Do You Guys Ever Wonder

Do you guys ever wonder what would have happened if Columbine was done by two different people or just one person? Do you think it would still be as huge, iconic we would still be talking about it 14 years later and we would be as interested and fascinated with them as we are with Eric and Dylan?

Good question. I think that if it was the same exact circumstances but just 2 totally different boys, that we would probably still be interested in it. If it was a single shooter, I really don't think people would be as interested, as I think the whole connection between Dylan and Eric plays a huge part in people's fascination.

So Ivan and I were just talking about this yesterday. Why do you think people are more interested in Columbine/Dylan and Eric than Virginia Tech. He was bullied, he was mentally sick, he was planning a massacre AND his heroes were Dylan and Eric, well I don't know if they were his heroes, but he admired them. Does him being Asian turn people off? Sometimes I think that may be the case. Do you guys agree?

Thankyou. I was also wondering that myself actually. And I think part of the reason why people are more interested in Columbine than Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook because in my opinion Eric and Dylan come off as so likeable, relatable and there is tons of information on them and the tragedy than Cho and Adam. Another reason why is because Columbine was the first major school shooting and it just remained the most iconic throughout the years. If people are going to be interested in something like this wouldn't they chose the more popular one?

That could be true too. Columbine was the first big school massacre like that and it got a lot of media attention and it is always mentioned as one of the worse massacres whenever another school shooting happens.

Perhaps back then people thought that something like that would never happen and when it did, they were drawn to it and maybe now it just seems like, not to sound insincere, but they just think, "Oh, another school shooting".

Jenn wrote:

Good question. I think that if it was the same exact circumstances but just 2 totally different boys, that we would probably still be interested in it.  If it was a single shooter, I really don't think people would be as interested, as I think the whole connection between Dylan and Eric plays a huge part in people's fascination.

So Ivan and I were just talking about this yesterday. Why do you think people are more interested in Columbine/Dylan and Eric than Virginia Tech. He was bullied, he was mentally sick, he was planning a massacre AND his heroes were Dylan and Eric, well I don't know if they were his heroes, but he admired them.  Does him being Asian turn people off?  Sometimes I think that may be the case. Do you guys agree?

Unfortunately, I think that may be a part of it for some people (his being Asian). However, I think Columbine desensitized people to Cho's massacre (and all that have followed to some extent), and because the media made his manifesto and things of that sort available so immediately, there wasn't as much of a "mystery" behind him. Everything about Dylan and Eric is in bits and pieces. There's a bunch of hearsay from those who knew them, and everyone knows that there is a bit more available about them that is being hidden under lock and key.

I mentioned something about this in the Columbine In Modern Culture thread.

Have a look at how Cho committed his massacre compared to E/D. Cho rampaged for 10-15 minutes and killed 30 people during that time -one every 20 or 30 seconds. This doesn't even take into account all those he wounded. E/D on the other hand were playing a big game -they were taking their time and having fun.

I don't think there's ever been another massacre where you can say the rampagers did it for fun. Has there?

Look at all the things Dylan supposedly said during in the library. Have you ever heard of any other shooter talk so much?

That's what sets Columbine apart in my opinion. E/D enjoyed what they were doing, and that opens up a lot of unanswered questions about human nature.

StinkyOldGrapes wrote:

I mentioned something about this in the Columbine In Modern Culture thread.

Have a look at how Cho committed his massacre compared to E/D. Cho rampaged for 10-15 minutes and killed 30 people during that time -one every 20 or 30 seconds. This doesn't even take into account all those he wounded. E/D on the other hand were playing a big game -they were taking their time and having fun.

I don't think there's ever been another massacre where you can say the rampagers did it for fun. Has there?

Look at all the things Dylan supposedly said during in the library. Have you ever heard of any other shooter talk so much?

That's what sets Columbine apart in my opinion. E/D enjoyed what they were doing, and that opens up a lot of unanswered questions about human nature.

No, but I also never heard of another shooter running up and down the halls shooting lockers and the ceiling and peeking through windows, giggling, or standing outside the bathroom saying, "I'm gonna get you" and then do nothing.

Jenn wrote:

StinkyOldGrapes wrote:

I mentioned something about this in the Columbine In Modern Culture thread.

Have a look at how Cho committed his massacre compared to E/D. Cho rampaged for 10-15 minutes and killed 30 people during that time -one every 20 or 30 seconds. This doesn't even take into account all those he wounded. E/D on the other hand were playing a big game -they were taking their time and having fun.

I don't think there's ever been another massacre where you can say the rampagers did it for fun. Has there?

Look at all the things Dylan supposedly said during in the library. Have you ever heard of any other shooter talk so much?

That's what sets Columbine apart in my opinion. E/D enjoyed what they were doing, and that opens up a lot of unanswered questions about human nature.

No, but I also never heard of another shooter running up and down the halls shooting lockers and the ceiling and peeking through windows, giggling, or standing outside the bathroom saying, "I'm gonna get you" and then do nothing.

Exactly my point. E/D were doing whatever the hell they wanted to. It was their party, and they'll party how they want to. They WANTED to be there. Other shooters, like Cho for instance, felt like society FORCED them do it.

The goal of other mass murderers is to kill people and a shooting spree is the best way to achieve that. E/D's goal seemed to be to "have fun" and killing people was a by-product of that.