Dangerous Names
Posted by: Loren Coleman on October 12th, 2007
In Mysterious America, I have written about the sinister nature of the “name game.” There can be a bloody side to the name game, as well.
I’ve published some thoughts about this - as evidenced by the Ohio school shooting this week - in new blog over at the Copycat Effect site, here: “Cleveland’s Coon: A Columbine Copycat”. I am not shy about confronting the racial underpinnings in issues, so for those faint of heart about that topic, you won’t want to read that blog.
As many of you know, as a consultant and volunteer, I am involved in preventing and solving a significant Homo sapiens behavioral mystery - suicide-related school shootings. This has resulted in several talks and books, the most recent book being The Copycat Effect.
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For those that wish to hear my thoughts in this realm, there are two National Public Radio (NPR) programs with interviews with me, that were broadcast on October 6th and October 7th, a year ago. They should still be online for later downloads.
On the Media (from NPR)
October 6, 2006
“Picturing the Worst”
The assault this week in Pennsylvania’s Amish country was the sixth deadly school shooting in as many weeks. Media commentators are pointing to the possibility of a copycat effect, but few are examining the media’s own complicity therein. School violence researcher Loren Coleman tells Bob that a little more restraint on the part of the media wouldn’t hurt.
Weekend America (from NPR)
October 07, 2006
“Causes and Effects”
Were two school shootings in quick succession, one in Colorado and the other in Pennsylvania, related in some way? They shared several characteristics, but the towns were thousands of miles apart, with entirely different school communities, so it couldn’t be more than a coincidence, right? Not so, says school violence expert Loren Coleman. He’ll talk to us about why these acts of violence happen at certain times in the year, what the media effect is, and how the two recent school shootings are related to one another.
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Very astute observations, which I agree with wholeheartedly, but is this cryptozoological news?
A person is a sum of their many parts, and I very clearly identify what this posting is about.
If I am to deny my true self, life could be very boring. If I ignored what moves me, I would not be conducting the work I do, which, of course, is colored by my world view, whether Fortean, cryptozoological, sociological, anthropological, or whatever.
To me, my insights on names have no borders.
“One measures a circle, beginning anywhere.”
hey loren very informative new article. thanks bill
Loren,
As a current grad student of VA Tech, I wanted to know your thoughts on that situation that occured on campus April 16th. Thanks.
Needless to say, I was involved, via media interviews and in other ways, with the analysis of the VA Tech incidents, having actually predicted it months before (in 2005). Go to my Copycat Effect blog and backtrack through my postings there to find more on what I said about those April 16th events.
Especially for April 2007 and this Snow Closes Colleges: Why Not Shootings?
It wasn’t until recently that I even knew about your MSW and the work you have done in that vein. I am very pleased to be directed to the other sites to learn more about your stance on these issues. I am glad you are multi-faceted. I suspect most of us are.
Thanks!!! 
Thanks for sharing this with us, Loren. Very interesting.
Loren
As A grandfather of seven, the oldest of which is going to junior high this year, I find this recent phenomena very frightening. I took the time to go to your other site, may I suggest that others do the same. We live in very troubled times, sometimes the real monsters in this world can be living next door. Thanks for sharing with us this and anything you’d like to.
Dr Phil’s show concentrated on this topic today.
I have checked out Loren’s other site on several occasions and found it to be very thought provoking and interesting. I’d definately reccomend any one here with even a passing interest in this area to go take a look.