Because most of us respond differently, in that we keep ourselves in check, we are obligated to express this by sharing just how we are able to maintain control with those who come into our lives with a bit of trouble on their face. Our disdain with their lack of skills is not justification for not taking the time to at least give that person a knowing glance.
Every shooter did in some way telegraph or flat out announce their problems. They didn't have the tools to deal with their problems. If they already had the tools to deal with their problems in a positive manner they would have. They obviously didn't, and in some small way they were all looking for answers to their questions.
That those questions were hidden beneath disturbing comments, stares, conversations, videos, websites, and one-act plays is no excuse for having kept right on about one's business as if one had heard nothing. I'm not saying anyone should've heard murder coming, but every person privy to what was said or demonstrated heard or saw something that was obviously good enough to repeat to reporters the day of and after the shootings.
With the exception of Seung-Hui's teacher alerting administrators of his writing, no one reported their concerns prior to the shootings. Is this because they lacked a microphone and the promise of a few minutes of publicized glory? If what you hear today is good enough to repeat in an on-camera interview tomorrow, then it's worth mentioning to someone today.
We all know what it feels like to have a horrible no good very bad day. For some of us, it's way more than just a day. Why is it so unfathomable for so many to believe that the odds of someone actually going through life feeling tormented — by their own inner demons or by others — are alarmingly high?
The Santee, California boy was called a "coward" and his actions "cowardly." What was he called the day before? That's right - no one was listening. Everyone was too busy not taking his comments seriously. His actions were taken seriously, though, weren't they? Look at how much attention was given to every shooter's violent behavior versus how much attention was given to anything they'd said or demonstrated before they hurt anyone. The same can be woefully said of every shooter.
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