Did racial alienation and a speech impediment make the Virginia Tech gunmen insane?

Question

Woah, stop right there. I'm not condoning his actions so don't blast me for trying to explain his behavior. Okay there's no excuse for his behavior but that doesn't mean it came out of nowhere: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070419/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting;_ylt=AkNBngXkcOz1dpuXYoApOcbMWM0F

Actually I don't think he had a speech impediment just a low voice.

Answer 1

No it did not, he was not insane, He was pissed to the point of snapping and he knew exactly what he was doing. His behavior is completely normal however. There is truth to the saying "Kick the meekest dog to much and he will bite." Question I would ask is why and what broke him.

Answer 2

Racial alienation plays very little, if any, part in making someone insane. It's pretty obvious that there was some form of repressed memories that had been in the back of his mind for sometime, and once those repressed memories were triggered, that probably caused the snap. More than likely it involved something that happened when he was a child...probably some sort of family-related conflict. You can even SEE his sub-conscious thoughts become revealed in his plays. (It would take a while to explain this connection) Another thing to consider is the physical condition of his brain, which no one may know since he shot himself in the head. Any deformation or tumor in the brain could have a massive impact on lobes that control certain moods and actions. It's also apparent that he was overly narcissistic and cared about nothing more than himself, and making himself known. I'm only 18 though, so what do I know...

Answer 3

From what I have heard from his roommates, he didn't seem racially alienated to me. They seemed to be willing to be friends with him.

Maybe his race prevented him from dating some of the women he was interested in.

I know about being isolated because of race, but I really think his problem was that he was severely mentally ill, poor man.

I think he had a speech impediment that affected his writing.

Also, I think his insanity stemmed from deep seated problems. He was 23 senior (I think that is what they said). Now, I don't have a problem with that, but the news also said his sister graduated from Princeton. I am sure he couldn't have been doing very well, from the excerpts of his "plays".

I think he was suffering because of low achievement.

Also, men who stalk women tend to have issues or not be successful with women. I was told this by a policeman (about a man that was stalking me). Maybe this set him on edge?

Finally, anyone who "goes off" this violently and has written the kinds of things he has, has really really bad problems, the kind most likely requiring medication, a mental hospital stay, and long term counseling and treatment.

I say this because I spent many years volunteering at a mental facility and because of the various homeless shelters and charities I have worked with.

So, the short answer is that racial alienation and a speech impediment were just the tips of the iceberg.

Answer 4

I don't see racial in this. Speech may have been a problem, but this could have been corrected. I believe if his parents and his distant associates may be able to shed some light. However, anyone this dark in his thinking & actions is described to me as being demon possessed. When there is darkness all around you, unless you are educated about demonic spirits, you will not be able to see the light. You will only grow deeper into a world of evil!

I must mention this the next time someone wants to make fun of another he should think twice!

Answer 5

I think racial alienation and a speech impediment had little or nothing to do with him becoming insane.

What made him insane was his complete isolation and hatred for everyone because it festered for so long and built up so much that he became crazy because of it.

He had the ability to speak well, he just chose not to because he hated everyone and wanted to try to prove some sort of point I think.

I don't think race was an issue because his victims ranged from white, to black, to Asian.

Answer 6

Racial alienation is a huge problem. I can tell you from my own experience, it is not pleasant for people to stare at you and pull back the skin to make their eyes almond shaped, asking you if you're chinese.

People- ask them if they're Asian, and be respectful. Such may seem like an innocent question, but can be considered offensive.

And yes, I do believe that those things could have made him unhappy. He probably felt like there were problems with him he couldn't help.

Like you said, that does not make up for his actions, though.

Answer 7

To the guy who said, "I heard he just got mad 'cause he found out some girl didn't like him" -- you're probably right! This reminds me of the whole Helter Skelter Manson family thing. All the media were trying to find out WHY oh why did they do this? What was the motive behind it? Were these kids outcast? Were they misunderstood by society? People even said and wrote about Charlie wanting to start a race war. Meanwhile, the whole thing turned out to be because record producer Terry Melcher (Doris Day's son), who rejected his songs, used to live in the same house as Sharon Tate! It's usually about some sick f&*# who just likes to blame everybody else for their own problems. We all have problems, we've all been rejected (some of us REALLY badly!) -- DEAL WITH IT LIKE THE REST OF US!!

Answer 8

if anyone were to blast u i'll be the first to shield u away from them. lol. i agree with u. his behavior definitely came out of something. his plan must hv been ignited by some issues..hidden ones of course. if only ppl try to see things from his perspectives instead of just pointing fingers. and i do believe that speech impediment and racial alienation (with perhaps, humilation and horrid experiences of being bullied) could hv contributed to his inhumane act. :(

Answer 9

No, I don't think so. His video shows very clear paranoid ideation of the worst kind. This is not caused by racial alienation or a speech problem, but by a brain dysfunction.
A person does not have to be mentally ill to carry our a killing rampage, but this one was.

Answer 10

No, it makes him challenged. As in, he had challenges to overcome in order to have the frame of mind to be on the level of so many of his peers. That absolutely doesn't make him insane. Obsessed, perhaps, but not insane. Insanity would mean he had no control over his actions. It sounds like this guy knew exactly what he was doing.