Do you think that Eric Harris's classmates were to blame for Columbine?

Supposedly Eric Harris and his friends were bullied, and that's why they did it. They claimed their classmates brought it upon themselves. Do you think this is true? Do you think it ultimately could have been avoided?





Looking for personal opinion here, I've got my own. I want yours.

Do you think that Eric Harris's classmates were to blame for Columbine?
No. If we get like that, every kid who draws something wacky could get locked up, every stupid threat that kids make to each other would get them in trouble and most kids who run their mouths would never actually follow through and do something like that.


I do not think we can know what is going on in someone's head or heart. Unfortunately there will always be mentally ill and emotionally unbalanced people in the world, there is no way to eliminate that.


The classmates did not bring it on. Though perhaps if one is bullied for years, yes that would cause someone to snap. The parents really should have been watching what the kid was up to, and getting him counseling if he needed it.





I do not think we can or should monitor people to that extent, if we do that we would turn into something like the "thought police" of 1984 the book, or like Nazi's. We will not be able to complete rid ourselves of all psychotics, serial killers or mentally ill people for many years, even if we found the genetic tendency and had a way to correct whatever was wrong in their brain. Hopefully parents can instill good morals in their children and tend them as they grow in good people.


We just have to accept that we will not be able to control others and that the world will always be full of risks.





To eliminate all risks is to eliminate all life.
Reply:There is no question that the bullies were wrong. But this type of thing has been going on since day one --- and probably will continue.





The problem was that Eric (and his friends) were not taught to be strong by their parents (and other associates). They were deficient in their own social development and couldn't withstand the bullying without snapping.





These particular bullies were the catalyst. But if it hadn't been these bullies, it would have been others. So I'm doubtful that the incident (or a similar one) could have been totally avoided.





This is not in any way excusing the bullies. And this may be a good lesson to bullies of what could conceivably happen in future instances --- God forbid.
Reply:Any time a tragedy happens like that there is only one way to place blame, on the perpetrator!
Reply:I blame alot on the students, but more on the parents and then themselves for the killings and aftermath. I know that if I had children, I would know what they were going through, period.
Reply:It's definately a result of a mixture of things - i don't think you could blame bullies entirely, because quite frankly everyone is picked on at one time or another. It probably is a mixture of feelings of social isolation, a lack of support from family and school and quite possibly mental illness as well - millions of sufferers of depression and bi polar go undiagnosed.
Reply:i definatly think this could've been avoided


if not by the classmates by the reachers or the parents, who seemed to be absolutely withdrawn from their kid's lives


if they were girls they would've told someone about their troubles but they're not and didn't


i know it's a horrible thing to say but i think the country NEEDED this tragedy to raise awarness on the seriousness of bulling in adolecent schooling

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