tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post1177850126906248393..comments2023-09-20T10:58:32.510-04:00Comments on The Year in Books: An open letter to an anonymous nattering nabob of negativityNancyOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-43469268136718492962010-06-10T14:34:39.584-04:002010-06-10T14:34:39.584-04:00Thanks Nancy.
BTW, I have more resources for peop...Thanks Nancy.<br /><br />BTW, I have more resources for people interested. There's lots more info at my site: http://davecullen.com <br /><br />I just created a Students Page, several videos and a discussion board. For schools and book clubs, I'm going to offer to skype in for 20-30 minutes this fall/summer.<br /><br />Thanks.Dave Cullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147629998855818290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-27176702877277818702010-06-09T19:28:45.570-04:002010-06-09T19:28:45.570-04:00Dave, absolutely no worries. I can only imagine th...Dave, absolutely no worries. I can only imagine the kind of crap you get, and I feel badly for you!NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-27613509258171645592010-06-09T01:40:50.626-04:002010-06-09T01:40:50.626-04:00Nancy, thanks for this. I've shared some of th...Nancy, thanks for this. I've shared some of those frustrations and felt quite bad for bloggers and others who supported my book and then been abused for it. I'm also open to discussions with people who want to talk about both good and bad reactions to my book, but I'm not interested in talking to people hurling those sorts of insults at me or at you.Dave Cullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147629998855818290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-48235159575242068462010-06-08T23:22:09.777-04:002010-06-08T23:22:09.777-04:00@Lisa: Well, I happen to know Aths has a wonderful...@Lisa: Well, I happen to know Aths has a wonderful blog! You are most welcome here any time as well.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-88464056132357488732010-06-08T20:51:34.333-04:002010-06-08T20:51:34.333-04:00@NancyO and Aths-Thank you so much for your kind w...@NancyO and Aths-Thank you so much for your kind words, it's much appreciated. And I'm glad to have found another blog on books, I'm always looking for recommendations on new books to read, and old ones too, of course. ;-)Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-14272491224761047732010-06-08T15:51:38.846-04:002010-06-08T15:51:38.846-04:00Dianne - I don't mind the naysayers...it's...Dianne - I don't mind the naysayers...it's the ones like the original e-mailer that get to me! I don't mind at all that people think differently than I do - it's just when they become venomous that what could have been a decent discussion becomes just an attack. Oh well. Thanks for your comments!NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-17994908910480217782010-06-08T15:47:45.733-04:002010-06-08T15:47:45.733-04:00Oh dear. There is never any excuse for rudeness. I...Oh dear. There is never any excuse for rudeness. I realize that just having a blog of any kind is opening yourself up to thoughtless verbal assault, but wouldn't the world be so much nicer if people didn't indulge in it? I've been very fortunate so far in that I've had people disagree with me, but not throw tantrums or insult me personally. I'm sure my turn is coming. It could always be worse. I always go back to something I read a long time ago, that it's sad to be a victim, but it's worse to be the perpetrator. You write good, thoughtful reviews so ignore any naysayers and keep up the good work!<br />DianneOrdinary Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16813001887162908486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-10927089024229445472010-06-08T10:28:10.740-04:002010-06-08T10:28:10.740-04:00Lynne, I loved your reaction! LOL!
Lisa, I agree ...Lynne, I loved your reaction! LOL!<br /><br />Lisa, I agree with Nancy that we are glad that not everyone is worshiping a book to be the to-go in this topic. That said, what infuriates me is the shameless approach in which we are rebuffed. So we liked the book. Fair enough. But do we really need those tons of "Anonymous" comments telling us we are wrong? I didn't write the book. I can only say how much I appreciated it. Yours is the first really thought-out "naysayer" comment I've come across, and I can't express how much I appreciate it. Simply because I saw enough of negative and deriding comments, and in some cases, personal attacks that Nancy got. It is always good to hear the other side of the story. Cullen himself mentioned that he still doesn't have information on some issues. That itself throws open the possibility that there is more to this picture than what we have read.<br /><br />As Nancy said, I am done with this topic as well. Not in the sense that I will run away from any Columbine discussion, but rather I won't voluntarily pick up a book on Columbine, unless someone legitimately and nicely points me in that direction. When I started reading this book, I never expected it to be so controversial. More than the subject, I think I've gone weary of the frequent attacks I see everywhere, that it has made me totally reluctant to dig myself deeper. Once again, thanks for your thoughts in this matter. I hope more "naysayers" take the same intelligent approach. Also, thanks for those book suggestions.Athirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-41835007068359538222010-06-08T08:35:32.722-04:002010-06-08T08:35:32.722-04:00@Gwen: I'm getting to the point where I just c...@Gwen: I'm getting to the point where I just can't tolerate that kind of thing any more. I think that the person just needs a life of some sort and to move on. But the happy pills -- now there's an idea!NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-37851269353381359982010-06-08T08:33:03.924-04:002010-06-08T08:33:03.924-04:00@Lisa: First, I never had the intention of defendi...@Lisa: First, I never had the intention of defending Cullen's work above any others. It's just the only one I've read, so I'm sure there are many other points of view out there that are also valued contributions. Personally, I have no problem with people making comments like yours that are well thought out and intelligent. <br /><br />And as to your comment "even though it's been 11 years since the attack people haven't forgotten, and are still asking questions and still seeking the truth. That can never be a bad thing"... well, that is absolutely true.<br /><br />Thanks for coming by, and thank you for a very reasoned response. It is greatly appreciated. Personal attacks are not.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-74732452282050949162010-06-08T08:27:57.195-04:002010-06-08T08:27:57.195-04:00Lynne: Thanks for the tip -- I'm going to go t...Lynne: Thanks for the tip -- I'm going to go take a look. You can feel free to come over and make me laugh any time.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-71302105604746238302010-06-08T08:27:22.074-04:002010-06-08T08:27:22.074-04:00@anonymous: thanks for weighing in. As noted earli...@anonymous: thanks for weighing in. As noted earlier, I'm pretty much done with the subject of Columbine, not because I don't care, but because I have tons of other books to get through. But thank you for your post, and for the URL link.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-31096731884837506742010-06-08T00:03:56.980-04:002010-06-08T00:03:56.980-04:00That person sounds like they need a hug, a thesaur...That person sounds like they need a hug, a thesaurus, and a lobotomy. Upping the happy pills not be a bad idea either.<br /><br />Way to refute stupidity point by point. Watch the skies negative freaky people, the aliens might take your kids!Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16890023141515213059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-2954565689883578372010-06-08T00:02:38.163-04:002010-06-08T00:02:38.163-04:00Nancy, that's a shame that the person you ment...Nancy, that's a shame that the person you mentioned was so rude in their comments regarding your review of Cullen's "Columbine". Of course there are much better ways to disagree with someone's opinion on something. There's no need for name-calling and it's too bad that the person had to resort to that because I'm sure it did absolutely nothing to convince anyone that he/she might have a valid point on anything.<br /><br />It's interesting that you mentioned Cullen contacting you regarding naysayers on his book. I'm one of those naysayers though I haven't been nearly as prolific as some of them but then that's probably because I'm not nearly as well-informed as most of them either. A lot of these naysayers have spent enormous amounts of time doing the reading of the tens of thousands of official Columbine documents. It's my belief that they're just so frustrated that Cullen's work is now being accepted as the one true source on what actually happened at Columbine that they're trying very hard to get the word out that nothing could be further from the truth. And maybe sometimes they don't always go about it the most polite way.<br /><br />"Columbine" was the first book I read on the subject and at the time I was very impressed with it. Then I read other books about the attack at CHS and with each book I became less impressed with Cullen's work and more so with each new author I read. I also found an online forum that discusses the attack at Columbine and found that there are other people (more of those naysayers!) who are dissatisfied with Cullen's book as well. A lot of them feel Cullen's research into the subject of the Columbine attack is flawed and faulty, and after reading their comments and some official court documents as well I'm inclined to agree with them. Some of them have contacted him asking questions about it and they're hoping that he responds to them in the near future. So far that hasn't happened but many of us keep hoping. I think it would be great if an open and honest dialogue regarding Cullen's book could happen between the author and his readers.<br /><br />I see that someone's already mentioned the Kass book to you, which is quite good. Kass has also written a continuing column on Columbine at Huffington Post which is very good too. I would also suggest to anyone who can bear to read another book or two on the same subject to please read Brooks Brown's "No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine" and Ralph Larkin's "Comprehending Columbine". None of these books received the attention of Cullen's work but IMHO they're superior to his book. They're not perfect but I think they're better researched. Again, just IMHO.<br /><br />This is such a long post! but I wanted to say one last thing. That regardless, I'm just glad that even though it's been 11 years since the attack people haven't forgotten, and are still asking questions and still seeking the truth. That can never be a bad thing.Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-76328180782853068492010-06-07T23:24:55.724-04:002010-06-07T23:24:55.724-04:00Glad I could make you laugh, Nancy. I'm feeli...Glad I could make you laugh, Nancy. I'm feeling a little less hostile now. lol Thanks for being my sounding board here. Ha! I'm laughing at myself now. Sheesh, I must have had one too many cups of coffee when I wrote all that.<br /><br />I just signed up for Intense Debate for comments, and the Monday meme was my first post using it. It's GREAT. It gives you the person's email address and IP address. I for sure won't be hearing from that Columbine commenter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926593497861922526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-86420047953765080102010-06-07T23:09:16.979-04:002010-06-07T23:09:16.979-04:00Cullen is wrong. More were involved than just Harr...Cullen is wrong. More were involved than just Harris and Klebold. Read what the eyewitnesses had to say:<br /><br />http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/columbineeight.phpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-51079569841111274462010-06-07T22:36:01.441-04:002010-06-07T22:36:01.441-04:00Becky, you are so right! I seriously don't min...Becky, you are so right! I seriously don't mind someone telling me that he or she disagrees with what I say, but calling me an idiot from the getgo is not what I'd consider intelligent discussion. As I noted in an earlier post, the anonymity of the internet seems to bring out the worst in people.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-87003806133234373302010-06-07T22:27:32.076-04:002010-06-07T22:27:32.076-04:00You said it!
There are some weird people out ther...You said it!<br /><br />There are some weird people out there - non-thinkers I sometimes call them.<br /><br />I like getting comments on my blog from someone with a different perspective to me, but why couldn't this person articulate it? Saying, 'you're wrong' to someone else doesn't mean much unless you can explain why you think the other person is wrong.<br /><br />Why doesn't this non-thinker just say, well I have a different perspective and it is this.....<br /><br />It is really not that hard to be polite and not personal. <br /><br />You tell them!!!Rebecca Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14144719070318640603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-51339571603621313062010-06-07T22:20:13.840-04:002010-06-07T22:20:13.840-04:00Lynne
You made me laugh so hard! Rant and rave awa...Lynne<br />You made me laugh so hard! Rant and rave away -- I don't care.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-49592178879591663562010-06-07T18:31:14.096-04:002010-06-07T18:31:14.096-04:00I loved Dave Cullen's book Columbine!!!!! Lov...I loved Dave Cullen's book Columbine!!!!! Loved it, loved it!!!!<br /><br />I gave it a glowing review on my blog. Wonder why they didn't email me. They can if they want...<br /><br />Here: moellermom5 AT yahoo DOT com<br /><br />Bring it on sister.<br /><br />Wait, let me say it again...I absolutely loved Columbine and I think Dave Cullen is BRILLIANT.<br /><br />Sorry, Nancy, I'm feeling very feisty over this whole thing. Didn't mean to use your blog to rant and rave and taunt. But seriously. Aths is right. Is it attention they're wanting? Hope he or she feels better now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926593497861922526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-1701595374577766592010-06-07T16:18:05.387-04:002010-06-07T16:18:05.387-04:00It is stupid, isn't it!It is stupid, isn't it!NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-28106386601570776992010-06-07T14:03:18.561-04:002010-06-07T14:03:18.561-04:00This person has made some very nasty comments on o...This person has made some very nasty comments on other people's reviews of Columbine at Amazon.com. From what I understand, she is a self-proclaimed "expert" on the topic. <br /><br />Dave Cullen, the author of Columbine, warned me that there is a group of naysayers that follow reviews of his book and that this might happen. So while I was sort of ready for it, I wasn't prepared for the personal attack. That was just low.NancyOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5258224106731736323.post-33024425243658414562010-06-07T13:56:06.981-04:002010-06-07T13:56:06.981-04:00Who is this jerk? Such a comic personality! I wond...Who is this jerk? Such a comic personality! I wonder what this person hopes to gain by spamming everyone! I received deriding comments to my review as well, and just plain deleted when I realized that this person is wrecking havoc everywhere. I shouldn't have. Instead, I should have just given that nice person the attention she craves.Athirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com