The media and issues around the Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui

A Response on the Media 's Influence on the Virginia Tech Shooter

The United States and the world woke up to terrible news a few days ago when a lone gunman went on a shooting spree at Virginia tech , killing thirty two people including himself , in what most considers as the worst school killing in US history . The gunman , Seung-Hui Cho initially generated feelings of disgust for the shooter , sympathy and pity for his victims , and fear for one 's own safety or that of their kids and loved ones in school p

As the story kept developing further , it was known that the shooter already manifested signs of mental instability earlier on . The same information was used by the media to create a different picture of the gunman portraying him in a better light , this time as a victim and not the accused . The media , being an influential tool whether intentional or not , is a driving force behind people 's thoughts and opinions regarding several issues . The Virginia Tech killings and the way the shooter is perceived is not spared from this . Primarily , the media presented Seung-Hui Cho as a madman who went on apathetically killing several schoolmates before he took his own life later on justified ' his behavior because of anti-depressant medication withdrawal

For an entity which primarily perceived the shooter as a heartless individual , it is surprising that the media seemed to retract its initial position and shift into blaming ' the effects of medication withdrawal which may have resulted to the killer 's violent reaction . In some ways , the media tries to justify the shooter 's actions , pointing its fingers to the lack of foresight on the part of his professors and Virginia Tech in general , and his medication withdrawal , to perhaps attract sympathy for the young man . This may be media 's way to emphasize the importance of educators and school personnel in detecting recognizing and doing something about students ' deep seated anger towards others earlier on

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Media Influence on the Virginia Tech Shooter...