Virginia Tech: Victims families doesnt want the news talking about shooter, Cho????

Question

Today, i was watching the news and it seems that victims family members complained about NBC News showing the videos of Cho, showing picures and also talking about him.
They feel they have been through too much and dont want to see the killer on tv who killed the victims.

In my opinion, I think that we should know about this, so we can know what signs to look for in anyone who is on the verge of going on the warpath. I think this is very helpful for future reference, but i mean, if you dont want to watch anything about the shooter, why watch the news, if you know thats all they are going to be talking about the a very long time. I mean, if that happened to me, i wouldnt even be watching tv.

What about you guys, what do yall think about ceasing the video tapes, pictures, and talk about the shooter, just for them?even though, what will be told to us, will help us know what to look for if we ever come across anyone like Cho.

I just want yall to let you know that i have actually come across people similar to cho, who were very quiet and always talking about killing people.

There are people out there like that, dont think that there arent, because there is.

Answer 1

I think the people that can really learn lessons about Cho are people in education, the police, and in the mental health sector, etc. They are the ones who need to use this as a precedent for working together to help people who are showing signs of psychotic tendencies, which Cho clearly was. It seems alarm bells were ringing and people were trying to get help at the college but were powerless. This is where lessons can be learned.

As for the general public, the video tapes and pictures serve little purpose other than to satisfy a curiosity. It is hardly likely that the average person will be able to spot the next 'Cho' from any behaviour like this, and in fact it would be a worrying thing to imagine this happening. Imagine some poor shy guy at school being singled out as a potential psycho by his supposedly wised up peers?! It is dangerous when people who are not experts on this try to declare themselves as such.

So as far as the media coverage goes - the media should be sensitive to the wishes of the families whilst simultaneously reporting the latest developments in a story which is of huge interest to the wider public.

Answer 2

Yes, I think the media should have shown the video of Cho Seung Hui. I don't think showing Cho Seung-Hui's video by the media is glorifying his actions. When I saw on television that 33 people were killed in a mass shooting at Virginia Tech University, the first thing that came to my mind was, how could someone do something so horrible. I think that question was answered when NBC and other media stations showed the video of Cho. The airing of the video really showed how disturbed Cho was. He was a delusional man, who need help. I also don't agree with the statement that the video will prompt copycat killers because to my recollection, there was no video of the Columbine shooters. Yet there were other school shootings after the the Columbine shootings. The bottom line is that there are disturbed people out there and if they are going to commit mass murders, seeing the video of Cho is not going to change anything, other than(and this is what really concerns me) thinking of a way to out do what Cho has done.

Answer 3

I think that when it was breaking news-some limited coverage would have been enough. We did not need to see the pics repeated, or give him a chance to rant on about his pathetic reasons for this. It gave him what he wanted-power and attention. It also fuels people to copy this action for thier own bit of fame. Why not give more coverage on the how Tech is pulling together as a community. The Tech family is very close anyway, this has just brought us all closer. I think those of us who are alumni want to reach out to and somehow shield the current students from this. And why not tell more of the victims stories-remind people that those lost had limitless potential to do wonderful things in this world. The actions of this one cowardly boy have already done such harm, why play into it by making him a star. The police were the only ones who "needed" to see it.

Answer 4

I live close to Vt and i see both sides...
But it is my belief that they should be able to show the stuff the cho sent because at first everyone wanted to know why? Why would someone want to do this... Why would anyone do something like this people asked.


then they get the footage that tells them...WHY and then they dont want it to be shown... I dont get it either.. I do thin kthey should show it just not alll the time because I do agree i was watching the news the other night and they played it non-stop from 8-11 when i went to bed on every news channel...

i do agree with you though


God Bless

Answer 5

People are too sensitive.... It was the same with 9/11 or any national tragedy. It's hard for people to get over the pain that losing someone close to them can bring. The killer was a troubled man who couldn't be cured. They need to see the tapes, they need to see the pictures just so they can be aware that there are more and more people out here who are capable of doing this. You cant keep hiding the truth or covering up things.

Answer 6

The familes have been through enough. They need time to morn and adjust to the lost of their love ones and friends.
The media (NBC) has the reputation of competing to bring the most attention to a story for ratings. Shame on us for supporting them by watching the report over and over. I know the freedom of speech comes in to play but they have no compassion. When it comes to asking questions like: what could you have done to prevent or changed outcome of the situation? How does it make you feel to know your love one was a innocent vitctum? They ask questions to put the blame on everyone but the guilty and try to make the one being interviewed feel they're at fault.
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I agree that the general public has the right to know the good and the bad. But have respect for the ones effected. My prayers go out to everyone that has a connection to this horrible event.

Answer 7

Showing it once or twice is news any more than that is pornography. There is nothing for us to learn from his video. I can assure you you can find thousands of other young people who make weird videos or behave in bizarre ways or look odd or seem scary that never commit any crime.

As disconcerting as it seems, sometimes things like this are going to happen. There really isn't anything that can be done about it. It probably happens more times than we think. I bet there are occasions when some have fully intended to commit a crime like this but were somehow thwarted before carrying it out.


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Answer 8

Personally I think the media has fully overstepped their bounds. I truly believe that reporters have no ethics. We had 32 people killed because of one individuals psychosis and we play on the shooter and all his idiosyncrasies. We need to let the families of the victims have some quiet time. find some other news worthy stories other than the shooting.

Answer 9

Of course it is newsworthy. You are correct in that. But if I were the parent of a VATech victim; I'm sure I would feel the same way they do. The news should at least give equal time to showing, talking about and celebrating the lives of the victims.

Answer 10

I think that the people of Virginia Tech are right, true, we need to know about all of this, but what if someone in OUR family died? I wouldn't like this at all, snd I would be one of the people that asked the press to keep it off TV for awhile. At least untill the people felt OK about it all.