An Outpouring Of Online Grief

Virginia Tech Massacre Inspires Messages Of Prayer, Sympathy And Hope From Around The World

(CBS)  By CBSNews.com's David Miller.

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“The sheer stupidity of it all will never make sense” — so reads part of the introduction to the electronic “wall” on PlanetBlacksburg.com, where hundreds have commented on Monday’s massacre at Virginia Tech.

Yet today, on the Internet, many people are trying to make sense of such a horrific act. Others are expressing sympathy and saying prayers. Others are expressing anger and wondering how the shootings could happen.

One venue for such messages is Craigslist — one of the Internet’s most popular forums for buying, selling, dating and discussing. Cities big and small have their own pages on the sparsely designed site, including Blacksburg, Va.

Until this week, the Blacksburg Craigslist page was one of the site’s quietest corners. A few posts a day about a proposed Wal-Mart made up most of the content on the "Rants and Raves" page. But soon after word of the shooting massacre on the Virginia Tech campus spread on Monday, this Craigslist page became a destination for people from around the country to offer their thoughts, prayers and sympathies.

The deaths of 33 people at Virginia Tech, including the gunman, resulted in hundreds of postings over the past two days, including those of people from cities that had witnessed similar tragedies. “This is horrible and the people of Colorado have dealt with this type of tragedy and it doesn't get easier hearing that it happened somewhere else,” said one poster from Denver, referencing the Columbine High School shootings in 1999. “Please know that people all around the country are thinking of your community.”

Other postings showed that the shooting has brought together people from different schools, including rival West Virginia University. “I hope that you can begin to heal, and know that the Mountaineers are behind you,” one message read.

Most of the postings were short, simple statements telling Blacksburg residents and the Virginia Tech community that they are in many people’s thoughts and prayers. Many included pictures of candles. Yet to look at the page is to look at the reaction to the events unfold in real time — simple expressions of grief gave way to people asking questions, venting anger, or even making inappropriate remarks (a posting titled "Proof only one race belongs in America" was harshly criticized soon after it appeared).

“Has anyone got any reliable info on who the shooter is? Is he dead or in custody? Was there more than one? Any truth to the rumors it was a Muslim foreign student?” one person asked Monday night in one of several postings referring to allegations that the gunman — eventually revealed to be Korean national Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior — was perhaps inspired by religious fervor.

Other messages made allusions to the gun control debate, or asked why police did not take stronger action after two people were killed in a residence hall two hours before most of the killings. “The campus should have been locked down, the shooter should not have been able to wander around campus, unhindered, for over two hours after committing the first murders,” one poster said.

But sympathy and concern are the dominant themes on Craigslist, and similar messages have shown up all over the Internet. On social networking site Facebook, some Virginia Tech students have replaced their profile photos with an image of the school’s VT logo imposed over a black ribbon. Students from other schools have created images pairing their school’s logo with that of Virginia Tech, with the message “Today, we are all Hokies” written below.

On PlanetBlacksburg.com, a site normally focused on news, sports and entertainment in and around Virginia Tech, the electronic wall had received 458 comments as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Forget all the stories, forget the media feeding frenzy, we at Virginia Tech face immense sorrow for our loss, for the senseless murder of our brothers and sisters. Monday brought the slaughter of innocents. Our innocents,” a note from the site’s owners said.

Many comments on the wall came from places as varied as China and France. “All the way in New Zealand... Just let you know even though you're so far away, we're thinking of you,” one person, identified as Kat, said. “God will be righteous and just.”

PlanetBlacksburg.com also drew many postings from alumni, and even a message signed by the board of trustees of the Connecticut State University system. “Although we are miles away in Connecticut, distance does not diminish the depth of our heartfelt sorrow for the people of Virginia Tech,” part of the message read.

Like other places online, the wall served as a venue for people to ask deeper questions about how such an event could occur. “How can this keep happening? How resilient is our human condition that we can absorb yet another senseless act of violence so offensive? What becomes of us as these incidents continue to mount?” asked one message, authored by Garrett Evans.

But for all the questions, anger and sadness, there are also signs of hope and resilience. “Please attempt to focus on the love, the life many of us are resolutely protecting,” a message from Ingrid in Alberta, Canada, reads. “Continue to be human and soft despite these horrific abuses.”

Some of the most encouraging posts are from Virginia Tech students, parents and alumni, who invoke Hokie Pride in trying to help others cope. “Now more than ever Hokies everywhere need to show their support of our wonderful school!” one person, identified as Erica, wrote. “Hokie Spirit will not be broken.”

[queenie8907]

to chuckrr66
you idiot
people kill
but WITH GUNS
someone who has been admitted to a MENTAL INSTITUTION should not be allowed to own a gun
don't you think?
oooooooook i confess Virginia does have a law saying people who have a history of mental illness can't bear arms
BUT HOW WOULD YOU EVER FIND THAT OUT WHEN VIRGINIA LAW DOESN'T REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK!Virginia Law doesn't even require a waiting period
just walk in without a gun, walk out with one
simple as that
IT'S DISGUSTING AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT
so to all you people who are against gun control
explain that to the families of the 32 victims whose children were murdered
gun control doesn't have to mean gun elimination
it just means being smart and making restrictions that prevent LUNATICS and CRIMINALS from walking the streets with handguns
god i hope not

MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIIES OF ALL THE VICTIMS AND I HOPE THE WORLD DOESN'T MOURN THE DEATH BUT CELBRATE THE LIFE OF THOSE YOU LOST

[queenie8907]

in response to chuckrr66
idiot
people do kill
but with guns
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE HANDGUNS
it is as a matter of fact against the law for ppl with a history of mental illness to bear arms in Virginia
but no one would ever know if someone had a history since Virginia Law DOESN'T REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK
crazy i know
you walk in buy your gun and walk out
as simple as that
no waiting period
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AGAINST GUN CONTROL
fine
if you want psychopaths roaming the street thats your call
you just explain that to the families of the 32 victims
I'm not saying you can't own a gun
go ahead own a gun
but shouldn't there be a waiting period? so that guns aren't purchased in a fit of anger
shouldn't there be restrictions on purchasing a weapon of death?
gun control doesn't have to mean gun elimination
it can just mean being smart about who we sell them to and ultimately saving lives
just a thought

MY SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL THE VICTIMS AND I HOPE THE WORLD DOESN'T MOURN THE DEATH BUT CELBRATE THE LIFE OF THOSE YOU LOST

[carolhagent]

To Chuckrr66. What the heck was that? More useless ramblings from someone who cares more about being able to bear arms than the people that the arms are killing. Will you feel the same when you or a loved one are shot?

[grandmarhl7]

I pray that you will all find God's amazing peace. God Bless You All

[chuckrr66]

This is a shame and my heart goes out to all that are affected.

Just because this terible thing has happened, it is not the time to consider gun control. Guns don't kill, people kill.

Our nation was founded on freedoms of the individual. I think many have forgotten that fact. It is my right and each one of our rights, constitutionally, to bear arms. To take away our right to bear arms would be a slap in our forefathers face and you would be condemning ourselves to the servitude of our government. We are to be the government not the bearuecrats in DC. The will of the people is already being put aside by these people that call themselves our representatives. It's called taxation without representation. The only way we can get control of this nation once again is to maintain our right to bear arms. For we are the government and the militia which protect the Constitution. Without this right we lose all the rest!

Are you willing to give this up? Do you feel that the bearuacrats can do no harm? Think again do the research and open your mind before it becomes too late.

[mikealford3]

It is amazing how things get so turned around. One korean idiot kills 32 innocent people and all of a sudden it's Bush's fault or God's fault or the gun did it or the devil made him do it. IMHO, all that is wrong. The young man who bought the guns and pulled the triggers is at fault and is to blame. Nobody else and nothing else, just 1 crazy man.

I have to laugh at some of the comments about religion.

[emhawks]

MY HEARTFELT PRAYERS & SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS.

[rharrin1]

Here we go, more maudlin selfish voyeurism by the jaded American public. How convenient to feel "grief" for people you don't even know, you can just turn the feelings off when you get bored, or turn the channel.

Posted by SharnCedar at 05:20 PM : Apr 17, 2007

Like bush going down there to dishonor those people

Just like the kids in Iraq he doesn't know them and pays no attention to their death.

[linfinster]

I understand your anger and confusion when people bring God into these situations. So if I may, I'd like to try and explain it the way I see it.
There is one God, capital G. There are godlike idols that people have created to represent what they believe is God or parts of him. That's right down the alley of the original liar, satan. He LOVES the fact that people give thier love and attention to ANYTHING other than God. He has been allowed to create what you see today on earth, evil. There are some things that seem good, but really, it's from the devil. What people have a hard time wrapping thier minds around (IF you can get past the FACT that the devil exists) is WHY would a loving God allow this. It goes back to the original sin, God is allowing man to rule himself and in doing so proving His way is the best way so that there will NEVER be a question about His right to our worship and love. No, we wont be robots, that is why sin occurred, there was free will, but with realistic guidelines. Satan wiped that all away when he lied to Eve and deceived her. You know the rest .. SOOOO THIS ISN'T God. He hurts too. It will all be correct soon!

[sharncedar]

Here we go, more maudlin selfish voyeurism by the jaded American public. How convenient to feel "grief" for people you don't even know, you can just turn the feelings off when you get bored, or turn the channel.

How about leaving the dead alone? The Amish really put us in our place, when we tried as a mob to "share their grief" they said get out of here, leave us alone. Virgina Tech would do the same, if they had any morals.

But everybody wants to make a buck, in this case on the sensationalism of dead kids.