Thanks to Omni Brain for discovering this laughable counterpoint to the invesigative geniuses populating forensic science fiction:

One method for discovering potentially violent students involves having students write about their lives as a window into their thoughts. This would have helped in some of the school shootings if the teachers had had the essays and then been able to interpret their content and style. For example, one of the shooters’work was influenced heavily by the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who is best known for having proclaimed the death of God and for calling himself an “immoralist”, one who opposes all morality. Another suspect’s writing was inspired by the musician Marilyn Manson who reportedly based his song “Antichrist Superstar” on Nietzsche’s book The Antichrist, a critique of Pauline Christianity. While these influences and writing styles may not uncover a potential school shooter, they do represent signs that educators and parents should take seriously and explore further.[Band & Harpold 1999:13}

[via Omni Brain]

1. Band, S.R., Harpold, J.A. (1999) “School Violence: Lessons Learned”. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 68(9) pp9-16 [Online] Internet: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/1999/sept99leb.pdf (Accessed 28 April 2007)

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