Anonymous wrote: I saw that man in the wheelchair with the flesh blown from his legs. That one spindly leg bone hanging down with no meat on it, and that gray shocked look on his face. I think of that sweet little boy who wanted peace, blown to bits and his sister's leg blown off. His momma with brain damage. Should I go on? The person who did this, chose to. And he look into the eyes of his victim as he dropped the bomb at their feet. He walked off knowing that they would be killed. He deserves no sympathy.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I understand some of what you're feeling. I see a 19 year old who may have been damaged in some way we don't yet know about, or under the influence of an older brother or family/trusted friend in an unhealthy way, etc... We just don't know. But I too feel some concern for him - and especially his family. I am glad that the police were able to bring him in alive - I think it speaks very well for everyone involved that he was brought in with a chance to shed some light on what happened and for his family to perhaps have a chance to see him again.

It's tremendously sad all the way around. To the posters who think it's a racial thing to feel sympathy towards one person rather than another - that isn't necessarily the case. I had many similar (even stronger/more clear) feelings of sympathy for Lee Boyd Malvo. To me age plays a larger role than anything else.

Either way, I think the ability of people to see the complexities of a situation, and feel empathy for all parties, is reflection on the basic goodness of humanity and the mature, thoughtful abilities of grown ups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because he's white and good looking, basically. People are literally that dumb.

Yup. I've noticed that people have a lot more sympathy for the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and James Holmes than they did for Lee Boyd Malvo or Seung Cho. Many people react to the former two as tragic characters who had something that "turned" them wrong. And far more people react to the latter two as "they are evil". I heard so many people say that the black Malvo was destined to be a criminal because he's black and that Cho was a terrorist and that because of him we need to improve our border security because you can't trust "them."

So many people do react so subconsciously just seeing the non-white killers.

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Anonymous wrote:He's an adult FFS and he is responsible for his actions... I may be sorry that a smartish guy like him got deluded like this (as it appears) but that will not equate to sympathy for him.

He is not a victim, he's a murderer.

Exactly. I appreciate the kindness that's behind the concerns voiced by OP and others, but you're mistakenly applying "normal people" logic to this situation. As someone who has very troubled family members with personality disorders, I can tell you that you're off base in trying to identify a rational reason for this man's actions. He doesn't have the same world view or motivations you have. What's logical and rational to him is probably not something kind and empathetic people can ever really grasp.

But usually there is a reason why people act in a way that is illogical or irrational to our world view and motivation. In the case of your family that is because they have personality disorders. For other people it is political or religious radicalism. There are usually indicators that someone has a world view that is out of synch with everyone around them. That is how people get diagnosed. They don't think the same so they don't talk or act the same as you or I because they are driven by different motivators. however there is no indication here that he showed any signs of having a personality disorder or a reasonable explanation for why his thinking might be distorted to the point that this act was logical or rational to him.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's okay to feel sorrow or sympathy for him. It's a strength. You have a lot of empathy and a big heart.

I don't know if you are Christian, but it's a bit of how I think God must see us. If we are God's children, I think he sees both our goodness and our badness and loves us for our good parts. I think God is sad when we make bad choices that cause harm to other people. I think God is especially sad when our pain makes us make choices that hurt other people.

The hardest part of being Christian is doing good to those that harm you. It's hard to seek mercy and justice when all you really want is revenge.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's okay to feel sorrow or sympathy for him. It's a strength. You have a lot of empathy and a big heart.

I don't know if you are Christian, but it's a bit of how I think God must see us. If we are God's children, I think he sees both our goodness and our badness and loves us for our good parts. I think God is sad when we make bad choices that cause harm to other people. I think God is especially sad when our pain makes us make choices that hurt other people.

The hardest part of being Christian is doing good to those that harm you. It's hard to seek mercy and justice when all you really want is revenge.

Anonymous wrote:Free will..he had a choice..every time you feel bad think of the eight year he put a bomb next too..this will cure you of feeling bad

Anonymous wrote:Because he's white and good looking, basically. People are literally that dumb.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They don't think the same so they don't talk or act the same as you or I because they are driven by different motivators. however there is no indication here that he showed any signs of having a personality disorder or a reasonable explanation for why his thinking might be distorted to the point that this act was logical or rational to him.

And this, for me at least, is the scary part.