Virginia

[blacklilly]

A quickie on the Virginia shootings, which I want to go into in more detail later.

I'm unsurprised to see the media have got themselves into a frenzy, but I find it rather sad when the BBC goes that way too.

I was watching a news clip on the website about the killer's lifestyle and it's quite akin to mine.

1) He spent most of his time in his room writing and listening to music - a lot like me then.
2) The BBC found the lyrics of his favourite song to have some alternative doom-laden message - though nothing along the lines of Strapping Young Lad's "I fucking hate you", or "Die bastard, die bastard" which was revolving on my iTunes not so long ago.
3) He suddenly started working out, arriving alone at the gym, working out alone, and going home alone. Which is what I do when I go swimming, something I "suddenly" started doing in February.

I don't wish to sound flippant, but come on.

Anyway, as I said, more later.

Comments

[ex-skh293.livejournal.com]

Have you actually read (http://news.aol.com/virginia-tech-shootings/cho-seung-hui/_a/mr-brownstone-title-page/20070417141309990001) what he wrote, though? I wish the news had reported on that (although I appreciate AOL News might have the exclusive on this). It shows far more about his psychiatric state than looking at his music etc.

And on the flipside, they're quite possibly the worst scripts I've ever read from a strictly academic viewpoint. He was doing 3rd year level creative writing. You wouldn't know it from his work! I could spend hours tearing it apart for you, but I'm sure with your writing prowess, you can see it from reading it just as quickly as me.

[kittygoth.livejournal.com]

I hadn't read them previous to this post, but I've just had a look. There's no need to tear them apart as they speak for themselves. They read like... well, something you'd expect from an iliterate teenager.

I'd like to say that this shows he was quite clearly unhinged, but there are horror writers who day in day out write about flaying, rape, murder etc, who are all perfectly regular people. Unfortunately, some of the writing that gets published in certain places is of a similar calibre to this.

My main concern is that people look to music, writing, films for a scapegoat when this kind of thing happens, and this gives them ample backing for their arguments.