I'm on CNN's The Nineties tonight, discussing Columbine
- Aug 6, 2017
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 2
Hopefully, CNN won't use all my goofy faces tonight. There are so many!
We shot my interview about Columbine for their documentary series "The Nineties" back in January, and it debuts tonight (Sunday) at 9pm ET.*
Each episode tackles a major theme from the 90s, and the title of this one is "Terrorism hits home." (Yes they worked Columbine in with Oklahoma City, the rise of Osama Bin Laden, The Unabomer, Waco, Ruby Ridge, etc.)
I've been enjoying the series since The 60s, so I'm optimistic that they did a good job. I've not seen it yet. (And I have no idea how much they'll use me.)
Coincidentally, the (new, expanded) edition of Columbine is 55% off at Amazon right now ($7.76). I don't control that (nor do I ever know why), but that's unheard of. Columbine at Amazon.
BTW, I was dogsitting Bobby Sneakers that week and showed up with "dog all over you" in the words of one producer. Whoops. Big props to the great make-up woman in the pic who culled him off me with a roller.)
Note: I also shot interviews for a much longer Columbine documentary coming soon to another network. Details of that still have to remain hush hush.
* If you miss the show tonight, they rerun them several times during the week. (Starting with 3 hours later tonight, I think.) But there are so many news pre-emptions in this breaking-news-palooza that all bets are off on that.
Update: I liked what they did. I'll post clips soon. (And CNN will replay it several times this Saturday and Sunday. The first is very late Friday night--technically Saturday a.m.)
I truly appreciate how this piece walks the line between documentation and empathy. Remembering these events without sensationalizing them is a skill, and this post manages it well. As someone who studies how collective memory works, I find this approach refreshing. Personal rituals help too - sometimes a quick rice purity test with friends turns into a fun conversation starter, other mornings I pick a random verse just to ground myself, and at work a double click test checks my mouse before long writing sessions. These small habits keep my mind steady so I can engage with heavy topics honestly. Thanks again for the thoughtful writing.
Your reflections on Columbine and how the media shaped public memory around it are incredibly valuable. Growing up in that era, I remember how these stories stayed with us and shaped how later generations understood safety and trauma. It takes courage to keep discussing it with such nuance. On lighter days, I find calm in small distractions - a random animal generator by tuimiz to pick something silly, or a warrior cats name generator when my kids want to invent fantasy clans. I have even looked up russian last names for a family history project. And when the conversation gets heavy, it reminds me that food never comes fast enough after a long emotional day. Thank you for sharing this…
Your reflections on how the media portrays events like Columbine really resonate. It’s fascinating how the connections you draw with other 90s incidents shape public perception of safety and violence. I’m curious, did you feel any particular pressure during your interview with CNN, knowing how sensitive and impactful the topic is? I often find myself exploring how different media forms, like games or documentaries, can influence our understanding of such tragedies. For instance, I recently looked into a wiki for a game that explores social themes in a light-hearted way Gamble With Your Friends Wiki.
Your reflections on the Columbine tragedy and its connection to other major events in the '90s are intriguing. It’s a reminder of how deeply those moments impacted not just individuals but society as a whole. The cultural narratives surrounding these events continue to shape our understanding of safety today. I often find myself analyzing how different forms of media, including games, can influence perceptions of violence and its aftermath. It's interesting to think about the role of educational tools like significant figures calculators in helping us convey complex data in discussions about such topics. Significant Figures Calculator
It's fascinating that they paired Columbine with Oklahoma City and other terrorist events in the "Terrorism hits home" episode. I recently experimented with an AI music generator to create background music for a school project on the 1990s, and it captured the unsettling mood perfectly.