Virginia Tech Murders (26 Viewers)

gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
I agree that Seven steps on the line sometimes, but to be honest, as I've stated before I completely understand where he's coming from on this one. I don't think anyone here truly has the right to say that they 'care', the same way they would if one of their friends or family died. Of course every single person here would have preferred for this not to happen, but I think everyone's taking a bit too much moral high ground here calling Andries a heartless bastard.

Maybe the following will make you all throw me in the same basket as Seven, but I'm being honest. When I heard the news, I said "dang....", read everything I could find about it, told my mum, but apart from that it didn't affect the rest of my day. I closed my browser, had a shower and went to work. And I think very few of you, if any, can say any differently. Maybe some of you attended a vigil or donated money to a relief cause, but that doesn't give anyone grounds to say that they truly care.

When I see a beggar on the street, I feel bad for him. I give him some of my spare change, and if I'm not in a hurry I might have a chat with him (though this doesn't usually result in very engaging conversations), but I don't think I have the right to say that I really care unless I

1) Give him enough money to buy a house, get him cleaned up and find him a job so that he can support himself.
2) Bring him into my own home and care (there's that word again) for him.

2. People never get shot at universities and high schools in Western Europe.
That's not quite true, but I digress. You'd be correct in saying that it doesn't happen nearly as often as it does in the States.
 
Jan 7, 2004
29,704
School board member, Andrew Kehoe, upset by a property tax that had been levied to fund the construction of the school building, killed 45 people (including himself) and injured an additional 58 in a bombing at the Bath Consolidated School. This is still the largest school massacre in United States history.
 

Jem83

maitre'd at Canal Bar
Nov 7, 2005
22,870
Not even Seven is as stupid as the Tech killer was, who, after familiarizing myself with his epic work "Richard McBeef" and the brilliance of his rhetoric, strike me as a person who couldn't have had a higher IQ than 50

Why blame the USA for what happened when we were dealing with one of Nature's mishaps?
 

gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
Teachers in two northern California cities locked classroom doors, lowered blinds and kept nearly 22,000 school children inside all day today after a man threatened to go on a killing spree inspired by the mass murder at Virginia Tech.

Possibly hyped on the drug ice and psychotic, he was said to have an AK-47 assault rifle, explosives and poison.

Police patrolled public schools in Yuba City and nearby Marysville 65 km north of California's state capital Sacramento after Jeffery Thomas Carney, who officials said had a criminal record, allegedly said he intended to make the mass murders at Virginia Tech "look mild''.

Local officials say Carney called his pastor at the United Methodist Church and said he was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, improvised explosive devices and poison and would seek to provoke a confrontation with police to "commit suicide-by-cop''.

"At about 8.30am we asked the principals to put all schools in lock-down,'' said Nancy Aaberg, superintendent of the 12,000-pupil Yuba City Unified School District.

"We just kind of felt it was a consistent across-the-board safety measure.

"We actually had police at all of our campuses,'' she said in an interview.

"It was a generic threat; there was no specific threat to any of our specific schools or any other schools from this particular suspect.''

Yuba City officials sent high school students home early.

Officials in sister city Marysville across the river also locked down schools, affecting 9,700 students, an administrator said.

The Sutter County Sheriff's Department described Carney, 28, as a transient and reportedly a methamphetamine abuser possibly under the influence and exhibiting symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis.

It said Carney has a criminal record including burglary and conspiracy, and was out on bail following a charge of domestic violence against his parents.
Carney now faces new state charges of making a terrorist threat.
The threat emerged three days after 23-year-old South Korean student Cho Seung-Hui went on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, killing 32 people before turning the gun on himself.

Broadcasters criticised

Meanwhile, US television networks limited broadcasts of the video Cho sent to NBC after heavy coverage drew criticism from police and victims' families.

NBC News, which received the manifesto in the mail, said it had acted responsibly in showing the images and rants of Cho. But NBC and rival networks said they would use restraint in the future.

Police investigating the shootings in Blacksburg, Virginia, were also critical. "We're rather disappointed in the editorial decision to broadcast these disturbing images," state police chief Colonel Steve Flaherty said.

"The world has endured a view of life that few of us would or should ever have to endure," he said.

Flaherty said the material turned out to be of little value to investigators.

Common Sense Media, which monitors media impact on children, said it had received many calls about the broadcasts from anxious parents.
 

Jem83

maitre'd at Canal Bar
Nov 7, 2005
22,870
I agree that Seven steps on the line sometimes, but to be honest, as I've stated before I completely understand where he's coming from on this one. I don't think anyone here truly has the right to say that they 'care', the same way they would if one of their friends or family died. Of course every single person here would have preferred for this not to happen, but I think everyone's taking a bit too much moral high ground here calling Andries a heartless bastard.

Maybe the following will make you all throw me in the same basket as Seven, but I'm being honest. When I heard the news, I said "dang....", read everything I could find about it, told my mum, but apart from that it didn't affect the rest of my day. I closed my browser, had a shower and went to work. And I think very few of you, if any, can say any differently. Maybe some of you attended a vigil or donated money to a relief cause, but that doesn't give anyone grounds to say that they truly care.

When I see a beggar on the street, I feel bad for him. I give him some of my spare change, and if I'm not in a hurry I might have a chat with him (though this doesn't usually result in very engaging conversations), but I don't think I have the right to say that I really care unless I

1) Give him enough money to buy a house, get him cleaned up and find him a job so that he can support himself.
2) Bring him into my own home and care (there's that word again) for him.


That's not quite true, but I digress. You'd be correct in saying that it doesn't happen nearly as often as it does in the States.
The VT killings have affected me so deeply that I haven't functioned properly for three days because I have been emotionally exhausted. I'm not saying I'm better than anybody else because of this, and who knows? Maybe I'm crazy? But Seven was talking trash about people who care about others and saying it's pointless.
 

The Pado

Filthy Gobbo
Jul 12, 2002
9,939
I disagree, Pado. People get emotional when it's about things like these and it's quite simply a stupid reaction. You might think that I'm being a jackass, but which reaction you think is going to pay in the end: "RIP" or "You might want to change your gun laws"? Emotion has got nothing to do with issues like this.
Some will say "ban the guns". Some will say "give everybody a gun". Some will say "end immigration and send all Koreans back home", but in the end nothing will change except that we will get strip searched before entering any building from now on.
 

Vinman

2013 Prediction Cup Champ
Jul 16, 2002
11,482
I have long past trying to reason with a little WEASEL named seven....

maybe you guys should do the same... he is a little brat, whose IQ ("I" meaning IGNORANCE) is quite high

now, for the last time, I believe that gun laws should be stricter in the USA, no one should be able to walk into Walmart, show a drivers license, and buy a gun (Martin- the Virginia Tech shooter did have a mental health record, and if he had tried to get a New York State pistol permit, he would have been flat out DENIED)

I brought up the case in Japan not to compare the 2 incidents, as some of you want to believe, but to show that in ANY country in the world, anyone can get a gun

now, the question becomes, do you want to live in a society where only the criminals have guns 24 hours a day (not even the police in Canada are allowed to bring their weapon home after work, which is ridiculous), and you cannot protect yourself, or do you want a society where responsible people are allowed to carry a gun for protection

the choice is yours....
 

JCK

Biased
JCK
May 11, 2004
125,366
I would definitely choose to live in a society where there are no guns at all. So I would start where there are fewer guns, it is closer to my taste.
 

Vinman

2013 Prediction Cup Champ
Jul 16, 2002
11,482
I would definitely choose to live in a society where there are no guns at all. So I would start where there are fewer guns, it is closer to my taste.

is there a society where there are no guns at all ??

I wont believe it if you tell me that criminals dont have guns where you live, in Sweden
 

JCK

Biased
JCK
May 11, 2004
125,366
is there a society where there are no guns at all ??

I wont believe it if you tell me that criminals dont have guns where you live, in Sweden
Did I say there is such a society?

I said this is what I prefer and I start by choosing a place where there are fewer guns because it is closer to my preference.
 

GordoDeCentral

Diez
Moderator
Apr 14, 2005
70,774
for better or worse we always assume that our state of affairs would subsist as long as we re alive, that law order communication and abundance of food will always be available. As we all see saw will definitely see again, we are one disaster away from seeing the real nature of humans and in that case you bet your ass i'd rather be packing heat
 

gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
I brought up the case in Japan not to compare the 2 incidents, as some of you want to believe, but to show that in ANY country in the world, anyone can get a gun
But I don't think the incident in Japan illustrated your point, because we're talking about a mafia hit, and showing that the Japanese mafia has access to guns isn't a reflection of the society in general.
now, the question becomes, do you want to live in a society where only the criminals have guns 24 hours a day (not even the police in Canada are allowed to bring their weapon home after work, which is ridiculous), and you cannot protect yourself, or do you want a society where responsible people are allowed to carry a gun for protection

the choice is yours....
I would prefer a society where guns don't even come into the equation. Of course it's practically impossible to remove all guns from society, but not selling them over the counter to anyone with a driver's license is a step in the right direction. I know that doesn't apply to all states, but that's hardly the point.

I wont believe it if you tell me that criminals dont have guns where you live, in Sweden
Yes, but that's criminals, not the general populace. Again, there's a very clear distinction.

Having swords only is closer to my taste...being Arabic and all :D
:lol: that'd be pretty awesome.
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,307
For Seven:

"If"

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

By Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).
Now that is funny. I was watching The Sopranos yesterday and some guy was saying this poem.. then he got shot.
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,307
I have long past trying to reason with a little WEASEL named seven....

maybe you guys should do the same... he is a little brat, whose IQ ("I" meaning IGNORANCE) is quite high

now, for the last time, I believe that gun laws should be stricter in the USA, no one should be able to walk into Walmart, show a drivers license, and buy a gun (Martin- the Virginia Tech shooter did have a mental health record, and if he had tried to get a New York State pistol permit, he would have been flat out DENIED)

I brought up the case in Japan not to compare the 2 incidents, as some of you want to believe, but to show that in ANY country in the world, anyone can get a gun

now, the question becomes, do you want to live in a society where only the criminals have guns 24 hours a day (not even the police in Canada are allowed to bring their weapon home after work, which is ridiculous), and you cannot protect yourself, or do you want a society where responsible people are allowed to carry a gun for protection

the choice is yours....
That is a really poor joke, Vin.

Sure, anyone can get a gun anywhere, it' just a lot harder in Japan than it is in the USA. Go check the numbers, gun related deaths in the US are insanely high. You've tried your option for years now, how about seeing if the other option does work.

Seriously, what kind of macho are you? "Care to look at my gun, sweety?" Go exercise some more, cause you're obviously not up to this discussion.
 
OP
Bjerknes

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
115,912
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #320
    This thread was never strictly about "mourning," as I know very well that many citizens across the globe couldn't really give a rat's ass. Such a group of people doesn't include Seven, who has already admitted that he was just itching for such an event to happen. Digusting really, using every opportunity to say "hey, America got what they had coming."

    In reality this thread was started because the Virginia Tech massacre was breaking news that could be found on channels from Stockholm to Seoul... for the reason being it is absurd that such heartless rage could be carried out in classrooms. Many members of this forum are students, especially students at different universities, so it could potentially hit home for them. Personally, I have a few friends at Virginia Tech myself, so I watched this matter closely.

    But whether this horrible attack against students took place on US soil or some other continent across the globe, it doesn't take away nor add to the importance of the event. Lives are lives wherever they are, and hundreds killed in Iraq during one single day should be noted as well. So no... it's not just about mourning, but some level of respectable discussion should be kept in place while discussing such a horrible tragedy.

    If I were to infiltrate a thread such as the Beslan school massacre and stated "you know, this is what the Russians get for blasting away Chechens. And by the way, people die by the thousands every single day, so this is inconsequential," I would deemed as an arrogant, classless American who doesn't care about the deaths of innocent people. And rightfully so. But as soon as the tide swings, we cannot even start a peaceful thread regarding our own loss of students. Incredibly typical.
     

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