Disturbing writtings from Student at VT?

Question

So I've been reading about this student and it soulds as thou the school is aware of his depression and had problems with some of his writings in writing class that he was refered to a counselor..now if they are aware of this, and it comes to be that he mentions odd things in his writings which gave clues straight up will the school be responsible for this for not doing something about this student, of course no one knows who in the world is going to snap because anyone would have to snap like this to do seomthing like this which he did but if they come to find out what could happen anyway?

Answer 1

I read the plays, and they certainly are violent. But I'm cautious not to take these two plays out of context; I mean, we're not told if Cho wrote 40 plays, and all the other 38 were about prancing unicorns and sunny summer days. It's easy for us to look at two isolated scripts, and say "oh, everyone should have known".

The problem with creative writing is that it's supposed to be creative, and, in disciplines such as English writing and drama, we must make a distinction between art and life. A lot of the time, teachers push students to explore their creative boundaries, and to even explore taboo or controversial material.

I mean, look at William Shakespeare. If you want to read King Lear, it has really terrible violence - eyes being ripped out of live skulls, and nasty, nasty deaths. In King John, there is another scene where a prisoner's eyes are to be put out with hot pokers. And Romeo and Juliet, a high-school staple, features teen suicide. A lot of other drama and writing has equally - and even more graphic - violence.

But we study this stuff openly in English classes everywhere - it's even considered fine literature. And then, when you compare the violence in literature and the violence imagined by screen writers, directors and producers for many of Hollywood's most celebrated movies and films, Cho's writing really pales into insignificance. I mean, look at "Silence of the Lambs," or any one of the three films in the "Saw" trilogy, which features people's ribcages being ripped open while they're still alive, and people being forced to put their own hands into acid. That's way nastier than Cho's writings, but it made the film producers multi millions.

Because of the graphic nature of a lot of material in English, Drama, and Arts - and because we don't know if Cho wrote other plays that weren't of this orientation, I think it's difficult to condemn his teachers for not "recognising" the "warning signs".

Otherwise, we should probably lock up a great many of the world's best writers and artists in the name of safety and security. And we should probably shut down Hollywood while we're at it.... minds that twisted should be referred to counselling, right?

Answer 2

Unfortunately, hindsight is twenty-twenty. Chances are Stephen King wrote some pretty bizarre stuff when he was younger - but didn't become a mass murderer. It is hard for any teacher to predict how a student is going to turn out. I have had some of the strangest kids ever go on to become great adults and have had straight-laced honor students end up in prison for murder or rape. I wish there was some way to make accurate predictions about human nature. I assure you there are enough people at VT second guessing themselves today and probably for the rest of their lives. They don't need any help from us or the media.

Answer 3

The school did notice his weird writings, and sent him to counseling. However, he was writing this stuff in a creative writing class. Sometimes people come up with weird things in those classes but they are just part of a vivid imagination. The school can only do but so much, and they did by requesting counseling for him. It is a sad day for everyone, but to start playing the blame game is stupid. The school could not predict what he was capable of doing and therefore should not be blamed.

Answer 4

It doesn't sound as if the school will be held responsible for this part of it -the instructor noticed the disturbing images & themes in his writing & referred him to campus mental health. After that point, it's only hindsight that gives us the connection - how many other students write about disturbing & violent images but never make the leap to a mass attack? Probably a lot.

Answer 5

The big question: Does the school deal with the kid, or is he just "different". What would a school official do if he read early creative writings from Stephen King or Wes Craven?

Answer 6

I know exactly what you mean. It's so sad. My best friend goes to V-tech and i was so worried yesterday morning when I first learned of the shootings, but luckily she is fine. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers

Answer 7

Most bureaurocrats are insensitive, egotistical, and useless.

Virginia Tech seems to be run by a particularly bad lot of them.