Why we still care

A thought I had today: are we all only still interested in Columbine because mostly everyone involved (apart from E&D and their victims) are still alive? Personally, I always have the wish in the back of my mind for others to come forward or for new info/evidence to be released, and I like knowing that it's still a possibility even if it's not likely. The Harris's and Klebolds aren't getting any younger, nor are most of the LE that witnessed what happened that day.

As we get further and further from that date, will we still be as involved in scrutinizing and poring over the information we have? I have only been part of this community for about 11 months so I can't say for sure I will have a long-term interest in Columbine (but I hope I do!)

I still have an interest in Columbine and it's been over a year (almost).
I guess the general interest of the public has these factors:

1. How relatable Eric and Dylan are.
2. Other shootings were influenced by Columbine.
3. We are still getting new stories and information from witnesses.
4. The fact that it's still one of the most notorious school massacres in the US.
5. The legacy it left behind and it's coverage (The basement tapes, interviews, books, movies, etc.).

The depositions are still out there.  For whatever they may be evidence wise

For me, I think it is not so much that people are still alive but moreso just how it went down and how it changed history.  You ask someone to think of a school shooting they think of Columbine (for the most part in my exp anyway).  The fact that it took place before the internet or cell phones were popular, how little evidence was released, the amount of grey areas, there is so much to wonder about.  

That is what keeps me coming back.

Lizpuff wrote:

 The fact that it took place before the internet or cell phones were popular, how little evidence was released, the amount of grey areas, there is so much to wonder about.  

That is what keeps me coming back.

Exactly! The different shades of those grey areas are what has kept my attention over the years. I have always wondered how deep in outright lies and half truths Columbine was and mostly still is buried.  

Here it is 18 years later and Columbine remains the most talked about and likely the least understood school shooting. I will happily await the Depositions release set for 2023, and continue to hope that the basement tapes will one day come to light.

I was 4 when it happened and I live in Bosnia. The first time I heard about it was in elementary school sometime in the 2000s. The only images that I remember from that period are a photo of Coach Sander rushing through the cafeteria, a photo of Matthew Kechter wearing his football gear and kneeling and some bits about the shooters and their interests. My interest in this topic started earlier this year after binge watching various documentaries about various things, and one of them was the Zero Hour episode about Columbine. It gave me a general idea of what happened, the chronology really but I wasn't really paying attention about the victims and injured, it was just names and pictures flashing on the screen. I watched a clip on YouTube with Craig Scott giving an interview to CNN after the Aurora shooting (didn't know who he was at the time or even where Aurora or Columbine are) and he mentioned something about the importance of remembering the victims so I thought to myself ''Well, OK, this is an interesting point that never crossed my mind. Let's see who these people were''. Reading about the victims and injured was a rather humbling feeling, there are some really valuable lessons in humanity, kindness, compassion, friendship and resilience. They are not just nomina nuda (naked names) for me now.

I was interested since day 1, I was a senior in HS, very much bullied, anger issues, coming towards my graduation day and came home from school to see Patrick Ireland falling out of the window and wondering what the heck was going on. I was glued to the TV and when I saw them put Eric and Dylan's pictures up I couldn't believe those boys would be killers, they looked like cute boys who would have been popular at my school.

My thoughts have matured of course and I took a long time away (I mentioned before my stuff on yahoo groups etc.. I'm pretty open about that) I had to to take time because it was effecting me a LOT.

Then when A Mother's Reckoning came out I was hit with a TON of info. All their videos like Hitmen for Hire were released, I saw the suicide pictures, the 11k, A movie about Rachel was being made!! I felt really inundated again.

For me I agree with the above posts about why we still care and are interested. We will have the depositions and who knows in a few years we may have more information, I think it was the same period too, it changed a lot about society and school culture. You had the lore behind it, everyone that died you could somehow relate to or you knew someone who could.

One of the reasons I want to visit the memorial when I'm in Denver for my interview is to figure out for myself why it has always affected me. Maybe having another good cry over it will help me understand myself more. Or I'll just go to the park, see the memorial and the skyline and go about my day. Who knows?

I think there is a LOT that has been covered up and mishandled as well.

I really like seeing the responses to this and what makes people so interested after all these years. I agree, there is a lot that sets Columbine apart from other events. Sue releasing her book probably breathed new life into people's curiosity and interest. I also agree that it's important to continue talking about it so we don't allow the same mistakes to be made, and so we remember the victims themselves.

Abosolutely! I agree

Does anyone think that now that True Crime seems to be extremely popular now, it brings more people into being interested in Columbine? Though a LOT of people say 'Well I read Cullens book so I know all" no, no. Read the 11k and a few others books then chat with me.

I was 14 when Columbine happened and although I live "across the pond" I was fascinated by the story and I think in a weird way it's a sense of "nostalgia" which still makes me interested today.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I would bet that people who start doing research on other, more recent shootings will eventually get sucked into Columbine. For me, I was just binge-watching true crime documentaries and I happened upon Zero Hour. I was only 9 when Columbine happened so I only vaguely knew about it. But immediately there was something so different about it for me.

You are very right about the 11k. I know it's a ton of information but anyone who really wants to see the bigger picture should read what they can. It's nice because you get a more objective picture than you would with a book like No Easy Answers. Although I thought it was pretty good, taking some things Brooks says with a grain of salt.

I was 16 when it happened and I guess it’s a sort of morbidly nostalgic event for me, too. Being thier age at the time I guess it’s easy for me to imagine myself being there and how scary it had to have been. I get sucked in every couple of years for a few months at a time, probably hoping for something new to have been released. This time it was Sue’s book.

There was absolutely a difference with Columbine, it's tough to really explain what it is.

I read No Easy Answers long after it was written but he has interesting insights though I'm sure it is hard to be unbiased writing a book. Brooks back in the day was very forward with my friend in NYC who was VERY Eric Harris obsessed and he laid it on thick, she got very involved. I vaugely remember meeting him but the whole situation left a bad taste in my mouth and also hearing how he acted for a long time after. He claimed he went to Dylans funeral and talked about it at length when Sue gave her account it was COMPLETELY different. I still don't know if Zach or Zach's parents went but Brooks was not there.

I remember being sick and watching Dawn Anna on Lifetime and all of a sudden seeing her daughter Lauren went to Columbine and I was like oh!! that is Lauren, Lauren.

Did anyone read Tom Mausers book?

I knew Tom Mauser had written a book but I didn't realize how recently it was published (2012), I thought it was a few years after the shooting. I would read it, I just can't really get into things that are too religious or political, and I know he had issues with the NRA. I liked Sue's book because it didn't get into either of those topics too much.

I have it. Have not read it yet. I am running low on time to read it. I keep meaning to

If anyone wants/needs a copy let me know

I'm interested in a mental picture being painted of what was actually going on at that school in 1998-99. The two factors I'm most interested in are 1)the evidence (Hitmen For Hire, security footage, crime scene pics, Basement Tapes, class photo, etc.) and 2)a mental roster of all the kids at the school associated with the crime in one way or another, most notably the girls E&D were interested in.

The other factor is that it's been 18 years and I kind of miss some aspects of my youth (1996-2001) and Columbine is part of that...a trip back to 1999...things from 1999 are really showing their age if seemingly not as much as stuff from the 70s or 80s...

Relating to E&D? Teen angst yes, bullying yes, shooting innocent people because of any of it, hell no. I know where to stop.

Lunkhead McGrath wrote:

a mental roster of all the kids at the school associated with the crime in one way or another, most notably the girls E&D were interested in.

May I ask why the interest in the girls E&D may have liked?

Do you wonder what they really thought about Eric and Dylan? Like if they noticed that things were off about them, why they didn't want to go out with them, etc?

There was one girl freshman year who went out with Eric and Dylan, but she liked Eric better. I'm assuming it was pretty casual hanging out type dates or group dating, since in AMR it seemed like he never really went on a "date' maybe I'm being too proper.

There was one girl Katie I believe who liked him but he was too old for her.

At that age it could have been as simple as she didn't like a shirt they wore OR maybe they had a temper.. I don't know. At my age if I get a vibe off of someone I will shut them down immediately and they could be great, but for me.. I'm not feeling it.

Wait I never heard the story of the girl from freshman year, that's really interesting. Any more info on that? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Let me take a look!

Here is a thread from this site that was helpful to me as well!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thank you! I feel like I am still learning new stuff here all the time.

You're welcome, I completely understand. ;)

I still care because I relate very much to both Eric and Dylan. They have inspired many people who are struggling to go on and give them a possible option as to how to deal with it.

I use this as a hobby. Nothing more, nothing less.

QuestionMark wrote:

I use this as a hobby. Nothing more, nothing less.

What drew you to the hobby? Why do you find it interesting enough to make it a hobby?

It can be a hobby if you're into researching events that occurred throughout history. Some people are really into political, social, or economical events. This is part of America's history. Columbine has enough intricacies to keep people busy for years.

[quote="ShadowedGoddess"]

Lunkhead McGrath wrote:

a mental roster of all the kids at the school associated with the crime in one way or another, most notably the girls E&D were interested in.

>May I ask why the interest in the girls E&D may have liked?

Part of it is mental cataloguing/OCD, part of it is wondering about whether or not finding any sort of teenage "love" would have helped them, part of it is just wanting to solve the mystery (like who is the "mystery acrostic" girl Dylan wrote about.)

Quote :

Do you wonder what they really thought about Eric and Dylan? Like if they noticed that things were off about them, why they didn't want to go out with them, etc?

Somewhat, yes. I doubt it's very hard to explain why a guy who salutes Hitler and takes you to see "Event Horizon" might turn you off.

The Hitler saulting was during bowling, the whole class sounded like they wanted to be "edgy" like imagining the pins were people of races they didn't like.

sscc wrote:

QuestionMark wrote:

I use this as a hobby. Nothing more, nothing less.

What drew you to the hobby? Why do you find it interesting enough to make it a hobby?

A fascination with the morbid and grotesque.

i don't know, im just interested in this stuff.

Columbine always had my curiosity with the references in pop culture and the infamous CCTV still.

I've been asking myself this question for 10 years now. I'm not sure what it is about Columbine that interests me so much? I have a fear of death, yet I'm obsessed with true crime and mass murders. Columbine started off my obsession and then it took off from there. I keep coming back looking for more information and others opinions....and possibly more evidence either being released or exposed.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I can relate so much. My fear of death even prompted me so see a therapist at one point, yet I'm obsessed with true crime. Oddly enough, none of this gives me anxiety the way other random things will. It makes no sense to me.

Littlelo wrote:

I knew Tom Mauser had written a book but I didn't realize how recently it was published (2012), I thought it was a few years after the shooting. I would read it, I just can't really get into things that are too religious or political, and I know he had issues with the NRA. I liked Sue's book because it didn't get into either of those topics too much.

I read it and I recommend you give it a go when time permits. The NRA parts can be redundant and his frustration with them is evident but you can skip those parts, there is a part with some gun loving harasser that was interesting due to a bizarre twist in the story. The parts about Daniel and Tom's grief are a good read, he writes nicely. You learn stuff like how Daniel got his first and middle name, how Tom gave him a driving lesson once, Daniel's scholastic interests and his efforts to overcome his shyness, how Daniel's friend Jeremy visited the Mausers years  after Columbine and Tom's mixed feelings about it, how Tom found out about the shooting (really sad part), the funeral and grieving, how they adopted a Chinese baby and named her Madeline (can't recall who suggested the name, it sounded too French to Tom but someone asked if she was named after Daniel because the name is an anagram of Daniel M. with an E to spare and he loved the connection), how they visited Guatemala where a small school has a library in honor of Daniel etc. just to point out some parts. You can feel some of that love for his son as you read these things. As for the religious parts, don't worry either. He shares some of his religious beliefs but in a really beautiful way (He's Catholic btw). He isn't proselytizing or annoying at all unlike some Columbine figures. It's a really intimate look into his convictions. He mentions Archbishop Chaput visiting them, but he wasn't gung ho about him. I'm not a religious person but I really liked these two passages, really beautiful. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Thank you for taking the time to write that. I think I will try to read it now. Even as an atheist I can respect someone's right to their religious beliefs, I just don't like when it gets judgmental or preachy. It sounds like I would definitely get something out of his book. Plus, it would be nice to hear stories about one of the victims for a change, when so much is written about E&D.

Littlelo wrote:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Thank you for taking the time to write that. I think I will try to read it now. Even as an atheist I can respect someone's right to their religious beliefs, I just don't like when it gets judgmental or preachy. It sounds like I would definitely get something out of his book. Plus, it would be nice to hear stories about one of the victims for a change, when so much is written about E&D.

As an atheist myself, I respect genuinely nice pious people but even they have some views that are outright appalling to me. Case in point: ''the part of God's plan'' stuff is pure cringe to me because it's not only bollocks, it has sinister implications. I was disappointed that Patrick Ireland has this view, but then again whatever helps people sleep at night, he's an overall nice chap. Tom's view is much more levelheaded. He mentions how some people coped with it by suggesting that God wanted more angels, but is flabbergasted at the thought and thinks God has enough angels.

Tuga wrote:

Littlelo wrote:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Thank you for taking the time to write that. I think I will try to read it now. Even as an atheist I can respect someone's right to their religious beliefs, I just don't like when it gets judgmental or preachy. It sounds like I would definitely get something out of his book. Plus, it would be nice to hear stories about one of the victims for a change, when so much is written about E&D.

As an atheist myself, I respect genuinely nice pious people but even they have some views that are outright appalling to me. Case in point: ''the part of God's plan'' stuff is pure cringe to me because it's not only bollocks, it has sinister implications. I was disappointed that Patrick Ireland has this view, but then again whatever helps people sleep at night, he's an overall nice chap. Tom's view is much more levelheaded. He mentions how some people coped with it by suggesting that God wanted more angels, but is flabbergasted at the thought and thinks God has enough angels.

I agree with your thoughts on some religious views. That's why I always say I respect someone's right to have their beliefs, but I don't always necessarily respect the beliefs themselves. The "part of God's plan" you mentioned or "they're in a better place" are a perfect example.

Littlelo wrote:

Tuga wrote:

Littlelo wrote:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Thank you for taking the time to write that. I think I will try to read it now. Even as an atheist I can respect someone's right to their religious beliefs, I just don't like when it gets judgmental or preachy. It sounds like I would definitely get something out of his book. Plus, it would be nice to hear stories about one of the victims for a change, when so much is written about E&D.

As an atheist myself, I respect genuinely nice pious people but even they have some views that are outright appalling to me. Case in point: ''the part of God's plan'' stuff is pure cringe to me because it's not only bollocks, it has sinister implications. I was disappointed that Patrick Ireland has this view, but then again whatever helps people sleep at night, he's an overall nice chap. Tom's view is much more levelheaded. He mentions how some people coped with it by suggesting that God wanted more angels, but is flabbergasted at the thought and thinks God has enough angels.

I agree with your thoughts on some religious views. That's why I always say I respect someone's right to have their beliefs, but I don't always necessarily respect the beliefs themselves. The "part of God's plan" you mentioned or "they're in a better place" are a perfect example.

I don't mind the latter that much. I try to approach things from multiple perspectives. My main beef with it is something like this ''I'd rather have that person here with me in this imperfect world of ours, thank you very much''. If you disregard the religious notions, you can interpret it in a another way: ''Nobody will hurt those children ever again they way those two made them hurt'' (Elizabeth Smart makes a point like this in her TedTalk, she is Mormon though). As for the shooters, they didn't want to live in this world anymore and one (likely Dylan, not sure) even expressed a thought that he didn't care where he was going. The vindictive proselytes are really bad. Mr Rohrbough had his personal views on abortion included on his son's memorial plaque. I don't it's healthy for him or respectful to his son's memory. If you want to see some top tier cringe, try to find a clip on YouTube of him blaming Columbine on teaching evolution in schools and other nonsense. Oh, and I hope you enjoy Tom's book if you find it. I'd love to hear the feedback.

I read Tom Mauser’s book and just skipped the parts I didn’t like. To read about their day on April 20 was very interesting. The way Jeffco treated them by asking for a description of Daniel’s clothing that day and requesting dental records but telling them they didn’t have any information, they realized Daniel was dead long before Jeffco verified it. I can’t imagine what the parents endured that day- even having them wait for a promised last bus  of students that never arrived. It was so sad. The parts about the days before the funeral I thought were interesting - finding out from the funeral director that Daniel had been shot in the face and the uncertainty to have an open casket. And reading about the funeral was sad, but I kinda enjoyed when a friend asked the social worker Jeffco had sent to the house to leave as she was upsetting the family. I was surprised to read that in a latter chapter that Tom and Sue Klebold had met and Mr. and Mrs. Mauser had met with Mr. and Mrs. Harris several years later. I would recommend reading the book, just read the parts that interest you and skip the rest. That’s what I did.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I did see a video of Danny Rohrbough's dad talking about how he made the mistake of sending his son to a "pagan school" which rubbed me the wrong way. But I guess everyone handles grief differently. I will let you know how I liked it, it will be next on my list!

Hearing Columbine referred to as a Pagan school is interesting considering Sue Klebold said there were a LOT of "morally elite" Christians there. I thought of the school as pretty conservative.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I agree 100%. I understand he is looking for an explanation or reason for what happened, but don't blame it on a lack of religious teaching in schools. There are plenty of more realistic things to blame.

Heya, first post here...I personally find it interesting because Eric and Dylan were, on the outside, very like my group of friends as teenagers, we wore alternative clothes, listened to the same music and didn't like our school. I think the fact that there is still so much stuff that they didn't release like the basement tapes and depositions etc leaves an air of mystery around it all which keeps people interested

That's what got me interested at first too. I was the same age as them and saw everything unfold when I got home and when I saw their pictures I was wondering how guys like that could do that, they looked like kids I would have hung out with. You had a lot of relatable people involved in Columbine as well.

Columbine is one of the only mass shootings I can really research (except Vegas) I find myself being repelled by Cho, Rodgers and Lanza. Though I did watch Rodgers youtube stuff after.

Like yesterday I was writing and my roommate asked what I was writing, I told him a scene, it was a funeral scene and the person who died committed a crime and people were shocked, he asked who could go to someone like that's funeral. I told him Dylan had a funeral and he was like.. "Dylan" I said Oh Klebold.. and he just smiled and nodded at me.

It's also a case where we all seem to be on first name basis with everyone so to speak.

Screamingophelia wrote:

It's also a case where we all seem to be on first name basis with everyone so to speak.

It does seem that the majority of us have a familiarity with the people involved in Columbine. After so many years of interest and research it is easy to reach a point where they are no longer Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, but just simply Eric and Dylan.

I know more about these two kids that have been dead for 18 years then I do some of my own family members.

As do I!

It's helped with my compassion for others to be honest. To be more understanding towards people. If I can have compassion for people I never met then I can be more open and forgiving to those I know. I used to hold grudges a lot :/

Screamingophelia wrote:

I used to hold grudges a lot :/

I did for a long time as well, although I still hold on to one or two. BUT only the really important stuff.

debbiec89 wrote:

Heya, first post here...I personally find it interesting because Eric and Dylan were, on the outside, very like my group of friends as teenagers, we wore alternative clothes, listened to the same music and didn't like our school. I think the fact that there is still so much stuff that they didn't release like the basement tapes and depositions etc leaves an air of mystery around it all which keeps people interested

This is something I hear very often from people who were in high school when Columbine happened. It's crazy just how normal they seemed on the outside. I see so many comments on their videos of people saying they would have probably hung out with E&D and their friends if they had gone to their school. Thank you for sharing!

Littlelo wrote:

debbiec89 wrote:

Heya, first post here...I personally find it interesting because Eric and Dylan were, on the outside, very like my group of friends as teenagers, we wore alternative clothes, listened to the same music and didn't like our school. I think the fact that there is still so much stuff that they didn't release like the basement tapes and depositions etc leaves an air of mystery around it all which keeps people interested

This is something I hear very often from people who were in high school when Columbine happened. It's crazy just how normal they seemed on the outside. I see so many comments on their videos of people saying they would have probably hung out with E&D and their friends if they had gone to their school. Thank you for sharing!

I see this often too.

The thing I wonder is that I had these kids at my school. I didn't associate with them and neither did anyone else. And for all those fangirls out there still in HS....there are Eric's and Dylan's at their schools. Do they talk to them? Are they friends with them? Or is it the idea of them that they love not so much the person

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I also think about that. I'd say most of the "fan girls" are in love with the idea of saving someone or changing them.

I was a huge loner in HS so I may have been even more shy than Dylan and as angry as Eric.

If I did come out of my shell I would have been in the Brooks/Rachel/Zach theatre type group and would have known Dylan through plays. I've always said since day 1 I would've liked Dylan. I'm not sure about Eric. They had more friends than I did. Had I gone to Columbine and not gotten into o theatre, the Christian elite would have sucked me in. So many of my religious acquaintances tried to save me, even though I was very straight laced lol


I'm wondering if people my age who were in HS during Columbine have a different perception of the boys than the younger people who are teens and early 20's now?

I don't think they realize that guys like them go to their school, they want E&D or the idea of them.

Screamingophelia wrote:

I don't think they realize that guys like them go to their school, they want E&D or the idea of them.

I fear for the girls that are willing to be in or that wants a relation ship based off things they assume E&D would be like.