Question:
anybody here hear about it?

Answer:
Yeah they were talking about it at work yesterday. Thats about all I know though.

Answer:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/17/vtech.shooting/

Answer:
The guy was a student with a green card. He apparently was sent for counseling because his class writings were off the wall. A true accident waiting to happen.

Answer:
The shooter was described as a "loner". How many times have we heard that word used in the context of tragedies of the type? Really sad...

Answer:
Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge mountains makes for a pretty nice drive, good scenery.

Answer:
Quote: Originally Posted by CoTHukoB Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge mountains makes for a pretty nice drive, good scenery. I visited a friend of mine who's a VT student a couple years ago. Blacksburg is SUCH a quaint little town with lots to do. And you're right, the scenery is really nice. I had a great week there. It's so incredibly sad that this great town is now painted with tragedy. My heart goes out to the Blacksburg community, and all the friends & family of the victims.
And of course...Fred Phelps has already stated that his clan will be picketing the funerals of the victims .

Answer:
Quote: Originally Posted by CologneJunkie And of course...Fred Phelps has already stated that his clan will be picketing the funerals of the victims . I don't understand this — why would anyone picket the funerals of the victims?
-------------------------
I guess the reply to my query, which existed before I took a trip to the doctor, got moderated out of existence. That's a pity: if this kind of madness is out there people should be informed of it.
But anyway, in the interests of not being moderated further, I guess we should stick to commiserating with the families and friends of those killed.
As one who teaches at a major university I can imagine this kind of event all too easily. It is just horrific and senseless.

Answer:
yeah, it's pretty upsetting alright......
blacksburg is really beautiful though, well the scenery around it at least, i think i have only been there once, a few years ago when my dog went there to have major surgery (va tech has a a very big/good animal hospital) and i remember thinking how lovely the mountains were on 64w going this way, because 64e is a truly ugly, boring drive.
but as far as the shootings go, it's pretty unbelievable. i don't know why anyone would do something like this. the high school shootings, while of course just as terrible, were at least explainable by the fact that high school really is the kind of place that an insecure kid can really lose it, but the academic atmosphere of a university? i have always idealized universities as places of understanding and comradeship, and then someone does something like this to his fellow students? it just seems so crazy

Answer:
I thought this topic was closed! I guess someone talked to Paul?
Yeah, this whole thing is hard for me to wrap my head around. I mean, I know a guy that's at VT. In the engineering dept. He could have been a victim (he wasn't)! Thank God. Was it random chance that this happened at a university? There is a lot of emotional and intellectual pressure applied. You either adapt or you don't. Most univerisities do a pretty good job of looking after the phychological health of their student body, but inevitably a few individuals fall through the cracks.
I can't help (as a student myself) but to take extra notice of this and envision myself locked into a classroom with a crazy gunman. Not a good thought.