|
How has technology relate itself to the Virginia Tech Killings?
Technology has largely influenced the Virginia Tech mass killings which happened last month; however we see it, large or small, good or bad. Just before Cho began the killings on April 16 2007, he had already took photos and videos of himself he had wanted to send to the TV station. They contained the words he had wanted to tell everyone – how he was going to carry out the shootings and that he could have fled and not done it (the killings). He could have turned to counseling, or even his friends for help on sorting out his personal life problems. Yet, he chose to turn to technology and let them to the job. He mailed the videos and photos to NBC in the thinking that they would publish them to the world after the killings. He had actually even been declared to be mentally ill by a Virginia special justice. Yet, he was able to purchase the guns he had used for the killings, legally. This is because his status as being “a danger to himself” have not been entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, hence not being able to prevent the shootings. This is how technology has enabled the gun dealers to check the person’s background before going ahead with the purchase, but yet, it had not been used promptly. After the first two victims’ lives were claimed at West Ambler Johnston Hall, there were already rumors spreading through the campus email about the shootings was over a lover’s fight, leading the police to think that no one at the university is in danger. This is an example of how untrue news and even rumors could have spread so fast via technology (the internet) and misleads the police, when the police could have alerted the campus and help to ensure the safety of the students. The university could also have send out the emails about the earlier killings to the students and staff of Virginia Tech about the first killings and to warn them to be careful and things like that earlier. However, the first emails only appeared at about 9.30am, by then which, classes have started and many people did not yet receive the alerts. So Cho had an easy time when everyone was at their classes and he was able to take on his victims easily. This shows on how the university could have turn to technology to warn the Virginia Tech community about the attacks earlier. But yet, they turned to it only when they realize the seriousness of the situation and by then, it was too late. When the shooting was going on, mobile phones cameras were being used the take photos and videos, despite the fears of the students themselves being the target. This is an example of how technology has enabled citizen journalism to take place whereby the students themselves would be able to take on the role of the reporters who are not (yet) on the scene. One of the clips containing the chilling sounds of gunshots and screams were indeed, published in the mainstream media. This allowed the people not involved to actually realize how serious and tense the situation was at that time and gave people an insight of what’s happening. After the NBC received the news clips on Wednesday, It thought twice and hesitated before deciding to publish them, to the dismay and anger of families and much of the public. As mentioned earlier, Cho sent the videos and photos to NBC with the thought that they would publish them. He was right. He was made an instant celebrity in the way he wanted. His messages were clear that he blamed everyone but himself for the killings. His motive was archived and he had done it the easy yet effective way out. Had the NBC and other medias cared about the public’s feelings more, they would not have published the clips. Experts, however, were also worried that this might trigger off copycat killings by people who want instant fame. Sure enough, other threats causing the lock down of schools have been reported. At the Johnson Space Centre, a gunman killed a hostage and subsequently himself, similar to the killings by Cho although on a smaller scale. . This shows how technology can really influenced the way we think and see things, and how we react to some things that were made possible through technology, like the making and publishing of the videos and photos. After the killings were first reported, there were messages threatening the south Koreans and Asians on blogs and discussion groups. One Taiwanese who collects guns even got mistaken for the gunman and hence his blog was clogged with spam. This shows how people on the internet, even without verifying the information start having their own thoughts. This is so when one user posts something untrue or without evidence (like the Taiwanese is the gunman) and quickly his post caught on with others, who seemingly agrees without verification (spamming the Taiwanese's mailbox). Hence, in my conclusion, I believe it would be difficult for people to imagine the killings taking place without technology. Technology has caused the event to happened as it had, and in a very large way.
| 