Love Addiction, Cho, and..... Global Warming?

Alright, well I have taken some time to think, and now am ready to respond. I agree with you Teeray, that many factors were what caused the Virginia Tech Massacre. I also have found another article in regards to the prescription drug factor, which you can read here. As far as Love addiction, yes I do know something about it, and addiction in general, and I agree with you in the fact that many people would not consider it an addiction. There are really several types of Love Addicts. One would be co-dependent people, these are the ones who you always see sticking it out through a bad relationship, because they are dependent on whatever emotional needs this person is fulfilling. Another type, is the person who always seems to be seeing "someone". These people are the ones who will find a new attraction a short few days after a breakup, and just move from one relationship to the next never really being fulfilled. I have been both of these people before, and I believe if you fall into one of these categories, you can easily switch to the other. There are other types as well, actually too numerous to mention here. For more information on love addiction try the site for love addiction.

Ok well I've had about enough of talking about Virginia Tech, and Cho. Its time to send this blog in a new direction, and I have the coordinates right here. A highly political and debated issue currently is the issue of Global Warming. For some information on this check out the wikipedia entry on it. Is man causing it? To what degree are we responsible, if we are? Is it a left wing conspiracy? If it is real, how imminent is the threat? These are questions which we all want answers to, and I will do my best to answer with the information available to me. First off, Teeray, Im sure you and your neighbors are cheering on global warming up there in the frigid north. However, Canada and all the northern region needs to stay cold, for obvious reasons, the main one being to keep the polar icecaps frozen. I will say that I do believe Global Warming is occuring, not only because of the statistics and studies done on it, but also because of all the poison man is putting into the atmosphere. I can't believe that all the CO2 we are emitting into the atmosphere has no negative consequences. However, I have not seen conclusive evidence that this is the only cause of recent weather events and average global temperature increases. I believe that the threat is long-term, however it will take many years to reverse this effect. I believe that the suggestion that this is all political, or a left-wing conspiracy, is complete garbage and in itself the suggestion is politically motivated. My opinion is, that we are at a point where we should begin looking for and using other means of energy and transportation, if for no other reason than for the fact that "we don't currently know what, if any, damage we are doing to our environment". That being said, we have not found another earth as of yet in the entire universe. This earth is similar to our own physical bodies, if we don't take care of it we will not prosper and may not even live. Would you put something into your body if you were "unsure" of its effects? Would you need scientific proof to show it causes harm before you would stop? This is exactly what is being asked on the global warming issue. I believe until someone can prove that CO2 is "good" for the earth, we should begin limiting our energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Yes Teeray, Canada will have to stay cold. You should be used to it by now though!!

As Usual, TBC, You've Foiled My Theory!

It's pretty obvious that I've taken a little while to respond to TBC's latest comments.

Actually - partly, this is because that Arianna Huffington article that TBC provided - to the article, "Virginia Tech Aftermath: Did Legal Drugs Play a Role In The Massacre?" - was very, VERY convincing!

And here, I thought TBC was busy working, SEO-ing and doing various multi-tasking so that he wasn't forming much of an opinion on this matter.....

Boy - was I wrong!

TBC brought me more up to date on the issue - about how Americans are INVESTIGATING this tragedy.

I have to say that in my Canadian coverage (news media, tv, radio, newspapers, mags) that I receive 'up North,' there are a lot of what looks to be 'objective' study about the Vi-Tech tragedy.

I expected a longer 'outrage' burst from the media sources I receive...perhaps this incident had brought a 'clarity' to the public - or - American voices aren't SHOUTING anymore - they are 'debating' and 'informing' and 'problem-solving.'

I have learned to expect many 'uninformed, emotional outbursts' from the North American public when dramatic tragedies occur. I say 'North American' to include Canada in the range of public I am speaking of - because Canadians are often mis-informed by our own media, too. "Drama" receives air-time and show time very often in North American culture - at the expense of 'the inherent facts.' Perhaps this is due to the similar 'freedom of speech' clauses in both American and Canadian Bills of Rights...of which - many North Americans use with abusive or ignorant purpose.

I stand corrected (maybe lol) by the Honorable TBC now - on my viewpoint concerning the 'why' of the Vi-Tech tragedy.

I have more reading to do yet from the excellent links in the Huffington article, and will be back to comment again later.

Another point of view on Cho, legal prescriptions, love, and more....

Ok, well strap on your seatbelts, because this post is about to go all over the place. I will start with my current point of view on Cho, and the Virginia Tech Massacre. First off let me say that what he did is truly horrible, and there is no excuse good enough for what he said. I have spent much time trying to figure out the question that seems to be on most people's minds, and that question is "Why". First off, if you have not seen the videos he sent to NBC news, you can view them here.
Video #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaBdMiJcl2Y
Video #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7V34jIypAU
Video #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldjVrckeZFg

Ok, so a lot of the videos are really kinda hard to understand, and he seems to be talking very fast and all over the place, which I will use to make a point later, so remember this. Anyways, why would someone do something like this. Well I do agree with some of your points, Teeray, of being kind've an outcast, a minority, in a college setting with lots of stress. However, do you realize how many minorities there are in this country? Seriously the minority has become the majority in this country, and I don't believe race has anything to do with this. I think it lies more in the fact of psychological problems Cho was having. Of course all the things you mentioned, all of the predjudices that you claim Cho had issues with were probably partially there, but they do not explain why. Millions of people struggle with all of the same issues every day, however, they do not go shoot people. However, I have a few theories, which possibly both could be the cause or neither, really more of an opinion. My first theory is that Cho, is possibly a codependent person, or a love addict. Keep in mind his stalker tendecies, and that he seemed to be just trying to latch onto someone. He was looking for something outside of himself, to make him happy, because he was obviously not happy on the inside. This would also explain his need to create the video, to "justify" what he had done with excuses. Addicts are great with justification, it makes it easy to do things one would not normally do, always blaming the system or someone else. Just imagine you are Cho, a lonely introverted college student. For several years you have been looking for someone to connect to, even stalking in some cases, and you just can never connect to anyone. Now, remember all this started with a reported girlfriend that was shot first? This is where all of this ties in. Cho finally began seeing someone, and maybe the girl led him on for awhile, or maybe she didn't, but the point is I believe that Cho thought she liked him. Now imagine being in his shoes, and after looking for this person for so long, he finally believes he has found her. All his problems would seem to fade away, because now he has somewhere else to focus his attention, on the girl. Then, all of a sudden, the girl breaks things off, for whatever reason. For someone like Cho, this would be the equivalent of getting a glimpse of heaven, then shrewdly and abruptly being sucked back down into hell. Ok, so everyone goes through rejection and issues with love, but I believe there is one other factor to consider here. This is the fact that Cho was taking Legally prescribed drugs (although we don't know which ones for sure yet) for his psychological problems. Everyone knows that many times side effects of these drugs can be manic, suicidal, or even homicidal thoughts. Ok remember how I said about the video, he seemed to be in somewhat in a "manic" state. Thats where this comes into play. There is also the possibility that he could have been taking illegal drugs, although there is no evidence to support this yet. For a little discussion on legal drugs and the role they could have played read here. So I believe the "why" in this case is a mixture of psychological problems, addictive personality, as well as possibly legal drugs. Any thoughts anyone?

The weather is good......

Well, I'm sitting here in Central Illinois Teeray, and the weather is not too bad. We just went through a cold spell here the past week or so, although by cold spell I mean 50 degrees fahrenheit. At the moment it is around 75 and sunny, and I think springtime is finally here, which is nice. Sorry about the weather up there, but its always cold in canada right? Haha, just kidding. Anyways, yes I will read the Kurt Vonnegut book too, although I've been researching on him a little and I kinda think I would like to read a book by him called "Breakfast of Champions". So anyways, I'm sitting here in a t-shirt and shorts in Illinois in quite a chipper mood at the moment. As far as your Virginia Tech post, I have to think about my reply for a bit longer. Rest assured it will be a good one though.

Safer Topic Than The Weather

So it will be safer to keep on discussing War and Terrorism today and stay away from 'the weather.'

Actually - I just trashed that thought because I am receiving, right now, another broadcast about the Virginia Tech shooting.

Topic: Virginia Tech shooting

I'm trying to think somewhat 'objectively' about this event (neh - just tryin' to be 'slightly numb' about this event because it is horrific), but it's difficult to put 'anger' on hold and to see certain details.

Maybe I'm playing "Devil's Advocate" here - but heck - I'm Canadian - it's what I do when I hear about things from the states.....(and, probably only possible because I am reasonably far removed from the 'suffering community').

Devil's Advocate stance:
Cho is a victim, himself, of American Capitalism, of skewed economic, educational, government, and social systems!

(I know, I know, Thomas - calm down...I am SURE you're not going to agree with this, but hear me out and don't delete this when you come in to make your post lol).

The one thing that is nearly always 'FIRST SAID' in media reports is that Cho blamed 'everyone else' and 'the system' for his financial/student problems.

I'm sorry if I can 'identify' with Cho - for I am a higher-education student myself. The details of my financial struggles cannot even be put on this blog because they are NOT BELIEVABLE, but they're true. 'Acquaintance-peers' do not believe my 'poor student status' is as severe as it is, but 'Friend-acquaintances' most certainly do, and those friends cannot believe that I haven't gone insane from stress yet - something as severe as Cho? I have obviously had better support than Cho - because many of the 'items' he speaks of in the home videos he made (I viewed them on the late night news last night) - I could identify with. I, however, am not a VISIBLE MINORITY, I am not Male (people don't expect me to 'suck it up all the time' like thy do with males - who are supposed to be strong, silent, problem-solving), and I am not part of a school with the kind of competition that must surface at Virginia Tech. My place of education is considerably smaller - with noticeable 'support' group information plastered on many walls.

The general public of North America is very MISINFORMED by the media about how things really are for students, minorities, gender, and other groups...and Higher Officials have not experienced the issues that affect students, minorities, gender and other groups, so they - try as they might, and as 'do-good' as they want to be - they cannot solve the problems of these groups! (The policy-makers aren't from the same generation as current students - they don't understand the 'issues' of current-day...they can only pretend to 'get it' and act according to their 'guesses').

SOCIETY and - especially - POLICY MAKERS - DO NOT KNOW the inherent difficulties of 'student life,' of 'insufficient funds' for students, of the sick environments that can - and invariably DO EXIST on most major campuses.

In reality, the student deals with HIGH STRESS individuals ALL THE TIME. They are his or her PEERS and everyone is in the same boat.

Competition is high, drug-use and alcohol abuse is high, and stress-levels are always consistently high on North American campuses. In short, higher-education facilities in North America (I include Canadian campuses, too - many are just as 'stressed.'), are full of high-strung people and this social or personal setting is NOT a healthy one.

Racism EXISTS
Class-distinction prejudice EXISTS
Gender prejudice EXISTS

Many other WRONGS exist.....and run rampant on University, College and other higher-education campuses.

Cho - committed an heinous crime.
He is guilty.
He is disturbed.

No doubts about that.

I'm just saying - while the world focuses on how awful Cho is, NOBODY IS DOING ENOUGH to set RIGHT the educational systems, make campuses safer in a PERSONAL WAY (comfort of students sharing WITH students - not 'guards,' and 'security,' and 'more restrictive rules.').

Also:
The families, friends, peers, and acquaintances of the victims killed by Cho - DESERVE for higher-education and the systems that support higher-education, (government MOST included), to get their 'systems' running properly.

Students like Cho was before this awful crime (he is now a KILLER, but he wasn't a killer last week - last week he was simply another faceless victim!) - deserve for higher-education and the systems that support higher-education - to get their systems running properly.

Cho - deranged, disturbed or not - is a victim of a different sort.......he is a 'SYMPTOM' of what is wrong in the educational, societal and government systems.

I just hope that people will think of these things - no matter how much they might dislike my current opinion and post!