gamepolitics: Columbine Diaries Contain Video Game References

Game Politics (

gamepolitics) wrote,
@ 2006-07-06 15:27:00

Entry tags:

columbine, diaries, doom, duke nukem, dylan klebold, eric harris, game violence, school shootings, violence

Columbine Diaries Contain Video Game References

Just-released diaries and assorted papers of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold contain a handful of video game references among the 946 pages made public today by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Of the planned massacre, Harris wrote, "It'll be like the LA riots, the Oklahoma bombing, WWII, Vietnam, Duke and Doom all mixed together. ... I want to leave a lasting impression on the world."

id Software's Doom series is well-known as a favorite of Harris and Klebold. The "Duke" reference refers to Duke Nukem 3D, a bawdy, 1996 first-person shooter from developer 3D Realms.

Note the hand-drawn Doom logo in Harris' diary at left. The complete diaries are available on the website of the Denver Post. A reference in Harris' diary written about a year before the Columbine shootings reads:

"...everyone should be put to a test. an Ultimate Doom test. see who (unreadable) an environment using only smarts and military skills... Put them in a Doom world, no authority, no refuge, no BS copout excuses. If you can't figure out the area of a triangle or what (unreadable) means, you die! If you can't take down a demon w/a chainsaw or a hell prince w/a shotgun, you die!"

In August, 1998 Harris wrote out a list of "25 Things that make me different." Number one was:

"My love for a computer game called Doom. Doom is such a big part of my life and no one I know can recreate environments in Doom as good as me. I know almost anything there is to know about that game, so I believe that separates me from the rest of the world... Doom is so burned into my head my thoughts usually have something to do with the game... the fact is I love that game and if others tell me, "hey it's just a game" I say "hey, I don't care"

Ironically, the last item on Harris' list is "My memories of the past and my hopes for the future."

Harris also wrote a fan letter to id which can be seen here.

Although it's clear that Eric Harris was a devotee of Doom, the material released today in large part reinforces what was already known about the Columbine shooter: that he was an angry young man, full of hatred and contempt for many of those he knew. He also appears to have been very interested in guns and Nazi imagery.

There is far less material pertaining to Klebold. The only game-related items contained among his papers are handwritten links to what appear to be file download sites for Doom and Quake add-ons.

Want to talk about it? You can discuss this story via the "comments" feature (click below), or in the new GamePolitics Forums...

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	maldron 2006-07-06 07:46 pm UTC (link)
	Shrug I see the Real World inspirations outnumber the game ones. Two to one, even. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	gamepolitics 2006-07-06 07:50 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, at least by that much. But we all know we will be hearing about this, so let's just put it out there... (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

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maldron, 2006-07-06 07:54 pm UTC

(no subject) -

kurisu7885, 2006-07-06 08:01 pm UTC

	ss_ebonclaw 2006-07-06 07:54 pm UTC (link)
	You know.. if Wack-O Jack-O pulls this up in court next time he's there, I will feel personally offended, in a way only a Canadian can(because we feel offended FOR people, even if they're not actually offended, themselves), for the families and the victims of the Columbine shooting. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	kincyr 2006-07-06 08:30 pm UTC (link)
	yea, Jack likes to capitalize on tragic events in the name of Jealous. (Before you argue Jack, read Exodus 34:14) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	mcflynnthm 2006-07-06 07:54 pm UTC (link)
	Of course the media will pick up on this, but for god's sake, why? We all knew they liked violent video games. We also knew they were deeply troubled individuals. I thought we sorted all this Columbine-video game business out back in the late 90's. (Reply to this)

	rformer 2006-07-06 07:59 pm UTC (link)
	Wars inspire violence. Lets pass legislation banning wars. ;P (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Kellogg-Briand Pact samuraiknight 2006-07-09 06:36 am UTC (link)
	That's already been tried. So much for that. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	WOW.... bigman_k 2006-07-06 08:02 pm UTC (link)
	Just one reference to video games in their diaries and the fucking mass media jumps all over it like a pack of vultures over a dead body in the desert. No doubt this will also be Jackass Thompsons "supposed proof" that videos games were the sole reason behind the Columbine Massacre. I fucking hate the mainstream media. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: WOW.... gamepolitics 2006-07-06 08:05 pm UTC (link)
	well, not really sure if that's the only reference. checking on that now. The diaries are over 900+ pages. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: WOW.... -

chenry, 2006-07-06 08:12 pm UTC

	ianc14 2006-07-06 08:07 pm UTC (link)
	Ah, well a certain someone will be back in the press soon. (Reply to this)

	chenry 2006-07-06 08:08 pm UTC (link)
	Why must the media persist to flog this deceased Equus caballus (Reply to this)

	nose_master 2006-07-06 08:13 pm UTC (link)
	Not again D: (Reply to this)

	typhoid 2006-07-06 08:23 pm UTC (link)
	I'm waiting for another of the "video games + boys= terrorism" fabricated link because of the flying into NYC and crashing a plane comments. The thing is, we've already gone through this. Shouldn't there be a statute of limitations for popular culture scapegoats? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	gamepolitics 2006-07-06 08:30 pm UTC (link)
	there should, but when this material is released, it's news. Whatcha gonna do? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

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typhoid, 2006-07-06 09:02 pm UTC

uhhhh

enmitywithin
2006-07-06 08:24 pm UTC (link)

I think the "no shit sherlock" approach should be used here.

Didn't JT always go on about how "klebold and harris literally trained on these murder simulators" or somethin?

the only thing new about this is the diaries. because certain people have been linking columbine to doom for a while now.

curious though why this didn't pop up on my RSS feeds. *checks RSS feeds* oh, because I didn't have the law feed, heh.

(Reply to this)

	slayemin 2006-07-06 08:36 pm UTC (link)
	I wonder if brute forcing the same lie in different forms eventually makes it a truth. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	gabrielcelesta 2006-07-07 01:10 am UTC (link)
	You mean like "The Big Lie"? As in, tell a lie enough times to enough people and they'll think it's the truth? Well, at any rate, a lie is still a lie, so I'd like to say no... as long as there are people like us who understand it's all a lie... (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

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slayemin, 2006-07-07 06:03 pm UTC

	refraction 2006-07-06 08:40 pm UTC (link)
	God, look at what they wrote in that journal! WW2, Vietnam..clearly the problem here is war! We must ban it, at once! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	terminator44 2006-07-07 03:22 am UTC (link)
	So is discussing the area of a triangle. Ban geometry! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	sir_bissel 2006-07-06 08:45 pm UTC (link)
	What does the area of a triangle have to do with playing doom? I don't remember that ever really being part of it... blink (Reply to this)

dallendoug
2006-07-06 08:47 pm UTC (link)

I highly suggest reading the article here: http://www.slate.com/id/2099203/ -- very good article by Dave Cullen, who's written a lot about Columbine.

The conclusion of a variety of experts appears to be that Eric Harris was a textbook psychopath, and most of his "anger" was really disdain and superiority, and most of his persona was an act.

Cullen has done a lot to debunk "myths" of Columbine, while providing a lot of information and insight. Harris was someone who would have been a menace no matter what stimulus or environment he was placed in.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	dustin1986 2006-07-07 07:30 am UTC (link)
	Yes... I agree with the Cthulu-headed man. (Reply to this) (Parent)

goodrobotus
2006-07-06 08:48 pm UTC (link)

Video games had already been listed as 'amongst' things these kids sought out by the FBI. They probably also contain references to violent movies and violent images, as well as to 'evil' organisations etc.

These kids were living in a fantasy world, they wanted to be what they considered to be 'evil', that was a mental deficiency on their own part, they had a 'comic book' image of evil in their heads, and they sought comic book images of evil to satiate it.

The fact that is conveniently overlooked by those that choose to, is that these images are evidence of the affliction, but not cause of it, and alone, drawing the cover to Doom is far from a life-threatening act. It's only when taken in context with the writer and the other content in the Diary that anything sinister could be found in there. It won't stop people trying, I agree, but it really is something the FBI have already covered and found no evidence to weigh any kind of media over another as an influence on these boys.

As for the comments regarding Doom. No big deal there really, it's not like people haven't made comments like 'We should just let President Bush and Saddam Hussein into a locked room with rifles, two enter, one leaves' etc. It's a typical paralel to run, though, no doubt people will try to play on it.

Anyone trying to make more of this than it is, is doing the legal equivalent of demanding a Full Pardon for Charles Manson.

(Reply to this)

	onzanokooya 2006-07-06 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	(Puts head in hands) We're never going to hear the end of this. I'd bet my left arm Jack Thompson is going to jump on this like white on rice and once again take a disaster and manipulate it to the point of mockery for his own personal gain. Where most people have a heart, Thompson has a tumor of rotten principles. (Reply to this)

	jervo 2006-07-06 09:08 pm UTC (link)
	The page in question is page 69, in case you're curious. The page also has a bunch of references to AOL, of all things. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	ianc14 2006-07-06 09:55 pm UTC (link)
	BAN AOL!!!!!! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

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kincyr, 2006-07-07 08:26 am UTC

like the exorcist with more breakdancing

not_on_weekends
2006-07-06 09:09 pm UTC (link)

The diaries just look like potential indie rock album covers.

Every kid finds a hobby that they attach themselves to deeply and these things help them get through the troubles of being a kid. The only difference is that these kids shot a bunch of people. :/ If I went on a rampage through downtown SF, beating up random people surely the media would blame it on my playing fighting games from a young age.. when quite frankly, it would probably just have been because I'm crazy and therefore seeked out games that I'd like (said fighting games). But this is an old argument that I'd rather not start up again, I suppose.

Who or what's to blame doesn't take back the fact that people died. It's always a matter of who's to blame because god forbid we actually fix the problem with children's youth: the children themselves.

(Reply to this)

	jdmdsp911 2006-07-06 09:23 pm UTC (link)
	Saw about this as I was passing over Fox News. They had no mention of the video game thing though. Just his hit list ans some other things like how he was made that his parents tried to punish him by taking away his phone and computer. They also mentioned that there was some Pro-Nazi speech in it as well. (Reply to this)

Regardless

yukimurasanada
2006-07-06 09:28 pm UTC (link)

Any psychologist in the world would look at the Diaries and discount games as having had any real relevance when compared to the massive amount of hate speech and anger in them. K and H were mentally disturbed and had serious persecution and paranoia isssues, as some of the quotes as they relate to his school indicate.

personally the industry ought to be touting this as proof that the Anti game zeolots ignore the real issues and try to blame violence on a scape goat cause they are afraid to face the real issues at hand. Much in the same way that Jacko ignored the Neo Nazi ties and propganda during the Jacob Robida case, and was eventually disproven.

It's shit like this that makes me with the industry would go on the offensive. I'm tired of them playing defense. We need to make it so costly for the Media and people like jack to go against the industry, that they just shut up entirely.

(Reply to this)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Regardless twobitmatt 2006-07-07 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	Hilarious thing about the Jacob Robida case was that if you looked into his background, he had this huge thing for "Insane Clown Posse" and called himself a "Juggalo", all this other crap. The kicker? He committed those murders with a a hatchet. The ICP logo is a clown with a hatchet. And does WackoJacko blame ICP? Nope. GTA. Too many abbreviations. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	toxic_offender 2006-07-06 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Doom is such a big part of my life and no one I know can recreate environments in Doom as good as me." ...Except, your levels SUCKED. I downloaded and played a few of them, and, compared to some others I've played, they were like something produced by a child with Lincoln Logs. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	lost_watcher 2006-07-07 06:13 pm UTC (link)
	After 9 years... he gets a response to those levels. XD (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

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amperture, 2006-07-08 11:40 am UTC

	xiiiwulf 2006-07-06 10:57 pm UTC (link)
	Of course there are references to video games! They are a ubiquitous part of our society. Man, the game is NOT the sole, SINGULAR reason this boy did what he did. (Reply to this)

	i_love_catgirls 2006-07-06 10:58 pm UTC (link)
	You know... I feel kinda bad that he never got to enjoy Doom 3 or be disappointed by the Doom movie. Maybe I'm just too sympathetic. :O (Reply to this) (Thread)

automancer
2006-07-07 12:52 am UTC (link)

This doesn't tell me anything I haven't heard before. What it tells me is that he equated his anger and rage with something that was familiar to him, which in this case was Doom. This can happen with practically anything. If he had taken interest to movies or comic books this would have manifested in that way. That doesn't mean that it was the cause it was just the outlet.

-Auto

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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m0lim0, 2006-07-07 04:33 am UTC

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terminator44, 2006-07-07 07:58 pm UTC

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cripple_mronion, 2006-07-08 03:11 am UTC

	*sigh* theshroomguy 2006-07-07 12:39 am UTC (link)
	WE are going to be haunted by this for a long time. Especialy when jacks jumps on his high horse and starts using this as "evidence" (Reply to this)

	Sheesh. terminator44 2006-07-07 12:51 am UTC (link)
	I bet that everyone's least favorite lawyer went "Hooah!" in his pants when he read this article. Good thing he's been perma-banned, or who knows what psychotic banter he would have posted here. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Sheesh.

kincyr
2006-07-07 02:25 am UTC (link)

he still tries, only because he knows LJ will email the reply the user if the user wishes them to do so. IOW, disable the feature everyone.

Going off-topic: A pixel is defined as a dot on a computer screen, and a vigilante is defined as someone taking the law into their own hands. Therefore that should make JT a pixelante as he is using the internet to (try to) take the law into his own hands. JT also said "pixelante knucklehead" is redundant. Should that be true, then JT admits to being a knucklehead.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Sheesh. -

beardoggx, 2006-07-07 11:58 am UTC

Re: Sheesh. -

sabin_blitz, 2006-07-07 01:41 pm UTC

Re: Sheesh. -

terminator44, 2006-07-07 03:08 pm UTC

Re: Sheesh. -

gamepolitics, 2006-07-07 03:19 pm UTC

Re: Sheesh. -

terminator44, 2006-07-07 07:44 pm UTC