The latest sad situation at Virginia Tech is another reminder of the news media’s complicity in all of this. Pasting the killer’s image on the front page of newspapers and showing his videos on tv may sell but it also shows would-be murderers that they too can get their 15 minutes of fame.

I hate to predict but seeing that the record-breaking death toll resulted in more ink and publicity may only lead to other disaffected people to try to set new records of mayhem.

It’s not just the celebrity killers that the media build up. It’s the whole celebrity culture that drives people to be famous in any way possible. If someone is a little unhinged and wants to get their important message out, becoming a celebrity is clearly the way to do it. If you aren’t lucky enough to be a movie star, rock star, royalty or rich heiress then resorting to extreme, violent measures may seem the best way to go.