I would like to add a number four to your list: why does everybody get all excited about these things? I might never have heard about it as I don't really watch TV or listen to radio - but of course I did hear all about it because everyone at work was talking about it, looking it up online under the bold and blood-red heading of "CAMPUS MASSACRE" and whatever else. Why are so many people so clearly fascinated by awful events? I've come to expect this response from the media, but what disgusts me is that people really do suck it up.