Always Informed
It’s amazing how there is so much information out there for us to consume.
Today, with the horrific events that took place at Virginia Tech, this idea of complete access to information outside of what’d given to us by the major media outlets has really shone through. Let’s start with the coverage of the actual event. The best video footage we have of anything related to the shooting did not come from a camera crew. Instead, a student, who immigrated from the West Bank, stood close enough to police to capture video of them rushing a building as twenty seven shots were fired. Without him there, the chaos of the situation would have much less of a face value, so to speak.
Beyond that, though, and what really drove me to post this, is the fact that while news programs and websites do not have specific information about the event, people over at Neowin, both members of the VT student body and friends with those who are part of the college community, have a lot of information regarding the likely motivation. It seems to be that the shooter’s first victims, at the dormitory, were the RA (Residence Adviser) who told him to “Get the fuck out” [1] and then his ex-girlfriend. He then proceeded to the next building in search of his ex’s new boyfriend. [2] [3]
Now, I know, none of this is proven, just yet, but that information is already there and, unless you are a member of Neowin or Facebook, you’d probably have no idea. We’re always informed these days. With a phone or a keyboard, you can talk to someone who knows someone involved or, in this case, hear it from those directly affected or on the scene. [4] [5] [6] The world can seem so large, but it has become increasingly small. We always have access. We’re always informed.
Filed under: General