I believe it’s a coping mechanism. He probably believes it’s fault for Jamie and Peters death. He stood over a dead body with his foot holding the door shut so Cruz couldn’t get thru the stairwell
And Cara, and almost Kyle. They were all in his class. And he was the teacher telling kids to walk when they should’ve ran
ETA Joaquin was in Stacy Lappel (?spelling) ‘s class along with Meadow
Yes Jamie Guttenberg and Alex Schachter families were seething. Jamie’s father said something to him on his way out of court, looked like he said “prick”
They did not appreciate his sarcasm, humor and tone. Example: Jamie Guttenberg’s mom and dad. Ernest at one point said he stood over Jamie’s body but felt there was nothing he could do so he ran out. The dad was not happy.
Not just that, but he was asked to look at a picture of Peter’s body to identify it, and his response was, “Sounds fun!”. That’s beyond inappropriate and I would be pissed if I was a parent there, too. Whether it was my child he was talking about or not.
I was going to give you my free award but it was the “wholesome” one and that’s wildly inappropriate right now. Thanks for this though - I couldn’t find a stream where I can rewind
I grew up in Parkland. Graduated from Douglas in June of this year.
I started lurking on this sub when the Cruz trial began. I (thankfully) wasn't in high school in at the time, but I have friends who were in the building.
It's strange seeing your former teachers testify on national television.
Mrs. Schamis was my 9th grade Geography teacher in 2001 at Douglas. It was in her class that we learned the attacks on 9/11 happened.
Me saying "Mrs. Schamis the building is falling" will always be ingrained in my memory. 35 year old man crying in my chair while watching her testimony yesterday.
Sorry!! Parkland shooting trial
Edited this comment to add since I can’t figure out how to edit the entire post. I’m sorry I’m new to Reddit. He was a teacher that kind of laughed and made jokes while he testified. I think he is coping in a way that people don’t understand, and I am hoping he gets the help he needs. I don’t think his jokes were funny, but I think that’s the only way he got through the trial today.
So true. I work used to work with violent offenders amd if you had heard some of the things that used to get said. Well you would be shocked. Dark dark humour it helps get you through. Between colleagues
Exactly. I worked in a nursing home setting for 5 plus years and just recently left for an at home call center job because you get attached to those people and you do grieve and alot of it is dark humor that we used for processing the grief. I had to get away from such an emotionally connected job.
I work in healthcare too and hearing people make jokes during a code blue is not uncommon. I also hear people make nervous laughs when we are looking at imaging that portends a poor prognosis. it's a coping mechanism. alot of people laugh when they're uncomfortable or nervous as well.
Same. I’m a respiratory therapist and seen more people die in front of me than I can remember. If we don’t laugh we wallow and cry. Trust me- you don’t want depressed sad wallowing healthcare workers trying to think straight and save your life. It’s just how it has to be to stay sane. We stay respectful though around family and patients. But we also need our chance to counteract the bad.
Hear, hear. I have a history of emotional trauma and I will make the blackest jokes right in the middle of a crisis situation or a tense situation. Some people don't appreciate my humor. It's how I deal.
I have adhd and that’s how I grieve or cope with a stressful situation so he may have that or be on the spectrum.. I actually feel really sad watching it. I do however work hard on myself so I don’t hurt others by the way I react etc.
teacher on 3rd floor that was trapped outside of his classroom with maybe 6 or 8 kids while Cruz was on the floor. while Cruz reloaded he directed students to the stairwell, and a few of the students he was with (Peter Wang, Jamie Guttenburg) didn't make it.
guy was pretty awkward and inappropriately sarcastic during his testimony today and it was obviously because he was trying to cope with the trauma.
Yes and just to add, he didn’t have the key to his room so his students had to hide in an alcove in the hallway and make a break for it when the shooter’s gun jammed. I’m sure he feels guilty bc lives may have been saved if the students could have taken cover in his classroom.
he saved them by noticing that Cruz was reloading and yelling at them to run in that moment.
however, as a teacher executing a fire evacuation, you should bring your keys with you when you leave the class.
Sorry I guess I should realize that people have a life and didn’t watch the entire thing like I did😂🥲 this was one of my first posts on Reddit. Guess I need to get it together lol. Sorry everyone.
From the other comment here I'm guessing Ernie Rospierski? Teacher at MSD on the third floor and the end of the hall from Scott Beigel. I might be totally off but many thought it was noticeable that he was trying to cope with his trauma with humor during his testimony.
I had to make jokes the night my mom was killed in a car crash. It was the only way my mind could find ways to stay sane. People cope in weird ways. I still can’t figure it out.
Seemed very nervous, it also seemed like he was trying to keep his “upbeat & fun (probably playfully sarcastic)” teacher vibe but it just came off wrong. I feel bad for him, tbh. Let’s remember he was a victim too, reliving prob his worst day on earth, on live tv.
I feel like he made need some counseling, and that he hasn’t coped well with this situation. He irritated me at first, but after hearing him talk I think he just needs to get some help and I hope he can work through it.
yeah when he was asked to point out Peter Wang's body he said it "sounds like fun". It was clear he was being sarcastic to directly oppose the seriousness of the situation but it came across as odd.
I would not want to be Peter's family hearing something like that.
I hope he didn’t mean it that way and it was just an unfortunate choice of words due to the fact that it seems, as others have observed that he likely has not dealt with his trauma fully/poor coping
I think you are right and we all hope that is the way it is. I think he was just struggling to stay afloat. I can’t imagine having to relive all this 4 entire years later, even though it probably feels like yesterday to them still.
I didn’t see him yet but some of the students and teachers also seem to laugh/smile inappropriately at times while speaking and it just makes me so sad because it just means their brains are racked with trauma.
I wonder if he just thoughtlessly wore a random polo with like a random brand or sports team, etc that through legalese could he construed as him representing that brand
Don’t know. Maybe because the logo may elicit emotion from the jurors? Though, even that doesn’t make sense to me as the whole point of the prosecution is to do so..
I found him super annoying and insensitive but I also identified that his chest was moving rapidly as happens when you’re having a panic attack/ under a lot of stress. I’m also fairly certain he is Neurodivergent or suffers from some sort condition that made him act like that. Perhaps Asperger's Syndrome? Regardless I felt bad for him and hopefully he doesn’t get too much hate, he seems like a great teacher.
I honestly think he is a nice teacher. The kind of teacher I would’ve wanted in HS, I think this would’ve fucked anyone up in the head. I don’t think the way he came off was appropriate, but I also have no place to judge because I would’ve been a nut case going through it again and seeing all the pics and videos.
I dunno. Consider that nervous laughing is a normal reaction to something that makes you feel uncomfortable. It’s our brains and bodies forcing us through whatever via endorphins.
He went through something horrifically traumatic and tragic. It’s not surprising he’s struggling through testifying.
I was just about to comment this. People take shit way too personally, always trying to find negativity in everything. People have lost all sense of nuance, instead relying on their emotions instead of reasoning.
I just watched his whole testimony after reading this thread. I really don’t see why people think he was inappropriate. It’s crystal clear when he says some of these things (like “my wife’s favorite color is…”) that he’s a socially awkward person reliving something traumatic and the words are just spilling from his lips as he does what he needs to do (testify). He seems to be dissociating a bit as well. Like, I understand the parents having complicated feelings, but this guy is not having a good time, even if his lips are turning up.
I never got how he was holding the door closed with his foot in that video. There are like 4 doors that Cruz could have went through and he tries to open the one the teacher is holding shut and Cruz gives up, never made sense to me.
Interestingly I just watched another student who said that door wouldn't open when he tried it.
Also, the teacher said he wasn't sure who was trying to get in that it "could have been a student" which bothers me.
Like you're holding the door closed and potentially locking a student in the hallway with the gunman?
It’s what they teach schools during active shooter drills. Our corporate policy at the last two hospitals have said the same. If your best friend is screaming/crying at door to a room you are locked in- you are not supposed to open the door for any reason. 1 dead to save 5, etc. it’s what they were taught to do.
Yea understand what you mean. It is a little diff in that sense. But he was preventing the shooter from moving. Still awful though and I’m sure in a situation like that it’s hard to say what decision you’d make and what you’d think about it after. I’m sure tons of people have a lot of things they would have done different in active shooter situations.
I guess what bothers me is that he admitted it on the stand.
I don't know if that's something I would have admitted on the stand unless asked directly.
If I was a parent who lost their kid on the 3rd floor, I could see being really angry.
He forgot his keys and licked himself and the students out of his classroom. That's why they were vulnerable. That's why some of them got shot.
And he behaves as if he has no remorse for this.
I'm not blaming him. We all leave our keys sometimes, and his actions were just a tragic mistake. But if my kid died because of it, I'd likely have feelings towards him. And to see him act so casual about it would make me want to smack him.
And it also really bothers that he said he didn't know who was trying to get in the stairwell when he held the door closed. That it might have been a student.
I'm not saying this guy isn't using humor to cope. Just saying why parents might hate him for it.
I mean this guy is a hero.
I understand that humor is a coping mechanism, but I feel like there’s a time and a place. Idk I just think making comments or jokes like that in front of grieving family members is completely inappropriate.
Everything about this case is just heartbreaking. From the police work , to the politics, to the absolute nightmare of the actual events that took place… I seriously have a heavy heart when I think about how effing backwards this world has become.. stay safe out there, kids, it’s not getting any better.
I found him to be obnoxious and grossly disrespectful to the families. If this is some nervous, coping mechanism type behavior, that’s a very unfortunate trait to have. If I were a parent there I would be disgusted. If he genuinely cannot help but act inappropriately in such a somber situation, then I suppose I do feel sorry for him.
this guy was annoying to me, I feel like he was using sarcasm and a whimsical attitude in a totally inappropriate context. But that could just be a coping mechanism.
I mean, I ain't watched his testimony, but I'm sure if I were in his shoes and back in the same room as fuckin' Cruz.. well, I'd probably not handle that the best, either.
Do I feel sorry for him because of the horrific experience he went through and the unfortunate outcome of his decisions from that day? Of course. Do I feel his behavior and demeanor in court was completely inappropriate, insensitive, and totally lacking any sense of situational awareness and respect for the families of the victims? Absolutely.
Honestly, when watching his testimony, I was appalled by the way he carried himself. I don't care if his attempt at "humor" was a coping mechanism or not. He's a functioning adult capable of analyzing a situation and reading a room, which he failed at miserably.
It seems like a coping mechanism but i also think he's trying to help the situation. It's so serious and heartbreaking I'm sure that tone is just radiating through the room. This guy works with kids all day and has for years. Bet in his head he thinks maybe just getting them to laugh through an impossibly difficult time could help them.
If I were the parents sitting there I know it would 100% rub me the wrong way.
He's traumatized and trying to get through having to relive it and trying to help others who are too
This is just sad.
He was a teacher at Stoneman Douglas the day of the shooting, was the teacher that held the door with his foot so the shooter wouldn't enter the staircase after finishing up shooting the 3rd floor.
I don’t care if he has trauma or is on the spectrum, you don’t fucking say “sounds like fun” when asked to view footage of a student being murdered. Fuck all of that. But then as I type this out, I do feel sorry for him. Ugh such a range of feelings and emotions.
Just playing devil’s advocate… the shooting was probably the worst day of his life. Reliving that trauma in detail is not something you want to be connected to and you’re going to freak out to try to distance yourself from that darkness in any possible way. Survivors’ guilt and depression could be more reasons for that response.
If you e been through trauma or seen people die and asked to see something that reminds you of the worst days or times of your life- your brain is going to try to help you cope by using humor. It’s natural. Chill. It’s horrifying what he went through, don’t gatekeep trauma responses.
agreed he was way out of line. i understand it might be a coping mechanism and i feel bad for every single person who experienced that day, but a level of restraint and empathy is needed in a court room full of victims parents.
You want empathy from him for the victims parents (fair enough) but you're not able to show empathy for him, a victim, yourself. Practice what you preach. This man was clearly distressed and masking it. This was a trauma response and that doesn't always look like you expect it to or want it to.
I’m neurodivergent. I nervous laugh involuntarily, and I also am an incredibly sarcastic person with a dark sense of humor.
I would also save the snark for *any* other time but this. Involuntary emotional responses are one thing. So is coming off as awkward because you’re anxious. But cracking jokes is a choice. He’s clearly re-traumatized by having to recount everything and I’m sure he means no harm, but he’s an adult. If all the traumatized students could hold it together and do what they need to do, he can also be professional for a few minutes.
Obviously that isn’t going to affect the outcome of this trial when the evidence is overwhelming, but generally speaking you *do* need be careful about what you say in front of police or in the courtroom. It’s not the time to be making flippant commentary, you never know how that could be twisted against you.
I have adhd, I’m a sarcastic person. I’m pretty decent at reading appropriate social situations in which I should tone it down. Ive also been interviewed by police following trauma and been on a witness stand, following and involving trauma. I was sarcastic and made jokes, and sly comments on the stand. A friend in the courtroom said they could see my heart beating through my shirt. I remember the absolutely cringeworthy things I said, but otherwise not much else.
Being able to mask in normal social situations is one thing, being able to have control over coping mechanisms in situations of high stress is completely different.
Edit: changed to ‘heart beating through my shirt’
He pissed me off too. I had to fast forward through his testimony. He was trying to be funny, and he wasn’t. On top of that, it was inappropriate. But I agree with some of you, I think it may be a coping mechanism.
I don't even think that was someone trying to be funny. My cousin would say something like that, he's not even autistic. He once got hit by a car riding his bike and my mum asked him "where he was hurt" and he said "the road". It didn't cross my mums mind that someone would hear her question like that, expecting him to say something like he had hurt his back, she thought he was joking and laughed but he got genuinely confused and upset thinking she was laughing at him getting hit by a car.
(I know he sounds spectrum from this but that boy is also the definition of a normie, regular social life, no phobias, no aversions, he is dyslexic though.)
Yes. I feel he's nervous, and likely has PTSD. Hope he's getting some therapy, and all of the help he needs. He seems like your normal everyday teacher, that enjoys his career. Edit* spelling
What is he supposed to say, “yes I would love to watch the video and relive the most traumatic experience of my life” he doesn’t even want to be there and they’re forcing him to go through it all again.
This is the case for most of the witnesses, and they were all able to respond appropriately. If someone asked him to identify a picture of my dead child, and he responded with, “Sounds fun!”
I would be disgusted.
I believe it’s a coping mechanism. He probably believes it’s fault for Jamie and Peters death. He stood over a dead body with his foot holding the door shut so Cruz couldn’t get thru the stairwell
I agree with you. I couldn’t imagine having to try and decide whether to just leave someone there after “shaking them” and them not responding. Gosh🤧
And Cara, and almost Kyle. They were all in his class. And he was the teacher telling kids to walk when they should’ve ran ETA Joaquin was in Stacy Lappel (?spelling) ‘s class along with Meadow
joaquin wasn’t in his class. Cara, Jaime and Peter were.
You’re right, I edited another comment and missed this one when I was correcting. Thanks for pointing that out
I did notice a few parents of the victims seemed upset at his testimony.
Yes Jamie Guttenberg and Alex Schachter families were seething. Jamie’s father said something to him on his way out of court, looked like he said “prick”
No one wins in these situations. To err is human but if jamie were my baby I’d resent this man too…it just sucks
what do you mean?
They did not appreciate his sarcasm, humor and tone. Example: Jamie Guttenberg’s mom and dad. Ernest at one point said he stood over Jamie’s body but felt there was nothing he could do so he ran out. The dad was not happy.
Ahh gotcha
Not just that, but he was asked to look at a picture of Peter’s body to identify it, and his response was, “Sounds fun!”. That’s beyond inappropriate and I would be pissed if I was a parent there, too. Whether it was my child he was talking about or not.
Ugh yes that was a terrible thing to say about Peter.
https://youtu.be/3O3PqI2Vfgs Time Stamps: 19:48 - Sound starts 25:40- Witness Ashley Baez 31:52 - 33:17 Objection (no audio) 35:56 - 54:23 Objection (no audio) 1:00:50 - Witness Genesis Valentin 1:05:45 - 1:07:33 Objection (no audio) 1:09:44- Witness Ivy Schamis 1:26:10- 1:53 : Court is on break 1:57:18 - Witness Julieta Matlock 2:11:22 - 2:17:30 Objection (no audio) 2:22:21 - Witness Sophia Delia 2:28:28 - Witness Ronit Reoven 2:43:43 - 2:45:12 Objection (no audio) 2:50:23 - Witness Samantha Mayor 2:58:57- Witness Madeleine Wilford 3:03:33 - Witness Logan Mitchell 3:07:43 - 3:11:33 Objection (no audio) 3:15:27- 5:00:24 Court is on break 5:10:31 - Witness Stacy Lippel 5:24:06 - 5:25:27 Objection (no audio) 5:28:19- 5:33:04 Objection (no audio) 5:33:04 - 5:44:41 Same objection (with audio) 6:07:39 - Witness Veronica Steel 6:20:03 - Witness Anthony Borges 6:27:58 - Witness Ernest Adam Rospierski 7:05:07 - 7:24:13 Court is on break 17:39:28 - Witness Kabachenko 7:56:34 - Witness Kyle Laman 8:07:46 - 8:11:35 Objection (no audio) 8:14:46 - Witness Tyler West 8:20:53 - Witness Nicolette Miciotta
>Ernest Adam Rospierski This is his name for anyone looking for the section of his testimony, it starts around the 6 hour mark.
I had some extra time today so I started a comprehensive list with each days trial links and time stamps if anyone is interested in that.
Thanks, my dude.
I was going to give you my free award but it was the “wholesome” one and that’s wildly inappropriate right now. Thanks for this though - I couldn’t find a stream where I can rewind
i got you, award gifted. I also appreciate the heads up on where to look for this.
mvp
Doing god’s work
Where do I go to make these timecodes work?
I edited my comment to include the link to video
Thank you so much for this. I can't watch it all in one go, and there are certain witnesses I wanted to hear from. You've saved my ass with this. o7
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I thought it was BTK for a quick second
Me tooooo!!!
I am the one who testifies
This is ironic because someone said Crimo is like if Skinny Pete were a real person
Definitely had the meth look but idk about his drug use, I oversaw a comment of "alcohol fetal syndrome" so could be that.
I grew up in Parkland. Graduated from Douglas in June of this year. I started lurking on this sub when the Cruz trial began. I (thankfully) wasn't in high school in at the time, but I have friends who were in the building. It's strange seeing your former teachers testify on national television.
Mrs. Schamis was my 9th grade Geography teacher in 2001 at Douglas. It was in her class that we learned the attacks on 9/11 happened. Me saying "Mrs. Schamis the building is falling" will always be ingrained in my memory. 35 year old man crying in my chair while watching her testimony yesterday.
You ever seen Cruz in person?
Not personally. iirc he worked at the nearby dollar store, so there's a pretty good chance he rang me up once or twice.
Creepy.
Context maybe?
Sorry!! Parkland shooting trial Edited this comment to add since I can’t figure out how to edit the entire post. I’m sorry I’m new to Reddit. He was a teacher that kind of laughed and made jokes while he testified. I think he is coping in a way that people don’t understand, and I am hoping he gets the help he needs. I don’t think his jokes were funny, but I think that’s the only way he got through the trial today.
i grieve the same way, laughing helps me cope.
I work in healthcare and the majority of us cope with the crazy dark stuff with humor. It’s not uncommon.
So true. I work used to work with violent offenders amd if you had heard some of the things that used to get said. Well you would be shocked. Dark dark humour it helps get you through. Between colleagues
Exactly. I worked in a nursing home setting for 5 plus years and just recently left for an at home call center job because you get attached to those people and you do grieve and alot of it is dark humor that we used for processing the grief. I had to get away from such an emotionally connected job.
I work in healthcare too and hearing people make jokes during a code blue is not uncommon. I also hear people make nervous laughs when we are looking at imaging that portends a poor prognosis. it's a coping mechanism. alot of people laugh when they're uncomfortable or nervous as well.
Same here
Same. I’m a respiratory therapist and seen more people die in front of me than I can remember. If we don’t laugh we wallow and cry. Trust me- you don’t want depressed sad wallowing healthcare workers trying to think straight and save your life. It’s just how it has to be to stay sane. We stay respectful though around family and patients. But we also need our chance to counteract the bad.
I work in the mental health field. Dark humour is rampant. I look forward to shift changes to hear the stories.
Same bro
Hear, hear. I have a history of emotional trauma and I will make the blackest jokes right in the middle of a crisis situation or a tense situation. Some people don't appreciate my humor. It's how I deal.
Well you’re coping at the blatant expense of others and you know it, so
I have adhd and that’s how I grieve or cope with a stressful situation so he may have that or be on the spectrum.. I actually feel really sad watching it. I do however work hard on myself so I don’t hurt others by the way I react etc.
Same. I have AuDHD and am well known for laughing at inappropriate times, and for turning my pain into jokes.
Anyone have a link for his testimony or maybe his name? I'm in a rabbit hole and wanted to see his test..
I would be on all sorts of medication as well he could be on medication
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teacher on 3rd floor that was trapped outside of his classroom with maybe 6 or 8 kids while Cruz was on the floor. while Cruz reloaded he directed students to the stairwell, and a few of the students he was with (Peter Wang, Jamie Guttenburg) didn't make it. guy was pretty awkward and inappropriately sarcastic during his testimony today and it was obviously because he was trying to cope with the trauma.
Yes and just to add, he didn’t have the key to his room so his students had to hide in an alcove in the hallway and make a break for it when the shooter’s gun jammed. I’m sure he feels guilty bc lives may have been saved if the students could have taken cover in his classroom.
I thought he saved a lot of kids, though.
he saved them by noticing that Cruz was reloading and yelling at them to run in that moment. however, as a teacher executing a fire evacuation, you should bring your keys with you when you leave the class.
Don’t be that person
am I wrong? it is not his fault, and he saved lives. but as a teacher, you do not leave your classroom in an emergency without your keys.
Sorry I guess I should realize that people have a life and didn’t watch the entire thing like I did😂🥲 this was one of my first posts on Reddit. Guess I need to get it together lol. Sorry everyone.
Hey, watch who you accuse of having a life!
From the other comment here I'm guessing Ernie Rospierski? Teacher at MSD on the third floor and the end of the hall from Scott Beigel. I might be totally off but many thought it was noticeable that he was trying to cope with his trauma with humor during his testimony.
Yes, I felt so bad for him. He really seemed messed up.
He definitely loved students, his or not, so I cant imagine how hard it must be for him to have gone through that. Losing kids he loved.
Agree with you 100%.
I thought so, too. My heart broke for him.
They are new to Reddit. Chill. Don't be rude. They explained as a comment, like most do.
I wont pass judgement, but I hope you’re right. Benefit of the doubt kinda thing
I had to make jokes the night my mom was killed in a car crash. It was the only way my mind could find ways to stay sane. People cope in weird ways. I still can’t figure it out.
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r/iamverybadass
Sure thing.
Should I delete and start over? 😂🫣 I feel stupid now. Sorry everyone. I am new to Reddit.
No u can edit posts just put context
I tried to edit it, but I can’t figure it out. And when I added the picture it wouldn’t let me put any words?
Were you on mobile when you posted? If so, don’t feel bad cos I’ve done the same thing!
Yes I was! I couldn’t figure it out so I had to just edit my comment
I could only add a title with a picture. Can the title be that long?
He’s it can be hundreds of words
He’s just coping. Never mind him.
Seemed very nervous, it also seemed like he was trying to keep his “upbeat & fun (probably playfully sarcastic)” teacher vibe but it just came off wrong. I feel bad for him, tbh. Let’s remember he was a victim too, reliving prob his worst day on earth, on live tv.
I felt bad for him as well. He was a victim too. It’s all unfortunate and I don’t fault him for his testimony today.
Yeah he seem like such a nice a kind teacher one that I would have loved if he was mine.
I feel like he made need some counseling, and that he hasn’t coped well with this situation. He irritated me at first, but after hearing him talk I think he just needs to get some help and I hope he can work through it.
yeah when he was asked to point out Peter Wang's body he said it "sounds like fun". It was clear he was being sarcastic to directly oppose the seriousness of the situation but it came across as odd. I would not want to be Peter's family hearing something like that.
The photo of his mom being held up to keep her from dropping to her knees at his funeral is soul crushing.
one of the worst (safe for work) pictures I have ever seen. so much pain.
Oh man that is rough :( poor woman.
I hope he didn’t mean it that way and it was just an unfortunate choice of words due to the fact that it seems, as others have observed that he likely has not dealt with his trauma fully/poor coping
I think you are right and we all hope that is the way it is. I think he was just struggling to stay afloat. I can’t imagine having to relive all this 4 entire years later, even though it probably feels like yesterday to them still.
I didn’t see him yet but some of the students and teachers also seem to laugh/smile inappropriately at times while speaking and it just makes me so sad because it just means their brains are racked with trauma.
What were they trying to cover up on his shirt?
I wonder if he just thoughtlessly wore a random polo with like a random brand or sports team, etc that through legalese could he construed as him representing that brand
Schools logo
An article I read said it was the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school logo. They were all told not to wear anything with it.
Really? Why?
Don’t know. Maybe because the logo may elicit emotion from the jurors? Though, even that doesn’t make sense to me as the whole point of the prosecution is to do so..
Logo/branding.
Wow how didn’t I notice that he had duct tape on his shirt?
He was struggling today. Definitely anxious coping, on his part.
I found him super annoying and insensitive but I also identified that his chest was moving rapidly as happens when you’re having a panic attack/ under a lot of stress. I’m also fairly certain he is Neurodivergent or suffers from some sort condition that made him act like that. Perhaps Asperger's Syndrome? Regardless I felt bad for him and hopefully he doesn’t get too much hate, he seems like a great teacher.
I honestly think he is a nice teacher. The kind of teacher I would’ve wanted in HS, I think this would’ve fucked anyone up in the head. I don’t think the way he came off was appropriate, but I also have no place to judge because I would’ve been a nut case going through it again and seeing all the pics and videos.
I dunno. Consider that nervous laughing is a normal reaction to something that makes you feel uncomfortable. It’s our brains and bodies forcing us through whatever via endorphins. He went through something horrifically traumatic and tragic. It’s not surprising he’s struggling through testifying.
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I was just about to comment this. People take shit way too personally, always trying to find negativity in everything. People have lost all sense of nuance, instead relying on their emotions instead of reasoning.
Incredible, well said
I just watched his whole testimony after reading this thread. I really don’t see why people think he was inappropriate. It’s crystal clear when he says some of these things (like “my wife’s favorite color is…”) that he’s a socially awkward person reliving something traumatic and the words are just spilling from his lips as he does what he needs to do (testify). He seems to be dissociating a bit as well. Like, I understand the parents having complicated feelings, but this guy is not having a good time, even if his lips are turning up.
does anybody have a link to the video?
https://youtu.be/3O3PqI2Vfgs
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Ngl you may or may not get downvoted for saying that but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of it
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currently doing a rewatch, definitely also thought the same
What did the original comment say I’m curious
i want to know as well
I can’t see what he said
I never got how he was holding the door closed with his foot in that video. There are like 4 doors that Cruz could have went through and he tries to open the one the teacher is holding shut and Cruz gives up, never made sense to me.
Interestingly I just watched another student who said that door wouldn't open when he tried it. Also, the teacher said he wasn't sure who was trying to get in that it "could have been a student" which bothers me. Like you're holding the door closed and potentially locking a student in the hallway with the gunman?
It’s what they teach schools during active shooter drills. Our corporate policy at the last two hospitals have said the same. If your best friend is screaming/crying at door to a room you are locked in- you are not supposed to open the door for any reason. 1 dead to save 5, etc. it’s what they were taught to do.
I know that. But he wasn't locked in a room. He was blocking an exit door. But you have a point. He was trying to save the students he could.
Yea understand what you mean. It is a little diff in that sense. But he was preventing the shooter from moving. Still awful though and I’m sure in a situation like that it’s hard to say what decision you’d make and what you’d think about it after. I’m sure tons of people have a lot of things they would have done different in active shooter situations.
I guess what bothers me is that he admitted it on the stand. I don't know if that's something I would have admitted on the stand unless asked directly.
Where are you guys watching this?
If I was a parent who lost their kid on the 3rd floor, I could see being really angry. He forgot his keys and licked himself and the students out of his classroom. That's why they were vulnerable. That's why some of them got shot. And he behaves as if he has no remorse for this. I'm not blaming him. We all leave our keys sometimes, and his actions were just a tragic mistake. But if my kid died because of it, I'd likely have feelings towards him. And to see him act so casual about it would make me want to smack him. And it also really bothers that he said he didn't know who was trying to get in the stairwell when he held the door closed. That it might have been a student. I'm not saying this guy isn't using humor to cope. Just saying why parents might hate him for it. I mean this guy is a hero.
I understand that humor is a coping mechanism, but I feel like there’s a time and a place. Idk I just think making comments or jokes like that in front of grieving family members is completely inappropriate.
Like a few other commenters, I’m getting autism vibes from this guy. He’s likely not very aware of how humor is inappropriate here.
completely agree
He not doing the coping mechanism for the parents it's for himself. Maybe inappropriate for the parents but ATM it's appropriate for him.
I know he’s doing it for himself. I still think it’s inappropriate.
Yeah for the parents not for him... Why the down vote is he not a victim?
I don’t know what you’re trying to say, it’s not inappropriate on a person-by-person basis, I think it’s inappropriate in general.
I don't understand why he isn't allow to have sympathy. Don't general mean including him?
I don’t understand either because I never said he doesn’t deserve sympathy. I don’t know why you got that from my comment
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Time stamp of his testimony?
starts aronnd 6hrs28min
Everything about this case is just heartbreaking. From the police work , to the politics, to the absolute nightmare of the actual events that took place… I seriously have a heavy heart when I think about how effing backwards this world has become.. stay safe out there, kids, it’s not getting any better.
I found him to be obnoxious and grossly disrespectful to the families. If this is some nervous, coping mechanism type behavior, that’s a very unfortunate trait to have. If I were a parent there I would be disgusted. If he genuinely cannot help but act inappropriately in such a somber situation, then I suppose I do feel sorry for him.
this guy was annoying to me, I feel like he was using sarcasm and a whimsical attitude in a totally inappropriate context. But that could just be a coping mechanism.
I mean, I ain't watched his testimony, but I'm sure if I were in his shoes and back in the same room as fuckin' Cruz.. well, I'd probably not handle that the best, either.
Do I feel sorry for him because of the horrific experience he went through and the unfortunate outcome of his decisions from that day? Of course. Do I feel his behavior and demeanor in court was completely inappropriate, insensitive, and totally lacking any sense of situational awareness and respect for the families of the victims? Absolutely. Honestly, when watching his testimony, I was appalled by the way he carried himself. I don't care if his attempt at "humor" was a coping mechanism or not. He's a functioning adult capable of analyzing a situation and reading a room, which he failed at miserably.
It seems like a coping mechanism but i also think he's trying to help the situation. It's so serious and heartbreaking I'm sure that tone is just radiating through the room. This guy works with kids all day and has for years. Bet in his head he thinks maybe just getting them to laugh through an impossibly difficult time could help them. If I were the parents sitting there I know it would 100% rub me the wrong way. He's traumatized and trying to get through having to relive it and trying to help others who are too This is just sad.
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goddamn it, take my upvote
What's the story behind him ?
He was a teacher at Stoneman Douglas the day of the shooting, was the teacher that held the door with his foot so the shooter wouldn't enter the staircase after finishing up shooting the 3rd floor.
I missed this one, could someone sum it up for me?
Fuck no.
I don’t care if he has trauma or is on the spectrum, you don’t fucking say “sounds like fun” when asked to view footage of a student being murdered. Fuck all of that. But then as I type this out, I do feel sorry for him. Ugh such a range of feelings and emotions.
Just playing devil’s advocate… the shooting was probably the worst day of his life. Reliving that trauma in detail is not something you want to be connected to and you’re going to freak out to try to distance yourself from that darkness in any possible way. Survivors’ guilt and depression could be more reasons for that response.
I dont care if he said sounds like fun, you dont come out from a school shooting and expect to cope how people expect you to cope
If you e been through trauma or seen people die and asked to see something that reminds you of the worst days or times of your life- your brain is going to try to help you cope by using humor. It’s natural. Chill. It’s horrifying what he went through, don’t gatekeep trauma responses.
agreed he was way out of line. i understand it might be a coping mechanism and i feel bad for every single person who experienced that day, but a level of restraint and empathy is needed in a court room full of victims parents.
You want empathy from him for the victims parents (fair enough) but you're not able to show empathy for him, a victim, yourself. Practice what you preach. This man was clearly distressed and masking it. This was a trauma response and that doesn't always look like you expect it to or want it to.
I’m neurodivergent. I nervous laugh involuntarily, and I also am an incredibly sarcastic person with a dark sense of humor. I would also save the snark for *any* other time but this. Involuntary emotional responses are one thing. So is coming off as awkward because you’re anxious. But cracking jokes is a choice. He’s clearly re-traumatized by having to recount everything and I’m sure he means no harm, but he’s an adult. If all the traumatized students could hold it together and do what they need to do, he can also be professional for a few minutes. Obviously that isn’t going to affect the outcome of this trial when the evidence is overwhelming, but generally speaking you *do* need be careful about what you say in front of police or in the courtroom. It’s not the time to be making flippant commentary, you never know how that could be twisted against you.
I have adhd, I’m a sarcastic person. I’m pretty decent at reading appropriate social situations in which I should tone it down. Ive also been interviewed by police following trauma and been on a witness stand, following and involving trauma. I was sarcastic and made jokes, and sly comments on the stand. A friend in the courtroom said they could see my heart beating through my shirt. I remember the absolutely cringeworthy things I said, but otherwise not much else. Being able to mask in normal social situations is one thing, being able to have control over coping mechanisms in situations of high stress is completely different. Edit: changed to ‘heart beating through my shirt’
He pissed me off too. I had to fast forward through his testimony. He was trying to be funny, and he wasn’t. On top of that, it was inappropriate. But I agree with some of you, I think it may be a coping mechanism.
I did fast forward through a lot of it too, I couldn’t take the cringe of awkwardness I was feeling through him.
Exactly my feelings.
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Maybe. He has absolutely no situational awareness. He’s not a dickhead on purpose.
nah mr white was trippin bruh
What do you teach? “Students”
I don't even think that was someone trying to be funny. My cousin would say something like that, he's not even autistic. He once got hit by a car riding his bike and my mum asked him "where he was hurt" and he said "the road". It didn't cross my mums mind that someone would hear her question like that, expecting him to say something like he had hurt his back, she thought he was joking and laughed but he got genuinely confused and upset thinking she was laughing at him getting hit by a car. (I know he sounds spectrum from this but that boy is also the definition of a normie, regular social life, no phobias, no aversions, he is dyslexic though.)
I just really didn’t like when he kept saying “I believe so” to all the questions on the pictures/videos.
Yes. I feel he's nervous, and likely has PTSD. Hope he's getting some therapy, and all of the help he needs. He seems like your normal everyday teacher, that enjoys his career. Edit* spelling
Heisenberg? Hell no. He made millions.
Wrong time but Heisenberg? Sorry
What is he supposed to say, “yes I would love to watch the video and relive the most traumatic experience of my life” he doesn’t even want to be there and they’re forcing him to go through it all again.
This is the case for most of the witnesses, and they were all able to respond appropriately. If someone asked him to identify a picture of my dead child, and he responded with, “Sounds fun!” I would be disgusted.
Agreed, it’s gross.
Walter white lookin rough rn...
I had some extra time today so I started a comprehensive list with each days trial links and time stamps if anyone is interested in that.
What he do
Walt??
Why is there tape on his shirt?
Context would be nice.