Internet Teen Subculture Internet Sociology: Term Paper

Both of the boys were good students called "brilliant" by their peers and referred to as "really nice." (Cullen, 1999; paraphrased)

III. MEDIA STUDY SPONSORED NATIONAL ONLINE TEEN OUTREACH

The Techtalk website reported in March 2000 that a "national outreach program to encourage conversations among teenagers and leading educators about popular culture and media convergence" took place. This program rose spurred by the Columbine High School event in 1999 and is an educational outreach "intended to solicit communication from a new generation of cultural participants." (Techtalk, 2000)

DISCUSSION

While no empirical findings may come of what is a very brief scope within this work as to precisely what element in today's world most contributed to the incident at Columbine school it can however, be readily discerned that something was missing in the lives of Eric Harris and his cohort. It appears that these two boys sought to fill that emptiness with first the 'Trench Coat Mafia' however, they were still 'outsiders'. In addition, while both of these boys held by their peers to be academically 'brilliant' yet something went integrally wrong in their lives. In the course of this short review more questions have arisen than could possibly be answered however, what is certain is that these two boys had effectively been abandoned and left on the fringes without a proper role to fulfill in their community as well as their school. The development of a 'Trench Coat Mafia' in any community and school should indicate to educators, parents and other members in the community that there is a sad lacking in elements for participation so that all teens have a positive and productive place in the community and school in which they feel they belong.Had these two boys had different opportunities or options or perhaps even a forum in which to voice then perhaps they would not have felt the need to gain attention and express themselves in the tragic manner that history relates. Whether it be civic activities or other activities it is clear that today's parents, educators and communities must establish a dialogue with today's teens so that such 'brilliant' and 'very nice' students might instead of killing their classmates find a place to positively contribute and effectively voice themselves and simultaneously feel as if they 'belong.'

Bibliography

Cullen, Dave (1999) Outsiders even among the Outsiders: Littleton killers didn't quite fit in, even with the 'Trench Coat Mafia'" Salon News. 22 April 1999. Online available at http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/04/22/columbine/index.html.

Sweeny, a. (2004) "Mistaken Identity: These are dark days for Goths, who say it's wrong to tie them to school violence" published in the October 14, 2004 issue of the Boston Globe Online available at http://www.rickross.com/reference/goth/goth5.html

Media Studies Co-sponsors National Online Teen Outreach Program (2000) TechTalk March 29, 2000. Online available at http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/tt/2000/mar29/teen.html.

Internet Sociology: A Study of Subculture and Today's Youth.....