Did Eric trick Dylan into doing the massacre with him?

The biggest question in my mind about this whole massacre was did Eric manipulate Dylan into doing this with him?

I mean, Dylan was known as a smart kid, who was suicidal. Most of his journal entries were about love, affection, etc, while Eric on the other hand always talked about killing, hate, etc. And it's got me really curious. I believe that Eric was in control of Dylan, even parents that have talked to Dylan's parents said that Eric was dominant over Dylan and Dylan always wanted to impress Eric.

On top of that, Eric's homicidal personality, over Dylan being suicidal, played a big part in this since Dylan didn't care about anything anymore, just wanting to kill himself. But since he was such good friends with Eric, I believe Eric was in control over Dylan and got Dylan involved, because I couldn't imagine a kid like Dylan to do this on his own, but to get caught up in it, it makes sense.

Thoughts?

I think other people are going to get to it before I do. But pull up a chair :-)

There’s a lot to talk about when it comes to this. There are people on both sides. Dylan did write in his journal about murder before Eric supposedly did according to the dated entries.

Also Dylan’s friend Devon said that Eric was the one that started adopting things that Dylan liked such as the way dressed etc. and it annoyed Dylan.

However there are instances where you can tell Dylan really didn’t want to let Eric down. He made sure that people came to his 18th birthday party and that he had a nice day. He took over shifts for Eric when his dog was sick.

I honestly don’t believe Dylan would’ve committed a massacre on his own. I think he would’ve just killed himself but I think the friendship between the boys made it possible. They both gave each other something that they needed to carry this out.

Sorry for the cliffs notes it’s almost bedtime but I’m sure they’ll be more thoughts and more discussion

I could go on all day and night about this topic, but I think this video sums up my opinions neatly.
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But simply put, No. Eric didn't make Dylan do anything Dylan didn't want to do.
I think they were both suicidal and homicidal as an after thought of their severe depression
But thats just me.

I don't know how you "trick" someone for over a year and over something this serious.

QuestionMark wrote:

I don't know how you "trick" someone for over a year and over something this serious.

I didn't mean as in a "Hey, let's go shoot up our school," kind of trick but it really seems like over time, Eric just keep pushing Dylan down to where the point was Dylan didn't care if about anything except dying anymore.

ChaotixBoy wrote:

QuestionMark wrote:

I don't know how you "trick" someone for over a year and over something this serious.

I didn't mean as in a "Hey, let's go shoot up our school," kind of trick but it really seems like over time, Eric just keep pushing Dylan down to where the point was Dylan didn't care if about anything except dying anymore.

Seems to me Dylan had already hit that point without Eric's help.

QuestionMark wrote:

ChaotixBoy wrote:

QuestionMark wrote:

I don't know how you "trick" someone for over a year and over something this serious.

I didn't mean as in a "Hey, let's go shoot up our school," kind of trick but it really seems like over time, Eric just keep pushing Dylan down to where the point was Dylan didn't care if about anything except dying anymore.

Seems to me Dylan had already hit that point without Eric's help.

Not entirely, Dylan still had some love inside of him at first when he first began writing his journal entries, but over time, he just became all about DEATH, DEATH AND DEATH! I think his relationship with the manipulative Eric probably strengthened his desire wanting to die, along with Eric's, but Eric wanted to kill people, and Dylan was already at the lowest point he could get, he just went along with the plan ultimately to die there. He even said in the tapes, "I don't care, because I'm going to die doing it." Which makes me believe that Eric was the mastermind behind the whole massacre and just brought poor and suicidal Dylan along for the ride. But that's just my thoughts on it. I know others have the complete opposite thoughts of me, some even saying Dylan manipulated Eric, but opinions. Whatever.

ChaotixBoy wrote:

Not entirely, Dylan still had some love inside of him at first when he first began writing his journal entries

So much love that he was writing about killing people long before Eric.

Generally I don't think it's really possible to manipulate someone to that degree unless they're already capable of such an act.

QuestionMark wrote:

I don't know how you "trick" someone for over a year and over something this serious.

AGREED!

This is a classic case of boy meets boy and plans a school shooting. I truly believe that Columbine wouldn't have happened if Eric and Dylan had never became friends.

It always boggles my mind that a lot of people seem to over look Dylan's anger while focusing on his hurt and loneliness, because of how many times he wrote love and drew hearts in his journal, etc.

The same people usually skip over Eric's hurt and pain and zoom in only on his hate and anger. Which he was more out in the open about.

It is proven that Dylan had first talked about NBK, it was his fantasy to start out with. Although he wanted to do it with a female. When he knew that wasn't going to happen is when Eric became involved.

I will say that without Eric's involvement I really do think it would have continued to be just a fantasy. Where Dylan lacked in follow through, Eric made up for it and kept the plan in a forward motion. Either way they both got what they wanted in the end.

ChaotixBoy wrote:

Not entirely, Dylan still had some love inside of him at first when he first began writing his journal entries, but over time, he just became all about DEATH, DEATH AND DEATH! I think his relationship with the manipulative Eric probably strengthened his desire wanting to die, along with Eric's, but Eric wanted to kill people, and Dylan was already at the lowest point he could get, he just went along with the plan ultimately to die there. He even said in the tapes, "I don't care, because I'm going to die doing it." Which makes me believe that Eric was the mastermind behind the whole massacre and just brought poor and suicidal Dylan along for the ride. But that's just my thoughts on it. I know others have the complete opposite thoughts of me, some even saying Dylan manipulated Eric, but opinions. Whatever.

You seemed to have missed the part of the basement tapes were Eric is crying and apologizing repeatedly for what he feels "he has to do"
Eric wasn't just some psycho with no emotions. He just choose to express himself through extreme bravado
But no matter which way you look at it, Eric and Dylan went through with the plan. They both killed people and themselves
So how can you say one was homicidal not suicidal and the other one was suicidal not homicidal?

Either one of them could have backed out and not gone through with it
The only person holding a gun to their heads was themselves.
No one made Eric or Dylan do this. Period.