Why Do We Love Serial Killers?
 

from Jack the Ripper, to the Boston Strangler, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy etc etc we as humans are fascinated by them all. Why?

i've been reading and watching all the BTK coverage - part of me wishes he didn't confess and there was a trial with at least a little doubt to make things more interesting.

I think we're always fascinated by death and our own mortality, so these kinds of things make us question ourselves. It's always fascinating what goes through their mind when they do what they do and how they got to where they are.

Many serial killers come from severely dysfunctional families and are also usually very bright and articulate.

I know I've always been interested in what makes them tick. What makes them cross that line.

Every year when I go on holliday I always get a book about a serial killer to read

You need help :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

VERY well said!!!!!!

i watched the movie caleld "Dahlmer" on hbo a couple weeks ago, i wanted to see what could (and did) make a person so insane, what he was thinking, what happend to him that made him kill.

I'm a serial killer killing serial killers

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/26/btk...ion/index.html

So it was his daughter that gave him up. Imagine if she hadn't, they may never have caught this guy. I wonder what led to her suspicions of it being her dad.

I think part of our fascination is that these killers often behave and look just like you and me except that they seem to enjoy the act of killing which is something most of us find abhorrent.

The word "love" doesn't come to mind, but it's true about the fascination. David lived 2 buildings away from me when I was 15. I actually knew him. (23 Pine Street, Yonkers NY)

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/imag...nofsam1977.jpg

it's a natural fascination with our own mortality, compounded by the need to understand the deviants of society.

Damn. :Oh crap

I think there are several reasons. One is it is partially the same reason we love horror movies and monsters only this is not frankenstein or dracula. I think, for most people, they are far enough detached from the subject that it is "interesting" they want to know what made the guy do this or why they started or what was wrong with them. Part of it is, as roger waters put it, the bravery of being out of range. I like scary movies and part of what makes them fun is that they are not real and after 90 minutes life is back to normal. For many the same goes for serial killers. The killer lived 1000's of miles from them and has nothing to do with thier life so it is hard actually grasp the reality of the situation so it is still interesting. The killer is so far detached from your every day life that it is almost like it is not real.

But I think the main reason is that, in the end, we are human and we are all facinated by the human condition. We are fascinated by serial killers for the same reason we watch reality TV, Sports, and read the paper. Human life is drama and the more intense the drama, the more interesting it is for many of us.