http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspxby Stone Phillips, Dateline anchor When Seung-Hui Cho mailed his "multimedia manifesto" to NBC News, he clearly was hoping that at least some of what he sent would find its way onto the airwaves. It did. And we entered a new era of crime coverage anden-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#164829Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:53:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:164829Elaine Blake, Toronto, OntarioI fully disagree with NBC decision to air Cho's message. You gave him a platform that he didn't deserve. You gave him exactly what he wanted and what he designed as he went to his grave. He clearly is a madman, but I didn't need to see his video to determine that in my mind. NBC has in a sense glorified him in a way that will make copycats who want the same result, commit the same action. The very same way that Cho referenced the Colombine killers glowingly. I think that the media has an even bigger responsibly that goes beyond dessiminating information. It is the media that unfortunately helps to shape people, their actions or inactions. It time for you to step up and do the right thing. The Vtech massacre was your opportunity to do that. It was enough that you mentioned his name and told us a little about who he was, but we didn't need to see his crafted message - now he is in control, not you. Your decision was quite discussing to me.http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#164951Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:16:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:164951Ann VassalloI thought this was very well put. I admire your program and your reporting. http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#165405Mon, 23 Apr 2007 21:55:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:165405David SusiI think that this is a National problem that Americans have: Their need to be shielded from every little pain, every little truth. The American public needs to see what the mindset of the killer is, how the twisted logic was applied and hopefully to help them identify troubled individuals in their own lives.http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#165630Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:19:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:165630Julie Klein, Indianapolis, INI disagree that NBC should air those photos, videos & rants. Frankly, I anticipate future tech-savy murderers will provide a "multi-media" package to NBC and other new organizations. This is sad. You are being manipulated from the grave by a very sick individual. Furthermore, your questions & responses indicate your lack of understanding. College classrooms should be designed for their primary purpose, not as panic rooms. College administrations will never anticipate your critiques. As Gus Grissom (of CSI) says, "if you hear hoofbeats, you assume horses, not zebra." "Should the mentally ill be allowed to go to college?" What? Do you have any idea what percentage of the population is mentally ill? Many illnesses surface during the college years. Why weren't his records available to the police? Have you heard of HIPAA? I wish the decision was made to not air those rants/pictures/etc. Hearing him blame the victims was painful. I work for a community mental health center, I've read suicide notes for 20 years. The general public doesn't need to know this grief. They don't need to know the anger or the pain. How many hours of sleep were lost due to your anxiety producing reports? Please, you've opened a dangerous Pandora's box. http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#165770Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:52:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:165770Lew Groberg, Ontario, OregonAs I have read the profiles of the murdered students and professors at Virginia Tech. I feel that some of the most gifted people in America were killed by a monster who needs no air time, no parting shots from the grave. I completely disagree with NBC news decision to air the Cho manifesto. It gave one of the most gruesome murderers worldwide coverage and hurt the innocent victims families and friends. http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#165862Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:59:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:165862Deborah DaigleI am an adult and it is my choice to turn the television on and to watch what i want. While I am torn on this topic of showing or not showing certain things to the public, it comes down to my decisions as an adult - to watch what I want to watch and to shut off or turn away from what i do not want to watch. I feel that for so long the public has wanted to know the finite details of things and now that the news shows are essentially giving us what we wanted, we are now saying that it is too much and that too much is being thrown at us. Give me a break. I want to be informed - if you don't, then change the channel or turn the tv off!! There are plenty of other things to do besides sitting in front of the tv!! These news channels are not going to please everyone all of the time - that is simply inconceivable to think that anyone can do that. It's a choice that we make as adults - period. http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#166076Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:31:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:166076Jay DouccudrayI fully support this kind of responsible journalistic work! We need to know the truth, the whole truth, in order to come up with ways to protect ourselves. We need to know how criminals think, and above all their motives, so often ignored or manipulated. By the way, has anybody heard what the manifesto say about President Bush? Still it's censorship! Where is our freedom of speech?http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#166656Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:22:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:166656J Carter, Wichita, KSNBC and the other networks should resolve to never show a picture of Cho, again. As anniversaries come and go, if it is necessary to comemorate the event, do so with dignity, honoring the victims, NOT Cho.http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#167168Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:57:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:167168William Cavender, Reno, NVI support the airing of the subject 'multi-media' materials. Unfortunately, too much editorializing regarding the accessability of guns rather than examination of the real problem: Failure of family, friends, professionals and anyone else who had contact with Cho to demand treatment for his obvious mental disease. This failure to act is the real reason this tragedy occured.http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#167184Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:06:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:167184Jodyna Krain, Kamloops, B.C., CanadaI just watched Oprah with Brian Williams et al. For the most part I agree that the media goes into some kind of frenzy in its reporting. Not in this case. I definitely think the public deserves to see and hear this truly tragic event. I do not understand the thinking behind the proliferation of guns that exist and the easy access to purchasing same. I also feel that we as HUMAN BEINGS cannot continue to ignore the horrendous events that lead up to such extreme action. AND WE DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS THAT ANY PERSON IN OUR SO CALLED LAND OF THE FREE CAN FEEL SO ISOLATED THAT HE/SHE WOULD FEEL THAT LIFE IS SO MEANINGLESS THAT DEATH IS THE ANSWER. Behind all that anger and dementia is such pain, sadness, hopelessness and despair. Although I am Canadian, I see this as a human tragedy that includes everyone of us. I watched Steve (I forget his last name) and I witnessed his pain, and perhaps some anger, as different ones offered their opinions and JUDGEMENTS. He held his own, as did Brian, and I believe them. Sincerely Jodyna Krain http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#167397Wed, 25 Apr 2007 02:10:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:167397DeeDee San Deigo CaI disagree and agree sometimes its good to know who did it but repeat after repeat gets annoying..I believe u should air it a few minutes then stop..Anyway I strongly believe that the building where the shootings were should be knock down..and put a cross with a memorial list of those who were killed..instead of having students appear in those classes againhttp://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#320553Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:51:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:320553Anonymousepan icedimihttp://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/163886.aspx#321084Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:16:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:321084Anonymousoisv aupasujg