I learned in my physical anthropology class that we are not to put the blame on HIM - but on us.
Humans evolved to be social - evolved as a group. Now, particularly in the U.S., it is individual success that is praised. As a result, loners are more likely to exist. He had no social support group. This is why he got paranoia (thought everyone was against him) and acted out to such an extreme level.
2007-04-19 10:04:15 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
It's not a cop out - ever realize that, say, the 6th child of a family isn't the mass murderer? It's because that child has a lot of family members - a support group.
This guy was a loner - and we could've helped that, but we didn't. He didn't know how to cope because we evolved to be a unit and he was alone so he acted out.
Other reasons could also be a mental problem, etc.
2007-04-19 10:15:13 · update #1
He was to blame to a certain extent, of course. But we are to blame too for not helping him.
2007-04-19 10:19:51 · update #2
Ok, I'll totally agree that there were social pressures on him and that the lack of social support group was a critical factor. However, you are saying that he is not to blame? Come on, even though we are shaped and influenced by our surroundings, the fact is that we are individuals who make individual choices and we are responsible for the choices we make. Yes there are some societal problems, but that doesn't make him any less responsible for the way he chose to respond.
2007-04-19 10:16:06 · answer #1 · answered by Simmy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There may be other factors here which have not yet been evaluated. For example, were there any physical health issues which existed that might account for his behavior. In the case of Charles Whitman here in Texas in 1966, it was found when his body was autopsied that he had a brain tumor the size of a walnut which apparently was affecting his behavior. The same could be true of Seung Cho. However, it might be very difficult to ascertain whether this was true in Cho's case because he shot himself in the head. The condition of his brain may render it impossible to autopsy properly.
2007-04-19 17:23:35 · answer #2 · answered by MathBioMajor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a very sad and unfortunate event for everyone. Victims, family, friends, he himself, and the entire world. Its sad that he felt that alone and depressed and felt he had no where to go. I can however say that there are people that live their lives like this everyday and they just learn to deal. I'm not saying they should have to, but unfortunately they do. I just wish everyone would stop for a minute and think about how they treat people. Imagine if maybe, just maybe, a few people went out of their way to say hi to him, try to communicate with him, etc. And not just once or twice, but everytime they saw him. That may have just been enough to turn his life around.
2007-04-19 17:21:54 · answer #3 · answered by shorty 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
PLEASE... believe what you want, this guy was screwed up... There is so many reports of people saying they tried talking to him and he just blew them off... Although I agree high school is a messed up place and kids are so cruel there it is not even funny. However college is completely different, if you can't make a few close friends in a school the size of Va. Tech then you are simply socially crippled... Maybe blame his upbringing for not socializing him more, but not the general population...
2007-04-19 17:16:45 · answer #4 · answered by shaggy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a cop out for people who refuse to take the blame for their own actions. Tons of people aren't treated well in life and never go on mass killing sprees. That is just an apologist talking.
This loser was a killer plain and simple and he is the only one who did this.
2007-04-19 17:12:45 · answer #5 · answered by jefflawdog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we r prisioners of the product borne from nature n nurture
2007-04-19 21:25:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋