What are the odds of this being another William Freund?

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It would have been nice if the LA Times had the courtesy to point out that any compotent counselor would tell you second guessing yoursef in this kind of a situation is natrual for everybody to do.

I knew William. I went to school with him since elementary school and was in a few of his classes. Over the years I didnt see him as much and know how he was doing, it really sucks to know this was going on and I had no idea. For the rest of you though, just know that if you ever need help with social issues or anything related to aspergers in general, there are places to get help. I work at a facility that focuses on social skills for children with autism and aspergers. There are places out there that can help you understand more. Its not your fault you have the troubles you have and you shouldnt be ashamed to ask for help. As far as Im concerned someone with aspergers is just like anyone else, they just might need some help socially, but probably way smarter than any typical kid.

William lived in my neighborhood and he seemed like a nice kid, he used to babysit my mom's friend's dog whenever she went on vacation. My friend sara was in his p.e. class and she said that he was always really nice to her but that the other kids picked on him. I moved to Berkeley, CA 3 months ago to go to college, and this past halloween weekend I came home to visit my parents, I woke up on saturday morning to sirens....later that day i found out what happened and I was completely shocked....Christina smith was a nice girl and i don't believe that she ever picked on william because she herself had difficulties dealing with people. Aliso Viejo, although looks like the perfect community, it's not there's lots of mean kids that went to our high school...I used to get picked on by all the "cool" kids but luckily i had a close group of friends that consisted of 4 girls. My brother who is attending the middle school down the street, also gets picked on by the other kids and i try to help him. I really wish i had known william, i really wish i had done something... oh yeah the media is really butchering him, portraying him as an insane man.

Hmm, perhaps the press could have asked 'Could Living In A World Where Journalists Are Pains In The Butt Cause Someone To Commit An Act Like This?'! On the whole, I suppose it hasn't been too bad, and full cudos to Alex and Dan for handling the whole situation so maturely and discretely.

Vanessa and Alison, I'm really sorry that such a tragic event brought you here. If you feel the need to talk more, drop us a message...

I would like to add my thanks to Alsion and Vanessa for being kind enough to contribute their personal insights into William's life, and to share their personal grief with us. It says a lot, that you regard us a safe and supportive community to air your grief.

Thank You!

Yes, Vanessa, Alison, thanks for visiting us and posting your thoughts. I hope you don't feel guilty; you both sound like you were, for your part, nice to William. Feel free to stick around and learn more. Alison, I would be interested in hearing more about what your facility does to help improve children's social skills. Perhaps we could all learn something. What attracted you to helping autistic children?
As for William being a monster, well, of course he wasn't. Perhaps there's a connection between William and Christina in that they both have problems with people. Its possible that, far from being a monster, he thought he was saving Christina from a lonely terrible life. Of course its wrong to make that decision for someone, but William does sound like he was a compassionate guy. Ever read Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men?

Vanessa and Alison, thanks a lot for your posts.

So quick update: I'm gonna be on KNX 1070 tomorrow morning, and apparently The Early Show (CBS) some time next week. I'm trying hard to put things in the proper perspective for the media and public, but it's hard when a lot of it is out of our hands. Like I said, I'm trying to be as neutral and stuff as I can, not nitpick too much or be too political, but these are the basic points I'm trying to mention when talking to the media. The first two are the main ones (and ones I think most people here can agree with):

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- Violence is not something commonly associated with Asperger's.

- Aspergers is not purely a handicap and it is certainly not a disease. It affects every facet of the lives of those who have it in many <b>positive</b> <i>as well as</i> negative ways. Many people with Aspergers grow up to accomplish great things.

- While 'treatments' and specialized programs can be of benefit in some cases to those with the disorder, above all the most important thing that can be done by anyone to help is to be tolerant and understanding.

- While Will's Aspergers is not something to be examined in reference to the shooting itself, it is entirely conceivable that this was a major factor in the years before these events that may have contributed. Personally, I can see the whole story in my mind, but I have tried to avoid idle speculation when talking with reporters out of respect for the deceased and the families involved.

- There is very little that can be done online to help a person like this, and what has been done may have been too little too late.

- Most of the members of this site have been entirely responsible in dealing with Will's posts before the events that took place. The community is deeply concerned and our prayers are with those affected. There is currently discussion about what to do when a situation like this arises in the future, as well as other relevant topics, but the overwhelming reaction is one of shock and grief at this stage.
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Those are basically my talking points, without driving any points too controversial (as tempting as it is). We'll see what happens. I'd appreciate any respectful/civil feedback on our handling of this story with the media.

This is a good opportunity to get some awareness out in the community. If you try to push across Aspergers as something great, that many grow up to accomplish great things, you shoot yourself in the foot, imho. You actually further the divide in people's minds. You should use the opportunity to emphasis that AS people aren't that different, that they want/need friends even if they don't show it. Though, from experience, most people are easy to befriend. Its just the connections that are hard to develop.

Stress that it is not aspergers that is the problem. This guy is another person who got bullied and developed problems from that. His deed is the result of what aspergers set him up for but that is different from AS being the problem. He is another AS victim, just like there are other victims; any schoolyard target who is different.

Society needs to learn that bullying and ridicule have gone way too far in our public schools. We need to start marching to take back the playgrounds, seriously!!

Jerry Newport

Jerry,
The victims are his victims--the 23 year old girl lying in a pool of blood on her staircase, and her Dad, and himself.
The bullying or ridicule on the playground is not so simple. It can be a dynamic. The person who is close to me (who might have this asp issue) will (using his excellent verbal skills) himself ridicule the other children or not back dcwn (because he can get stuck) when asked by another child to be left alone; and, frequently, doesn't know how to pick up the positive social cues kids might be sending.
This can then lead to bullying and the NT kids seeing the asp kid as "the other," which is dehumanizing and unhealthy for all.
Rather than bullying being speculated as the cause, why isn't it being shouted from the rooftops that WF was apparently/possibly on a very strong anti psychotic drug (Geodon) which can have violent side effects? Possibly, our media, which is owned and controlled by big corporations might not want to take on the pharmaceutical industry by doing an in-depth investigation on the "meds" angle.
Scribe
I, by the way, am not a journalist, and I regret choosing that log in name especially at this time. I apologize for my own insensitivity, social faux pas.

welcome to WP, scribe, and thank you for clearing up your name.

i think you make an incredibly important point about the medication. but, as you say, the strangehold of the pharmaceutical industries in various countries (including mine) makes me think it wouldn't get very far.

Very important point, Scribe, yes.

Bullying is a difficult issue, but it isn't always a cut and dry overt act kinda thing. Sometimes it can just be being outcast in that way. Just normal kids saying 'hey let's not talk to that guy'. So many small things can build up. This is really important, because this is the kind of thing that needs to be looked at. High school kids especially have a habit of trying to alienate people.

And sometimes we end up being the 'bully' so to speak, it's weird. I think sometimes the things schools do to cut down on 'bullying' and 'harassment' can end up making things worse. Sometimes they just make an even more restrictive and hostile environment in a school. I don't know about a lot of aspies, but sometimes tons and tons of excessive rules can really get to ya and make you even more stressed and confused.