Virginia Tech, Unfiltered

Shortly after noon today, a police officer was shot dead on the Virginia Tech campus. Minutes later, police discovered another body in a parking garage. The campus was locked down, cutting it off from the outside world. Information trickled out via Twitter, but the tag #VirginiaTech was soon flooded by outsiders eager to voice their opinion. People responded to the news in different ways.

There was the political:

• “A campus with strict gun laws only creates a vacuum for fear to rush in. No need for lock downs if everyone was concealing”
• “It seems the biggest problem for the US educational system is the NRA and its gun lobby.”
• “Hard pressed to find news reports that #Columbine High shootings were done by White Protestant students.”
• “It’s such a shame how lawlessness is abounding in the land. No one can doubt that we need God!”

The inane:

• “Pumped Up Kicks on the radio and I just heard about the #VirginiaTech shooting #ironic”
• “Story is sad y wud sumbodii do such a thing it kinda reminds meh of da movie #HigherLearning”

The people who describe themselves as “hilarious”:

• “Ok, let’s play the race game. Place your bet for what race the #virginiatech killer will be. White, Black, Chinese, Hispanic, etc”
• “Within 5 years #virginiatech has had a massacre, a public decapitation, and another shooting? what’s up with thayaaaat”

The hysterical:

• “omg first some girl in my first period is possessed saying that she’s jesus christ and evil’s comin then a #virginiatech shooting happens :(” Minutes later: “i’m crying cos this ia really freaking me out.”

The straight racist:

• “bet it’s an Asian.”
• “Something crazy, an Asian.” (Could also be tagged as #things-that-sound-like-palindromes-but-aren’t)
• “I hope all the Black ppl at #virginiatech are shook the heck up. I told yall niggas not to go there.”

Spreading rumors:

• “Report of a male subject matching #VirginiaTech shooter entering a Bed Bath and Beyond.”

Strong disapproval:

•  “another #virginiatech shooting… tisk tisk” – Is Not A Whore (@PrettyboyTweets, #teampure #teamvirgin #teamnostds #teamdrugfree #teamDSP #teamFTBS #teamsexywhiteboy)

We’ll drink some beers, start a lynch mob:

• “10 miles from #virginiatech about to load up and go on a manhunt”

But mostly, they were supportive:

• “Dear God please keep everyone at #virginiatech safe”
• “gosh i can’t even imagine how scary it must be for #virginiatech right now :(”
• “Praying for #VirginiaTech”
• “Shoutout to #VirginiaTech, god bless yall and those who lost a love one” – @Play4Keepz_, Crack Smoke, GA
• “keep the students, faculty& families of those who lost their lives today in ur prayers.” – @SlutsUnited

Thankfully, the second victim was the gunman himself. Virginia Tech is stunned, but it is safe. And now that the sluts have united, the healing can begin.