULDN'T do.

Your problem and your solution are both in your OWN hand.

[NNguyenMD]

38. ?

[Toucano]

40. "Decent". As defined by what? n/t

[NNguyenMD]

41. ??

[Toucano]

42. I can compose my argument in a language other than English.

Which would be most appropriate for you.

???

[NNguyenMD]

43. you did claim to be credentialed in somethings or another, what do you speak?

Otherwise, you don't seem to have much else to add other than to repeat your previous claim that I am a "mother hen".

Criticism acknowledged, but is there really anything else before you inevitably cross into the Ad hominem attacks? Oh wait, I forgot you've already done that.

[Gelliebeans]

30. I don't about you

but I would rather have too much rather than not enough information to judge the facts.

We have lived in a society where the media has been keeping information from the public and that has created an alternate reality.

There is always the off button.


gellie

[Horse with no Name]

33. I haven't seen it and I don't plan to

I turned off ALL this coverage Tuesday afternoon.

[Cetacea]

39. We must not upset our beautiful minds.

Sorry, but I am all for insight.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

44. After the initial coverage

and just becoming aware that this tragedy occurred, I'm not reading ANYTHING more about it. I think the media adds to the trauma with the 24/7 screaming headlines, the theme music and breathless hysteria. CNN has a picture of the shooter pointing a gun at the camera. That's fucking sick.

[ends_dont_justify]

45. Way ahead of you

I don't even have television anymore, took the satelite boxes and just ditched them :/ saw a few minutes of the guy...realized he was a heavy sociopath and a moron, perhaps brainwashed, and that he shouldn't have been the deciding factor in those people's lives.

Had they never even mentioned race, I wouldn't have cared. Just from watching him the only thing I acknowledged was the way he struggled to form basic communication. Not that I think it's bad because I know he's korean...but being an english major, he seemed very bad at it.

[DarkTirade]

46. I've refused to watch them.

This was one sick individual who did something horrible... and now people are profiting from it.

[YankeyMCC]

48. That's why I shut off KO last night

[OnionPatch]

49. Have to agree with you

Some initial coverage is ok, but this nationwide, 24/7 coverage on every major TV channel was just what this little fuck was dreaming about when he conjured up his killing scheme. Our society turns these kinds of killers into celebrities, and that's just a shame. I'm not saying the info shouldn't come out, but all over every major station at primetime for days and days on end? It's cheap sensationalism and it only encourages others whackos to seek the spotlight.

[grannylib]

50. Totally agree. The papers, the idiot box, the internet news it's insane.

Why aren't there colored pictures of and tributes to the victims on the front pages of the papers, instead of the glorification of their killer? Why are there only little b&w pix buried on the inside pages? Why is this shit and 'Murkin Idle getting ANY airtime when the fucking ATTORNEY GENERAL is testifying to Congress?
(Don't answer that, I KNOW why, just ranting)

I agree. It's sickening, and it just encourages others who may be inclined to such horrific violence.