The first half hour of this morning's "Today" offered an unusual window into NBC's decision to air some of the materials that the Virginia Tech killer, Cho Seung-Hui, had mailed to the network.
Matt Lauer introduced the topic.
MATT LAUER: It puts us in an unusual position, because obviously at NBC News we always want to cover the important stories of the day and the massacre at Virginia Tech is one of the most disturbing and tragic stories any of us will ever cover. But we're not used to becoming part of the story, and with this package that he sent us, Cho has made us in some way part of the story
MEREDITH VIEIRA: The decision to air some of the images he sent to us: the video clips and the photos and to discuss what was contained in that rambling and hate-filled manifesto was not taken lightly, it was not made quickly, and we understand that this is going to be seen as devastating to many people who lost loved ones in the shooting. In fact I will tell you that we had planned to speak to some family members of victims this morning but they cancelled their appearances because they were very upset with NBC for airing the images.
LAUER: And let's be honest. There are some big differences of opinion right within this news division as to whether we should be airing this stuff at all, that we're taking the right course of action. But we've made the decision, because by showing some of this material, perhaps it'll help us understand or answer the question 'why?' Why did it happen? If we can examine how a person who can say what he says and then do what he did, fail to be taken off the streets prior to committing these murders. But let me say that while we will show you some of what we received, it will be just a very small percentage. Because to be honest, after you see a bit of it you're going to get the idea. We feel strongly that this is not video that we need to run in some kind of an endless loop, and so we will severely limit the amount of footage that you're going to see.
Speaking with former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt later in the segment, Lauer even raised the possibility that in airing the video, NBC might be inspiring similar future crimes.
LAUER: Clint, you used to work for the FBI as a profiler. Can I ask you a blunt question? If you were still working for the FBI, still in law enforcement, would you want us to air this videotape?
VAN ZANDT: In a perfect world, no, Matt. But that's because I believe he's trying to re-victimize this campus by doing this and I think he's reached out from the grave and got us to carry out his mission in this. But we're not in a perfect world, and the reality is this information would get out. There would be other media that would get court orders, other people, tabloids. This would get out. So if it's going to be out, I think it should be out now where we can consider it, and allow this campus to move on and heal from this terrible wound that it suffered.
LAUER: Well let me take on an argument that's probably going to come in the next couple days or so. He references Klebold and Harris from Colombine. So clearly he understood what happened there. Media outlets over the last several years have shown that video of Klebold and Harris practicing with their weapons in the woods. So can't you make the argument, maybe this guy Cho saw that video, and maybe it inspired his act. So could this video of Cho inspire a future act?
Another guest, psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, responded, supporting NBC's decision.
ABLOW: Well, when you use the word inspire, here's the way I see it. Long ago, the roots were sown for this man's violent act. And long ago, he identified himself as a person of concern. I think it's important to know this is the kind of dramatic thing that was happening inside him that no one saw, because maybe in the future we can take action earlier, now that people see the real pathology that was beneath the surface.
My two cents say NBC handled the matter appropriately. For that matter, while some liberal bias has seeped through, as here on the issue of gun control, all in all I give the MSM good marks for their handling of the tragedy.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
If they'd said "let's
April 19, 2007 - 08:19 ET by sarcasmoIf they'd said "let's wait 10 years to release this nut's ramblings" I think they could have made themselves the story (which they are, anyway, with this decision) while keeping fingers on the trigger of sooner-release if some other media outlet manages to get the same info somehow. Right now, copycat nuts can pretty-safely assume they'll get immediate airtime, and that's not a good thing -- especially if victim disarmament remains the dominant prevailing policy on campuses...
JMR
They make themselves part o
April 19, 2007 - 08:59 ET by motherbeltThey make themselves part of the story by airing the video, along with broadcasting all their angst over whether or not to do it, then they are surprised when they become "part of the story."
All I can say is Bravo!! to the parents who refused to go along with their exercise in self-important agonizing.
I agree with motherbelt. If t
April 19, 2007 - 10:31 ET by KC MulvilleI agree with motherbelt. If this were one story, maybe NBC's argument would make sense. However, this is part of a larger picture. Everyone exploits the media, and the media welcomes it. By that, the media becomes part of the story, and encourages violence. The media, however, won’t take responsibility for their role in these events. They need to step up and accept responsibility.
Is the media exploiting Cho's violence...
April 19, 2007 - 11:53 ET by SportPoliticsIs the media exploiting Cho's violence... of course they are. It's the biggest violent story of their lives, as blabber said.
However, if they actually played the whole tape they would be doing a public service because we could all see the totality of what the mentally ill Cho said. Other mentally ill people colud be more properly tagged.
Instead of doing a public service, they will play their selected exerpts, and who knows what criteria they used ? None of us do. So, let's see what we found out, since they say we "get the idea" with the video clips and cuts they will play over and over and over and over again:
What becomes immediately obvious is Cho is a hateful "two Americas" type of person. He mentions the people with their rich foods and cars and money and sex, and more or less says it won't help them now. He is a jealous -raging, hateful little peon, just like the liberals who whine about two Americas, and claim those evil elitists need to pay.
Well, that's what I got out of it. I don't remember exactly what he said - caviar and a mercedes benz and hedonism, but it was along those lines.
So, probably, besides all their other excuses for not releasing the whole tape, and playing it once or twice, and instead releasing their little selected excerpt andplaying it ten thousand times boring us all to tears, they don't want the whole cat out of the bag, because what we will see in totality is a raging little hateful lib - the worst of the generally insane talking points coming from the kosoheads.
That's exactly what I saw in their little excerpt. Heck, look at it again, he spews hate for the "rich" kids. That's what it's about.
Sport - I had a similar react
April 19, 2007 - 12:08 ET by Dee BunkSport - I had a similar reaction, it was a liberal hate speech. Of course it's hypocritical liberal hate speech since most of them are wealthy. I really did see a very similar thing in this video as in the terrorist's videos. It just shows that these crazies don't need a religion to espouse hate. I think the liberal ideology of trying to make everyone equal causes more problems. People need to be taught that life isn't fair and you have to make the best of what you have. Liberals encourage people to be jealous and it's not good.
There is nothing you can do to make life fair. If you were able to give everyone the same amount of money then what do you do about the people who are more attractive, thinner etc... Who gets the job as a janitor and who gets to be an Actor or Journalist?
Worst fears realized
April 19, 2007 - 12:39 ET by SportPoliticsThere was some religious reference too, I'm not certain without viewing it again, but it seemed he talked about Jesus suffering, and decided those "believers" would suffer as well. So, you have another left leaning ideation, those fake Christains need to be real Christains, and Cho was going to make sure they suffer like their Savior did. That's what I got out of his religious references.
Here's what some of the students got out of his persona and schoolwork and attitude prior:
[ Acquaintances describe Cho as quiet, refusing even to introduce himself in one class. They say he would wear sunglasses constantly, even indoors. And two screenplays he wrote disturbed those who saw them.
"When we read Cho's plays, it was like something out of a nightmare," said former classmate Ian MacFarlane, who posted what he said were two of Cho's scripts on an AOL blog. "The plays had really twisted, macabre violence that used weapons I wouldn't have even thought of," MacFarlane told the Associated Press. McFarlane said he and other students worried "about whether he could be a school shooter." ]
Well, there were apparently signs, pretty obvious signs, but we all know how that sort of thing goes. With the left's propensity for excusing all sorts of vile and strange behavior as "art" - it's no wonder.
NPR [above].
See Cho's plays - like cussing liberal victim filth with murder
April 19, 2007 - 12:55 ET by SportPoliticsI just read the first play Cho wrote online. It reads like we've already read it a hundred times, with the usual liberal left hate their stepdaddy crap, it is one low life drama, can't get much worse than that, but it mimicks what the Hollywooders and the crybabies in society - the liberals, always claim is reality.
I can hardly wait to read the second one.
I guess the students and even the professor went real easy on the chump during class play review time, worried that he might snap.
Isn't "art" wonderful libs ?
LOL
I bet those mcadees burger flip references and the bushwacked line was a real thriller in class for all of you libs.
Sport - I heard a part about
April 19, 2007 - 13:27 ET by Dee BunkSport - I heard a part about Jesus too, but it did definitley seem like he was mocking Christians.
I'm sad to say that here in
April 19, 2007 - 14:44 ET by steviep831I'm sad to say that here in Jacksonville, well actually St. John's county they just arrested a youngster who was planning a shooting to top the VT massacre. I don't know the details yet, but apparently, he wrote an email saying he was going to kill 100 people so that he would have the record. Obviously this individual wants attention, and I hope he gets all the attention he wants at our local penitentiary.
Another school shooting prevented
April 19, 2007 - 15:01 ET by RJThank goodness they stopped him.
We had one prevented in Newington, CT about a month ago. Another student from a different school reported things he had been saying on MySpace. The little sicko had already collected his guns (rifles) and made plans.
I wonder how many others like these only make local news?
Personally, I see NO newswort
April 19, 2007 - 08:24 ET by Warner Todd HustonPersonally, I see NO newsworthiness of airing this scumbag's video and pictures. It is simple-minded sensationalism and NOTHING more. NBC gave this inhuman creep exactly what he wanted, fame.
The video gives us NO "window" into a "reason" and explains nothing. It doesn't help people heal, it doesn't warn off others in search of the same notice on the public square. (in fact it encourages them that they will get their 15 minutes)
Airing the video does one thing and one thing only... titillates the public.
Were I NBC, I'd have throw the crap in the trash bin .
I'd agree that it's crap, b
April 19, 2007 - 08:31 ET by sarcasmoI'd agree that it's crap, but selling titillating crap is what the news media do for a living. That's why I like the idea of NBC voluntarily making the loon wait 10 years to finally get his crap out to the public (while keeping a finger on the early release trigger just in case). Most of these shooter-loons don't think all that long-term, anyway.
JMR
What do you make of Van Zan
April 19, 2007 - 08:34 ET by Mark FinkelsteinWhat do you make of Van Zandt's argument that this was bound to come out? I tend to agree, and so long as that's true, better that it be done in the manner in which NBC handled it.
The "It's gonna come out anyw
April 19, 2007 - 08:39 ET by Warner Todd HustonThe "It's gonna come out anyway" argument sounds just like the "they're gonna have sex anyway" argument. It's an excusing of low behavior just because someone ELSE will "do it anyway".
Exactly!, WTH. That transl
April 19, 2007 - 09:00 ET by motherbeltExactly!, WTH. The "someone else will do it any, so let it be us" is nothing more than reationalization, in the negative sense of the word.
SO HOW MUCH IS NBC EARNING IN
April 19, 2007 - 12:13 ET by TruthMongerSO HOW MUCH IS NBC EARNING IN AD DOLLAR$$$$ AS THEY AIR THIS PSYCHO'S RAMBLINGS - ANY PROCEEDS GOING TO THE FAMILIES?
I Must Disagree Mark
April 19, 2007 - 08:42 ET by JimboI must disagree Mark. If I were the one making the decisions at NBC, I would have announced that we had the tape, locked it away and announced that we would not be showing it as it would further inflame the situation, wouldn’t be fair to the families, gave the killer exactly what he wanted, etc. etc. Sure – some media outlets would try to sue to get access to it, but I would let that process run its course. Maybe the suit would be successful, maybe it wouldn’t. And if it were successful, NBC still has the right to show it first, and be able to preface it by saying that the sick people at another news outlet has forced the issue by suing us for the tape. Also, by that point, time will have passed, making the airing less inflammatory. NBC could have taken the high road. But I guess that’s not how they do business and that’s why I’m not making the decisions there.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Mark - They could have kept i
April 19, 2007 - 08:51 ET by Gat New YorkMark - They could have kept it underwraps if they wanted to. The MSM did a heck of a job of hiding the identity of the Duke accuser for a very long time even after it was evident that the case was bogus. It all depends on what satisfies their political agenda. In this case they ant to make an issue about gun control and the video is Exhibit A for them.
I completely agree with you.
April 19, 2007 - 08:42 ET by amberI completely agree with you. Theyshould have turned it over and forgotten about it. They are just rationalizing their decision. If they really wanted to get to the heart of it, they could hire a pnael of educators, psychologists, and people wh had been through these experiences to study the tapes.
That said, I propbably would have aired it if I were in their place. I sat there watching the teachers describe the writings as " angry" and I was thinking, these same people would think half of what I write is angry too. So, it did help me a litle to have some context, but still, I really did not need any context at all.
Warner Todd Huston,I am with
April 19, 2007 - 08:46 ET by msh1973Warner Todd Huston,
I am with you on this topic. I see no reason other than sensationalism to show this video. I mean give me a break, these families haven't even buried their loved ones and already they are seeing this very sick man all over the TV. By showing these videos they are making him very famous, giving him the attention he wanted. This takes the focus off the victims and puts in on the killer. He compares himself to Jesus...very disturbing.
I'm inclined to agree with yo
April 19, 2007 - 08:50 ET by dscottI'm inclined to agree with you on that, personally after watching the video the first time around I could not bear to hear that hate speech again. So each time any News outlet plays it, I mute the TV or just change the channel. While NBC was perhaps right to make it public, it shows poor judgement/taste on their part to play it ad infinitem. Unfortunately, Fox News is also guilty of replaying this screed one to many times. Once is way more than enough, we shouldn't give unedited air time to hateful speech. There is a difference between "Free Speech" of the press's right to report the news and taste, only a fool babbles incessantly, the wise keep their mouths closed at the appropriate times.
I'm not buying the copy cat suggestion line, a nut job is going to do what a nut job will do. Right now my sympathies go to the victim's surviving families and loved ones so this hate screed video needs to be heavily edited or left on the internet to allow people the choice to study contents if they feel a need or have the stomach to listen to such vitriol. I also feel for the parents of Cho, I can not imagine as a parent that my child would do such a thing, the grief and shame must be horrendous.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
"does one thing and on
April 19, 2007 - 09:39 ET by kafkakaefer"does one thing and one thing only... titillates the public.
"
Well, I guess the same thing could be said about your (false) assumptions, guessings and so forth you made the other day about this case. Where I Warner Todd Houston I'd simply shut up.
"Hegel says somewhere all great events and personalities in world history reappear in one fashion or another. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce."
The Eighteeenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte (1852) sect. 1, Cf.
Ah, here we have one who clai
April 19, 2007 - 09:50 ET by Warner Todd HustonAh, here we have one who claims the mantle of "philosopher" or at least wears the trappings of one showing an inability to read and spell as WELL as stooping to playground name calling.
Nice going KrapKrafer.
I suppose we'll see YOUR Choifesto on TV sooner than we'd want!
Warner,LOL-What do you
April 19, 2007 - 15:12 ET by Dave RWarner,
LOL-What do you expect from someone whose tag line sports a quote by a frog?
:-)
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-
Neal Boortz.
Too bad you aren't - we'd lik
April 19, 2007 - 10:08 ET by Dee BunkToo bad you aren't - we'd like you to shut up. Why don't you just pretend and we will listen to the real WTH
I agree wholeheartedly. All
April 19, 2007 - 14:52 ET by steviep831I agree wholeheartedly. All this does is tell the scumbags of our world that they will get all the airtime in the world if they just kill a bunch of people. I think it's sick. Why else would this insect have mailed this media package to NBC? He knew what he was doing. In all his ranting and raving all I saw was an illiterate, sick juvenile who wanted attention and nothing more. If anyone in the media pontificates on how his "manifesto" is a valid analysis of our world, it will make me very very upset. I already see it happening. The media trying to move the blame to someone other than the trash that took 32 people's lives. I'm sorry but the way the media is handling this... it's just wrong.
does anyone sense that throug
April 19, 2007 - 08:42 ET by pmohbuckdoes anyone sense that through matt lauer's smarmy attempt to show how much care and thought was put into the decision to air cho's "video mein kampf" ... that he and the rest of his nbc cohorts are quietly gloating over the fact that it was THEIR network that the killer chose to send the tape
maybe cho knew how much air-time nbc devoted to al-quaeda propaganda tapes and thought they'd give him the most exposure ... he was right ... have you seen the nbc logo smeared all over the images/video ... you would have thought they assisted in the production of the damn thing
Here is the MOST disgusting p
April 19, 2007 - 08:45 ET by Warner Todd HustonHere is the MOST disgusting part of this whole video trash.
They WON'T show video of 9/11, but they WILL show video of this creep and his gutless, psychotic manifesto.
No Bias Here!
April 19, 2007 - 08:49 ET by JimboThink about it – both those things – not showing video of 9/11 and showing this murderer advances their core beliefs –
Video of 9/11 – produces support for the war on terror – can't have that!
Video of Virginia Tech – produces support for gun control. Let’s show it 24/7!
No bias here!
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Why?
April 19, 2007 - 09:16 ET by cvgbuckeyeNBC aired the video for 2 reasons PERIOD: 1. To make money on the blood of the victims and 2. To advance an agenda on the backs of the victims families.
If that is to harsh; TOUGH. Thats why I am also glad that the families told them to stick it up their left wing bassoons.
There is only one good thing that can come from this: Every organization, workplace, church, mall etc. should NOW fashion emergency plans for things like this. The training should be TOTALLY fashioned around the ANTI-SHEEP THEORY. As the nation of Israel will inform you: BEING THE LAMBS WE WILL NEVER AGAIN STAND SILENT AND BE LED BEFORE THE SHEARER! People should resolve to charge at the killer, throw things at him, scream at him, attack him, maul him and even kill him before the police get there and turn him over to the liberal penal system.
I know how all of this sounds but the deterence of Flight 93 and the HEROES aboard that plane have proved me correct.
I personally take a vow that if ever confronted with such a horrible situation, I will chose to fight for the lives of all the others and myself!
Root Causes
April 19, 2007 - 09:30 ET by JimboI agree with you, but my comments were focused on whether or not the tape should have been aired. I agree that emergency plans should be crafted – but the very action of the murderer should be enough of a catalyst to make this happen. The airing of the tape was not needed to reach that outcome.
On the topic of emergency plans and protective steps from something like this happening again in the future – there are almost always opportunities to plug holes in security plans when something like this happens and exposes weaknesses. That being said, I am not for a fortress-like-state in our universities and schools, malls, etc. We live in a free society, and we need to balance that with reasonable measures to keep us safe. Will innocent people be killed again in the future because there weren’t barbed wire fences and metal detectors at every entrance to every University in this country? Probably. But we cannot digress into a police state in an effort to avoid something like happening again, particularly because it can happen again despite the best fortress like conditions.
We also need to focus on the root causes and determine what can be done there to help in avoiding a repeat of this. And when I speak of root causes, I am NOT talking about gun control.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
WTH - I disagree with everyo
April 19, 2007 - 09:26 ET by Dee BunkWTH - I disagree with everyone but Mark I guess. They need to show this video, video of beheadings, and 9/11. People need to know that there are nut jobs out there that can’t be reasoned with. Does anyone think if guns were against the law that this guy wouldn’t have still done something horrific? Maybe it would kill more – with a bomb or chemicals and maybe it would kill less – no one can know. The point is that rules and law make no difference to people like this. You might be able to tell that from the story, but you can tell for sure from the video.
There is a GREAT difference b
April 19, 2007 - 09:36 ET by Warner Todd HustonThere is a GREAT difference between video of Islamofascist beheadings and airing this punk's manifesto. Islamofascism threatens our whole culture and they are involved in an ideological war with the west. THAT is something we need to be constantly made aware of. This punk was just a thrill seeking scumbag who wanted the attention of the MSM. They GAVE it to him, too! And they did the same thing with the Columbine scumbags. This makes every self-indulgent, mental patient imagine that he can become famous, too. Why not? All the OTHER killers get to be on TV a hundred times a day. Why, they can be a "star"!
WTH- I didn't think about tha
April 19, 2007 - 09:59 ET by Dee BunkWTH- I didn't think about that - how other nut jobs could see it as motivation. I guess that is true. The killer doesn't know if he got what he wanted though so that part doesn't matter. I guess for that point alone - motivation of other nut jobs, I could say I change my opinion. But it's a fine line because the terrorists make tapes for the same reasons. I was so tired of hearing after 9/11 how Bin Laden wasn't crazy. Do you remember that? People need to see this stuff to see for themselves and then they can see that the terrorists aren't the only one's who are crazy - the MSM and people who say they aren't are also.
I actually think this video is very similar to some of the terrorist videos. Why is he considered crazy and they are not?
Well, I certainly understand
April 19, 2007 - 10:12 ET by Warner Todd HustonWell, I certainly understand your point. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one!
No we don't WTH - you really
April 19, 2007 - 10:27 ET by Dee BunkNo we don't WTH - you really did change my mind. I'm not like a liberal who just digs in and says humph! I really didn't think of that. There is a difference between having your name or picture in the news and a video tape and I think you are right that it could encourage even more nut jobs.
But I do hate that the media can look at this guy and call him crazy but look at something similar from the terrorists and call them freedom fighters.
Dee
April 19, 2007 - 10:13 ET by JimboI think I understand what you are trying to say by “the killer doesn’t know” if the tape was aired. Since he’s dead, he doesn’t know, so the motivation of the tape should be discounted. If my interpretation of your post is correct, I think I need to disagree. I think the MSM is so predictable, particularly given their history of things like airing the Columbine video, that Cho was certain that the tape would have been aired.
I do agree that the public must know that Cho et al are psychopathic cold blooded killers. In my opinion, however, killing over 30 innocent students is proof enough of that. I don’t need to see his video to reach that conclusion.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Jimbo - as I said, I changed
April 19, 2007 - 10:30 ET by Dee BunkJimbo - as I said, I changed my mind - but it's too bad that liberals can't see the similarities between this tape and the terrorists tapes
No
April 19, 2007 - 10:49 ET by cvgbuckeye"the killer is dead, so he doesn't know"
Jimbo: Yes, he is dead BUT he knows; he now knows what he did; he knows where he is; he knows why he is where he is; and his condition is much more horrible than anything that he visited upon any of the victims.
And I am rather ashamed to say that I am very glad that he is where he is and what is happening to him; AS WE SPEAK!
AMEN.
April 19, 2007 - 15:05 ET by steviep831AMEN.
Dee
April 19, 2007 - 09:36 ET by JimboDee – for me, I am fully aware that there are nut jobs out there that can’t be reasoned with. I also agree that this guy would have done something equally as heinous if guns had never been invented. However – seeing the video did nothing to increase my awareness of those facts. I guess that’s just me though.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Jimbo - I think most of us he
April 19, 2007 - 10:01 ET by Dee BunkJimbo - I think most of us here are aware - it's the liberals who are not. See my comments to WTH above and let me know what you think.
Ann Coulter, speaking about
April 19, 2007 - 09:03 ET by MightyMouthAnn Coulter, speaking about deranged individuals:
"Most of the time they can't be locked up until it's too late. It's not
against the law to be crazy — in some jurisdictions it actually makes
you more viable as a candidate for public office."
Anns column today.
I like Ann alot.
More Ann: "Oh by the way, the other major "Gun-Free Zone" in America is the post office."
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Oh MM, when will we all learn
April 19, 2007 - 09:35 ET by dscottOh MM, when will we all learn it does no good to confront liberals with the absurdity of their beliefs? Liberals can not understand the point of the Law, that it is for law breakers, not Law abiding people. Liberals will never understand that those who break the Law have no respect for the values of others nor are they inclined to observe them. Claiming that making a school a gun free zone for the protection of kids is like claiming life insurance will protect "you", the insured, neither does.
As the point made on other threads here at NB, outlawing the possession of something (like guns) doesn't stop violence from occurring. Violence comes from the heart, from a festering hate filled soul, from a mind that diabolically mulls over the methods to be carried out by the hands ready willing and able to inflict pain and destruction. The reason why liberals continually trip over this issue is due to their false assumptions about the human condition, they believe people are innately good and hence practice disassociation between the perp and the choice of instruments to commit evil. The instrument must be evil because the person is not. The Bible says, "the heart is desperately wicked, who can know it?" The human condition is one that must be tamed by the internal policeman called the Holy Spirit who pro-acts to curb our nature by holding us accountable to His standards, not the external police who can only react to what was done after the fact on violation of some legislated law proscribing dos and don'ts. Because those of the liberal thought have rejected the Bible and what it says, they oppose anything that smacks of personal responsibility.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
I think many of you are missi
April 19, 2007 - 09:27 ET by NoMoreClintonsI think many of you are missing the point here. TV news is all about ratings and I don't see any mention of that as a motivating reason to release this material. Having spent 10 years in TV news, believe me, it is. Look at the facts here: they didn't even wait a decent period of time or engage in a public discussion about it before succumbing to the lure of higher ratings and going ahead with the release. When in doubt, go with the sensationalism.
You've all heard the phrase: if it bleeds it leads. This is not a joke; it's true. They also knew that every other news organization would have to say their name or show their logo in order to use it as well. It's disgusting but it's true. And in the end, it's a business decision and nothing more.
Additionally...
April 19, 2007 - 09:59 ET by goldenthroatHaving spent 15 years in radio broadcasting myself - six of those in news/talk shows/public affairs - broadcasters will live and die by the ratings, whether they are Neilsen or Arbitron. Yes, sensationalism is extremely self-serving in the media and outlets will bleed it for all it's worth.
Never dance on an empty stomach unless it's a liberal.
While I'm glad they aired i
April 19, 2007 - 10:01 ET by vravaWhile I'm glad they aired it personally, I agree with you. And it looks like their ratings did climb quite a lot because of it. I'm sure it factored in to their decision quite a lot.
Personally I am glad they a
April 19, 2007 - 09:33 ET by vravaPersonally I am glad they aired it. Getting to know who this kid was, how he behaved, and what was wrong with him may help us all to recognize similar behavior and attitudes in people around us. If you get to know Cho, maybe you will be better able to recognize him at your own child's school one day. Maybe we'll be able to prevent the next disaster by identifying the ones who pose a grave danger before they have a chance to go through with it. If nothing else positive comes from this, hopefully the fact that this boy spilled his damaged and hate-filled heart out to us will help us learn how to prevent these things from ever happening.
V -
April 19, 2007 - 09:40 ET by JimboV –
If you had never seen the video of Cho – and you saw someone in your child’s school spouting the same type of hatred, about the fact that he was going to die, and that he was being crucified like Jesus, etc, etc, wouldn’t that cause you concern enough to take action? Did you need to see the video to form an opinion that the things he was saying is indicative of a person with a sick mind predisposed to violence?
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
To tell you the truth, it was
April 19, 2007 - 09:54 ET by vravaTo tell you the truth, it wasn't so much the disjointed rambling that I was noticing. More the way he thought, the strange leaps in logic, the arrogance and hatred of the wealthy and privilaged. The videos combined with the stories and plays he left behind paint a much more complete portrait of a mass murderer than any in recent memory. I just think we should take every opportunity to learn as much about him as possible. Now whether they put it out on tv or on the web, I don't care. But I would like to see it. Maybe if they put it on the web, it would be easier for people who didn't want to watch it to avoid it and allow the rest of us to seek it out. But, I think we have some sort of responsibility to learn as much as we can from this. Just saying, "This guy was just evil" and dismissing him would be a tremendously unfortunate thing to do.
V -
April 19, 2007 - 10:01 ET by JimboV –
I’ll fall back to my previous comments – as for me, if I had never seen the video and if I had seen someone acting like he did in the video, I would have taken some sort of action. Playing the video did absolutely nothing for me to help better “see” killers before they act.
Conversely, I think NBC gave Cho EXACTLY what he wanted.
Conversely, I think airing this video did incredible damage to the families of the victims.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
"Playing
April 19, 2007 - 10:12 ET by vrava"Playing
the video did absolutely nothing for me to help better “see” killers before they act."
Fair enough. I feel as if I have a better understanding of him though, so to each his own.
"Conversely, I think NBC gave Cho EXACTLY what he wanted."
Well, this is absolutely what he wanted. But he's dead, so it doesn't really matter. Now if the idolation factor is the prime thing driving these kids to carry out these murders, then NBC did a grave disservice to all of us. That's debatable. I tend to think it plays a role, but is not the primary motivation. Of course, I'm hardly an expert.
"Conversely, I think airing this video did incredible damage to the families of the victims"
The incredible damage is the loss or injury to their loved one. Anything else is just salt on the wound. And I'm sorry, but the news media's responsibility is to the audience, and not just to the victims' families. I'm sure his image will haunt them forever though... I can't even imagine.
(I'm about to sleep, so I have to step out of the debate for now. Thanks for challenging me. I'm beginning to think you make good points and this should have been available only on the web so as not to throw it into the victims' families faces as they did.)
Yes, mostly disjointed rambli
April 19, 2007 - 11:35 ET by winston smithYes, mostly disjointed rambling, but I noticed he was spewing a lot of Marxist agit-prop. The media hasn't noticed that one yet. In fact, it sounds as if he might have been siding with the Islamo-fascists. He stated something like "...... I am doing this for my brothers and sisters of _____." If you look closely at the video he appears to be saying "Islam" but it is curiously censored out. By NBC? Just an observation.
but I noticed he was spewin
April 19, 2007 - 11:42 ET by Jack BauerHe sounded exactly like the Stalinist nutjobs who infest sites like Kos, DUhmmies, moveondot commie.
The psychotic hatred of the "rich." The threats, the intimidation, the lies, the insanity -- then there's that Cho bastard.
winston & Jack
April 19, 2007 - 11:48 ET by Dave RWhadda ya bet that by the end of the month, this Cho bastard will be a veritable folk-hero to many on the America-hating hard left, and even some in the MSM?
If he isn't already.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.- Neal Boortz.
Dave R...
April 19, 2007 - 12:21 ET by Jack BauerDave R...
I am not including decent, hard-working, blue collar Democrats here... absolutely not. I know they are as pained and appalled as anyone.
But you're on to something about the Loon Base Alphas who are now running the Democrat party BASE.
I was writing just after 9/11 that the seething left, the hate-mongering, anti-capitalism Stalinists and sub-Marxists had been silenced for the time being.
But I knew in my guts they thought America had it coming. America deserved 3000 dead. Took about a year for it all to bubble to the surface. Now look at it.
Same thing here with Cho.
That sounds more like Jerry
April 19, 2007 - 18:16 ET by vravaThat sounds more like Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps to me.
Townhomes in the VA suburbs
April 19, 2007 - 11:51 ET by sarcasmoTownhomes in the VA suburbs like the one his parents live in sure aren't inhabited by "the poor."
JMR
Just imagine the firestorm in
April 19, 2007 - 12:14 ET by winston smithJust imagine the firestorm in the media had he been reciting Reagan speeches or conservative rhetoric, instead --- they'd be hauling Limbaugh and Hannity before congressional panels with the media calling for the prohibition of and talk radio and FOX news.
I wonder what Cho's screen na
April 19, 2007 - 12:28 ET by winston smithI wonder what Cho's screen name was on Daily Kos?
Kind of like airing the Klebo
April 19, 2007 - 09:43 ET by MassConservativeKind of like airing the Klebold and Harris tapes years ago allowed us to foresee Cho?
The only images that should be displayed of this psycho are people pi%^ing on his grave. Kudos to the families for dissing NBC over this.
I know you are being facitiou
April 19, 2007 - 09:57 ET by vravaI know you are being facitious, but I think your comment is correct. There were many parallels between these guys, from what I know about Klebold and Harris. Did they not strike you as quite similar once you learned more about Cho?
Speaking for myself
April 19, 2007 - 10:03 ET by JimboI’ll speak for myself, but I didn’t view that as a facetious statement. You are claiming that watching the video will better allow you to identify people like this and by extension possibly prevent it from happening again in the future. Airing the Columbine video obviously didn’t prevent the Cho murders, but on the other hand may have given Cho the idea of creating the tape and sending it to NBC.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Catch-22 there, eh? Maybe
April 19, 2007 - 10:16 ET by vravaCatch-22 there, eh? Maybe you're right. Of course, just because the Columbine tapes didn't prevent these murders doesn't mean they haven't helped authorities stop other atrocities before they happened.
I am not at all being faceiti
April 19, 2007 - 10:14 ET by MassConservativeI am not at all being faceitious. I am dead serious. The airing of these tapes did nothing to further the understanding of this person. This country is not filled with 300 million psychologists. We do not all need to see this to recognize the signs of a disturbed individual.
Plenty of information has come out about this guy that showed the warning signs like harrasment charges, stays in a mental hospital, disturbing writings. Those are now red flags that everyone should be looking out for in other individuals. Showing these videos after the fact does nothing to stop this incident or prevent the next one.
I think of it kind of like the Richard Reid (shoe bomber) incident. All we needed to know is that he attempted to strike a match and light his shoes to blow up a plane. Guess what...now anyone who lights a match on an airplane is probably in line for a good ass-kicking by fellow passengers. We did not need a post-incident videotape diatribe to recognize that as bad.
Excuse me, I meant your fir
April 19, 2007 - 10:21 ET by vravaExcuse me, I meant your first statement was sarcastic. I'm sleepy and not being completely coherent. (And my spelling isn't so good tonight either.)
Your points are well taken. I am beginning to think that these should not have been broadcast on national television, but I think those of us who want to see them should be allowed to, perhaps on the web. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me.
V - Where are you from?
April 19, 2007 - 10:40 ET by JimboV - just curious - you are saying "tonight" It's 11:00 AM on the East Coast of the US. Where are you from?
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Ah, I live in Japan for the
April 19, 2007 - 18:17 ET by vravaAh, I live in Japan for the moment.
I believe the pictures, video
April 19, 2007 - 09:56 ET by moonjohnI believe the pictures, video, etc. of the killer should be shown on television. At least it should be made available on the Internet.
What does bother me is the continuous mention the killers name.
It gives him a form of immorality.
It gives him fame.
Instead we should assign him a name that shows societies opinion of the killer.
He should be referred to as the "Blacksberg Asshole".
If that is too crude for public use, I suggest the "Blacksberg Excrement".
Perhaps just refer to him as the "Excrement".
In a story, present it as: "The "Excrement" began his killing spree at 7:15 in the morning.
Perhaps this would discourage copycat killers.
I'm gonna flip out the firs
April 19, 2007 - 10:02 ET by MightyMouthI'm gonna flip out the first time I hear "Mr. Seung-hui"!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Doesn't it drive you up a tre
April 19, 2007 - 11:57 ET by ahusserDoesn't it drive you up a tree when the call a criminal scumbag Mr. ( I have seen, rapists, murderers and every kind of criminal called Mr. (depending on gender). Last I heard Mr. was an "honorific" they can just use his last name until if and when the s%%tbird is acquitted. I talked to my uber liberal brother-in law about that and he looked at me like I was from the planet Nazi.
Disenfrancised Students
April 19, 2007 - 09:59 ET by PawpawNDid anyone else see that NBC call these nut jobs "DISENFRANCHISED STUDENTS"! I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Anything that happens bad was due to some disenfranchised reason/individual or group-like the ones in New Orleans after the hurrican-disenfranchised, like minorities that do bad things-disenfranchised, etc., etc. When are we going to call evil ____ evil, or are the LIBs just intent on making everything the fault of those who have jobs, raise their families, go to church, etc.! I know I'm sick of it & to call this crazed individual DISENFRANCHISED STUDENT. What if an American student in another country did this?
How about giving video to authorities?
April 19, 2007 - 10:05 ET by Hero SquadJust wondering: Did NBC give any consideration to simply handing the video over to authorities, since it would logically be important evidence in the investigation of this tragedy?
Let the authorities determine what would be appropriate or inappropriate to release to the public, and let them do it to all media outlets. That way the supposed important "why" information about the killer can be viewed everywhere.
NBC can posture all they want about the need to show this video to find out why this killer did what he did. But NBC's actions clearly suggest that they wanted the scoop first. Which, OK, it's their prerogative at that point, just as it's our right to not watch; but don't sugar coat your explanation for airing it and expect us to buy it.
I also wonder how FOX, ABC, CBS, CNN would've handled it.
*****
"Was it a millionaire who said 'Imagine no possessions?'" - Elvis Costello
NBC says it immediately han
April 19, 2007 - 10:38 ET by Mark FinkelsteinNBC says it immediately handed the materials to the authorities, and that it is working with copies.
I dunno...In reading previous
April 19, 2007 - 10:26 ET by vrwc13I dunno...
In reading previous posts on the validity of NBC showing the videos, a thought came over me. Why does NBC and most other news media refrain from showing someone at a televised sporting event when they are "streaking" or doing some other preverted act?
But of course they don't show the Christians of both teams praying in the end zones before and after the game either....hmmm
"And what I'm saying is, this is a great time for us to look honestly at what we're doing as a society and culture." Lou Dobbs 4-17-07
Streakers
April 19, 2007 - 10:45 ET by JimboThe networks have given very clear and documented reasons as to why they don’t broadcast streakers or other trouble makers at sporting events. It is because the airing of such activity would lead to others doing the same thing.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Exactly Jimbo'You will see co
April 19, 2007 - 12:03 ET by Airforce_5_OExactly Jimbo'
You will see copy cats coming out of the wood works now. I hope the parents of those who have died sue them until there is just a "C" in their name.
Reduce the U.S. Carbon Footprint. Send Rosie to Iran. Airforce_5_O 04/04/2007
I have to give Opie and Antho
April 19, 2007 - 10:30 ET by Roger the ShrubberI have to give Opie and Anthony credit for this (only because I haven't heard it anywhere else): has anyone listened to how this nutjob speaks? He sounds just like Napoleon Dynamite.
Just trying to find a little levity in the wake of this horrible tragedy.
One man's opinion and actions
April 19, 2007 - 10:43 ET by misterbillFirst, my actions: when they showed some of the shooter's videos last night, I watched for about two minutes. I then changed channels. I am now avoiding the news. I skipped over most of that piece of news in the morning's paper.
Second: My opinions-I am not trained in mental health issues, I am merely an observer of this world in which I live.
I ask those of you who are old enough to look back on two examples of the video news: the poor little girl, burned by napalm, walking naked down the street in Vietnam. The second issue was the video of the Saigon police chief summarily executing a VC in the streets. These two incidents accelerated the American decision to abandon Vietnam.
My thesis is that , in today's environment where the horrors of war can be presented visually, within a short time after their occurence, is going to result in two emotions. The first is that, obviously, war is bad, it is grisly and it has people doing things that we find appalling. The second, and worser of the two is that these constant showings of the horrors enure us against these very same horrors.
Most of what I have read so far in the paper and here on NB has people analyzing and BLAMING anyone they can. It is a basic instinct to find someone to blame or to hate. When you enter that arena, nothing is gained.
You all know the expression "fix the problem, not the blame". My position is that the TV stations should limit the showing of these videos. Nothing is gained by the repeated showings other than to point out the young man's disturbed, emotional view of the world he lived in. I offer you all this challenge--"How has your world improved by repeated showings of this video?" and "What are you going to do differently so this doesn't happen again?" I suggest your world has not improved, rather it has been lessened by what you have seen, for we are all diminished by the loss of another human being, and I suggest even more diminished viewing the venom of a badly disturbed young man. As to the second, I suggest you will do nothing or cannot do anything to improve situations like this. In this case, the frustrating feeling of helplessness is harmful to us. You are left with sadness, but you, by numerous viewings are becoming inured to the situation. This is a very bad thing.
There are many things about t
April 19, 2007 - 10:45 ET by rotylrThere are many things about the MSM that makes me upset. One is how all the networks giv eit a fancy name and put background music to it, its almost like they are trying to make a reality show out of this. Lets be honest, they are getting hours of real people who are not getting paid, like actors, and they are seeing ratings increase and raking in ad revenue. Its sad.
One issue that I hate to wonder about is what would have happend if the tapes were sent to FOX NEWS instead, would the liberal media be trying to reach that FOX somehow knew about this in advance and persuaded the killer to make these tapes and send them to FOX. I know it sound terrible but stop and think about it, they would be saying it.
The other thing is when that gunman killed those Amish, because of their beliefs they were pretty much left alone, have we not learn to quit sensationalizing these things and give some curitosy to those involved, let the police or whomever do their jobs and when they know something let them report it out.
How many others "disturbed" people are watching this non stop coverage and thinking maybe I can get more than my 15 minutes, I can go down in history.
What do you think the bidding is up to in Hollywood to buy rights to this story?
This is the point when a really tragic story becomes truely sick
Picked out of hat?
April 19, 2007 - 10:51 ET by JimboI don’t know how the other networks would have handled it, but I don’t think Cho picked NBC out of a hat. He sent it to the network that he thought would give him the most airtime.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Jimbo --bingo
April 19, 2007 - 10:56 ET by misterbillJimbo --bingo--smart pick--I vote for your answer.
I agree. He deliberately chos
April 19, 2007 - 19:47 ET by Del DolemonteI agree. He deliberately chose NBC-I wonder if it was because they're the parent of MSNBC, the altar of brainwashed left-wing college kids?
I'm sure if he had sent it to Fox News instead, the southpaws would have gone nuts.
NBC and Other Networks Are An Outrage
April 19, 2007 - 10:49 ET by emjem24Right now, I'm so angry I could spit, cry, and throw things at my tv. The only guiding principle for NBC airing this deranged, narcissistic, madman's photos and videos was ratings and corporate profits. I bet ya they were all patting themselves on the backs when they got Cho's "package." Thanks GE and NBC.
While I'm at it, may I "commend" the other networks for their equally "sound" judgement in airing this footage: CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. For those liberal syncophants who think that NB always goes along with what Fox News does, they're totally wrong. When these trolls call Fox "Faux News" they only point out what they see as competition for what already exists for the established networks that turned into "Faux," sensational news a long time ago. It's not only intellectually dishonest, which is a liberal standard, it points to how much hatred these people have for Fox News because they're not liars like the other networks.
This time I disagree with Fox News airing the footage. Did any of these people have any care for the families of those who died? Why give this madman any air time? My husband said it all last night when I told him what was going on: "They're giving him the attention and notoriety he never got in real life." Yeah, making a loser into a hero must really send these guys off into orbit.
I'm disgusted. It's just like airing the photos and goodbye messages of the terrorists who killed 3,000 people on 9-11. Are there any news standards left, any ethics or are these people going to wake up and stop portraying this murderer as some victim? I'm tired of it...it's sick what these networks did as well as all of us for viewing it.
May God bless the victims as well as their friends and families dealing with their loss. Here in Hampton Roads, VA where I live, the VT tragedy has hit us hard. We lost two intelligent and beautiful young women who are irreplaceable: one from Hampton, VA and the other from Smithfield, VA. You will not be forgotten.
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
"Are there any news standards left"
April 19, 2007 - 11:06 ET by misterbill"Are there any news standards left" -- very few. I am becoming less informed than in the past, because, except for local news, I do not watch much news because I have no confidence I am being told the truth. I watch O'Reilly three times a week, He is overly aggressive, but he does good work. I read National Review, both online and in hard copy.
Your question which I used as the opening to this post presents a frightening picture. It seems to this old man that all of the people and institutions that he once revered are turning into disreputable. lying outlets. In spite of SCOTUS great decision yesterday, please note it was 5-4. Still a great deal of "destroy America" there. Please recall SCOTUS' decision on eminent domain, which, thank heavens was pushed out of the picture here in Georgia by a state law.
Mark Foley. Ted Kennedy, and on and on. Our government with the aid of a Communist organization, the ACLU, has removed the guiding moral principles of Judeo-Christain conscience that , once, made us a great country.
God help America!
emjem,I think you nailed it.N
April 19, 2007 - 11:07 ET by Dave Remjem,
I think you nailed it.
NBC's ratings, as per Drudge:
FLASH: RATINGS BLOWOUT FOR NBC NEWS... 7.4 RATING/15 SHARE FOR BRIAN WILLIAMS AND CHO TAPES, NIELSEN OVERNIGHTS SHOW... 6.2/12 FOR ABC 'WORLD NEWS'... CBS COURIC AT 4.2/8...
Take a look at the rating
April 19, 2007 - 11:27 ET by rotylrTake a look at the ratings,
7.4 + 6.2 + 4.2 = 17.8
Katie Couric "approval rating" would be 4.2/17.8 or 23.6%; much lower than President Bush.
Therefore, I now expect Katie to report on this and demand that she be fired for some of the lowest approval rating ever.
Somehow, i dont think thats gonna happen.
PRAVDA
April 19, 2007 - 11:40 ET by Cool ArrowCBS believes Katie KuriK ratings will rise as the masses are reeducated.
The dishonest airing
April 19, 2007 - 13:26 ET by SportPoliticsWhat is intellectually dishonest is that they air their chosen portion of the clip. Who knows what we missed, none of us do.
So either put it all on, or nothing. They've got the worst mix, putting some on, a bit of their chosen clips, so that they can control what we know and think about it all.
I agree it would be nice if they denied any coverage, but then since they aren't we ought to have the full monte.
Screw 'em, they've done the worst they could possibly do.
Fox News has since pulled sho
April 19, 2007 - 19:50 ET by Del DolemonteFox News has since pulled showing the video.
Partners
April 19, 2007 - 11:52 ET by BurgherNBC has become a willing accomplice.
This information should have gone directly to the authorities. It is evident that in his sick mind NBC showing the tapes was his end goal. This is exactly what that sick creep wanted.
What if these tapes had directions for one of Cho's buddies. In them he instructs his accomplices to commit more atrocities if NBC show the tapes.
Let's not even mention copy-cats.
NBC should be charged for withholding evidence in a federal crime.
This was all about ratings for NBC. Not to mention all the other Networks who showed this info.
It was first reviewed by the FBI
April 19, 2007 - 13:28 ET by SportPoliticsIt was first reviewed by the FBI, so I've read. So, yeah they did get the ok, perhaps the FBI made the TV clip tape for them, and they're too ashamed to admit it.
He's got "The Look"
April 19, 2007 - 12:03 ET by Cool ArrowNobody seems to point to the similarity between Cho's rant and HipHop. I guess HipHop is a peaceful religion.
But Cho wore the clothes, did the Gun poses, and he did "talk the talk" with his "Poor me, I'm a victim, You made me do this" blather.