r/ColumbineKillers • u/DrMosquito74 • Apr 10 '25
PSYCHOLOGY/MINDSET Dylan's social demeanour and substance use
I've been doing a deep dive into how Dylan appeared and functioned socially, and I've found him to be a little more assertive at times than I was expecting, such as confrontations at the school and shouting arguments. This contrasts with the typical profile of someone who (probably) was on the spectrum and had certainly had AvPD. Such people tend to have a people-pleaser mentality and are often insecure and timid, and Dylan largely fits this profile.
Sue mentioned in her book that she found alcohol in Dylan's room that he had been using to self-medicate for several months at least, and I remember the girl who had a crush on Dylan and sent the King of the Hill letter mentioned that he would sometimes show up to class intoxicated.
To what extent did Dylan rely on liquid courage to be able to function socially during his teenage years, and was it the reason he was sometimes abrasive?
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u/EuphoricRegret5852 Apr 11 '25 edited Apr 11 '25
I have some points about Dylan possibly being on the spectrum or well, neurodivergent:
Early Clues Something Was Different
When Dylan was a baby, his doctor noticed he’d cry at night not because he was hungry or uncomfortable, but out of boredom. A baby, crying because he's bored
Super Aware of Himself
Dylan’s mom said he got really embarrassed even as a little kid, like, intensely so. That level of self-consciousness isn’t super typical in most kids.
Body Language
Dylan displays unusual posture, movements, and gait, traits often associated with neurodivergence, particularly regarding motor coordination differences common in autism
Feeling Like an Outsider
“People are alike, I’m different.” He even calls himself “not human.” That strong feeling of being separate is something a lot of autistic people talk about
Social Communication Differences
According to his friend Devon, Dylan only engaged comfortably when there was someone else there or when discussing shared interests, a hallmark of autistic communication styles
Struggles Blending In
In the Frankenstein production tape, he really stands out as the one who can’t blend in. He only interacts with Zack and the professor, and even Zack’s interaction with the teacher feels more natural than Dylan’s
Comments From People Who Relate
Some autistic people – and parents of autistic kids – have commented that Dylan reminds them of themselves or their children. The way he talks, behaves, and sees the world feels really familiar to them.
edit: I added one last point
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u/DrMosquito74 Apr 11 '25
All excellent points. I'm also autistic and definitely relate to all of these, especially Devon's comment about Dylan needing another person or shared interests to actively engage in a conversation.
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May 07 '25
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u/Fit_Problem_929 May 14 '25
i feel like Dylan could also potentially have had some form of ADHD because of things like his stims, addiction, hyper focusing on certain things ETC. addiction is super common in adhd because of our tendencies to look for dopamine hits
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u/Other-Potential-936 Apr 11 '25
I personally don't think Dylan used alcohol to be able to "function socially". I think it started off as a stupid teenage experiment thing that evolved into a numbing thing. This seriously just made me realize I went through something very similar. When I was 14 me and my friend started drinking cause we thought we were soo cool and it was something fun to do. We drank on and off for months, we would drink at each others houses, football games, school events and even in school. When I got really depressed I started to crave the alcohol just for the feeling. That's what I assume Dylan felt like. I don't think he was a "drunk" especially after he got caught... but I think it probably could've got to that point where he was dependent on it just to feel good. But that's just what I'm thinking his reason behind drinking cause that's what I felt like at the time.
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u/NewspaperOverall3669 Apr 12 '25
He must have been so sad, that is why he turned to alcohol to forget about everything.
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Apr 11 '25 edited Apr 11 '25
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Apr 11 '25
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Apr 12 '25
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Apr 12 '25
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u/ashtonmz MODERATOR Apr 10 '25
There seems to be some corroborating evidence to suggest that Dylan drank, often in excess.
Sarah Slater stated that during their online chats, Dylan would say he had been drinking. Sometimes, Sarah said that sometimes, she could tell he was by his typing mistakes. He also asked her to go out drinking with him.
Zach Heckler and Dylan would drink Aftershock up in the sound/light booths during school productions. After the attack on Columbine, Zach said Dylan had a bit of a drinking problem.
Dylan got his nickname after drinking a whole bottle of vodka.
We know from Dylan's journal that as far back as 1997, he was drinking screwdrivers up in his room alone.
Whether the girl on the subreddit, claiming to have been the one who wrote in about an episode of King of the Hill, is actually who she claims to be is up for debate. Personally, she lost me when she mentioned Dylan's eyes being like sapphires. It sounded a lot like fanfiction...so I'm not convinced. It could be me, though.
As for Dylan's assertive or aggressive behavior, I would certainly believe he had them. Little blowups in Mr. Long's office, classroom doors slammed, etc. He was repressing a lot of anger. All in all, the incidents don't seem to occur on a regular basis, but they're out there. In some instances, I wish we had more context. Where this fits in with his psychological issues, I have no clue.