What can we do as a society to help prevent atrocities like the Virginia Tech shootings?
For one thing, this is my proposal- we need to openly talk about our challenges. Just for a time, suspend your harsh judgment on others, and let them talk about how they feel inside. Don’t criticize them, offer them encouragement to be honest. Our society frowns upon those whom are different, as well as the open display of emotion. Why?
Obviously, if it is taken to its logical extreme (rage, for example), showing emotions is a terrible choice. But the point is to help people (IF they are not beyond reach) before things reach a boiling point.
What a shame that we would be so cruel as to allow these things to happen.
We need to communicate honestly, and risk being vulnerable by telling people how we feel inside.
Do you agree or disagree?
By: Rooster/Blaster
About the Author:
Filed under Sociology by on Jan 19th, 2010. 
Comments on What can we do as a society to help prevent atrocities like the Virginia Tech shootings?
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We need to change foolish policies at schools that prohibit law-abiding students and faculty, who have valid permits, from carrying on campus
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i agree but we cant do many things phsycos will always exist.. there are so many others problems we can solve and we dont though..
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We can learn to manage our emotions better, rather than use guns as a quick solution. Really, what else can you do? We live in a PC world where everyone is so sensitive that if we say the wrong thing we get fired, or berated, or get shot. That’s one thing that ***** in America. You can say that it’s the justice system’s fault letting lawyers tell everyone it’s okay to sue. I feel like shooting a lawyer right now.
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I don’t think Seung’s behavior was a result of people being cruel to him. He was obviously a paranoid schizophrenic and delusional.
Even under Virginia law, he should not have been sold a gun because of his history of severe mental illness; but the mental health data were not available to the gun seller, so he didn’t know.
Also, the law makes it extremely difficult to treat a severely mentally ill person against his will. Even Seung’s clear danger signs were not enough.
Rectifying these deficiencies would help to prevent occurrences like this; in most cases there are not so many victims, but it is not that unusual for a psychotic person to harm himself or others because he can’t be required to get treatment. Psychotic persons are, by definition, irrational and incapable of making a reasonable choice.
Of course, if anybody else present had had a gun, the casualties would have been fewer.
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I agree to an extent. I think more than communication is needed, I think we need to glorify peacemakers in our society, instead of glorifying the beaters, the stalkers, and the killers.
Who are our heroes/heroines-
Sports figures, movie stars, rock stars, **** stars, serial killers.
Who is mocked or discounted or ignored-
intellectuals, artists, social activists, community leaders, the good people who make our world better.
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In a capitalist society where the majority of human beings (those who are not, but aspire to be wealthy) are forced by the minority of human beings (the wealthy capitalists) to fight and compete for scarce resources, such tragedies are inevitable. Competition, which is at the root of capitalism, breeds exculsion and isolation which results in those who feel powerless taking drastic means in order to try to gain some sort of power. Weapons are symbols of power.
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Sorry, I could not disagree more with your “let’s talk about your problems solution”.
It is time and has been since the creation of this great nation that we as Americans need to learn to take care of ourselves.
We use to have to hunt for our food and we had to teach our kids how to protect themselves from wild animals and how to use a knife and gun in a safe way.
Not until we get back to protecting ourselves are we going to be a “safe Nation”.
Understand there are bad people out there of every color, nationality, economic and religious persuasion and they intend to hurt and kill everything they don’t like. So unless you and I have a way to defend our self and they KNOW it they will continue to do harm to those who refuse to protect themselves.
The women and elderly especially need to have a way to protect themselves. Just read the article I have attached.
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There is no such thing as a random act of violence. There are warning signs of something happening. I think society needs to become hyper-vigilant. The latest killing could have been avoided. People have rights, but when there are danger signs, they have to be recognized and dealt with. Dude was categorized as a danger to himself and others, yet he wasn’t receiving any sort of treatment. That is what happened in many of the mass killings.
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I live in a free society, it’s called Australia! I have true freedom of speech. If I think my government is doing something wrong I can write, talk or sing about it without going on an FBI or CIA watchlist.
If I want to move within my country I can do so freely and without barriers or permits. If I want to visit another country the same applies.
I can help vote a government in or out through free elections. The Police here are accountable for their actions as are the members of society in general.
What’s the difference to where you live in the USA? I CAN’T HAVE A GUN UNLESS I HAVE A REASON TO HAVE IT.
To own a pistol, I must be a member of a pistol Club and use it as a sport, or be employed in security, with strict regulations on how and where it must be stored. To own a rifle I must be a member of a shooting Club or be employed to cull pests.
I cannot own any semi automatic or automatic weapon. Nor can I own or have custody of any military weapons.
This is not an infringement on my rights. It is a common sense law that prevents a college student from buying a handgun and other weapons and killing 32 people.
If I was the gunshop owner in Virginia, I would be asking myself “what the hell is this young kid needing a semi automatic handgun for? It can’t be for any good”.
Landowners need weapons to operate their farms, people in cities only need weapons to kill each other.
Secondly, I think that some of you guys spend too much time wanting to “talk” about everything. I don’t think the major problem lies with people having emotional needs. I think it stems from the fact that there is a blur between fantasy and reality. Movies are very graphic nowadays, as are video games. We don’t just play “soldiers” anymore as kids, we play paintball, and extreme skirmish as adults, living out fantasies of being an unstoppable killing machine. Have a good listen to the rants and raves of the Virginia lunatic. He’s not really saying that people made him do this through emotional or physical abuse. He’s in a world that’s not real. He’s even written about fantasies and scenarios in this world through his plays. He got to a stage where he didn’t know what was real anymore.
I guess that’s the message America, time to put aside the Hollywood crap and get back to being real.
Cheers,
Bronco
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Stop exposing kids to violent television shows.
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We have to teach our people the things they need to survive.
The students at Virginia Tech acted like sheep and crouched under tables, and the gunman proceeded to kill them one by one.
Instead they could have jumped up and as a group assaulted the gunman and killed him before he shot too many students.
They could have thrown books and shoes at him and while he was busy dodging the books they could have tackled him.
The best defense is offense.
” Fight back America, Fight back !!! “