wildgoldenhoney said:

Perhaps. I just feel it's impossible to be 'sure' of how anything might have played out in such an extreme, random and sudden act of deranged violence such as this. At this moment we are, in retrospect and from afar, thinking logically about a situation which defied logic or reason, and which erupted so quickly that it didn't really provide the other passengers themselves any time to gather their own wits about them.

I suppose a pertinent question - one about which I'm unclear - is whether or not that young man was still alive when the other passengers realized what was happening. Was he?

Were I faced with a horrific scenario like the incident on the bus, perhaps I'd have done something to help - but perhaps I'd not have. There are just too many variables and factors involved (many likely still unknown to the general public) which preclude me from being able to 'know' for sure how exactly I'd react, or how other people would collectively react - which is why I contend it's unfair to say the other passengers on that bus were cowardly, or to condemn them for what they did (or didn't) do.
[Edited 8/3/08 6:24am]

TheMistress said:

I agree with the questions being asked, but I just don't think the girl meant to offend. Questions regarding religion are always gonna be a hot button, so I usually take a less aggressive approach when questioning someone's beliefs. I see so many religion threads in P&R fail because questions come off as attacks.

JustErin said:

no, not suddenly. Ive never thought of the bus as safe.

http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/03/europe/OUKWD-UK-GREECE-DECAPITATION.php
what is WITH this beheading trend
[Edited 8/4/08 5:33am]

pardonme4livin said:

By playing into people's sudden irrational fears?

WillyWonka said:

I'm actually not sorry, its made me stronger as a person, and I was very lucky to not be physically hurt so time healed any trauma. But I am not angry at those passengers, just really disappointed that the killer got to "have fun" with his victim. And I come back to this thread to read that he was eaten too?!
I think this man killed before. Wonder just how many.

paintedlady said:

I heard this on the radio and could not believe canibalism was part of this story.

horatio said:

well it's a whole lot safer now this guy is not out riding buses any longer

paintedlady said:

I heard this on the radio and could not believe canibalism was part of this story.

ZombieKitten said:

Or so we'd like to believe. Who knows how many disturbed people there are out there as crazy is this guy is

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa----HA-WHAT..?

Any suggestions for radio stations I can tune into, maybe I can find something online...? Oh my God. I remember when I was younger I used to hop the Greyhound from the east to west coast of south Florida, to sightsee across small beach towns. I was thinking how with the gas crisis I could encourage my family to utilize bus travel for sightseeing instead of driving. But when I think of my sister or my elderly parents, this just sounds too scary to be true and I feel like I never want them to even consider Greyhound again.

I sincerely believe that this man scouted out the crowd and "read" his fellow passengers. He probably bet on no one helping this young man.. and took the aisle seat since it would be an advantage an easier to kill his victim. He knew he would get away with it... that's why he was so calm, he was calculating. He was right, no one did help and he didn't get hurt.

Goes to show that he isn't so "brainless" since he knows how to read body language so well.

paintedlady said:

Obviously we all are free to form our own theories about this terrible incident, but did you also consider the possiblities that:

Li is a textbook psychopath, and that's the reason he was able to commit such a brutal murder so calmly and robotically.

Or maybe he was prepared to kill many more people and was hoping that murdering so publically in a small, crowded space such as a bus would provide him the opportunity to go after others, besides just that one unfortunate young man.

And maybe Li singled that particular unfortunate young man because that young man reminded him of someone else from his life, or because that young man innocently said something to him which triggered something in Li's sick mind; or perhaps it was as simple as unlucky chance that Li sat down in that seat and that young man was occupying the one next to him.

paintedlady said:

Obviously we all are free to form our own theories about this terrible incident, but did you also consider the possiblities that:

Li is a textbook psychopath, and that's the reason he was able to commit such a brutal murder so calmly and robotically.
Yes... and all criminals read the body language of their victims before they try to commit the act. I know for a fact that if the guy sitting next to him came off like a Billy-bad-ass... he would have thought twice.

Or maybe he was prepared to kill many more people and was hoping that murdering so publically in a small, crowded space such as a bus would provide him the opportunity to go after others, besides just that one unfortunate young man.

I doubt that, if he wanted to really kill more he would have tried to.. given the circumstances, he would probably was prepared to do just that.... unless he did this as some sort of cry for help to get caught.

And maybe Li singled that particular unfortunate young man because that young man reminded him of someone else from his life, or because that young man innocently said something to him which triggered something in Li's sick mind; or perhaps it was as simple as unlucky chance that Li sat down in that seat and that young man was occupying the one next to him.

Ottensen said:

i encourage all people to stay off the dog. especially for long travels, UGH!!

WillyWonka said:

You could very well be right about that, except for the seating position... he wouldn't want to get cornered by an angry mob or his victim to get away so he sat on the aisle seat purposefully.

great points BTW.

paintedlady said:

Actually, you don't know anything 'for a fact'. You don't know anything about was going through this dudes mind.

It's interesting (and funny) to read all the people who claim to know what really happened.

JustErin said:

Well neither do you so join the club

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Join the club of people who claim to know what this guy was thinking but really have no idea?

I never claimed to know anything about what happened, or why or what this guy was thinking or planning, etc...

Ottensen said:

i encourage all people to stay off the dog. especially for long travels, UGH!!

I was like

Is it safe to ride greyhound?

Never claim to know what he was thinking.... just stating what made sense for him to do from the facts o this story.

missfee said:

No death penalty up here, thank God.

The stupidest, most illogical, and completely ineffective way of punishing a killer is another killing.

JustErin said:

Never claim to know what he was thinking.... just stating what made sense for him to do from the facts o this story.

People do that all the time, cops, lawyers, judges, jury people, forensic scientists, etc. in order to break down what happened in order to convict or exhonorate (sp) a defendant.

So what cha talkin' 'bout Willis?

meow85 said:

Nope.
The "stupidest" - that would probably be Community Service.
The "most illogical" - that would be "house arrest".
...and "completely ineffective"? I think that to punish a maniacal murderer by execution is as effective as it gets...unless you know how to bring back the dead.