VT Gunman and Rubber Ducks...

[lysander]

So, according to the Smoking Gun website and other sources, the VT shooter bought roughly three dozen yellow rubber ducks on Ebay (in addition to magazines for his Walther .22). The media seems baffled by the purchase.

I was thinking it is reasonable to surmise that the shooter bought the rubber ducks to use as targets. He may have found some rural property off campus with a stream or pond...or he might have set them up on a fence. Yellow ducks are a classic shooting gallery target.

I used to toss cans into a river and shoot them with a BB rifle...why not rubber ducks and a Glock?

 

[shaggycat]

There is no understanding a lunatic.

 

[mbt2001]

Ban ducks....


and Catcher in the Rye....

 

[tank mechanic]

The hostage takers in Airheads asked for football helmets filled with cottage cheese and naked pictures of B. Arthur. Dumb people do stupid things.

 

[Geronimo45]

Maybe he watched, along with various ultra-violent stuff, Sesame Street. Ernie had a rubber duck, I think.

I guess shooting the ducks might make sense. Only logical reason I've heard yet.

 

[Biker]

Good God...There are no bookstores open at this time of night in my neck o' the woods. I'll be awake all night waiting for Waldenbooks to open so I can purchase another copy of "Catcher In The Rye"...Thanks, MBT2001.

Biker

 

[lysander]

There is no understanding a lunatic.

Perhaps not in the same sense that we can try to understand rational individuals...but I think that armies of psychologists and profilers would disagree with your blanket statement.

This notion of shooting at the duckies isn't something that highlights the shooter's state of mind...just a logical explanation for what can be made to seem like the actions of a "lunatic."

 

[mbt2001]

Hey Biker.... Yeah, I can't sleep without mine tucked under my pillow!

 

[silverbird]

The rubber ducks could have been associated with his bomb threats in some way. For those not familiar with VT, there is a pond on the campus affectionately known as "The Duck Pond". I could see how he could come up with some way to play on that in a scheme.

 

[Eleven Mike]

The rubber ducks could have been associated with his bomb threats in some way. For those not familiar with VT, there is a pond on the campus affectionately known as "The Duck Pond". I could see how he could come up with some way to play on that in a scheme.

So, you're on the same wave-length with this guy? Just stay where you are, while we get your coordinates.

 

[bogie]

A buncha rubber ducks may turn up along the banks of a local stream. He had to practice somewhere...

 

[TCB in TN]

Perhaps not in the same sense that we can try to understand rational individuals...but I think that armies of psychologists and profilers would disagree with your blanket statement.

They WOULD disagree with the statement, but most of their understanding is hindsight, and as such, means not so much.

 

[WolfMansDad]

There is no understanding a lunatic.

Maybe, but it ought to be possible to predict at least some of his behavior. It behooves us all to know enough to see danger coming.

 

[Whatsit]

*delete*

 

[gezzer]

Not for nothing WHO CARES

 

[thexrayboy]

There is no understanding a lunatic.

Perhaps not in the same sense that we can try to understand rational individuals...but I think that armies of psychologists and profilers would disagree with your blanket statement.

Of course that army of head shrinkers etc would disagree. If society really knew how poorly the human psyche is understood these guys would all be out of their prestigious high paying jobs and would have to get real jobs where they had to show real results. In comparison to physiological medicine modern psychiatric medicine is at roughly the leeches and blood letting stage. Just one step up from rattles and rubber chickens.

 

[ilbob]

In comparison to physiological medicine modern psychiatric medicine is at roughly the leeches and blood letting stage. Just one step up from rattles and rubber chickens.

I think you are being generous to psychiatry.

 

[thexrayboy]

I think you are being generous to psychiatry.

You know what, I think you are right. I am being a bit generous.