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[sikora]

Let's take a pass on post-mortem psychoanalyzing Cho.  He is obviously a 'disturbed' character, but beyond the fact that he was known to be taking anti-depressant meds we can venture little in terms of analyzing what if any was the nature of his mental illness, brain damage, etc., and to do so is probably worthless and even potentially dangerous an exercise.

This is a good point.  Such speculations gives sickos like me a bad name.  Millions of us take antidepressants, even as teens, and don't kill people.

Obscure, but still the first dog in space

[aardvark]

Let's take a pass on post-mortem psychoanalyzing Cho.  He is obviously a 'disturbed' character, but beyond the fact that he was known to be taking anti-depressant meds we can venture little in terms of analyzing what if any was the nature of his mental illness, brain damage, etc., and to do so is probably worthless and even potentially dangerous an exercise.

This is a good point.  Such speculations gives sickos like me a bad name.  Millions of us take antidepressants, even as teens, and don't kill people.

Obscure, but still the first dog in space

I agree.  Psychology is an art as much as a science under the best of circumstances.  Giving one's 2 cents worth based on media information is a losing proposition.  But he was clearly "off" by any stretch.  And unlike some of the posters on the "gun control" thread, I'm not willing to assume that it's impossible for a nation state to work out an approach to gun control that keeps weapons out of the hands of such characters.  And I sure won't reach that conclusion via the instrument of an impeccable Slogan like "If we outlaw guns, then only outlaws will have guns"-- which surely explains why Belgian outlaws are massacring their law-abiding compatriates in the street, no?

[infopri]

Let's take a pass on post-mortem psychoanalyzing Cho.  He is obviously a 'disturbed' character, but beyond the fact that he was known to be taking anti-depressant meds we can venture little in terms of analyzing what if any was the nature of his mental illness, brain damage, etc., and to do so is probably worthless and even potentially dangerous an exercise.

Amen, kaysixteen.

[helpful]

Let's take a pass on post-mortem psychoanalyzing Cho.  He is obviously a 'disturbed' character, but beyond the fact that he was known to be taking anti-depressant meds we can venture little in terms of analyzing what if any was the nature of his mental illness, brain damage, etc., and to do so is probably worthless and even potentially dangerous an exercise.

Amen, kaysixteen.

Hear, hear. So I hope kaysixteen also disagrees with the attempts by the religious fundamentalists to make this about Satan or punishment for our 'wayward ways'.

[philoctetes]

Let's take a pass on post-mortem psychoanalyzing Cho.  He is obviously a 'disturbed' character, but beyond the fact that he was known to be taking anti-depressant meds we can venture little in terms of analyzing what if any was the nature of his mental illness, brain damage, etc., and to do so is probably worthless and even potentially dangerous an exercise.

Amen, kaysixteen.

Hear, hear. So I hope kaysixteen also disagrees with the attempts by the religious fundamentalists to make this about Satan or punishment for our 'wayward ways'.

Too late Helpful, K16 has already drawn that particular lesson himself on another thread:

Miss Rowan:
   People are bad.  Wicked sinners.  All of them.  That is what the bible teaches, and thankfully God provides us with a possibility of salvation through Christ, else we'd all be headed to the Hell we deserve to spend eternity flaming in.  You may choose to put rose-colored glasses on and fail to recognize this, but every once in a while, something like the Va tech mass shooting occurs, which confirms the reality of what the bible says.  And freaks out those who do not or will not believe that bible.  Ah well.

[kaysixteen]

Wait a minute-- I only used the example of the shooting spree to undergird my argument that people are bad.  I have no knowledge as to Cho's mental condition beyond his evident depression, and continue to argue that speculations into his state are not helpful.

People are bad.  They can do good things, although often they do these things only for selfish ulterior motives.  But they are bad.

[trabb]

For all of you out there in Hokieland - good luck as you return to classes today.  All of our thoughts are with you, the prayers of many of us are with you, and we all wish you well.

[infopri]

Well said, trabb.  I add my voice to yours.

[anthroid]

Fred Phelps is a sick man, and he does not speak for God.  He's as good at blaming things on gays as the general public is at blaming everything on the president.

Fred Phelps is a bad man, not sick.  Bad, bad, bad.  Who knows why?  Who cares?  He should just go away.

Well said, trabb.  I add my voice to yours.

And mine to yours.  I am trying to imagine how I would have been able to conduct my morning class, and I am stymied.  My thoughts are with our colleagues at Virginia Tech today and this year.

[helpful]

Wait a minute-- I only used the example of the shooting spree to undergird my argument that people are bad.  I have no knowledge as to Cho's mental condition beyond his evident depression, and continue to argue that speculations into his state are not helpful.

Including, presumably, whether he was 'bad' or "possessed by Satan"?

People are bad.  They can do good things, although often they do these things only for selfish ulterior motives.  But they are bad.

But, according to your above comment, you can't presume whether Cho was bad!

[iampublished]

What does this say about our academic system if a student - who never speaks a word -- can graduate from college. What does this say about the quality of education at Virginia Tech?

[kaysixteen]

I said I cannot know whether he was mentally ill, brain damaged, etc.  All people are bad, by their nature.

[1vthokiefan]

God Bless you Hokies on your return to classes today.

Always remember: WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH
God Bless you all,
John

Praying For Virginia Tech http://heavens-gates.com/vatech/

[helpful]

I said I cannot know whether he was mentally ill, brain damaged, etc.  All people are bad, by their nature.

That is a pretty pessimistic view of humans. Therefore I take it you are in favour of state intervention to prevent all people (who, by your definition, are bad) from owning guns?

[case_insensitive]

I said I cannot know whether he was mentally ill, brain damaged, etc.  All people are bad, by their nature.

That is a pretty pessimistic view of humans. Therefore I take it you are in favour of state intervention to prevent all people (who, by your definition, are bad) from owning guns?

I won't speak for kay, helful.  However, most religions related to Christianity (and a number of others, perhaps?) believe that humans are inherently sinful (bad is a euphemism for that, perhaps?).   That fact has no relationship, necessarily, to behavior, since being sinful doesn't translate directly to being violent.