Geeky Talks
I hope it’s not a sign of things to come
I don’t often speak of political or late-breaking news. I usually don’t touch current affairs. I leave those topics to the so-called “experts” But, quite honestly, the latest information about the VA Tech tragedy is eating away at my hope for the future. I’m sad and horrified on behalf of the families and friends of the victims. But the fact that we’re allowing video from the killer, we’re allowing our kids to watch him get his fame, his air-time, his publicity, disappoints me to no end.
Anyone who raised a toddler knows there’s such a thing as “negative attention.” If my child acts out, sometimes she’s doing so simply for attention. When appropriate, I try not to give it to her. I let her throw a fit, scream her head off, try to piss me off and I’ll continue with my activity. Instead, when she listens, I become her cheerleader and praise her in a way that makes Barny look sane. I go on and on about how great she’s doing and how wonderful she is when she’s good. Sometimes this tactic makes me roll my eyes in to the back of my head. Usually, though, it works.
What are we, as a nation, teaching the children who want attention? What are we showing those kids who have are in a hard place? Are we telling them that if they lash out, kill people, and send in a video, we’ll make them famous? Their legend will “live on”? They’re life will not be in vain? And, as Cho said, “become martyrs?” Hell no. Hell. No. You rip the video down. You do not claim “It will help us learn more about the tragedy” by forcing students and families to watch the killer’s message. You pass along the video to authorities, who themselves admit, “it’s not as insightful as we’d hope to the investigation,” and respect the victim’s families wish to not glorify a killer.
After hearing about a High School “copycat” that was arrested on a plot to kill over a hundred students, a simple google search for the article using “high school boy arrested” reveals too many students ready to become famous in the same way. And that? Makes me cry for my own son, who may never know a safe and wonderful world.
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It is frightening, could be paralyzing if you let it get too deep. I can’t watch the news anymore. I get my info. from the paper now, it’s sad that most days I have to skip the entire front page, its fluff. People are so eager to perpetuate the cycle.
You have to look at it this way: You are raising your children in a happy and healthy environment. You as a teacher and your family will come into contact with some not so sane people, you provide joy, you defuse the anger, you spread joy.
Leslie,
Wonderful post; I agree completely. I’m not sure if you know but I am a faculty member at VA Tech and my oldest daughter is a student there. She and I were across campus from Norris Hall and we dealt with the rising body count together. I think today has been the worst day, for me personally, so far; in terms of dealing with the grief and the reality of it.
Information is just waaaay too accessible now. I don’t want or need to know all that they’re telling us. I am staying away from the tv right now and am making my husband wear his headphones while he listens to talk radio. I just can’t absorb any more right now.
What chaps my ass is that for every disturbed kid out there, there are oodles and oodles and oodles who are GOOD kids doing GOOD things and are making a positive mark on the world. But of course that’s not news.
And I’d LOVE to see what you do that makes Barney look sane. Video? Please?
Ratings are zero when TVs are turned off.
I agree 100%. I was outraged when I heard about the killer’s “manifesto” being broadcast in part on TV. I refuse to watch it and can’t believe the network(s) are airing it as “news.” Have they no respect for the families of the victims not to mention those who are injured and who survived? It’s sick. That is not news. It’s vulgar sensationalism and it makes me ill.
I agree they shouldn’t have aired any of it. I just read an article on Yahoo news about that- that they are going to scale back on showing any of it, etc. Like it matters now. Neverminding the television time it has received, now it’s all over the internet.
I’m still shocked that they are showing that video all over the news. Not only is it disrespectful to the families that lost their children, they’re giving that nutjob what he wanted!
my sister and i were talkiong about that very thing this morning. Neither of us can stand to turn on the news anymore..it’s not just overdone to the point of idiocy but they’re giving that asshole exactly what he wanted. fuck him.
This is why I rarely watch TV, and especially the news on TV. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
I agree. This is exactly what that psycho wanted. He doesn’t deserve this attention. And I’m tired of NBC trying to justify it. I don’t need to see his face or hear his voice to know he was a deranged lunatic.
I have to hope that there are enough good people in the world that my children will be able to have a wonderful life. That these horrifying, terrible tragedies are going to stay rare.
I was raised in a family that made its living from the media - radio and newspaper. Things have changed drastically since then. We don’t watch the news at home with the kids, and I only listen to NPR news if the kids are asleep or not with me.
I wish the world was a safer place, and while I can’t make it safer, I can make my kids safer. They don’t need to know everything in the news.
Prayers for all those souls and supports to the parents
I couldn’t agree more.
I wanted to see it once, just to see how nuts this man really was. And he was off the hinges. I can understand why VaTech officials would look at the video and pictures as a good thing, to show that they had no chance to stop this guy.
But, the timing of the release was awful.
Those are some mighty fine thoughts and necessary questions you’re sharing… I too worry and fear.
Good thoughts…Today (20th) is also the anniversary of Columbine. So many people grieving for such senseless acts. I’ve refused to watch any of the coverage - just makes me feel sick inside.
Karyn - my thoughts and prayers go out to you as you help your students and colleagues sort through their emotions.
I just wrote something along these same lines in my blog. I am not getting the thought process behind some of the coverage of all this. The media outlets have basically turned this disturbed kid into a martyr for all the other kids out there that think like he did. This is the same thing that this person did for the shooters at Columbine. I weep for the future of my son at times like these and hope that something like this will make another kid think seriously about going to someone for help if they are having problems instead of taking it out on innocents.
Oh, Karyn, I didn’t know that. I’ll be thinking of you both.
I haven’t been watching the news, I only see highlights inbetween shows or hear clips on the radio and get frustrated with the coverage. I’d like to see more about how we can help/support/celebrate those who are affected by this. I’d rather focus on the people who lost their lives and learn wonderful things about them.
I totally agree with you on the negative attention. That’s why we rarely watch the news.
But if you’re *really* concerned about seriously protecting your family (to some degree, no idea how you and the hubby feel about guns), move to Idaho.
At UI no one would dare open fire on anybody anywhere, because they’d be liable to be shot down (as long as you’ve got a concealed weapons permit, you can defend yourself - in weapons-free zones like VT [or at least that’s what I’ve heard, feel free to correct me], the person knows no one has any recourse and is basically at their mercy). Especially when you regularly have sherriff’s deputies and such taking classes on campus. Ten years ago I had no idea I’d end up a true Idahoan…