Do we glorify killers?

[praying]

Good link here

John Wayne Gacy, who was executed in 1994 for the murder of 33 people, told a reporter shortly before his execution, "There's been 11 hardback books on me, 31 paperbacks, two screenplays, one movie, one off-Broadway play, five songs and over 5,000 articles."


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/01/ING234I8FG1.DTL

That is part of why they do it, they the want attention, they enjoy it , why do you think so many serial killers send letters to papers while they are active.

It is part of their deranged psyche

 

[Christi]

I do also Christi, but as I said I have begun to wonder about this fascination society has with these monsters.

I do agree that many of these people have delusions of grandeur to start out with, and probably love to see themselves on TV and their name in the paper. I certainly think no one should profit from it. Although, it may be voyeuristic for me to want to know how and why they do what they do, I think it would only be ethical for the person documenting that to use the money on something preventative or worthwhile.

 

[Blessed75]

Not to take the focus off the OP but that is not the most mature response. If choose not to respond don't but don't put the qualifiers in about ignoring posters because it does s three things, show you are not ignoring what STS says, and it is immature to pubilically say you are and it derails the thread.

I agree - totally.

Back to the topic - I'm truly interested in what makes these people tick. Also, it's morbid curiosity but I don't think it's glorifiying them. Just my opinion though........

 

[kdet]

That is part of why they do it, they the want attention, they enjoy it , why do you think so many serial killers send letters to papers while they are active.

It is part of their deranged psyche

But if there wasn't a market for it then they wouldn't be able to fullfill their need for attetnion so we are partly to blame.

 

[LightHearted]

:topic:


Please, let's stay on topic.


:topic:

 

[kdet]

Not to take the focus off the OP but that is not the most mature response. If choose not to respond don't but don't put the qualifiers in about ignoring posters because it does s three things, show you are not ignoring what STS says, and it is immature to pubilically say you are and it derails the thread.

Back to Topic

There is no difference between reading Kay Scarpetta and the details of autopsy and horrific crimes scenes descirbed by P Cromwell(?) or watching the reality of it. Where do you think fiction writers get there material true crime, DVD interviews, FBI interviews, Police Interviews, Crime Scene visits. so to say there is a difference I don't buy it.

On topic:

I do believe there is a difference in reading fiction for pleasure and watching taped interviews with a killer...but hey I'm a big court tv fan so we know there is a huge market for this kind of thing.

 

[Blessed75]

:topic:


Please, let's stay on topic.


:topic:

thanks

 

[praying]

On topic:

I do believe there is a difference in reading fiction for pleasure and watching taped interviews with a killer...but hey I'm a big court tv fan so we know there is a huge market for this kind of thing.

Nahhhhh
Why though if the sources of those books are true crime.

OT
You know who I really love Greg Iles, great writer

and Dennis LeHane his PI series there are about five of them

Lisa Gardner is good also

I have actually not read any of P. Cromwell (s)

I have so many books my daughter says Mommy all you do is read murder books

Back to topic

 

[praying]

:topic:


Please, let's stay on topic.


:topic:

As the little shrimp said in Finding Nemo

I'm ashamed


Sorry Mom

BTW I read this after I posted my book list

 

[draper]

Well Kitty (though I think you have me on ignore as well, so someone could possibly quote this), why do we read so much about Hitler? I mean there's books and TV shows on him and every other type of imaginable media that talks about his horrible crimes and whatnot.

I guess it's just that we're so fascinated by how a human being can commit such a terrible crime against another human being, so we read about it.

 

[kdet]

Well Kitty (though I think you have me on ignore as well, so someone could possibly quote this), why do we read so much about Hitler? I mean there's books and TV shows on him and every other type of imaginable media that talks about his horrible crimes and whatnot.

I guess it's just that we're so fascinated by how a human being can commit such a terrible crime against another human being, so we read about it.

Hilter is a major figure in history.But I do concede your point. There are Jack the Ripper clubs online that you can join People are pretty fascinated with Jack. I guess what sparked my intial interests in pursuing criminal justice and psychology was reading Helter Skelter when I was 12.

 

[kdet]

Another interesting tale

Gein's stolen gravestone could fetch high price

How much would a collector pay for the gravestone of infamous Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein?


Photo/www.findagrave.com
A photo of Ed Gein's gravestone appears on the Web site www.findagrave.com Tough to say, because the stolen item is still missing and hasn't yet shown up on the Internet, as some officials expect it will.

But among dealers of serial killer memorabilia, Gein is king.

"Owning Gein, for some, is to own a Rembrandt for other collectors," said Andy Kahan, crime victims' director for the Houston mayor's office and leader of a national campaign against sales of serial killer memorabilia.


http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun00/ed21062000a.asp?format=print

 

[kdet]

And yet another opinion

) One Toy Story with an Unhappy Ending

In the name of artistic expression, one Denver sculptor is doing a killer business. After wowing his friends with a Ted Bundy action figure, other "art lovers" began placing orders for their own replicas. That interest led to a whole line of serial killer toys that included Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and Ed Gein. In fact, the dolls have become so popular that the once-starving artist began selling his work on eBay. Not long after that, however, the site refused to auction the items, saying that their site did not condone violence. That didn't deter Johnson, who began his own web page.

Johnson admits his actions are indefensible. "It's a shameful thing that I'm doing this," he said. "There's no real way of excusing it." There may be no way to excuse a man who makes a profit promoting mass murder, but there is a way to explain it-money. For his first miniature, Johnson drew bids that topped $150. Even after the horrors of September 11th, his business was flooded with orders, raising questions about the country's fascination with violence.

Though the idea is distasteful and even immoral, "murderabilia" is still legal. As is the case with other appalling excuses for "art," no state can legislate or punish poor taste. Yet these R-rated toys are chock-full of negative implications. Not only do the figures trivialize the tragedy for families of these serial killers' victims, but their popularity also suggests that we are glorifying the actions of murderers. American shouldn't depict vicious men in the same vein as superheroes, any more than the country should build a monument honoring bin Laden.

Young people already bear the brunt of society's obsession with violence through music, television, and now action figures. Study after study proves that children, particularly those who are exposed several hours of "entertainment" violence, will imitate aggressive behavior. Perhaps America would be better served if Mr. Johnson used his talent to make a positive impact on society with his art, not a menacing one.

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=CU02D1

 

[Ampmonster]

what about the million fictional killers glorified in tv and movies?

 

[burrow_owl]

I guess what sparked my intial interests in pursuing criminal justice and psychology was reading Helter Skelter when I was 12.

heh. I read Manson's autobiography when i was about 12. looking back at all the creepy stuff i read, i wonder how my mom didn't commit me or something.

 

[Christi]

heh. I read Manson's autobiography when i was about 12. looking back at all the creepy stuff i read, i wonder how my mom didn't commit me or something.

Isn't that the truth? I read a book (some woman writer, I can't remember) about a woman who killed her babies, and somehow they always "died of SIDS". It was horrifying, but fascinating, to try to peek into her mind to see "WHY?". After I read the book, though, I didn't read anymore of her stuff. I was sort of creeping myself out, but I was more worried that I'd creep out my family. But I do still wonder why people do that. And it does anger me that there is going to be a movie over the Lacie Peterson thing, before the trial even commences for Scott Peterson. I think that shouldn't be even legal, if it is.

 

[Jonathan David]

You know what I think is sad?

We all know the name of these mass murderers... and yet we can not name any of their victims. I have no problem with people wanting to know about the people who committ the crimes but I think that we should also learn about the people who's lives are stolen and the people who love(d) them. Not doing so seems to be quite disrespectful and certainly contributed to the "celebrity" status that the killers achieve (I think that we have all agreed on "celebrity" even if there is dissent about "glorification").

Peace.

JD

 

[anomaly]

Reply to "Do we glorify killers? ",

I will take on this question through not going directly to where the question was most likely directed to. Which is serial killers/rapist/famous killers. To me I take on this question through what some do glorify killers or atleast support them. I see a killer as anyone that indeed does kill, may it be for money,glory,illness,hobby, or for patriotism. In which is where im tackling this question.

I have a major distrust when it comes to any mixing of Religion and Patriotism. Religion is in it's own realm of reality through the word of God. Patriotism and 'defending' the homeland is a realm of it's own. In which belongs strickly from the people, through the people. I see no room for Christians to glorify how soldiers are 'religious patriots'. Since religion is not a factor and shouldn't be a factor for those that are in the armed services. These are people trained to kill, they should not be glorified, but should be looked through the eyes of christians as those that do harm unto other's through the practices of Satan. I'm uncertain where Christian's expecially here in America want to glorify soldiers. Do Christian's not understand that a soldier is not a friend to God?

I raised this up in anothe rthread and no responses, I wish to understand where someone can actually debate how Soldiers and God mix.

Very interested in having a debate about this and possibly getting some insight into how Christians are misleading themselves, through a illusive teaching.

 

[Christi]

You know what I think is sad?

We all know the name of these mass murderers... and yet we can not name any of their victims. I have no problem with people wanting to know about the people who committ the crimes but I think that we should also learn about the people who's lives are stolen and the people who love(d) them. Not doing so seems to be quite disrespectful and certainly contributed to the "celebrity" status that the killers achieve (I think that we have all agreed on "celebrity" even if there is dissent about "glorification").

Peace.

JD

You're right. I'm sorry.

 

[praying]

Another interesting tale

Gein's stolen gravestone could fetch high price

How much would a collector pay for the gravestone of infamous Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein?


Photo/www.findagrave.com
A photo of Ed Gein's gravestone appears on the Web site www.findagrave.com Tough to say, because the stolen item is still missing and hasn't yet shown up on the Internet, as some officials expect it will.

But among dealers of serial killer memorabilia, Gein is king.

"Owning Gein, for some, is to own a Rembrandt for other collectors," said Andy Kahan, crime victims' director for the Houston mayor's office and leader of a national campaign against sales of serial killer memorabilia.


http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun00/ed21062000a.asp?format=print

Now that to me is over the top I would not pay anything to own something of a murders, but it takes all kinds I guess.