Teasing, etc. has been a problem for many years, especially the last 10.

Where do kids "learn" that it's okay to torment other kids? Who's teaching this? Why do teachers, principals, counselors, and administrators never solve anything? Why do parents, on the rare occasion they find out, let their kids get away with it?

Don't say "get used to it" or "you're thin skinned." The simple fact is that no one deserves to be teased, taunted, and tormented. Ever.

The whole thing is a tragedy.

Homeschooling... so attractive, these days.

Everyone at some point gets teased, it's called growing up. Excessive teasing that borders on harassment should be dealt with accordingly. But seriously Mike, you're not trying to make excuses for these 3 idiots are you? Where are the parents of these 3 idiots? Where did they learn that it is OK to bomb and kill innocent people because they are tired of being teased?

The whole thing isn't a tragedy, it could have been though. I would like to consider it a success for the school and police in thwarting the plot.

No one deserves to be treated that way as a child, teen, or adult. I'm no apologist for would-be murderers, either.

Excusing the problem of teasing and bullying as "a part of life" or "growing up" is just that -- an excuse.

We should all be better than this.

Teasing and bullying didn't just show up, and anyone who thinks kids are somehow innocent has never been one - they aren't born with the moral sense the rest of us are expected to acquire as adults. I had my share in school - probably more because I grew up in a Navy family and every few years, new school. Interestingly, I never experienced it when I attended schools with largely military kids, only when my parents started living off base and my school mates were mostly civilian kids.

But I never considered violence against anyone teasing or bullying me. I would have been astonished had anyone suggested it, and I am sure my classmates would have been, too. Something has changed the past few decades, and I don't believe it's that teasing has increased. I believe that kids don't know how to deal with it responsibly. I'm not so naive as to suggest a single issue cause or solution, but my impression is that we, as a society, are far more tolerant of violence and far less inclined to require self discipline of our citizens.

For example, the fetish of self esteem in the schools. Nobody of my generation considers self esteem a birthright (well, unless one is a Democratic politician or, uh... "educator"). It's earned, the same way one earns the esteem of others - by being an estimable person. No free lunches, no handouts, no unlimited credit of forgiveness. And threatening to kill people isn't going to garner very much of it.

On the other hand, going on Oprah and making a lip biting, eye glistening confession afterwards is going to wipe the slate clean.

But the short version of my argument is that we do not try teaching kids to be good people. We don't teach ethics, probably because that would risk being judgemental, and besides, what gives anyone the right to say what is "good" behavior? And to pre-empt the civil libertarians who will sneeringly and triumphantly ask of me "Oh yeah, whose ethics are you going to teach, you white male dude, you?" I'd suggest that we begin with: don't lie, don't steal, don't harm, don't abuse, and treat others with respect. So far as I know, every religion (including mainstream Islam) thinks those are good things. As do many non religious ethicists (Peter Singer excepted).