What's next? People getting arrested for drawing skulls and daggers in the margins of their notes?
Not to mention tattoos?
Ceicei said:
Let's look at the opposite side. Is it any better if, because of fear of punishment or criticism, children are taught to withhold all their thoughts (whether good or bad). If they having no other place to express their thoughts (or perhaps their concerns that need to be expressed but couldn't), would bottle it all in. I would think the effect would be detrimental. I've seen criticism happen even about things that would be considered good by most people.
This is what we (the people) need to guard against. Fear of expression. The facist party of mid-late 1930's Germany and subsequently the Communist party during the late 40's and 50's.
Ceicei said:
If it comes to the point that every thought and every word spoken must be severely controlled, it is a sad day.
Da comrade that it will be. (sarcastically speaking of course

) So what
is our government moving towards? Totalitarianism? Remember it's the little things that count and add up to one big thing in the end.
Ceicei said:
I am of the opinion we should be allowed to express what we may, but we cannot expect to not have consequences for the choices we make.
Yes I agree here. People cry about "freedom of speech" and that we have but we have to make sure that our intentions are clear with what we are trying to say. You're saying something... but what's the message? Why are you saying what you're saying? Though we cannot guarantee everything we say is going to please everybody (even here as green and red rep points can attest to that) we
should be mindful of what we are saying and try to get our message across as assertively as possible. It's the adult thing to do.
Ceicei said:
In the situation of the writer, perhaps a sit-down to talk with him about his purposes and his goals. Was his goal to become a writer like Stephen King (and among other writers already mentioned upthread)? If so, that genre is going to be a "dying breed" if every attempt is squashed from becoming a potential best seller.
Having a-sit-down talk with people who write "disturbing" items may help ferret out the next VT type shooter, but who does the asking and what qualifications do THEY have to ask those questions? Likewise with the answers. They may answer positively (in a good way) now; "...it was an idea for a horror novel I'm thinking of writing when I graduate from college..." "...oh well then he's okay then!

"
As stated, authors like S. King started out with short stories, a few hastily written paragraphs and a few lines of thought to begin their careers. Millions have thrilled to their "mature" works and we called it escapism.
But you're right, if we're not careful we could lose the future. In more ways than one.
Ceicei said:
If his goal is to become the next "mayhem-creator", then the sit-down conversation will reveal that desire through more probing and may bring out other issues that may result into these thoughts (frustration, anger, stress, or whatever stemming from life situations/background).
An initial response as an immediate arrest is not the answer.
Is ANYONE going to admit their goal is to become the next mayhem maker? Would Cho have admitted it? Chances are he probably didn't plan on it til the night before or the week before. Oh sure he was angry at this and angry at that and angry at them and angry at himself. But who knows how long his anger had been brewing enough to go over the brink. Not trying to vindicate or be sympathetic just trying to understand the guy like everyone else.
Now this young guy... writing things along a similar vein and he gets busted.
I was kinda half expecting gun laws to go through the roof after VT but THIS?