Why do we bash each other?

[MXGratefulDiver]

Thanks Bob! It will have to be before I run off to Browning for the summer again. Unless, that is, you make the trip to the best of BC's diving!

I'll be at The Hideaway in early March ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

Its the internet, where people are anonymous I doubt most people would bash people in person, I probably wouldnt.

 

[dbulmer]

I'd bash you

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

I'd bash you too!

 

[Jax]

I'd bash you

I'd bash you too!

:blinking: Oooh, this sounds like fun! May I bash, too?

 

[adurso]

This brings back some memories.

I was working in the central administration of Jefferson County Schools in Colorado when two students in one of our high schools (Columbine) decided to kill a bunch of their classmates. Although their reaction was way out of bounds, it was a reaction to the bullying behavior of which they had been the victims over their years there. In the back rooms of the district we heard stories of abuse that never made it to the headlines.

*SNIP*r.

I understand the thought at the time was that the shooters were the victims of bullies. It became known in law enforcement circles that the shooters were, in fact, bullies themselves.

Now it has become well known, see:10 years later, the real story behind Columbine - USATODAY.com

"The killings ignited a national debate over bullying, but the record now shows Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold hadn't been bullied — in fact, they had bragged in diaries about picking on freshmen and "fags."
"A decade after Harris and Klebold made Columbine a synonym for rage, new information — including several books that analyze the tragedy through diaries, e-mails, appointment books, videotape, police affidavits and interviews with witnesses, friends and survivors — indicate that much of what the public has been told about the shootings is wrong."

The national attention brought to bullying of all sorts as a result of this horrific event continues to this day in school systems everywhere.

Make no mistake though; these two were not misunderstood kids lashing out at those who bullied them; they were vicious buggers who understood fully what they were about to do. They thoroughly planned their attack for over a year.

DISCLAIMER: this post in no wise constitutes a bash, poke, prod, or snipe. It is merely for informative purposes and may be freely ignored without fear or favor.

 

[boulderjohn]

I understand the thought at the time was that the shooters were the victims of bullies. It became known in law enforcement circles that the shooters were, in fact, bullies themselves.

Now it has become well known, see:10 years later, the real story behind Columbine - USATODAY.com

"The killings ignited a national debate over bullying, but the record now shows Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold hadn't been bullied — in fact, they had bragged in diaries about picking on freshmen and "fags."
"A decade after Harris and Klebold made Columbine a synonym for rage, new information — including several books that analyze the tragedy through diaries, e-mails, appointment books, videotape, police affidavits and interviews with witnesses, friends and survivors — indicate that much of what the public has been told about the shootings is wrong."

The national attention brought to bullying of all sorts as a result of this horrific event continues to this day in school systems everywhere.

Make no mistake though; these two were not misunderstood kids lashing out at those who bullied them; they were vicious buggers who understood fully what they were about to do. They thoroughly planned their attack for over a year.

DISCLAIMER: this post in no wise constitutes a bash, poke, prod, or snipe. It is merely for informative purposes and may be freely ignored without fear or favor.

If I wanted to, and if I were to open myself to lawsuits, I could name the students who were in fact identified as the main culprits in bullying at the school. You can say that it had no effect on them, but I can tell you some of the things they did and when they did it. That does not mean that the two were justified, nor does it mean that they were not themselves bullies. One of the things we learned in the aftermath is that those who are bullied often become bullies in return. Perhaps my perception is altered by the fact that for months after the fact my job became Columbine recovery, 18 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By the way, as for their planning for a year--we all knew that immediately after the attack. We had the date of the first plan, and we knew why. The main person that P'd them off graduated that year and was not even in the school when they did their attack.

By the way, my analysis of Eric Harris's web site was the one that identified their code phrase for their date (NBK date) for what it was--Natural Born Killers day, in which they would receive fame for their acts. I do not want to diminish their culpability for the attack, but it would also be wrong to deny the fact that they at least said they were retaliating.

Of course, USA Today will know a lot more about it--probably should listen to them.

Part of my job was moderating a newsgroup we set up so that we could counter all the false rumors circulating the Internet. I moderated more than 6,000 posts before we closed it down, and many of those posts were people talking about the pain they had suffered from bullies while in school. We also set up an email address where people could send condolences, and the bulk of the thousands received were descriptions of the pain they still felt recollecting the bullying to which they had been subjected in school, some 50-60 years later.

The thrust of my point was on the concept of bullying and its effects in general. I can tell you the anguished stories I heard from the admissions interviews of the students who wanted to be in our online program. It broke my heart to hear the tales of misery.

Of course, USA Today will know a lot more about it--probably should listen to them.

Yes, indeed. USA Today is a source with which we cannot argue. People who whine about bullies should just get over it. They'll be better for it.

 

[adurso]

If I wanted to, and if I were to open myself to lawsuits, I could name the students who were in fact identified as the main culprits in bullying at the school. You can say that it had no effect on them, but I can tell you some of the things they did and when they did it. That does not mean that the two were justified, nor does it mean that they were not themselves bullies. One of the things we learned in the aftermath is that those who are bullied often become bullies in return. Perhaps my perception is altered by the fact that for months after the fact my job became Columbine recovery, 18 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By the way, as for their planning for a year--we all knew that immediately after the attack. We had the date of the first plan, and we knew why. The main person that P'd them off graduated that year and was not even in the school when they did their attack.

By the way, my analysis of Eric Harris's web site was the one that identified their code phrase for their date (NBK date) for what it was--Natural Born Killers day, in which they would receive fame for their acts. I do not want to diminish their culpability for the attack, but it would also be wrong to deny the fact that they at least said they were retaliating.

Of course, USA Today will know a lot more about it--probably should listen to them.

Part of my job was moderating a newsgroup we set up so that we could counter all the false rumors circulating the Internet. I moderated more than 6,000 posts before we closed it down, and many of those posts were people talking about the pain they had suffered from bullies while in school. We also set up an email address where people could send condolences, and the bulk of the thousands received were descriptions of the pain they still felt recollecting the bullying to which they had been subjected in school, some 50-60 years later.

The thrust of my point was on the concept of bullying and its effects in general. I can tell you the anguished stories I heard from the admissions interviews of the students who wanted to be in our online program. It broke my heart to hear the tales of misery.

Of course, USA Today will know a lot more about it--probably should listen to them.

Yes, indeed. USA Today is a source with which we cannot argue. People who whine about bullies should just get over it. They'll be better for it.

This is the type of response which puts people off.

The repetitive "by the ways" and repetitive "USA Today" statements come across as sarcastic and belittling. The creation of strawman statements such as:" You can say that it had no effect on them,..." when in fact I made no such statement is disconcerting to say the least.

It is understandable that you have much of yourself invested in this matter, and I applaud your sharing of the information you did.

 

[dbulmer]

Jax,
You'd be welcome !

Just in case anyone gets the wrong idea - Rox is a good bloke but you didn't hear it from me!

 

[fairybasslet]

This is the type of response which puts people off.

It didn't put me off. Just sayin'

The repetitive "by the ways" and repetitive "USA Today" statements come across as sarcastic and belittling.

Much as your "disclaimer" statement did.

It is understandable that you have much of yourself invested in this matter, and I applaud your sharing of the information you did.

The fact is, he was there. USA Today merely reported on it 10 years after the fact.