I'd first say it is his. But it is not beyond reason to think that how he was treated led him to the horrors this past week. One of his professors said she could see him crying behind his sunglasses. But by then it was too late to help him.
Ever see someone in a company crying over how they have been treated by their peers? Can you think of that one kid that was outcast, picked on, left out, alone? Did you do anything to help that person? Did you add to their misery to get along with the group?
The world has weak people. Those that end up lashing out in horrible ways and those that don't have the guts to step in and try to help someone being treated badly by others.
“Ever see someone in a company crying over how they have been treated by their peers? Can you think of that one kid that was outcast, picked on, left out, alone? Did you do anything to help that person? Did you add to their misery to get along with the group?”
I’ve had some thoughts along these lines, except in a slightly different way. In a different and sadly bygone era, people made an effort to be polite to one another. More people also had that “Good Samaritan” attitude where one wants to help others. Why should we respect others? Well, for one thing humans are the most dangerous creatures on the planet. Being a good person and making the world a better place has many beneficial aspects, not the least of which is that your associates are less likely to go on a mass-murdering rampage.
All that said, if someone DOES go on a murderous rampage the best response is clearly ending that rampage as expeditiously as possible. I also agree with the point that these students exhibited very poor survival skills and instincts. This nutjob was opening doors to enter classrooms, and clearly the doors open inward since it was possible to barricade them. One means of taking out an armed person is to wait behind the door (hinge side). When the person begins to enter, i.e. is halfway through the door, you thrust-kick the door as hard as you can. If you catch either the arm with the weapon or the head, it’s game over. At a minimum, the subject will be vulnerable for a follow-up attack. With a couple others ready to rush, he would have been down and we would really have some heroes to thank, and most likely a death toll way below 30.
The point has been made many times about the campus being a ‘gun-free’ zone, but I can’t resist bringing it up one more time. I think that issue will hurt gun control more than this entire incident will help it. Good deal.
“The world has weak people. Those that end up lashing out in horrible ways and those that don’t have the guts to step in and try to help someone being treated badly by others”
Good post. Though I don’t know how it will be recieved on this thread
Yes, I was that kid at one point in my life (awkward pre-teens). I remember writing a story in creative writing about all of the popular kids getting killed off. I am not violent and wouldn't have done it, but it sure sounded appealing at the time. In this day and age, I am sure I would have been detained for my story! They sent me to the school counselor after another girl in the class threatened me (after she had kicked crutches out from under me). The counselor focused on what *I* could do to change. Luckily, I grew a sense of humor and a thick skin, and outgrew my ugly duckling phase.
I would never blame the victims, especially because this seemed very random. However, parents should teach their kids to treat others with kindness. The schools should reinforce it, too. Teachers and administrators turn a blind eye. I have dealt with a couple of bully situations now as a parent of a school aged kid, and I have to make an effort to get teachers to put a stop to situations.
Talk about blaming hte victim! Blaming society for what these miscreants do is one of the oldest liberal tricks.
Can you think of that one kid that was outcast, picked on, left out, alone?
Yeah. I was one of those kids. There is no possibility that I would ever react like this sicko did.
I was also the kid that went out of his way to befriend the new kid, the unpopular kid, and the others who weren't "popular." So don't try to seel me this rubbish about how he did this because he was picked on.
Talk about blaming hte victim! Blaming society for what these miscreants do is one of the oldest liberal tricks.
Can you think of that one kid that was outcast, picked on, left out, alone?
Yeah. I was one of those kids. There is no possibility that I would ever react like this sicko did.
I was also the kid that went out of his way to befriend the new kid, the unpopular kid, and the others who weren't "popular." So don't try to sell me this rubbish about how he did this because he was picked on.