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Finally, the flag can go back up and hopefully I won't have to hear any more about Blacksburg. By the way, before this week,how many of you could tell me exactly where Blacksburg is? I've been enough times, I can tell you the exit number off I-81. So yes, I am familiar with the area.

I am tired of hearing about the event that took place earlier this week. The final straw was this morning at church when the pastor said that we "we will always remember where we were, just as we remember where we were on 9/11 and when Columbine took place." Seriously? You are putting two school shootings on the same level as a terrorist attack against the United States?!? Yes, I can see how 32 people being shot is the same as 2,973 people dying on 9/11.

Do people understand that all this media coverage and having a VT day simply fulfills the shooter's wishes? He was a sad demented kid who wanted attention. Thanks society, you are not only giving it to him posthumously but you are telling potential copycats that by performing violent acts, they will get the same response. How many school shootings do you remember before Columbine? And how many times after have you heard about kids taking guns to school? How many threats and lock downs take place on the Columbine anniversary? Fine, go grieve if you feel the need to. However please do not make the rest of us feel guilty because we do not care and we do not want to promote this type of behavior.

Now before you start your attacks, despite the little counter over there, I am not a Newbie. I am a long time member and poster. The reason I have chosen to "hide" my identity is for the sake of the friends I have on this site. I do not want them to be put in an awkward situation simply because they are friends with me. Unfortunately, I have seen first hand how people on this board can be isolated and exiled. Then the people around them are put in this middle ground where they have to be careful with what they say to whom. So feel free to attack the post, but please respect my concern for my friends by not asking my identity.

Unfortunately, its not over yet. The media has to glum around the campus for another week and then revisit for graduation. It attracts ratings and that is what they are looking for. I was disgusted at the amount of coverage the NBC tapes were given. I don't know about the other networks but at least faux news peppered in obits of the victims that day.

I work in the media, I think NBC showed terrible judgment in showing the tapes. This is the same network that fired Don Imus not a week earlier for his discretions, but the same network that rode the moral high horse over Imus shames the victims and families of VT by glamourizing the thug that commited this crime.

Our station, WFSB in Hartford, has decided never to show images of that tape again. CNN has apparently not, because it was on their air again last night.

I hear ya. I did know exactly where Blacksburg was before this. I've been to the campus many times for WVU-Va Tech football games, so this tragedy has hit home.

Being a journalism major, I can honestly say, I HATE the media (and I don't work in that field because of this). I think there have been several signs erected around campus saying 'Media Go Home'. They really need to. Because the healing can't begin until they leave and stop covering this story. I want to know about the victims and remember them, but it sure doesn't help when you see a replay of this guy's face all over the news. That's exactly what he wanted!

Regardless of whether or not I agree with you, I will say that your post reaks of cowardice. If you feel so strongly about your opinion, then stand behind it and let everyone know who you are. Otherwise, it carries the same weight as those editorials signed "Name withheld at author's request" - none.

This'll be a fun thread....

SickAndTired wrote:
I do not want them to be put in an awkward situation simply because they are friends with me. .

I have to say.... if my friends decided not to be my friends just because I had a controversial opinion on a specific issue... they arent really my friends....

I'm just curious...who is being considered for the part of Cho in the made-for-TV-movie, probably due out in 3 weeks?

rednekkPH wrote:Regardless of whether or not I agree with you, I will say that your post reaks of cowardice. If you feel so strongly about your opinion, then stand behind it and let everyone know who you are. Otherwise, it carries the same weight as those editorials signed "Name withheld at author's request" - none.

I absolutely agree with this!!!!!!!!!!

CaptainP wrote:I'm just curious...who is being considered for the part of Cho in the made-for-TV-movie, probably due out in 3 weeks?

Sad but true......

I disagree with the media being blamed. The media should not be a moral censor on the news and not report something because it would hurt someone's feelings. If that were the case, nothing would be reported. NBC did not air the entire content of the tapes and said they never would. It is relevant news that the guy sent the tapes to a media outlet and that much reported with a very brief sampling of the tapes. The coverage of the story has not offended me or outraged me because I can turn the TV off when I've seen enough.

I won't remember where I was when I heard about this, I suppose, because I was not as shocked as I was with other major events.

The media is not to blame for the tragedy itself.

I became a journalism major because I loved the news. I craved having to know what was going on in the world by reading multiple newspapers every single day.

I think where the media plays upon your emotions is wrong. I honestly believe the more you watch, the worse you become when it comes to emotional things such as the Virginia Tech tragedy. It's not about getting the facts, it's the way the media plays upon emotions to keep you watching.

I've found that I still want to get the news, it's just MUCH better to read or listen to the radio than watch it on TV. Just my opinion.

I'm not sure why you would want to disguise yourself for your opinion on this. It's just thoughtful discussion. I don't think it's right that you think people would criticize you for it. I think we're all open-minded parrottheads who lots of different opinions and backgrounds, but we're still friends!

FruitCakeDawg wrote:

rednekkPH wrote:Regardless of whether or not I agree with you, I will say that your post reaks of cowardice. If you feel so strongly about your opinion, then stand behind it and let everyone know who you are. Otherwise, it carries the same weight as those editorials signed "Name withheld at author's request" - none.

I absolutely agree with this!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be back next week. Dallas will probably be the last show I go to this year, so after that it can be fair game.

MelliJellyBean wrote:I'm not sure why you would want to disguise yourself for your opinion on this. It's just thoughtful discussion. I don't think it's right that you think people would criticize you for it. I think we're all open-minded parrottheads who lots of different opinions and backgrounds, but we're still friends!

Can we save this quote for when election time comes around again?

SickAndTired wrote:

MelliJellyBean wrote:I'm not sure why you would want to disguise yourself for your opinion on this. It's just thoughtful discussion. I don't think it's right that you think people would criticize you for it. I think we're all open-minded parrottheads who lots of different opinions and backgrounds, but we're still friends!

Can we save this quote for when election time comes around again?

sure, i can't speak for others, but you can hold ME to it!

MelliJellyBean wrote:The media is not to blame for the tragedy itself.

I became a journalism major because I loved the news. I craved having to know what was going on in the world by reading multiple newspapers every single day.

I think where the media plays upon your emotions is wrong. I honestly believe the more you watch, the worse you become when it comes to emotional things such as the Virginia Tech tragedy. It's not about getting the facts, it's the way the media plays upon emotions to keep you watching.

I've found that I still want to get the news, it's just MUCH better to read or listen to the radio than watch it on TV. Just my opinion.

I'm not sure why you would want to disguise yourself for your opinion on this. It's just thoughtful discussion. I don't think it's right that you think people would criticize you for it. I think we're all open-minded parrottheads who lots of different opinions and backgrounds, but we're still friends!

If you love the news, then how can you say you hate the media? Newspapers are media. I strongly believe in the fourth estate and our freedom of the press. That said, I do believe television goes too far and I would never be a TV news person, although I did receive training in that field. (Communications major here)

carolinagirl wrote:

MelliJellyBean wrote:The media is not to blame for the tragedy itself.

I became a journalism major because I loved the news. I craved having to know what was going on in the world by reading multiple newspapers every single day.

I think where the media plays upon your emotions is wrong. I honestly believe the more you watch, the worse you become when it comes to emotional things such as the Virginia Tech tragedy. It's not about getting the facts, it's the way the media plays upon emotions to keep you watching.

I've found that I still want to get the news, it's just MUCH better to read or listen to the radio than watch it on TV. Just my opinion.

I'm not sure why you would want to disguise yourself for your opinion on this. It's just thoughtful discussion. I don't think it's right that you think people would criticize you for it. I think we're all open-minded parrottheads who lots of different opinions and backgrounds, but we're still friends!

If you love the news, then how can you say you hate the media? Newspapers are media. I strongly believe in the fourth estate and our freedom of the press. That said, I do believe television goes too far and I would never be a TV news person, although I did receive training in that field. (Communications major here)

Because half of the time they get the facts wrong. After personally witnessing a few major events in our backyard (last year's Sago thing), I've seen that they get a lot of facts WRONG. You can't always believe what you read or watch anymore. They report speculations and 'unnamed sources'. It's about getting the scoop and getting the story FIRST and not necessarily waiting to get it RIGHT.

That's why I have a beef with the media. These are things we learned in J-101! Journalism ethics, that kind of thing.

I'm not saying I hate ALL media. I love the news. I do. But I don't like what certain media outlets do. I believe the media is VERY important, but at the same time, you have to pick and choose your sources because sometimes, they aren't right.

Whether it be this or any other major news event, whenever I turn on the cable news (not just CNN), I'm reminded of the Don Henley lyric, "She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye". It's as though some of the media gets some sort of perverse pleasure out of reporting these type of stories and it turns my stomach.

SickAndTired wrote:

FruitCakeDawg wrote:

rednekkPH wrote:Regardless of whether or not I agree with you, I will say that your post reaks of cowardice. If you feel so strongly about your opinion, then stand behind it and let everyone know who you are. Otherwise, it carries the same weight as those editorials signed "Name withheld at author's request" - none.

I absolutely agree with this!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be back next week. Dallas will probably be the last show I go to this year, so after that it can be fair game.

well you're obviously NOT a TRUE Texan - as we true Texans have NO problem speaking our mind and we don't hide behind ANYONE OR ANYTHING!!

Maybe the media has shown Cho's face to much - but in the light that there have been over 80 cases bomb threats of weapons taken to schools this past week (as reported by MSNBC) the coverage itself has quite possibly opened the eyes of college security departments nationwide - let's not forget there was another killing at the University of Washington the week prior. This definitely shows the need for better communications at campuses nationwide as well as better procedures for when or if something like this occurs - and it will occur again.

As far as you retaining your anonymity to protect your friends. Speaking as one who has spoke their mind MANY a time here I can honestly say the people here are also very forgiving - and like Topless said - if they were true friends your speaking your mind shouldn't matter to them.

So why don't you quit being such a chicken****?

SickAndTired wrote: I am tired of hearing about the event that took place earlier this week. The final straw was this morning at church when the pastor said that we "we will always remember where we were, just as we remember where we were on 9/11 and when Columbine took place." Seriously? You are putting two school shootings on the same level as a terrorist attack against the United States?!? Yes, I can see how 32 people being shot is the same as 2,973 people dying on 9/11.

Well ... I for one, will always remember where I was when I heard the news about both those school shootings. Columbine because I lived in Littleton for a while, and VT because my kids are now a current college junior and a soon-to-be-college Freshman... in adddition to the fact that one of my neighbors is a current VT Freshman (thankfully okay) so yeah pal, they both hit home ... OBVIOUSLY not to the same degree as the attack on my home town in 2001, but will I remember where I was? HELL, YES!