Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Can School Shootings be Prevented?

School shooters are posting their intentions weeks and months ahead of time. Why is no one listening?

Finnish School Shooter "foreshadowed the attack" on YouTube; Kills 9
On Nov. 7, 18-year-old Pekka-Eric Auvinen killed eight people and himself at a high school in Finland. Investigators described him as "a bullied teenage outcast consumed with anger against society" who had foreshadowed the attack in YouTube postings. Another teenager who admitted plotting a school attack near Philadelphia had chatted online about the Columbine massacre. The PA teen was "horrified" when he found out about the Finnish attack and said he never would have suspected him of following through on a violent act, the attorney said. (Source: U.S. Boy Linked to Finnish School Shooter)

"The clues were all there" Before MN Teen Killed 9
Prior to storming into Red Lake High School and shooting to death an unarmed guard, a teacher and five students before killing himself, 17 year old Jeff Wiese used the Internet pen names Todesengel, German for "angel of death," and "NativeNazi" to post his admiration for Hitler and the need for ethnic cleansing. Weise allegedly shot dead his grandfather and his grandfather's girlfriend just prior to the school shooting. (Source: Teen who killed 9 claimed Nazi leanings)

"The clues were all there," Weise's step-aunt, Kim DesJarlait, told the Times. "Everything was laid out, right there, for the school or the authorities in Red Lake to see it coming. I don't want to blame Red Lake, but did they not put two and two together? This kid was crying out, and those guys chose to ignore it. They need to start focusing on their kids."

...Even those who embraced Weise in cyberspace, though, showed some concern for his violent imagery. When the teen posted the animated movie of the shooting rampage on newgrounds.com in October, one member wrote, "Was that like a warning message? Hmm dude you need help badly."

Source: School Shooter Left Trail Of Clues On The Internet
Last week, the clues were all there online before Pekka-Eric Auvinen took 9 lives.

We're still not listening.

Examples of Hater MikeeUSA's HateSpeech
The Gospel According to a Misogynist
AdBrite Terminates Account of "Masculist" Hate Blogger
Can Christ's Love Save MikeeUSA?

38 comments:

MikeeUSA said...

Here robin equates nazism (national SOCIALISM (a leftist idealogy)), school shootings, and finland with anti-feminist Men. She does this because she wishes to create a cause for action against Men who's hands do not wave in the wind:

If anti-feminist Men can be equated with school murderers then maybe they can be taken down like them.

The fact is that the nazis glorified women because women provided them with their sons to be murdered in the wars of aggression.

Anonymous said...

Ms. Steele's post makes no political statements about Naziism, socialism, Finland or anti-feminist men. MikeeUSA is correct that school shootings are addressed.

Mikeeusa's inability to grasp the meaning of this short article or to pose a coherent, meaningful comment is an example of why these school shootings are occuring in the first place. We have put a level of responsibility and expectations onto young men and men that is unfair and that they are not equipped to handle. We are creating expectations of them that are too great, and the weakest of them - like these boys and possibly Mikee - are pushed beyond the breaking point.
_________________________________
Why do we put men in the position where they must make tough decisions or assume tasks they are not up to?
Think back to elementary school for a moment.
Who were the best pupils?
The smartest students?
The most responsible?
Who sat in the front of the class and paid attention?
Which students did the neatest homework, completed assignments on time and were busy learning while others were rolling around in the dirt on the playground or shooting spitballs?
Are the students you're thinking of girls, by any chance? Of course they are.

Did you ever wonder why the best and brightest aren't considered the Head of the Household, don't hold the top positions in government & business? To make the important decisions? To direct the less capable instead of the other way around?

Why is it that these school shooters are all boys and not girls? Perhaps it's because we've created a society in which the school bullies are given the power, class geeks are saddled with pressure they can't handle, and those who have the ability to make the best decisions and handle pressures that break males are relegated to 2nd class status?

Perhaps we should put the pressure - and responsibility - on those equipped to best handle it, not those who are being crushed by it.

Strength & Unity Forever,

Athena Y

Anonymous said...

Jeff Wiese supposedly admitted planning an attack on a school. [I say supposedly because cops are notorious for beating confessions out of anyone they want to convict] It is dishonest of Ms. Steele to attempt to associate such crimes with men activists who's "crime" is to object to feminist domination and destruction. Shame on you Steele!

Anonymous said...

There is no mystery to "school shootings" or other large scale killings we've seen recently. When young men are tormented, disregarded, and wronged time after time some of them will eventually fight back. If hey have no approved way to fight back, they will fight back in unapproved ways.

The feminazi domination and abuse of young men will continue to result in more and more rebellions against the femiNazi oppression. As time goes by the revolts will grow and become more organized instead of random killings.

The systematic oppression and violent destruction of young men by the misandrist femernment is the cause of the violence, not the cure. All it really does is to teach the oppressed and disenfranchised that the feminazi police are looking over their shoulders so they will become more planned and organized.

Even today, Marc Lepine's counter attack on feminists is celebrated on December 6 every year by men's activists in every English speaking country. And don't confuse feminists with women. It is the feminists who have waged war against men, and who men are striking back against.

The attacks won't come from Internet voices such as Mikee, Bob, MM, etc. They are men who have found a voice. Physical attacks will come from men who are not allowed a meaningful voice, who
s families have been taken away, who's lives have been stifled, who have been accuse, abused, and belittled by the society.

If you are a feminists, keep looking over your shoulder, and bolt your door. Your war on men will bear fruit eventually.

Athena Y said...

Anonymous #1 said Jeff Wiese supposedly admitted planning an attack on a school. [I say supposedly because cops are notorious for beating confessions out of anyone they want to convict]
You may want to reread the article. Wiese killed himself before he could be apprehended.

Anonymous #2: Women were not specifically targeted in either attack. They killed boys and men as well as women. The bullying cited in both cases was from other boys. But thanks for your insights.

Anonymous said...

Athena Y

There you go again exerting your female superiority claim.

"Why is it that these school shooters are all boys and not girls? Perhaps it's because we've created a society in which the school bullies are given the power, class geeks are saddled with pressure they can't handle, and those who have the ability to make the best decisions and handle pressures that break males are relegated to 2nd class status?"

I am sure you are saying women can handle pressures better then men? Really now. Let's think back just a few days ago when the only FEMALE running for president could not even handle a little pressure on her to explain WITHOUT using the gender card some of her own actions. We have seen other women use the PMS defense to get away with murder. (Scary thing to think someone like this could have the key to nuclear bombs)

I think some of the problems we see here are from the very same things YOU are saying here. Many feminist such as yourself try to claim being male is a defect and as such men are inferior to females. This sets up those who have no hope and believe me...those who feel there is no hope ARE dangerous. They have nothing to lose.

Keep making schools boy unfriendly, keep passing misandric laws and we will have a whole new breed of dangerous people but remember...a lot of WOMEN are sick of seeing the anti-male society you want to set up too.

Anonymous said...

You are absolutly right there. This whole blog is nothing but lies and misandry. It shows that Men's Rights Activists are starting to make progress raising awareness in the general public and among politicians.

Only this morning I heard Rush Limbaugh doing a half hour complaint about Hitllary's feminist victimology that could have come right out of Men's Activism.

How much do you suppose Ms. Steel weighs? Was that a size 18 she was wearing, or a 22?

Anonymous said...

This feels like a gag site. It's fun of course.

Anonymous said...

Feminism is the reason why there are so many assaults on schools. From Columbine to VT to Finland, now, feminist hate of young men bullies and mistreats so many that some strike back. Boys in schools are fed constant misandrist hate right from 1st grade. By the time they get to high school they are the objects of institutional hate, degradation, and bullying. The school shootings could be stopped by eliminating feminist hate from schools, returning to institutions that value boys and young men.

Ms. Steele poses the question but she doesn’t want the answer. She’s part of the problem of feminist hate, not part of the solution. Her whole blog is misandrist hate, lies, and attacks on men. That kind of misandry is exactly why there are so many school shootings. Continue the hate and the young men fighting back will get more numerous and more deadly. Only by stopping the feminist hate now part of school institutions will there be a cease fire in schools.

Athena Y said...

Anonymous said: Feminism is the reason why there are so many assaults on schools. From Columbine to VT to Finland, now, feminist hate of young men bullies and mistreats so many that some strike back.
In my experience, the genders seemed to each bully their own. Girls cruelly judged other girls and formed cliques. Stronger boys bullied, teased and beat weaker boys. We ostracize boys who still have their virginity, and girls who lose, creating a lifelong conflict.
If that's "feminism," it should be fixed.

Anonymous said Her whole blog is misandrist hate, lies, and attacks on men. As long as you're taking the time to post this throughout the site, feel free to point to any specific examples, mikee.

Unknown said...

Such venom!

OK, school shootings ... Can we stop them?

Yes and No.

We can lower the numbers, we cannot stop all such things, this is basic to theory of social systems and basic to theory of statistics.

To lower the numbers we will have to do a great many things, all at the same time. Here are a few:

- take bullying seriously
- end zero-tolerance and replace it with low tolerance
- stop punishing both victim and perpetrator
- listen to the most quiet boys
- look for students who are in emotional trouble and seek to help them
- put firm lowering pressure on all violence by all students, including verbal violence

The last item is the most crucial when applied to the boys who are both quiet and do not fit into the cliques. This is the pool from which most (not all!) shooters come. Most of the boys in this pool will be doing OK, the need help that has been aimed at the girls, but are not in danger of becoming violent. However, buried in amongst the majority is a small number who are in desperate need and some of them may become shooters. Think of 1,000 such boys. Well over 900 could use help with reading and social skills, but otherwise are OK. Of the rest, say 80, only one has the potential of becoming violent and it is that one that a reasonable person looks for.

Anonymous said...

jw said...

OK, school shootings ... Can we stop them?


To lower the numbers we will have to do a great many things, all at the same time. Here are a few:

- take bullying seriously
- end zero-tolerance and replace it with low tolerance
- stop punishing both victim and perpetrator
- listen to the most quiet boys
- look for students who are in emotional trouble and seek to help them
- put firm lowering pressure on all violence by all students, including verbal violence

JW....this is what I think Robin is trying for here...constructive remarks because you have addressed the problem and given realistic answers to try t solve the problem. I personally appreciate this post and I think if everyone did that, it would go along way to stop the war between the feminist and anti feminist.

ken

Anonymous said...

mt"it would go along way to stop the war between the feminist and anti feminist."

Why would men do that after feminism has attacked and captured our government, schools, families, and most of our lives. To be assaulted, captured, enslaved, and then accept peace is a fools bargain.

The war between feminists and men won't end until the feminist destruction of families, enslavement of men, and capture of our culture has been driven back. They started this very violent and destructive war, but peace after they have won and backed men into the farthest corner is not going to happen.

It is no accident that the schools where shootings happen have very destructive anti-male hate programs being taught, and boys or young men being hammered down. Let them roll back their feminist hate and restore respect for boys and young men. Until they are willing to do that they are only conquerors whining because their occupation isn't going as easily as they expected.

It wasn't men who started the very violent and very destructive feminist war on boys and men. If they didn't want the violence, they should not have started the war.

Anonymous said...

Hey, in my school there is this leftist dude who believes in feminism that has NO HUMOR. He takes everything seriously. He wears a Fidel Castro hat. He is angry at anyone who makes jokes about anything and he takes them all seriously. He thinks he is superior to everyone. He's in the computer club and tells people who joke to leave as he is the head of it and then just broods with his little click of other people with no humor and a seeming dislike of all others, or a distain for all others.

He seems like the kind of guy that would be vindictive. Remeber, he is a leftist and a feminist. Food for thought.

Anonymous said...

That angry computer club feminist has been taught to hate men (himself) since he was a little boy and couldn't resist the hate he was being fed with his mother's milk. Self hate is a well recognized psychosis and may in fact lead to violence because there is a huge conflict going on inside him. Young men who are beatten into hating themselves and then try to resist often break lose violently. Unofrtunatly they often aren't able to focus their anger and violence on the particular people who hurt them so badly and rage against everyone who hasn't helped. As feminist hate has become more and more dominant in our families and schools we will see more and more revolts, and they will get more and more orgnized. (just an observation)

Anonymous said...

Just came across this, thoughts?
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/26
Indian born flight attendant demands castration of Saudia officials for sexual harassment
Wed, 2006-05-10 22:07

" She has sought for Bahrani to be castrated for sexually harassing her. Bahrani’s shameful acts have stood proved in the Trial Courts and have been confirmed by the Bombay High Court.

Shehnaz has also demanded that the right hands be cut off at the wrists and the left feet at the ankles, as well as 80 lashes be given to the six persons named in her complaint, who are all Muslims, citizens of KSA and executives of the Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Since, Bahrani admitted to being intoxicated when he made sexual overtures to Shehnaz, which four of his own persons produced in the Court as witnesses also confirmed, Shehnaz has sought 40 additional stripes to be given to him for having committed this hudud offence as well. “The evidence is irrefutable and largely documentary. The charges leveled have stood proved. Although, the Courts which have passed their orders against the Saudi Arabian Airlines, Bahrani and others, are not from Dar-al-Islam (abode of Islam i.e. an Islamic Country) the evidence, cannot be one in one Court and another in some other Court”, said Shehnaz, who has sent a copy of her complaint to His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. Instead of chastising the main offender, Mr. Abdul Ellah Bahrani, the SAA Executives have protected him and they must all be severally held guilty of that same offence as having colluded with him. "

Unknown said...

Ken: Thanks. I know there is a need to stop the war of words.

Look at it rationally, we've got a part of feminism which demands hatred of males. We've got a part of the MRA's who demand hatred of females. Amongst the leaderships, in the MRA's do we see leaders taking a stand against hate. When a feminist tries to take such a stand,, say Dorris Lessing, she is roundly beat up on. Thus, there are feminists who want to stop the hate and they are being silenced: Seems to me that we do ourselves a favor by helping the ones who want to stop the hate.

Once hate is fixed, the rest of the pieces should fall into place. We have the power to speak out against hate and to argue fairly and reasonably.

You and I see eye to eye on most gender issues, we do not see Christianity in the same way, not at all. Yet, somehow there is rational speech between the two of us.

When there is rational speech between feminists and MRA's then we will all benefit.

Even within this topic of school shootings we can see the desperate need for rationality. Such venom in some places. Such not-bothering-to-think in other places.

We live in a society that is technically capable of stopping school shootings. Are we socially & morally capable?

Ah now! THAT is the question.

Anonymous said...

JW said:

"You and I see eye to eye on most gender issues, we do not see Christianity in the same way, not at all. Yet, somehow there is rational speech between the two of us."

What you have said here and in this last post is what it should be all about. YES I do agree there are far more in the leadership of the MRA's that speak out against those amongst is that are hateful. I do not think any of this hate speech has hit the main stream and it certainly is not being taught in our colleges. I also agree that those in the feminist movement are quickly brushed aside, yet their are those who have not been silenced. Wendy McElroy from Ifeminist is not only speaking against it but she is also speaking about the horrors of the VAWA. She and I do not agree on everything. She thinks pornography is OK. I do not.

I spoke at the Million Dad March a few years ago and I certainly do not accept all the "planks" in the platform of those that were there but we need to join together and work on common ground while accepting each other in spite of the differences.

Let me give an example of this. We had a woman who came to Shattered Men who well essentially mistrusted all men. I am not sure I could say it was hate but it was close. She came to SM with a lot of discomfort because of our focus. Although she was a Christian, she got very upset with some of the things I wrote..such as that God wants a relationship with us that is so close we can literally call Him...DADDY. You see, she could not even say the Lord's prayer because it started out...Our Father. I told her that the reason for this is that she never had a father that showed her what one should be like and I offered to "adopted" her. To shorten a long story, she accepted and now she even calls me on the phone and says...Dad, can I talk to you? We have excepted each other as we are even though we do not agree on some major issues regarding our faith. She feels we can lose our salvation and I have often spoken on the security of our salvation. We can get along and work together in the areas we do agree on and in fact, she is now in the leadership of Shattered Men even though we do disagree on important areas.

Even here...I doubt Robin and I agree on many important issues..but I also firmly believe that she and I can work TOGETHER on other areas. I am not so smart that I can not learn something from her. I am a pastor but I am not smart enough that I can not learn from the newest Christian either.

You said:

"We live in a society that is technically capable of stopping school shootings. Are we socially & morally capable?

Ah now! THAT is the question."

YES YES YES...we can do this..but in order to do so...we have to learn to VALUE....ALL of our people!!!

Anonymous said...

JW

Let me add this. The NOW website (now.org) says they want equal rights for all women. This simply is not true. They only want rights for those women who agree with them...those who walk lock step in their footsteps. They do not believe a woman should have a choice to be a stay at home mom. Oh she can have a child but she needs to be a "single mother" by choice.

You can also see the misandry from NOW in that they often have parades demanding society to "stop violence to women" Why not stop violence period? In this regard, the feminist movement with NOW at the helm pushed through the Violence Against Women Act by misuse of statistics and outright lies by using junk research.

http://www.shatterdmen.com/Bitter.htm

It is very interesting that NOW accuses MRA's of wanting to have custody of their children after a divorce so they can keep abusing them. Why is it that no one asks why this can not be reversed? After all, about 2/3's of all child abuse is by the mother. Every one of their Deluth Abuse wheel statements can and should be reversed too. They say it is abuse if a man refuses sex to his wife, yet they brag about their husband having to sleep on the sofa for making her mad. NOW also claims that men do not value women...but in reality...it is THEY do do not. They do not think women are smart enough to chose what each of them wants and that they are being brainwashed and actually some of these women are being brainwashed..by THEM.

I think the following will show that it is the feminist that do not value woman.

http://www.shatterdmen.com/feminist_agenda.htm

Also...one of the signs of being an adult is to assume personal responsibility and accountability. These are two values radical feminist know nothing about and certainly do not hold women to. When MRA's do take on those in their midst who advocate violence..we are simply doing just what the radical feminist will not do. When these men threaten violence they are lowering themselves to their enemies standard and are becoming the enemy they say they detest.

Being a radical feminist is wrong...but being a radical masculist is just as wrong.

EACH person wants..NEEDS to be valued. We all need to know that someone cares about us...and that is what SM is all about...WE do care...about everyone!

Anonymous said...

"When these men threaten violence they are lowering themselves to their enemies standard and are becoming the enemy they say they detest."

We tried ignoring the Islamic Terrorists. They kept upping their attacks untill we took notice and fought back.

A strong offence is the only successful defence.

Some Men want Men to have power. They do not want equality. Equality is not what is best for Men. For Men to rule over their wives is wonderful.

Anonymous said...

If the tactics of your enemies work, try them out and see if they too bring success to you.

Those who stand between trenches get shot at from both sides.

Anonymous said...

"but being a radical masculist is just as wrong."

So is destroying your enemy. Maybe you should just sit on the sidelines.

Masculist Man said...

Anonymous November 17, 2007 9:48 AM
and anonymous November 17, 2007 9:50 AM

Well said and in agreement with you both.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said "Equality is not what is best for Men. For Men to rule over their wives is wonderful."
Looks like another Saturday night alone on the computer for Anonymous... trading pics of submissive 13 year olds with Masculist Man.

Anonymous said...

Shattered Man seems to have all the data, but his conclusions are divergent from his data. He cites lots of facts about feminism and feminists, and then goes against all his cited data to leap to a conclusion that men who object to feminism and try to do something about it's war on men are wrong.

Is he nuts, or just a very badly messed up mangina?

Anonymous said...

It's less than 3 weeks until December 6th, which as everyone knows is International Marc Lepine Day

It's time to celebrate the first man who had the courage to stand up against the violent feminist war on men and begin shooting back. He took out a couple of dozen feminists before he fell. May he be long be remembered as a martyr and hero of all men.

Its time to be putting up your decorations, hanging the lights, and sending out the party invitations. Hooray for St. Marc!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Shattered Man seems to have all the data, but his conclusions are divergent from his data. He cites lots of facts about feminism and feminists, and then goes against all his cited data to leap to a conclusion that men who object to feminism and try to do something about it's war on men are wrong.

When you talk about killing women....you have become that which you fight against. If you wanted to stop bank robbers, could you do it by robbing banks?

Hate breeds hate and the more hate you give, the more you will get in return. I have used feminist own words with them and they became angry. Robin has used YOUR own words..and I see the hate spilling out all over the place.

I simply can not understand why you can not realize that your hate is fueling RADICAL feminist. It has won NO ONE to our side and it will only result in MORE Misandric laws. Then again...maybe this is what you want so you can hate...even more.

Anonymous said...

Note to Emasculated Man:

You just refuse to see that "Peace in our time" is a flawed goal that has no chance of ever working.

That is dreamtime, and femiNazi hate is the real world. All you are doing is to attack men who are trying to stand up against the femiNazi onslaught. You are a quisling.

Masculist Man said...

Note to Emasculated Man:

You just refuse to see that "Peace in our time" is a flawed goal that has no chance of ever working.

That is dreamtime, and femiNazi hate is the real world. All you are doing is to attack men who are trying to stand up against the femiNazi onslaught. You are a quisling.



You talking to me?

Anonymous said...

No, MM, that was for Shattered/Emasculated man

Maybe it didn't work as well as I though it would.

Anonymous said...

Anonymouse: Masculist Man also answers to the name Emasculated Man.

Masculist Man said...

No, MM, that was for Shattered/Emasculated man

Maybe it didn't work as well as I though it would.


Thanks for clarifying and yes you are right.

Masculist Man said...

Anonymouse: Masculist Man also answers to the name Emasculated Man.

They have used that as a insult before. Besides,I'm very far from being "emasculated".

Anonymous said...

This topic strikes home for me in a very personal way. Many years ago a Deranged Man with an Axe to grind against Asians. Walked onto a School Grounds in Stockton California with an AK-47 and opened fire. He killed a Teacher and Several Students.

My niece was a Kindergartner at the Time. Three kids who lived in her Apartment complex were killed. She is now studying to be a Psychologist. And knows first hand the tragedy of Mental Illness. And how innocent lives were snuffed out. By a violent and senseless act.

The school shootings have an underlying connection. The Virgina Tech Shooter, the Columbine Shooters, Kip Kinkle and others were on Anti-Depressant Medications. These have been shown to cause psychosis and suicide in Young Males. The FDA has issued warnings on this.

Big Pharmaceutical Companies are making big bucks, selling tons of Psychotropic drugs to Children for ADD, and ADHD.

The VA Tech Shooter had been mistreated and bullied by Professors and Women on campus. He did not kill his Roomate. But took his anger out on others before taking his own life.

Khankrumthebulgar

Anonymous said...

"The VA Tech Shooter had been mistreated and bullied by Professors and Women on campus. He did not kill his Roomate. But took his anger out on others before taking his own life.

Khankrumthebulgar"

My daughter was a student in the school in IL immediately preceding the Stockton California shooting in which innocent first graders were gunned down. I have read through these comments and am disgusted by those who disregard the facts and the truth to support their one-track contention that women, or in this case women and pharm. companies, are to blame for everything. Khankrumthebulgar conveniently disregards the time and effort the female English teacher spent reaching out to the VA Tech killer, and that ADD medication - which are generally stimulants and not anti-depressants - played no role in any of these shootings.

Khankrumthebulgar, that you are a complete fool is obvious to any person of average intelligence or above. Your ability to use so many logical fallacies in a single comment is impressive, but those of us who have been directly affected by these incidents would appreciate it if you'd keep your inane and preposterous utterances to yourself.

Anonymous said...

Masculist Man said "I'm very far from being "emasculated"."
Masculist, you are the classic example of overcompensation.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said, "Khankrumthebulgar conveniently disregards the time and effort the female English teacher spent reaching out to the VA Tech killer, and that ADD medication - which are generally stimulants and not anti-depressants - played no role in any of these shootings."

Hello? What planet are you from?

Cho's English Professor is internationally known for her anti-men hate. It spews all over the whole English department at VT, calling men every possible insult and degrading them to second class citizens. When Cho asked a woman for a date she called the campus police and he was hauled off for psychiatric mistreatment. She could have just declined, but the anti-men hate is so prevalent that asking for a date is and excuse for violence against men.

Cho had become the victim of extreme feminist anti-men hate and violence on the VT campus. He had been assaulted, beaten, chained, caged, and subjected to all kinds of physical and psychological violence.

As long as the feminists at VT and other schools continue with their anti-men hate and violence, some men will refuse to go quietly into suicide. They will continue to take some of the guilty with them on the way out. Most won’t be focused enough at that point to direct their revenge against the specific feminists who attacked and destroyed them, and instead, like Cho, will rage against other feminists who supported the hate against them.

Just my observation of the news and events.

Anonymous said...

High school classmates say gunman was bullied

Police say package sent to NBC News between shootings is of little use

NBC, MSNBC and news services
updated 5:10 p.m. CT, Thurs., April. 19, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Long before he killed 32 people in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, Seung-Hui Cho was bullied by fellow high school students who mocked his shyness and the strange way he talked, former classmates said.

Cho, 23, a senior English major at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, killed 32 people in two attacks before taking his own life Monday. He sent a large multi-media package outlining his grievances against religion and the wealthy to NBC News, but police said Thursday that the material added little to their investigation.

The text, photographs and video in the package bristle with hatred toward unspecified people whom Cho, a South Korean immigrant, accused of having wronged him, adding to a portrait of a solitary man who rarely, if ever, managed normal social interactions.

Chris Davids, a Virginia Tech student who graduated with Cho from Westfield High School in Chantilly, Va., in 2003, recalled that Cho almost never opened his mouth and would ignore attempts to strike up a conversation.

Once, in an English class, the teacher had the students read aloud and, when it was Cho’s turn, he just looked down in silence, Davids recalled in an interview with The Associated Press.

Finally, after the teacher threatened to give him a failing grade for participation, Cho started to read in a strange, deep voice that sounded “like he had something in his mouth,” Davids said.

“As soon as he started reading, the whole class started laughing and pointing and saying, ‘Go back to China,’” Davids said.

Among Cho’s victims were Reema Samaha and Erin Peterson, who both graduated from Westfield High School last year. Police said it was not clear whether Cho singled them out.

‘The question mark kid’
Virginia Tech student Alison Heck said a suitemate of hers on campus found a mysterious question mark scrawled on the dry erase board on her door. The young woman went to the same high school as Cho, according to her Facebook page.

Cho once scrawled a question mark on the sign-in sheet on the first day of a literature class, and other students came to know him as “the question mark kid.”

“I don’t know if she knew that it was him for sure,” Heck said. “I do remember that that fall that she was being stalked and she had mentioned the question mark. And there was a question mark on her door.”

Heck added: “She just let us know about it just in case there was a strange person walking around our suite.”

The young woman could not immediately be located for comment, via e-mail or telephone.

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