As the cultural obsession with Cho continues, it reveals a deep human need to understand, explain, and feel in control of this type of situation. We think that if we can predict every warning sign and every maladaptive personality trait we can avoid these types of situations. Unfortunately, part of living in modern society is dealing with tragedies like these, and living with the fact that regardless of the barriers and changes we make, there is always a risk.
Furthermore, the task of attempting to discover the difference between people who simply have violent thoughts and those that will actually carry out such a disaster is extremely difficult, and it risks violating individual rights in the process. The Boston Globe has a great piece on how violent thoughts and fantasies are common for people to have, and that the line between a killer and a literary genius is very thin in this realm.
Sadly but perhaps positively, this tragedy, like September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, or other national scale disasters, forces us to take inventory of our lives, reset our values and priorities, affirm our connections with our loved ones, and bravely face the inevitable risk that comes from being alive in 2007.
(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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5 Comments to
“Violent Thoughts & Cho”
Huh?
I would have thought that the expression of violent thoughts (e.g. in creative writing/ in class) combined with a bit of stalking or intimidation (assuming thats true) along with some pretty asocial behaviour, a history of mental health problems might just ring bells - it certainly seemed to for the tutors.
much like ‘reinforce the levees’ being advised for years
much like ‘a terrorist plan using planes as missiles is being planned’
So bells are rung. Then what? Lock up everybody like that? We don’t have room to lock up everybody who has actually done something, let alone try to lock up those who might. That perfect world you search for may just elude you for a while longer. What will you do in the meantime?
If we have money to fight a trillion dollar war and build billion dollar bombs, I would think we could provide a better system to the American people to help mental health services and law enforcement really make an impact on their community. Money works best when it benefits everyone, not just the politician’s family whose son is going to Harvard and driving a $100k car to school.
We are so rich and so smart as a country, yet we are so greedy for power and control that we don’t care what’s really going on in our communities. I know more people on the wrong path than the right one.
There needs to be a movement to change this growing gap between the rich and those of us who have to live in the real world. Nobody should be massacred at school. It is way out of control!!!
KBerry
I hear voices telling me to kill ! help me !aghhhh
sorry Im just pissed haha
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 22 Apr 2007
