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Good/Bad of an Obscure Virginia Tech Detail

Apr 17, 2007 1:52 PM
Tags: crime, education, networking, news, rants

The Virginia Tech killer has a name — Cho Seung-Hui — and so I wondered if he had a domain name too.

Props to the IT department at Virginia Tech, for — despite the considerable stress of the past day — having the foresight to grab the domain www.choseunghui.com and have it redirect to an official page, providing information about yesterday's events.

Granted, they probably had a head start (i.e. knowing that before it was public), but that was a real heads-up move.

And, a giant fuck you to TheEtrader, who squatted on www.choseung-hui.com and are exploiting tragedy to boost their stock-trading and domain-name selling businesses. What the hell is wrong with you greedy douchebags?

Also, Wikipedia's coverage has been an awesome study in collaboration. No original reporting (per Wikipedia's mission, natch), but 93 references and constantly updated.


Comments: Good/Bad of an Obscure Virginia Tech Detail

"And, a giant fuck you to TheEtrader, who squatted on www.choseung-hui.com and are exploiting tragedy to boost their stock-trading and domain-name selling businesses. What the hell is wrong with you greedy douchebags?"

At least the news media has a thin veil over their use of tragedy as a money maker.

The NRA and friends are also stepping up to push their agenda for concealed hand gun rights. They claim that it prevents shootouts and rapes while ignoring the fact that unstable people who are quick to draw can easily get a license. You need a license to drive, but most people on the road certainly act like they haven't earned one.

Oh yeah, politicians are trying to use it as well. Tragedies aren't just tragic; they are also annoying.

Posted by: *dell on April 17, 2007 2:32 PM | permalink

The history of that Wkipedia page is astounding. The fact that so many people would take it upon themselves to contribute to the entry and provide details is astonishing to me.

It also begs the question, did all of these people just run directly to Wiki while the news coverage was happening in order to keep it current? And don't they have jobs? Also it's awesome, but seriously, jobs?

Posted by: ChuckJerry on April 17, 2007 2:47 PM | permalink

Yeah, people are great about updating Wiki articles... Anything in current events for the mainstream media is almost immediately added to relevant Wiki entries.

Posted by: *dell on April 17, 2007 3:50 PM | permalink

Couldn't agree more.

How do these companies stay in business? Do people actually click through that crap?

Posted by: Doug on April 17, 2007 4:55 PM | permalink

Yes these people have jobs, they're just not teachers or construction workers or any other job that doesn't require you to sit in front of a computer for 8 hours a day furiously clicking and typing, so it seems like you're working when you're actually reading Joe's blog -- or updating the Wiki entry with the latest updates on "the news" du jour.

Posted by: Danny G on April 18, 2007 11:40 AM | permalink

No more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.