Now, before I start this discussion for the second time, let it be aware that since the other topic went under, I have admin permission to start this one. Further more, leave your hostility at the door. I've also been asked to notify you all the following: any attempt to turn this thread into a flame war will seriously be frowned upon by the management.
First off, let me just say that I was amazed at the brutality that took place at VT on the 16th. It is almost impossible to think that a person is capable of this feat, killing 32 people alone, then taking aware their life. Unfortunately, the big downside to these situations is that we may never know the killers true motives, but we can confirm one thing in that he was mentally ill and disturbed.
When researching this tragedy, I found these links to be the most helpful and informative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cho_Seung-hui
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_massacre
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0417071vtech1.html
Taken from the first Wikipedia link concerning Cho's behavior at VT:
"Fellow students described Cho as a "quiet" person who "would not respond if someone greeted him." Student Julie Poole recalled the first day of a literature class last year, when the students introduced themselves one by one: when it was Cho's turn, he did not speak. The professor, she said, looked at the sign-in sheet and where everyone else had written their names, Cho had written a question mark. "We just really knew him as the question mark kid," Poole added.
Cho's grandfather stated that "My grandson Seung-Hui was very shy. I can't believe he did such a thing."
Professor Nikki Giovanni, who taught Cho in a poetry class, stated that she had him removed from her class because his behavior was so menacing. In fact she recalls being bothered by a "mean streak" Cho presented. She described Cho's writing as "intimidating... there was something mean about this boy. It was the meanness — I've taught troubled youngsters and crazy people — it was the meanness that bothered me. It was a really mean streak." When informed of the massacre, she remarked, "I knew when it happened that that's probably who it was," and "I would have been shocked if it wasn't."Giovanni insisted that Cho be removed from her class in 2005 about six weeks after the semester had started in September — Cho had intimidated female students by photographing their legs under the desk and by writing obscene, violent poetry.Giovanni said, "I was willing to resign before I would continue with him."
Giovanni wrote a letter to then-department head Lucinda Roy, who removed Cho. Roy alerted student affairs, the dean's office, and the campus police, but each said there was nothing they could do if Cho had made no overt threats against himself or others. As a result, Roy, one of Cho's English professors, took Cho on as a kind of personal tutor.
Roy described Cho as "an intelligent man" but stated that he seemed to be an awkward and very lonely and insecure man who never took off his sunglasses, even indoors. She described his behavior as at times "arrogant" and "obnoxious". She said she tried several different ways to help him, including a decision to refer him for counseling which was unsuccessful. Roy would not comment at length on Cho’s writings, saying only that in general they “seemed very angry.” She said that he whispered, took 20 seconds to answer questions, and took cell phone pictures of her in class. After becoming concerned with his behavior and the themes in his writings, the professor started meeting with Cho to work with him one-on-one. She said she was concerned for her safety when she met with him. After notifying the legal authorities about his behavior, the professor urged Cho to seek counseling, but he refused.
According to an interview of both his roommates, John and Andy, on CNN, Cho listened to Collective Soul's "Shine" repeatedly and also wrote the lyrics down on his dorm room wall. Andy describes two stalking incidents: Cho standing in the unlocked doorway of his room late at night taking photographs, and repeatedly placing harassing cellphone calls to Andy as "Cho's brother, Question Mark", a name he would also use when introducing himself to girls with whom he was allegedly obsessed. John declined to describe Cho as "mean", conflicting with another first-hand account. The roommates also said he repeatedly stalked their female friends."
Concerning his personal play writings:
"In 2006, Cho wrote a short, profanity-laden one-act play entitled "Richard McBeef". It is about a 13-year-old boy, John, who accuses his stepfather, Richard McBeef, of molesting him and murdering his father. John repeatedly says he will kill Richard. John, Richard, and Sue, John's mother, become involved in a major argument. The play ends with Richard, who up until this point is passive, dealing John "a deadly blow".
In a second play written by Cho, titled "Mr. Brownstone", three 17-year-olds named John, Jane, and Joe, while sitting in a casino, discuss their deep hatred of their 45-year-old mathematics teacher, Mr. Brownstone, who they claim mistreated them (using the phrase 'ass-rape'). John wins a multi-million dollar jackpot from one of the slot machines and Mr. Brownstone, amid volleys of profanity, reports to the casino officials that the three characters are underage and falsely states that it was he who had won the jackpot and the minors took it from him.The title "Mr. Brownstone" is also the name of a Guns N' Roses song and one page from the play consists of lyrics from the song."
The first play mentioned above can be found in the third link posted above the quotes.
On April 16th, Cho killed his ex-girlfriend and another student, then he went on to kill 30 others. But before his second killing spree, he made this tape and sent it in to NBC News: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1RV-yPaJb_k
I would like to hear your educated thoughts and debates after all the official info given above. It was fascinating to read about someone this mentally ill and disturbed, motives seemed to deal with romance, and hate for those well off, including "rich snobs", and their "debaucharies".
-Matt
First off, let me just say that I was amazed at the brutality that took place at VT on the 16th. It is almost impossible to think that a person is capable of this feat, killing 32 people alone, then taking aware their life. Unfortunately, the big downside to these situations is that we may never know the killers true motives, but we can confirm one thing in that he was mentally ill and disturbed.
When researching this tragedy, I found these links to be the most helpful and informative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cho_Seung-hui
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_massacre
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0417071vtech1.html
Taken from the first Wikipedia link concerning Cho's behavior at VT:
"Fellow students described Cho as a "quiet" person who "would not respond if someone greeted him." Student Julie Poole recalled the first day of a literature class last year, when the students introduced themselves one by one: when it was Cho's turn, he did not speak. The professor, she said, looked at the sign-in sheet and where everyone else had written their names, Cho had written a question mark. "We just really knew him as the question mark kid," Poole added.
Cho's grandfather stated that "My grandson Seung-Hui was very shy. I can't believe he did such a thing."
Professor Nikki Giovanni, who taught Cho in a poetry class, stated that she had him removed from her class because his behavior was so menacing. In fact she recalls being bothered by a "mean streak" Cho presented. She described Cho's writing as "intimidating... there was something mean about this boy. It was the meanness — I've taught troubled youngsters and crazy people — it was the meanness that bothered me. It was a really mean streak." When informed of the massacre, she remarked, "I knew when it happened that that's probably who it was," and "I would have been shocked if it wasn't."Giovanni insisted that Cho be removed from her class in 2005 about six weeks after the semester had started in September — Cho had intimidated female students by photographing their legs under the desk and by writing obscene, violent poetry.Giovanni said, "I was willing to resign before I would continue with him."
Giovanni wrote a letter to then-department head Lucinda Roy, who removed Cho. Roy alerted student affairs, the dean's office, and the campus police, but each said there was nothing they could do if Cho had made no overt threats against himself or others. As a result, Roy, one of Cho's English professors, took Cho on as a kind of personal tutor.
Roy described Cho as "an intelligent man" but stated that he seemed to be an awkward and very lonely and insecure man who never took off his sunglasses, even indoors. She described his behavior as at times "arrogant" and "obnoxious". She said she tried several different ways to help him, including a decision to refer him for counseling which was unsuccessful. Roy would not comment at length on Cho’s writings, saying only that in general they “seemed very angry.” She said that he whispered, took 20 seconds to answer questions, and took cell phone pictures of her in class. After becoming concerned with his behavior and the themes in his writings, the professor started meeting with Cho to work with him one-on-one. She said she was concerned for her safety when she met with him. After notifying the legal authorities about his behavior, the professor urged Cho to seek counseling, but he refused.
According to an interview of both his roommates, John and Andy, on CNN, Cho listened to Collective Soul's "Shine" repeatedly and also wrote the lyrics down on his dorm room wall. Andy describes two stalking incidents: Cho standing in the unlocked doorway of his room late at night taking photographs, and repeatedly placing harassing cellphone calls to Andy as "Cho's brother, Question Mark", a name he would also use when introducing himself to girls with whom he was allegedly obsessed. John declined to describe Cho as "mean", conflicting with another first-hand account. The roommates also said he repeatedly stalked their female friends."
Concerning his personal play writings:
"In 2006, Cho wrote a short, profanity-laden one-act play entitled "Richard McBeef". It is about a 13-year-old boy, John, who accuses his stepfather, Richard McBeef, of molesting him and murdering his father. John repeatedly says he will kill Richard. John, Richard, and Sue, John's mother, become involved in a major argument. The play ends with Richard, who up until this point is passive, dealing John "a deadly blow".
In a second play written by Cho, titled "Mr. Brownstone", three 17-year-olds named John, Jane, and Joe, while sitting in a casino, discuss their deep hatred of their 45-year-old mathematics teacher, Mr. Brownstone, who they claim mistreated them (using the phrase 'ass-rape'). John wins a multi-million dollar jackpot from one of the slot machines and Mr. Brownstone, amid volleys of profanity, reports to the casino officials that the three characters are underage and falsely states that it was he who had won the jackpot and the minors took it from him.The title "Mr. Brownstone" is also the name of a Guns N' Roses song and one page from the play consists of lyrics from the song."
The first play mentioned above can be found in the third link posted above the quotes.
On April 16th, Cho killed his ex-girlfriend and another student, then he went on to kill 30 others. But before his second killing spree, he made this tape and sent it in to NBC News: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1RV-yPaJb_k
I would like to hear your educated thoughts and debates after all the official info given above. It was fascinating to read about someone this mentally ill and disturbed, motives seemed to deal with romance, and hate for those well off, including "rich snobs", and their "debaucharies".
-Matt
