According to this article in the NY times -
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/na...&partner=MYWAY
[no reg required !
]
Many warning signs were there, as described in the article.
- When shootings like this happen, I feel very numb, at society as a whole. 8th Grade and Freshman year of high school, I was diagnosed with depression....[Actually I'm still on effexor, though my life perspective has changed tremendously from then, 4 years ago.] [My previous condition was never as serious as Mr. weise's was].
This kid cried for attention, albeit not directly. When you're in that troubled state, you just can't go up to a teacher or counselor and say "I NEED FUCKING HELP - I CANT TAKE THIS SHIT.." At least I couldn't do it....For whatever reason(s), I would do more subtle things: stab the notebook paper with the pen, cut classes, not do homework, or procastinate like hell with it, to the point where the teachers notice something's up...[I even shared my experiences on a depression forum online as well].
I did go to my counselor for help occasionally, though at my school there was about 300 or so students per counselor. This, along with the other responsibilities the counselor had, there were A LOT of times, I felt I had nowhere to turn to, and was pretty pissed that my school would have more people working in the finance office than have counselors.
But, not to be too tangental to this thread: I DO NOT CONDONE this kid's actions; however, I can sympathize with him, that the desperation was so much, he felt there was nothing else he could do remedy the situation and gave up.
My fellow peers need to care for each other more, not just pay attention to the warning signs, but actually take action with them: talk to the person, console and offer advice, talk to an admired faculty member.
Schools and teachers: whether they acknowledge it or not, teachers have quite a bit of potential to guide a nd influence a teen's life; remember that what may seem just like 'a day or two' of troubles can appear to a
troubled kid as a lengthy dilemma.
Parents: As Captain Obvious, i'll state it - "Talk to your kids ! Have a damned good relationship with them, and do as much as you can [without spoiling the child] to understand their teenage world that they live in is probably much different than yours was...
Regards,
will.
EDIT: After reading his newgrounds profile, one of his favorite films was 'elephant' - an indie film about 2 boys in high school who were loners, picked on; went on a school shooting and then killed themselves.
[released about a year or two ago....][i rented once from the library, an ok film]