Why does murder facinate us?

[chequita guevara]

I'm about murdered out. I had recently picked up a case of Cantwell's new book about the Ripper and after mentioning it in a thread, Boris pointed me to www.casefile.org. I've never really read a lot about serial killers, though I've watched more than a few shows about them. No fictionalized shows based on real killers, with the exception of Henry: Portait of a Serial Killer, which was loosely based on Henry Lee Lucas.

In order to serve as a foil to both Cantwell and casefile, I picked up a few books by FBI profilers. One, simply titled, Serial Killers and another Cases That Haunt Us. I also grabbed Devil in the White City which was highly recommended by Salon.com. The first two had chapters on the Ripper. The third is about the killer at the Columbian exposition in Chicago.

I can't read anymore. I'm sick of these people, I don't want to know anymore! It was Zodiac that did it. After reading about him I'm kinda freaked out.

What is with the facsination about these creeps? I'm still curious, and part of me wants to study, but I'm revolted and disgusted by it. Part of me feels like a ghoul, a voyeristic ghoul who is participating in these crimes vicariously. I feel dirty and slimy.

But I've known people who really enjoy knowing about these people. And then there are the fans, and worst of all are the women who throw themselves at these men (they're almost always men).

Gah, I need to scrub my brain.

[Shi Huangdi]

Evil is interesting. Bad things happening is interesting. Look on TV- you won't see many shows about clean, virtuous people living out lives where nothing bad happens to them.

[Space05us]

its your basic self that says "ooh thats nifty! I should try it out on my neighbor!" but the 'civilized' part that says "eww, thats so inter...erm....I mean gross!"

[FrustratedPoet]

It doesn't fascinate me so I can't really help you.

Like you said, the freakiest people are the women who seem to have a fetish about brutal mass murderers. Odd.

[Giancarlo]

Watch CourtTV. You'll get addicted to watching real trials occur... well at least I did while in a motel for a couple of weeks in D.C.

[st_swithin]

Hey, it's more interesting to read about than, say, Brittany Spears.

And a whole lot more realistic.

I mean, there are people I feel would benefit from a visit from the local serial murderer (even more than myself!) but they can afford better security.

Also, with so little 'actual' conflict in the world, it's the closest you'll get to a Discovery channel documentary on the anomalies of the Human species.

[Dis]

I was always kind of fascinated about evil. And not just murders either.

But I never had enough interest to buy a book and read it . But when a story comes on the news, I am quick to find out more about it, especially if it is brutal.

[SlowwHand]

Have you known a victim, or a murderer?

[st_swithin]

Yes.

[SlowwHand]

Ditto.

[Sava]

Yes also...

Murder doesn't necessarily fascinate me, but war does. I can understand murder. I think every person is capable of it. But serial killers and other whackos are especially interesting. I wonder if those people were born evil, or if it was their environment. I've heard the cliche, "victims victimize" which refers to people who have had sh1tty childhoods. I wonder if such crimes could be prevented by eliminating the causes. It would be an interesting study.

[chequita guevara]

I disagree, Sava. I don't think every person is capable of it. You have to have a special kind of disregard for others to committ murder. Even at my most enraged and out of control state, I recoiled at the thought of murder.

[Kuciwalker]

Because it's fun?

[Tuberski]

Re: Why does murder facinate us?

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
I can't read anymore. I'm sick of these people, I don't want to know anymore! It was Zodiac that did it. After reading about him I'm kinda freaked out.

I saw a show about a year ago, that theorized that Ted Kazinsky(unibomber) very well could have been the Zodiac killer.

In the same town thekilling occured at the time, drove the same type and color of car that the Zodiac was supposed to have used.

He left the area and the killings stopped.

It was fairly compelling.

ACK!

[geeslaka]

When I am enraged I recoil at the thought of not murdering. All or nothing, because less than all is nothing.