Stabbing in Brentwood-5 Dead, 1 Arrested

[Barbecue]

Saw the most ridiculous response to this on facebook regarding the insanity evaluation...

Because...someone who's sane....would randomly stab 5 people? Come on people! Have a little compassion. He obviously has a mental issue. Stop throwing stones. Instead feel sorry for him, and send hope and good thoughts to the families affected.

[19Yzerman19]

That's not really that ridiculous; it seems to me that many people are unable to accept atrocities like this and psychologically seek out way to rationalize them. "He's obviously insane" is one way of doing that.

[Acey]

@CBCBryan: Just interviewed Matthew de Grood's lawyer. Allan Fay says his client is "overwhelmed and devastated" by the charges he faces

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Barbecue

Saw the most ridiculous response to this on facebook regarding the insanity evaluation...

Honestly, I agree with that Facebook post.

I knew Josh from a few of my business classes and he was a great guy and Matt was a year older than me as we both took Psychology.

I think people are way too busy trying to figure out how to punish the suspect and arguing over silly stuff and very little time is being spent on remembering the victims and praying for them.

It's a tough time for everyone and the timing couldn't be worse for university students and friends with the already high levels of stress due to final exams coming up.

Obviously, Matt had a lot going for him as it isn't easy to get into Law School and graduate with distinction. In this case, most likely something really wrong happened with his state of mind and it should open the eyes of the public when it comes to mental illnesses.

It's really frustrating seeing how people like to keep a blind-eye towards these issues and how little focus goes into prevention and intervention measures for the general public. It is very easy to call for the death penalty and hope that he rots in jail forever (don't get me wrong, he deserves to be punished for his actions), however, it is very easy to point fingers.

This could happen to anyone where they may no longer be in touch with reality and perform such an act. Keep in mind, this guy had no criminal record prior to this act, people who know him cannot believe he would commit such an act and he had a lot going for him academically. I know he deserves to be punished but consider for one second if you were having a schizophrenic episode and you woke up to find out that you had murdered 5 people. People really need to calm down and wait for further analysis on this case.

A lot of what I said may not make sense, however, I encourage you all to keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers, including the victims, friends/family, first respondents and the suspect.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Barbecue

Saw the most ridiculous response to this on facebook regarding the insanity evaluation...

I'm mostly curious what part of that post you found ridiculous.

[Methanolic]

Noticing local media covering this story paying far more attention on remembering the five people who had their lives taken. I don't recall the local evening news bringing tears to my eyes before this.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Methanolic

Noticing local media covering this story paying far more attention on remembering the five people who had their lives taken. I don't recall the local evening news bringing tears to my eyes before this.

I'm impressed with the coverage. No overly long rants on the corrupted youth "these days", violence in general, BSD, or de Grood. Mostly just surprisingly well produced memorial pieces.

[Acey]

...and just as I praise them, Global posts this gem of an article.

Could more be done to prevent knife violence?

...when weapons were used in a violent offences, knives were the most common choice at six per cent...

And a rather pointless poll where the question is, "Do you think more can be done to prevent knife violence?" And the choices are, "Yes, stiffer sentences and laws are needed" or "no, society needs to deal with offenders not weapons".

http://globalnews.ca/news/1275795/co...abbing-sprees/

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

A nice article about Lawrence. http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...187/story.html

Thanks for posting that Ben. I hadn't heard it was Lawrence until I read this thread - I too knew him and some of his closest friends.

[Banner]

Originally Posted by Barbecue

Saw the most ridiculous response to this on facebook regarding the insanity evaluation...

And why exactly is that ridiculous?

I didn't know Matt personally but some of my friends have known him since pre-school. They only had nice things to say about him and were absolutely shocked that he would ever do something like this. This isn't some ski mask murderer breaking into a house and stabbing random people; he was an invited guest at the party. Mental illness for someone like that sounds more plausible than a kid who just decided to kill his friends for fun.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Banner

And why exactly is that ridiculous?

I didn't know Matt personally but some of my friends have known him since pre-school. They only had nice things to say about him and were absolutely shocked that he would ever do something like this. This isn't some ski mask murderer breaking into a house and stabbing random people; he was an invited guest at the party. Mental illness for someone like that sounds more plausible than a kid who just decided to kill his friends for fun.

well I would agree that posting "we should feel sorry for him" is a little ridiculous...and that is me being polite

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Acey

...and just as I praise them, Global posts this gem of an article.



And a rather pointless poll where the question is, "Do you think more can be done to prevent knife violence?" And the choices are, "Yes, stiffer sentences and laws are needed" or "no, society needs to deal with offenders not weapons".

http://globalnews.ca/news/1275795/co...abbing-sprees/

We'll have to ban cooking.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by dino7c

well I would agree that posting "we should feel sorry for him" is a little ridiculous...and that is me being polite

Why shouldn't we? The kids who died aren't the only ones who were lost. Spewing hate and wishes of death and torture doesn't bring anyone back. If the rumours are true and Matt was in a mentally incapable state (which sounds likely, considering his demeanour to those who knew him) then yes, we should also feel sorry for him. People look at killing as though it's some act that strips someone of all their humanity. All humans are capable of killing. It takes a tragic misfire in the human brain to allow it to occur in otherwise morally sound individuals (outside of instances of war, or desperation). It's sad. That's what it is. Sad. You should feel sorry for him just the same as anyone else. He did something horrible and will be punished for what he did, but that doesn't mean he isn't a human being that would be well served by compassion.

Hate accomplishes nothing. It's not going to help anybody.

[zamler]

I'm supposed to feel sorry for a guy that murdered 5 people in cold blood? No effing chance, not even a little bit.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by strombad

Why shouldn't we? The kids who died aren't the only ones who were lost. Spewing hate and wishes of death and torture doesn't bring anyone back. If the rumours are true and Matt was in a mentally incapable state (which sounds likely, considering his demeanour to those who knew him) then yes, we should also feel sorry for him. People look at killing as though it's some act that strips someone of all their humanity. All humans are capable of killing. It takes a tragic misfire in the human brain to allow it to occur in otherwise morally sound individuals (outside of instances of war, or desperation). It's sad. That's what it is. Sad. You should feel sorry for him just the same as anyone else. He did something horrible and will be punished for what he did, but that doesn't mean he isn't a human being that would be well served by compassion.

Hate accomplishes nothing. It's not going to help anybody.

Maybe. But, f@ck him.

[morgin]

The way I look at it, feeling sorry for something happening to someone such that they go from apparently being a normal nice person to a spree killer is not mutually exclusive with currently loathing him and being indifferent to his fate, as long as he's not part of my society.

[strombad]

I'm not saying you HAVE to feel sorry for him, I'm simply saying that not only is it not ridiculous to feel sorry, but it's more morally justifiable than hate. People are allowed to respond to death however they see fit.

[Banner]

Originally Posted by zamler

I'm supposed to feel sorry for a guy that murdered 5 people in cold blood? No effing chance, not even a little bit.

Honestly I expected many responses like this here, but I don't blame you or anyone else who shares the same opinion.

Most of the friends of mine that knew Matt, and the five people stabbed, don't even hate him. They're just incredibly shocked and trying to figure out what would spark him to do this.

Murder is unforgiveable, but as strombad said, hating this guy won't fix anything. And it seems the people who have no idea who this guy is except for the fact that he killed 5 people are the ones with no compassion, while the people who actually who knew him on a personal level offer some sort of understanding.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by strombad

Why shouldn't we? The kids who died aren't the only ones who were lost. Spewing hate and wishes of death and torture doesn't bring anyone back. If the rumours are true and Matt was in a mentally incapable state (which sounds likely, considering his demeanour to those who knew him) then yes, we should also feel sorry for him. People look at killing as though it's some act that strips someone of all their humanity. All humans are capable of killing. It takes a tragic misfire in the human brain to allow it to occur in otherwise morally sound individuals (outside of instances of war, or desperation). It's sad. That's what it is. Sad. You should feel sorry for him just the same as anyone else. He did something horrible and will be punished for what he did, but that doesn't mean he isn't a human being that would be well served by compassion.

Hate accomplishes nothing. It's not going to help anybody.

wishes of death and torture? because I said I don't feel sorry for him...seriously don't accuse me of saying stuff I haven't said and don't tell me how I should feel

[puckluck2]

I think the most scary part is that someone who by all accounts was a nice kid could just snap like that. I'm very curious to know what mental disorder he has. I think and it's just my opinion obviously, that he has one.

And I feel for his family a lot. Can't imagine what the families of all the victims are going through.

Edit: Just want to add that even though I believe he is mentally ill and if that is the case that he should still never see freedom again. Lock him up, segregate him from the population, let him live in a mental institution or whatever but I don't think he deserves another chance at freedom. Once you've crossed that line there is no coming back.