Comments | lenainverse: A discussion of VA Tech, mental illness, and searching for "answers" from a social worker's POV

lenainverse

A discussion of VA Tech, mental illness, and searching for "answers" from a social worker's POV

Apr 19, 2007 17:37

ZOMG public post!

In response to a discussion ishantil and I had yesterday about the Virginia Tech shooter, I decided to write up my opinions on the subject, especially in light of the broadcast on NBC last night of the murderer’s “manifesto,” so it’s being called, which he apparently spent a significant amount of time creating and even took time between ( Read more... )

rant, attempts at being profound

Comments 6

sp_kathrine April 19 2007, 22:51:30 UTC

Unfortunately, you're right. The act was avoidable, but only if too many drastic measures were taken. So basically with the system as it is now and protecting civil liberties also thrown in, the act became inevitable ( ... )

lenainverse April 20 2007, 00:05:52 UTC

I agree that something needs to be done about bullying. Just because it "happens to everyone" doesn't make it okay. I doubt that bullying was the sole cause of what happened, but it certainly didn't help things ( ... )

mr_jenius April 20 2007, 13:36:25 UTC

The thing that is really making me sick about all of this is the politicization (spelling?) of the event. Almost immediately, you are hearing both sides of the gun lobby spout their rhetoric, and it just feels like it cheapens the lives of the victims. My intern had some friends who were wounded in the attack, and he knows at least one girl who lost her cousin.

Yesterday upset me even more with the whole "manifesto" thing. NBC's corporate leadership really lost a lot of integrity by showing that guy's tape. I can't help but feel that this will spawn more things like this from other folks who might be in the same mental state.

As to everything else, I am just kind of numb right now. Other than anger, which doesn't help anything, I don't knwo what else to think.

ishantil April 20 2007, 17:02:13 UTC

Actually, I disagree. It wasn't both sides of the gun lobby. It was one side. the gun rights advocates had no choice but to respond.

That aside, the "if only we could have done more" is a great thing to believe in. As long as you are applying it to the future, and not trying to place blame.

I honestly believe that some people just come out bad. It happens in nature, and whatnot. But it IS our job as humans to help our fellow humans out. So can only try to develop new forms of treatment, help the best we can, and pick up the pieces when it doesn't always work.

On this day, we praise the fallen.

mr_jenius April 20 2007, 17:43:32 UTC

Amen.

tsukihime_san April 21 2007, 00:06:27 UTC

I don't have much to say - as I agree with Lena on most points.
Just one thing - stuff like that does not happen (though I guess I should add 'yet')in Russia however much bullying occurs in schools there.
Weapons are way too easy to get here. It seems wrong to me.