Hundreds of thousands of businesses and individuals pay public relations firms and publicists weighty retainers to get their messages out - to break through to an audience. Ford Motor Company wants you to know they're "bold." Obama wants you to know he's experienced enough to be President. I want you to know that I'm the witty go-to guy on American Idol commentary.
The demented Cho has managed to become not only a household name but also a legend in record time - and he didn't have to pay anyone to do it for him. Sending his press kit to NBC may be the only rational thing he did - since NBC News took the bait (in record time).
Here's a challenge: Give me a single upside to NBC showing the video, even the stills, from Cho's press kit. (Sorry, no prize this time.) Just one good thing that will come from this.
Last night, I watched MSNBC for about 45 minutes. Three different guests (one profiler and one psychotherapist included) made it clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cho's "content" was worthless; that there was nothing to learn from his rantings; that he was probably, among other things, a paranoid schizophrenic. In short, his words had no meaning.
A couple of guests applauded NBC for handling the material responsibly. The endorsements seemed suspiciously planted. One guest went so far as to say that this material would have gotten out there in some other way had NBC embargoed it. Really? Then I guess I can still catch the footage of Steve Irwin getting zapped by the stingray.
You don't need to give me the downside to airing Cho's multimedia presentation: further desensitization, inspiring of copycats ... I got those covered. (Media neophytes Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris left their fans wanting more image-wise. Cho's iconography might be kind of hackneyed but it's plentiful, perfect for screensavers. A few may even make the leap to t-shirts, a la Patty Hearst. Or how about "Cho" instead of "Che"?)
Of course everyone else showed the meaningless footage, no doubt accelerating the mythologizing of Cho. (Jeez, it took Mother Teresa seven years to just get beatified.) This morning a Fox News correspondent stood in the hallway outside Cho's door room in Ambler. Room 2120. This was The room of The man who perpetrated The worst mass shooting in American history, we were told. How long before the plaque that reads "Cho Slept Here" goes up?
***
UPDATE: Some commenters say I'm supporting censorship. I don't think I am. After all, news organizations get pitched stories constantly - by Proctor & Gamble, by the DNC and RNC, and in this case by a lunatic. The editorial staff need to decide what's newsworthy. In this case, I think the sending of the tape is itself a story. The content of the tape? Not so much.
But speaking of censorship, does anyone else find it almost funny to watch and hear the rantings of a homicidal maniac - but with the naughty curse words bleeped? Wouldn't want to freak the kiddies out!
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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The Legend of Cho (Brought to you by NBC)
Posted Apr 19th 2007 8:03AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Virginia Tech Shooting, Cho Seung-Hui
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Reader Comments ( Page 73 of 74)
1081. not even those whom seem to be normal should have a hand gun as in the years that have gone past and even today of the year 2007 there has been an increase of deaths by handguns and less from those of shotguns and rifles. A person can conceal a hand gun a lot better than they can conceal a shotgun or a rifle.
K at 8:57AM on Apr 23rd 2007
1082. CHO..I just had to comment even NOT having read all info by Cho. One piece stood out, his mention of Ishmael. Do you know this bible story? We can all learn that Cho represents the opinion of many that the world has/is gone crazy. Of course we dont act out our frustration with such brutalilty. A serious look into our complicity by not speaking up in in order. Our world of peace and beauty will manifest itself when Love becomes the answer.
J at 12:00PM on Apr 23rd 2007
1083. Although ironic, I know that shooting targets are already being printed with Cho's NBC provided image on them. I would like to suggest two more appropriate placements: urinal cakes and toilet paper. I hope they publicize where they bury this trash, I would like to leave him a little present of my own.
Rock2 at 5:19PM on Apr 23rd 2007
1084. Wakey, Wakey space cadets. While you’re all on here writing about Cho being a legend and bashing him 10 ways to Sunday none of you have clued into the fact that he has made an ass out of an entire country. He has got everyone grand standing and looking for a solution to this problem. Mean while had anyone taken the time to watch his video and pay close attention to what he said the grand standing Politicians and Media would not be creating all kinds of ways to hold useless meeting that waste money and produce the same results as the last 21 times this has happened. I am not and prodigy or any kind of an intellect but what I do have going for me is an innate common sense based on practical life experience. I knew why Cho did it before I saw his video. 22 school shooters in 32 years in Canada & the US since 1975 and you still haven’t figured it out. Even when the answer in put right in front of you people still turn a blind eye and look in the wrong direction for answers. It has most certainly got to do with seriously flawed thinking. So let me do the math for you and hopefully someone will get it. Cho was born with Autism, which makes him an automatic target child for bullies and abuse. He was bullied and abused by mean spirited kids in grade school and high school. So here you have a naturally recluse boy being picked on for not having the same social skills as the other kids for 12 years. These mean spirited arrogant kids are fueling an anger that is slowly turning this boy into a walking time bomb. He attends Virginia Tech carrying all of this pent up anger in him and a serious hatred for society. One more rejection will send him over the edge. He feels that when he is reprimanded for stalking two girls on campus in 2005. He pulls away and become recluse as his mental issues worsen. Until finally he starts planning his revenge. So the answer to the school shooter problem and the only way to prevent more in the future is to stop the hate and the abuse. Go after the bullies that drive our kids to suicide and massacres. They are the underlying, hidden cause of this. All abuse must stop. The abused need counseling and the bullies need discipline. The public needs a wake up call and that is what CHO tried to do. Whether he knew it or not. Common sense people. Stop- the bullies and you will solve 90% of the violence in our schools and on our streets. Cho is not a legend unless we fail to learn the lesson in this tragedy and stop letting the victims of these massacres die in vein. So let's all wake up and start learning how to play nice in the sand box before school massacre number 23 happens.
FigureItOut at 9:30PM on Apr 23rd 2007
1085. Dac #123 i completely agree with you
as for the others criticizing Dac.. (Frequent gamers and Lefty) do you guys want a cookie for being able to memorize the victim's names??? why are you holding on to the past lives of victims instead of trying to PREVENT other people from becoming one!
i find it absurd to focus only on remembering the victim's lives.. are you going to just continue memorizing countless NAMES, and turn a blind eye to the shooters, dismissing them as just miscreants as more potential "cho's" end up losing it???
sure, let's all sit here and just immortalize the victims lives as another shooting occurs.. so we can just sit here all over again and memorize more names and lives... get a grip on reality please!!! that is such a PASSIVE answer to finding the solution
when will america realize that memorizing and immortalizing these victims will not SOLVE anything!!! their poor innocent lives will have been lost in VAIN bc/ of you people that are only trying to remember their lives.
its an absurd tactic likened to one of a bad parent who doesn't try to help the mentally aguished kid, but IGNORES the caring aspect and immediately condemns the kid as a twisted soul. that soul will only get angrier and harbor more resentment towards the parent and more lives will be lost.
it's great to learn about the victim's lives. I find it highly ironic how u won't consider to memorize or learn about the lives of our soldiers abroad who knowlingly go out their risking their lives for our nation's freedoms! these 'victims' are different from the school shooting bc/ they risk their lifes going to iraq (whereas the students were just random innocent lives-- which are as important, but there is a difference! and in that case, focusing on their lives is only PART of the mourning process.)
that is not the greatest good that can come out of this terrible act. people need to cover the killer's actions NOT with remembering the victims names, but with action that will continue to help and reach so many hurting people!
CommenSense at 11:31PM on Apr 23rd 2007
1086. After the first shooting, Cho called in a bomb threat to the classrooom building he would shoot at next. Why would he do that? Did he want to be stopped? Did he want to be heard? And why didn't the school empty the damned building? they had two hours between him making that call and chaining the doors to that building.
To me that phone call and the posting on the internet the night before was a warning. Not in a malicious way, but more in a "I know I'm going nuts, please leave while you can." but no one listened. How sad is that?
Thoughts at 2:36AM on Apr 24th 2007
1087. to groucho: no, of course not- we don't have to watch kids excrete to stop dysentary
but how can u even treat or tell if they have dysentary, without first knowing the signs/symptoms in the first place
therefore, thanks NBC for allowing us an insight into what 'signs' we might be able to clue in that an individual is really about to go over the edge
Jonathon at 12:49AM on Apr 25th 2007
1088. Yes, we believe this action was grossly irresponsible. The photos and video add nothing and will only inspire more copycats. This is not about censorship, this is about news companies profiting from mass murder. Please sign our petition to get NBC News to apologize at
http://newsboycott.com
News Boycott at 3:34AM on Apr 25th 2007
1089. are you kidding me news boycott??
hahah
don't be so naive as to infringe on other people's RIGHT to watch the news freely
people please don't sign it.
Jonathon at 4:03AM on Apr 25th 2007
1090. I didn't want to see cho over and over either. The only good that came from showing it was making people more aware of "others" before it's too late.
And I like the part where the judicial system in this country deems "court orders" that they do not inforce...tell him to seek counseling....tell him to get visitation....etc. toilet paper if you ask me.
kathy burns at 7:08AM on Apr 25th 2007
1091. @Jonathon: You have the right to watch AND to contribute financially to whatever you news you want. Just like others have the right to say "We do not want the news organizations we patronize to profit from mass murderers."
News Boycott at 1:55PM on Apr 25th 2007
1092. @News Boycott- you say nbc profits. correct? well OF COURSE bc thats exactly what the PUBLIC is interested in. the public is YOU-- u all are probably the ones breaking your neck on the hwy trying to catch a glimpse of the accident. that's tells a lot about human nature. if you're going to blame anyone, it needs to start with the public-- the public's affinity towards violence is to blame
news is news folks. its doesn't glorify mass murderers, nor does it makes the sky fall. if we picked our own news, then u'd just be creating a false bubble for yourself.
Jonathon at 2:06AM on Apr 26th 2007
1093. what happened to the number one blog, chos's plays? welcome to the ussr,i mean us.
ed tapia at 3:37AM on Apr 26th 2007
1094. i find ir funny that we have to conform to aol standards. i want to comment on cho's plays
ed tapia at 3:42AM on Apr 26th 2007
1095. I believe that by censoring the types of plots in media productions that directly correlate to real life tragedies is ineffective. As a society we are constantly trying to spread the knowledge of the issues that affect this very same society. In the restriction of these media pieces we are haulting the spread of the knowledge and compassion that is needed to face these everyday problems. People that live outside the tragedies impact zone are not prone to acknowledge the intensity of the situation occuring due to the fact that they were not directly impacted by it. In order to help to obtain an answer to these devastating traumas we have to spread the destruction and loss that these catastrophes bring. In that we will find the humanity and grace needed to face and hopefully distinguish these dilemnas from reoccuring.
Jess at 9:35AM on Apr 28th 2007