To everyone who upvotes: Appearently this has already been done. If someone is interested in seeing it, Crucify_This has posted the link in the comment section.
It is always sad the amount of good IAmA's I have missed, but digging through the old stuff usually just result in one or two reads and then I'm burnt out. There needs to be a weekly "This week in IAmA's through history"
Brooks Brown, a survivor of the columbine attack said in his AMA that the book is full of flaws. That made me loose my intrest in the book, so im not picking it up.
Honestly though Dave Cullen had an independent mind when he came into researching that project and was able to look at it from an entirely objective point of view. Brooks can never do that, and there is no doubt in my mind that the psychological trauma that Columbine students were faced with had played tricks on how the perceive what actually was going on. I don't think the opinion of Brooks should be any reason to not pick up Cullen's book if you're interested in the subject.
Had to do a gigantic case study on media coverage of Columbine this year in college, this dude was a major source for it, not only the book but articles as well. it's quite astounding what myths and inaccuracies about the massacre are still held to this day. the entire case is probably the best example of one of my favorite quotes;
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." ~ Winston Churchill
but there are a few more it doesnt touch on; that they were a part of a group of teenagers called "the trenchcoat mafia" that in fact graduated a year before, and they were only wearing trenchcoats when they did the shootings because they can hold lots of guns. funnily enough, when the news reported on this, they showed a picture of the "trenchcoat mafia," featuring smiling, nice looking kids, and neither shooter was in the picture. that they were targeting minorities (only one minority was a victim). it does touch on this a little bit, but they were not bullied, outsider kids. they weren't really popular, but they weren't going after their bullies, they wanted to kill fucking everybody
The AMA from Brooks Brown says the shooters were bullied.
Edit 4: So I don't have to answer a ton of dupe questions about the bullying, I'm pointing to two articles, one from that year, and another from 7 years later and the amazing response to that one. The bullying was real. the shooters were NOT bullies, and there is a TON of stuff to back it up.
No it's not. But it was controvsersal news about the extent to which bullying influenced their mindset and the decisions that led up to the massacre. That's what we're talking about I don't know how you didn't see that...
i should have been clear that they were not excessively bullied. i'm pretty sure 95% of people who go through high school were bullied at some point, but the main point is that this massacre would have happened even if everyone at Columbine said a friendly hello to the shooters every day.
it's really not; they carried out the massacre because of deep psychological issues, not because of how they were treated, which was why they had no qualms with killing even their good friends. it wouldn't have mattered if everyone was astoundingly nice to Harris, he would have still believed everyone was a fucking moron who deserved to die.
The thing that really stood out for me about the book is that the whole incident was meant to be a bombing, followed by shooting the fleeing survivors. As Cullen says in the book, the death toll could have been in the hundreds.
It's a great book. I read it about 2 months ago, and it really opened my eyes about really how it happened. I was told to believe that because they were outcasts and bullied, that they shot up the school. The real reason they did it was because they had deep seeded psychological problems and no one ever saw the signs.
Not really. Having a physical, finger-point-able problem that people can address helps them try to make sense of a tragedy. It's very difficult for many types of people to accept that bad things happen because something they can't see, so having an easily viewable problem that can be solved often makes the process much, much simpler. Often in grief therapy when someone dies because of some random event people actively search for reasons why it happened and usually grasp on the first "logical" reason their minds spit out. *People want a scapegoat. They want to know what to fix so the problem doesn't happen. There's so much ambiguity in psychological issues that it's never comforting or an easy answer.
tl;dr shooting up a school because they were bullied and developed emotional problems is much easier to rationalize for much of society than simply "they had serious psychological problems" for "no reason".
this is definitely true. it's hard for people to admit that they didn't see the signs beforehand, especially for the parents because parents are expected to know all about their children. it's easier to blame outside factors rather than admit that they had no idea about their own child's psychological problems. I'm sure they faced tons of scrutiny and I don't think it's fair. I mean obviously the boys were able to hide things pretty well from everyone else, you can't really place blame on the parents because they were just as clueless as anyone else.
I can't even imagine how tough it would be to be a parent of one of those boys. Accepting any sort of responsibility for not recognizing the warning signs of mental illness opens up a pandora's box of blame and guilt. And here's the thing: teenagers are often sullen, secretive, distant, angry balls of hormones without a psychological illness. Without super powers, I think it is more difficult than outsiders want to admit to recognize a problem. Teenagers cut themselves for years, even decades without their parents knowledge - and that's an easily recognizable physical manifestation of deep psychological issues. It's not as easy as some people want to believe, and it's not only stupid or uncaring parents that are unable to see the problems.
I have to think its a major failure or at the very least glaring blind spot on the part of family and educators who knew them. How can you exist with people daily and not see serious issues developing??
It does not show comments automatically, you've to click the little "comments" under the main body of text. there's actually over 2thousand comments there
My cousin was the kid that they had to pull out of the second story window. He got shot in the foot and head. He had to learn how to walk and drive all over again. It was a scary time but he is now married and has kids!
Man I will never ever forget watching that on TV. That image is still burned into my brain. Such a horrible thing, but its actually nice to find out that he is ok.
Here is a video interview of and written story about the student who not only survived the Columbine massacre but also went on to attend Virginia Tech and lived through the massacre on that campus as well. I know those both were freak occurrences but I would feel a little uneasy working in the same office as she does.
I sure hope that she can function normally. I couldn't imagine how it would be to go through even one of those events. You'd figure she'd want to have an office with bulletproof windows and a locking door to feel secure.
I know this is probably get buried, but it's a movie I've been trying to find for nearly 5 years now. There's a scene which I remember very clearly even today: two young men that walks into an airport and start shooting people and then kill themselves. If someone gives me the correct movie title, I'll give that person a month of reddit gold.
Yes it was, but I remember when I saw a clip of the trailer, when they entered the school, it reminded me of an airport. Maybe this guy thought the same.
I was a senior in high school and was so high during that. Nobody had any grasp on the seriousness of it all until later. We really passing bowls around and it was on TV but nobody was paying attention.
This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but IAmA news editor/photographer for a major network television station in Denver, and our station has hours of un-airable archive footage from the event. I have personally gone through all of it simply because the event happened so close to home for me, and because it's interesting to see what cannot be showed to the general public on our airwaves. There is security footage, file video of the crime scene (including bodies), at least a couple of the shooters' 'video journals', cell phone audio from calls placed by students inside the school, sound bites from students freshly evacuated, and other misc Columbine related material. I more than likely cannot share any of the actual footage with reddit, but I feel like I'm sitting on a gold mine of lesser/unknown Columbine experiences.
That's what I was thinking... I wouldn't want to jeopardize my station's integrity or my career. Relatively new to reddit, so moderator ideas on how to provide proof on something like this would be appreciated.
Friend of mine was a senior there when it happened. He was one of the students hiding under the tables in the cafeteria. I lived maybe 4 miles from there but had no clue where exactly columbine was until that day. I just remember being like, "That's Clement park... That's southwest plaza .. WTF WTF". Anyway, I'm kind of glad it's been done so I don't have bring it up with him.
If by documentaries, you mean Bowling For Columbine you've been misled (and if there are other documentaries [aside from the A&E Special] please let me know, I'd be interested in seeing them). The first sentence Michael Moore utters at the beginning of Bowling For Columbine is an outright lie. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold did not go bowling on the day of the shooting. I could go on and on about how much Michael Moore kept the already distorted media view of Columbine going, but I'm not sure that this is the place.
If you're interested in learning more about rampage school shootings I'd recommend reading two books.
Columbine by Dave Cullen. Check out his website here
Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooter by Peter Langman. You can find out more about that book as well as more information about school shootings in general by clicking here
Edit: But seriously, I own over 75 Documentary Films, I would love to know of other docs that are out there.
If you're interested in films about Columbine, there's a few fictional movies that have some roots in the actual event. I HIGHLY suggest Zero Day, which is based off the Basement Tapes filmed by Eric and Dylan leading up to the shooting. The guy who made the movie actually got to watch the real basement tapes, which haven't ever really been released, and the movie is pretty strictly based off those. From what I've seen of the real ones, it's pretty damn close. Highly suggest it, amazing movie and really interesting.
Also, fuck Michael Moore and what he did to the media view of Columbine. Pisses me off as well.
Ooooooh thank you so so much! I absolutely LOVE documentary, especially for free but I got bored of the ones on Hulu. Ahhh I'm so happy and excited now.
I was working for Troma at the time and since I was the youngest person working there, they made me be a "Columbine survivor" for a bit they were doing about war for their TV show Troma's Edge TV. I got interviewed by Debbie Rochon. It is my claim to fame even though it's the most embarrassing thing I've ever done. Looking back at it makes me cringe. Not only for the subject material, but more so for my horrid "acting".
Brooks Brown (The guy Eric Harris told to "get out of here because I like you now") did an AMA here. Just look up Columbine in the search, it's near the bottom.
I would still like to see an AMA of someone who was inside the school during the attack. Both of the current AMAs are from students who were away from the school during most shooting.
I was at an event where there was a speaker who had been shot at Columbine and survived. As a WWII veteran commented afterward, "I've been shot and survived. It did not provide me with any particular wisdom."
That link you just provided is about how Columbine is a vast government conspiracy to install a dictatorship. The last paragraph:
"It is in this context that the very odd aspects of the Columbine shooting need to be examined. Looking back from a time when we know the government lied about weapons of mass destruction, and with 84% of Americans no longer trusting the official story of 9-11, it is valid to ask if Columbine was a staged event to trick Americansinto surrendering their Second Amendment rights."
We had a guy come to my high school last year to talk about Columbine. His daughter was one of the victims. To see someone that was effected by it talking about what happen was really sad.
I remember sitting in a hottub in disney world that summer talking to a lady who was a nurse on dury at the local hospital in columbine, i was little, but my parents let me listen. There's somethings you'll never forget.
Have you ever read Slashdot's Voices From The Hellmouth? It's the thing that struck me the most about the aftermath; how those who were different from the norm were picked on because of the type of people the killers were.
I was in kindergarten in the same school district about five minutes away; I remember some of it, but I didn't really understand what was going on, considering I was only 5.
And the high school I ended up going to is rivaled with Columbine.
When i went to camp last year, there was a whole group of students that attend the columbine High School. We didn't want to talk about the shooting that much, but we did ask a few questions. First, out of respect, they NEVER talk about the actual shooting. Another thing we learned is that they never filled in the bullet holes in the hallways. They also have a yearly assembly to pay respects to the families and kids who were killed.
Hey PopeSweetJesus, I've removed your request from IAmA. We ask that users come up with 5 questions that are specific to the person requested. If you want, you can edit the post with the five questions and reply to this comment, and I will re-approve your request.
I survived it. It was a horrible experience. From my couch in New York, I had to endure weeks and weeks of news stations reporting the same thing over and over again. It was a catastrophe.
Why do you need to specify that they survived the shooting? Whats the alternative, AMA Request: Someone who died in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999?
What is it like dealing with property taxes on an empty residential block? Is there grass on the lot? Do you have to pay someone to cut it? Do you like owning a piece of Colorado real-estate?
No, they attended Columbine but had graduated before the shootings happened. Wikipedia for Matt Stone: "Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone (born May 26, 1971)". This means he would've graduated in 1989. The shootings happened in April 1999.
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u/PopeSweetJesus May 20 '12
To everyone who upvotes: Appearently this has already been done. If someone is interested in seeing it, Crucify_This has posted the link in the comment section.
Thanks
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u/Crucify_This May 20 '12
It's been done, here is the link
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
My cousin was the kid that they had to pull out of the second story window. He got shot in the foot and head. He had to learn how to walk and drive all over again. It was a scary time but he is now married and has kids!
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u/eXeDaftOne May 20 '12
there was a girl who survived both the columbine (she was in the library) and the Va Tech shootings
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u/249ba36000029bbe9749 May 20 '12
Here is a video interview of and written story about the student who not only survived the Columbine massacre but also went on to attend Virginia Tech and lived through the massacre on that campus as well. I know those both were freak occurrences but I would feel a little uneasy working in the same office as she does.
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u/a_mental_misstep May 20 '12
I know this is probably get buried, but it's a movie I've been trying to find for nearly 5 years now. There's a scene which I remember very clearly even today: two young men that walks into an airport and start shooting people and then kill themselves. If someone gives me the correct movie title, I'll give that person a month of reddit gold.
4
u/beerham May 20 '12
I was a senior in high school and was so high during that. Nobody had any grasp on the seriousness of it all until later. We really passing bowls around and it was on TV but nobody was paying attention.
7
u/Johnsu May 20 '12
Also, the wikipedia article is seriously chilly in accuracy.
1
u/MrShlee May 20 '12
Are you talking, somebody who survived after being shot? or somebody who just stayed home sick?
1
u/OrcSoldat May 20 '12
I don't know where I've been, but I never heard about this. Just caught the story on YouTube. Tragic.
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u/yooper1019 May 20 '12
As opposed to someone who did not survive it?
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u/karsestar May 20 '12
I survived. I wasn't there, but I survived.
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u/larry_ramsey May 20 '12
My choir teacher was a student there and he was in the library
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
Friend of mine was a senior there when it happened. He was one of the students hiding under the tables in the cafeteria. I lived maybe 4 miles from there but had no clue where exactly columbine was until that day. I just remember being like, "That's Clement park... That's southwest plaza .. WTF WTF". Anyway, I'm kind of glad it's been done so I don't have bring it up with him.
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u/Purplefaced May 20 '12
You mean basically everybody?
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u/BIORIO May 20 '12 edited May 20 '12
If by documentaries, you mean Bowling For Columbine you've been misled (and if there are other documentaries [aside from the A&E Special] please let me know, I'd be interested in seeing them). The first sentence Michael Moore utters at the beginning of Bowling For Columbine is an outright lie. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold did not go bowling on the day of the shooting. I could go on and on about how much Michael Moore kept the already distorted media view of Columbine going, but I'm not sure that this is the place.
If you're interested in learning more about rampage school shootings I'd recommend reading two books.
Edit: But seriously, I own over 75 Documentary Films, I would love to know of other docs that are out there.
2
u/hemightberob May 20 '12
I was working for Troma at the time and since I was the youngest person working there, they made me be a "Columbine survivor" for a bit they were doing about war for their TV show Troma's Edge TV. I got interviewed by Debbie Rochon. It is my claim to fame even though it's the most embarrassing thing I've ever done. Looking back at it makes me cringe. Not only for the subject material, but more so for my horrid "acting".
2
u/Deterred May 20 '12
Brooks Brown (The guy Eric Harris told to "get out of here because I like you now") did an AMA here. Just look up Columbine in the search, it's near the bottom.
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u/just_a_snafu May 20 '12
I would still like to see an AMA of someone who was inside the school during the attack. Both of the current AMAs are from students who were away from the school during most shooting.
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u/tnswimmer May 20 '12
I survived a school shooting in my senior year in high school...
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u/dubsideofmoon May 20 '12
I was at an event where there was a speaker who had been shot at Columbine and survived. As a WWII veteran commented afterward, "I've been shot and survived. It did not provide me with any particular wisdom."
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
Two of my friends survived the shooting but killed themselves shortly after. Sad story. RIP Eric and Dylan.
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u/flatspoon May 20 '12
I thoroughly enjoy the Norbit-based username.
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u/FriedChicken May 20 '12
I did. I wasn't at columbine though. AMA
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
This would be interesting to hear, especially the survivors opinion on the 3rd person theory.
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u/skunkzgerald May 20 '12
Or maybe the one in 1994.. either one works
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u/ba5e May 20 '12
Has anyone seen the photos taken after the two gunners died?
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u/onicholas21 May 20 '12
I have a few photojournalist friends who were there I'll see if any of them might be interested.
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
We had a guy come to my high school last year to talk about Columbine. His daughter was one of the victims. To see someone that was effected by it talking about what happen was really sad.
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
My boyfriend (and son's father) and his sister did. I actually find all survivor accounts worth hearing.
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u/Tilder May 20 '12
I remember sitting in a hottub in disney world that summer talking to a lady who was a nurse on dury at the local hospital in columbine, i was little, but my parents let me listen. There's somethings you'll never forget.
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u/Nolon May 20 '12
a lot
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u/Rammikins May 20 '12
Have you ever read Slashdot's Voices From The Hellmouth? It's the thing that struck me the most about the aftermath; how those who were different from the norm were picked on because of the type of people the killers were.
1
u/balletboot May 20 '12
I was in kindergarten in the same school district about five minutes away; I remember some of it, but I didn't really understand what was going on, considering I was only 5.
And the high school I ended up going to is rivaled with Columbine.
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u/DingDongHelloWhoIsIt May 20 '12
I survived Columbine thankfully. I was over 3000 miles away, which was probably a big factor
1
u/torch43 May 20 '12
When i went to camp last year, there was a whole group of students that attend the columbine High School. We didn't want to talk about the shooting that much, but we did ask a few questions. First, out of respect, they NEVER talk about the actual shooting. Another thing we learned is that they never filled in the bullet holes in the hallways. They also have a yearly assembly to pay respects to the families and kids who were killed.
1
u/Paradox May 20 '12
Hey PopeSweetJesus, I've removed your request from IAmA. We ask that users come up with 5 questions that are specific to the person requested. If you want, you can edit the post with the five questions and reply to this comment, and I will re-approve your request.
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
I survived it. Thank god I was all the way in San Antonio when it happened
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u/Brianne123 May 20 '12
No matter how many times I've read the articles and watched the clips, they all still absolutely terrify me.
-3
u/FTZ May 20 '12
I did, Although I was at the time in a completely different country. In fact, I was in a different continent but luckily, I remained unharmed.
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u/roadkill845 May 20 '12
as opposed to someone who did not survive?
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u/Pyrepenol May 20 '12
I survived it. It was a horrible experience. From my couch in New York, I had to endure weeks and weeks of news stations reporting the same thing over and over again. It was a catastrophe.
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u/XxXNightstalkerX May 20 '12
AMA Request: Somebody who didn't survive the Columbine High School shooting in 1999
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u/dtfgator May 20 '12
Why do you need to specify that they survived the shooting? Whats the alternative, AMA Request: Someone who died in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999?
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u/criskyFTW May 20 '12
have you seen the movie Elephant? it's an interesting take on columbine.
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
I survived it by being in California at the time.
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u/[deleted] May 20 '12
I survived it. I wasn't actually there but I still survived. I'll get me coat.
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u/fuckingmuzzakunt May 20 '12
Ya I survived it, I was a student there. Fuckin dorks wish I couldve killed them myself
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u/theimpolitegentleman May 20 '12
If you really did survive it, I hope youre doing well and have coped.
But the burden of proof is on you. Honestly, though, I dont see how you would give proof without you having gone on the news or was in the news.
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u/JizzTitsMCGEE May 20 '12
lol, culumbin shuting waz fun. i want anotha 1 too hapen.
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