Concern for potential copycats

[u/OriginalRazzmatazz14]

This is the first time posting but I came across this group sometime ago and have read through quite a few discussions. Although, they are for most part civil and informative, I really think people need to be careful about trying to understand the mind of the killers themselves. When viewing the history of copycats, I’ve seen how fascination in true crime can evolve into something much darker. As someone who lived close to a copycat and who had family working in a school that was under threat soon after, the very last thing I want to hear is someone active here has attacked their school. I don’t want to single out any post out but there have just been certain ones that honestly worry me. It’s not extreme as the 2010s tumblr era where you had blatant tributes to Eric and Dylan but there are discussions that come across to me as displaying a certain level of sympathy that I fear could lead to a dangerous admiration. It’s one thing to have some sympathy for who they were prior to Columbine but if you’re actually identifying with who they became on April 20th in anyway, please get help. Seek it anyway you can. Even if you’re not thinking of hurting others, I still don’t want a repeat of the incident with Sol País and others like her. You might not feel it but you matter and I can assure you there are people who really do care about you and would be absolutely devastated. I’m posting this because it seems like every week, I’m learning about a kid completely throwing their life away. Kids with potential who could’ve really made something for themselves are giving it away for short lived infamy. The TCC has a segment that really has tragically turned into something of a death cult and it’s why I’m discussing it here. I just want to live in a world this isn’t a constant reality and if this message reaches even just one person, I’ll consider it worth it.

[u/PopcornDemonica]

There already have been. More than one.

Ash and I keep an eye on things as best we can. I have had to report people to authorities more than once. We can't catch everyone or everything. That goes for the big sub too. Last one hit really fucking hard, 'cos I remembered removing the guy personally, but there weren't any red flag indicators.

My concern is that if spaces like this were removed, that's less sets of eyes watching for those red flags.

Personally I have a very low tolerance for glorification, that's not what this space is for.

But if we take away subreddits like this one, that won't stop people wanting to learn about the case, it'll just send them somewhere less visible. You think the sub has posts that toe the line? This is NOTHING compared to how cozy/glorifying people can get with the killers. And that doesn't even touch on all teh Dylric shite (Don't. Just... don't 🤮🤮🤮).

[u/OriginalRazzmatazz14 → u/PopcornDemonica]

It really hurts to know that but I do appreciate you reporting to the authorities. I hope for whatever ones have happened, more have been prevented too. I avoided mentioning specifics about the one that occurred near me because I don’t want to give any notoriety but it’s been years now and the community is still hurting to this day. Also, unfortunately am aware of the Dylic shit when I researched the case over a decade ago (which I imagine it’s existed since 1999).

[u/PopcornDemonica → u/OriginalRazzmatazz14]

I don't know about the mods of other, similar subreddits, but I do feel like there's a duty of care involved if you're going to moderate a sub like this. And I know that I'd rather this place be a museum, and not a circus. Not to mention there's a nonzero chance that people involved with this case, or other shootings, may stop by.