Can we not give maniacs their 15 minutes?

(I realize that I'm quite a few weeks late jumping on this train, but I'm in the throes of writing a book and additional writing--even small bloglets like this--are hard to get to at this point.)

I'm already too late with my wish. In the days after the terrible VT tragedy, Cho and his multimedia pack were splashed all over the media outlets--print, TV, and online. Suddenly the victims were second fiddle, who and what made this maniac act out was center stage.

I remember being at a conference 7-10 years ago, and sitting with some coworkers in my hotel room. One of my coworkers wanted a quarter and I threw him one, narrowly missing an open window. My boss--also in the room--noted that we were in LA and on the 30-something floor. Had the quarter gone out the window it could have likely killed a passing celebrity down below. I would have gone from being a relative nobody to being a Trivial Pursuit answer.

This is exactly  what Cho wanted. His plan, no doubt, went something like this:

1. I'm a relative nobody
2. I could kill a lot of people for publicity
3. All I need is a plan
4. And guns
5. Oh, and a multimedia pack for the media
6. I have everything above, let's rock

Now, Cho has been immortalized. Sure, he would have been infamous anyway, but with the coverage he got, even for a day or two, has made him immortal. Let's not do this again, please?