Why are we Fascinated with serial killers?

[Marlo Manson]

As you all know by my post when the 2 girls from oklahoma were murdered I don't like the sick fucks who wander around killing people; I don't condone their actions in the least bit.. I would be the 1st to place a couple of hot ones in the head; right between the eye's if I were given the opportunity; yet I am fascinated by serial killers; I have read about dahmer; bundy; ramirez; the zodiac killer; the green river killer; the boston strangler; berkowitz; etc.. I don't know why the morbid curiousity intrigues me so much; like I said I would kill anyone of those fuckers in a heartbeat if I had or was given the opportunity..

I guess its human nature to see what man and nature can come up with to entice our curiousity; I guess I would call it the macabre factor; why do we all slow down and gawk when theirs a terrible accident; or remain @ a grisly police scene until the police make us leave; or why we stand outside and watch fires burn?? is it a natural human reaction to be so intrigued by violence; mayhem; evil; and gruesome behavior that some people exhibit?? I guess I read about them to try and get in the heads and understand the minds of these monsters; but why?? :dunno:

 

[bodie54]

I'm not fascinated by them, but that probably puts me in the minority :dunno:

 

[angelfire1972]

because probably we would like to do the same (in dreams)

 

[Artimus]

because they personify the darkest aspects of our psyches

 

[Legzman]

because they have the balls to do what we don't!

 

[squallumz]

because they have the balls to do what we don't!

*scoots away from legz.*

but seriously, im not fascinated with em. thats just me though.

 

[Legzman]

*scoots away from legz.*

relax. I won't kill anybody, but let me just say I CAN see how taking lives could be extremely addictive! Imagine the rush!!!

 

[squallumz]

relax. I won't kill anybody, but let me just say I CAN see how taking lives could be extremely addictive! Imagine the rush!!!

*acquires restraining order*

 

[Violator79]

I don't know why we fascinate over them. I personally like studying serial killers for the mental aspect of it. I like wondering what makes them tick, what happened to them to make them do what they do. I don't condone what they do, I just like understanding what they do what they do. Also, I consider them to be some of if not the most intelligent people on the planet. An example of that is Ted Bundy. The guy was absolutely brilliant. He put himself through law school and if he didn't kill all those women, he could've been one of the best lawyers in the country. Again, I do not agree with that serial killers do, I just like understanding WHY they do it.

 

[bodie54]

Also, I consider them to be some of if not the most intelligent people on the planet.

I disagree. In many cases I think people confuse thier predatory skills with intelligence. Some of them are very intelligent, but at least as many are utter morons.

 

[Violator79]

I disagree. In many cases I think people confuse thier predatory skills with intelligence. Some of them are very intelligent, but at least as many are utter morons.

Their predatory skills are what makes them intelligent. If you or I went out right now and killed someone, chances are we'd be caught within a week. Serial killers take years to get caught, sometimes never. It that doesn't count as intelligence I don't know what is.

 

[dick van cock]

I don't think we are primarily fascinated by the simple killings. What makes serial murderers special is the wide range of paraphilias they suffer from:

Cannibalism, dismembering their victims, storing body parts (Dahmer kept his victims' penises in a humidor, I believe), and so on.

These rare things are like a modern freakshow to our saturated, voyeuristic minds. They are overstepping the last boundaries in a more or less taboo-less society, which gives us these extra thrills we so desperately need.

Our grandparents went to the wandering circus to get their kicks from the bearded lady and the Siamese twins ... we do get aroused (yes I chose that word on purpose) by stories of brutal perversity.

:2 cents:

 

[D-rock]

It might be a simpler explanation than some think. Perhaps they get more attention because they are people that are different than the norm, even among others that kill. Perhaps it's that difference we take an interest in. If you look at almost anybody that gets a lot of attention they usually have something about them that makes them different than most other average people.

Another reason might be because some people are interested in the psychological aspects in it and why somebody would actually do what they do. Even this can also be related to the first point above. Some people find it more interesting to study the outliers among us to find out what “makes them tick“.

 

[bodie54]

Their predatory skills are what makes them intelligent.

How so? Those "skills" are actually pretty simplistic, particularly if you've already performed them once.

It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to choose a controllable crime scene and figure out how to dispose of a body.

Serial killers take years to get caught, sometimes never. It that doesn't count as intelligence I don't know what is.

Wow well obviously you and I have very different takes on what constitutes intelligence. The media tends to glorify some of the more cunning among them, but the reality is serial killers often lack intelligence, and many get nabbed reasonably quickly.

 

[BlueBalls]

Probably because were all interested in how a human being could kill and the fact that we could all probably do the same if pushed over the edge.




Ted Bundy is my hero

 

[Violator79]

but the reality is serial killers often lack intelligence, and many get nabbed reasonably quickly.

I guess we both differ on our views and that's fine with me. But let me ask you this: have you ever heard the statement that one reason why serial killers keep on killing is that they want to get caught? I do agree that some serial killers lack intelligence but some don't. The ones that don't leave clues, tracks, keep everything low profile, those are the smart ones. I forget who it was, but one killer wrote on one of his victim's walls "Please catch me. I can't help myself." Is that stupidity because he left clues or is that intelligence because he's trying to help the police find him and stop the killings?

 

[BlueBalls]

but the reality is serial killers often lack intelligence, and many get nabbed reasonably quickly.

Serial Killers are publicity whores, they want to be in the limelight, I think a serial killer could go on as long as they want but as the media buzz grows around them their arrogance grows and they either get caught trying to do to much or get caught to be in the public eye.

 

[bodie54]

I guess we both differ on our views and that's fine with me.

Fair enough.

Is that stupidity because he left clues or is that intelligence because he's trying to help the police find him and stop the killings?

Kind of hard for me to answer since we define intelligence rather differently in this context - but no, I don't think that's stupid. On the other hand I don't think it's a significant indicator of intelligence, either. Mostly it's symptomatic of a pathology that doesn't require a great deal of brain power.


As Sting noted:

It's murder by numbers; one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your ABCs

 

[Marlo Manson]

ok aside from the intelligence level or lack there of; why do we covet their knowledge?? why they think the way they do? is it a born with (macbre nature) or is it learned as they get older?? is their anything actually wrong with their brain?? are they helpless to whatever inclines them to become monsters?? do they feel anything?? allot of do it for the thril; bundy; brilliant, could have been a lawyer; he knew the difference between right and wrong; he felt, he had an awareness *conciousence* << spelling help please?? he was cunning and allusive!!

allot of the others seem to be lost in their own little society; in some sort of daze and showed little or no feelings?? what if anything have we learned from these monsters?? I am fascinated with them in that capacity!! not whether or not their intelligent because they have the ability to escape from their scene's.. so what are the ingredients that produce such a bad seed?? :dunno:

 

[senob44]

I think a lot of people are interested in serial killers for the same reason that a lot of women are attracted to "bad" guys. There is an excitement to the breaking of taboos and doing bad things and getting away with them. It's something that is deep down in most people's minds. Serial killers are generally considered the "worst of the worst" and their exploits hold a wide interest (though not necessarily approval) with many people. Part of it is because they are different, part because they are "bad" and probably part resonates with those of us who have ever wanted to kill someone or even just wished someone was dead.