Giovanni & her colleagues did what they could; they don't have time machines and magic wands to undo all the damage that students may have. They tried to reach out to him; he refused. Giovanni had to protect the privacy & rights of her students that Cho was harassing.

If every writer who wrote something twisted were locked up, half of literature wouldn't exist. The short story form was practically invented by Edgar Allen Poe, one of the most morbid writers ever. What separates fiction from reality is the student's behavior; Giovanni addressed that directly.

What IS interesting about the Cho stories is that both involve revenge-for-molestation scenarios. Cho obviously had several factors contributing to his psychosis, but my guess is that molestation fueled both his rage (that and his being taunted as well as probably biochemically susceptible) and his inability to trust teachers and others who tried to reach him. His inability to trust, along with inappropriate sexual/stalking behavior suggest sexual abuse. Plus, his speech impediment would make him a likely candidate for a predator (a perfect victim who wouldn't talk)

Add to that the taunting, the isolation, family stress, and probably preexisting mental illness and who knows what else and you get someone who can be unreachable.

Why does everyone think that art and artists are responsible for every horrible act under the sun? Just wondering...

And just for the record, one of the worst serial killers ever, John Wayne Gayce, painted pictures of clowns. Care to explain that?

All this stuff about humanity seems pretty melodramatic; I remember the old days of office culture too. But what's important here is that not just her shirt but her comments about sounding sexy made the guy uncomfortable; and sexual harrassment codes (no matter how silly they may seem) apply both ways.

It'd be different if they both worked in a salon or record store, or some other relaxed atmosphere, but it sounds like they don't, so the casual flirtiness and comments aren't really that appropriate, and I'm guessing the woman is clueless because she's a churchy-kinda-gal and this is her first foray in self expression. Her boundaries are off when she flirted with LW, but obviously, she never goes to happy hour with coworkers or friends and thus has no outlets. But that's her problem, not her coworkers. People have to be considerate to their coworkers no matter what--and that is democratic,too. Democracy isn't necessarily about throwing your crap in everyone's faces 24/7; if it was, life would be a non-stop therapy session (and I love how Cary took the opportunity to talk about himself and his addiction and wannabe writer trip yet AGAIN...jeesh. Democracy and narcissism don't have to be synonymous, do they?)

People don't have to tolerate unwanted passes just for a paycheck. I wouldn't ask a woman to put up with that, so why would I ask a guy? Women acting like clueless men is NOT feminism...it's just a clueless woman.

And as far as slapping and kitties go, it's all hyperbole, people, so who cares?