It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by JoshNorton
From what I know about him, he was a runt of a kid, who got bumped from one foster home to another, and generally never had anyone who cared about him. Got himself into juvie pretty quickly and never really had much chance or interest in taking the straight & narrow path. There's even good reason to believe that he intentionally self-sabotages the few parole hearings he's had because he knows he's better off staying in prison than trying to survive in the outside world.
Originally posted by Heike
The easy answer to the puzzle of the serial killer is a bad childhood. Although we do imprison or execute them, public opinion often still allows them to escape some of the personal responsibility for their actions. "Poor thing, he was abused. Not surprising he turned out that way.."
Originally posted by KilgoreTroutI too made the choice to be a 'good' person, I could have very easily opted for the alternative.
By internalising you realise that your potential 'victim' is you and that by hurting them you are ultimately only damaging yourself further.
Originally posted by Sonya610
Originally posted by KilgoreTroutI too made the choice to be a 'good' person, I could have very easily opted for the alternative.
By internalising you realise that your potential 'victim' is you and that by hurting them you are ultimately only damaging yourself further.
Well there are so many factors at play. I think there are probably quite a few sociopaths operating just fine in our society that would not have a “moral” issue with killing for fun at all. It often has nothing to do with “choosing to be good”, more often it is about realizing that not being "good" can seriously @#$@ up their lives.
Of course if they don’t have a fetish for it, if it is not a strong need and obsession, it is easy to resist.
Self-preservation is probably the strongest deterrent. Those that do find the idea appealing typically realize it is a very dangerous endeavor, even if one gets away with it there will be elements of worry after the fact. They have to want it badly, and for whatever reason they decided to take the risks that come with choosing that path.
The stupid sociopaths without a sex fetish typically end up in prison for various crimes. The smart ones often end up doing quite well in business.
[edit on 21-7-2008 by Sonya610]
Well there are so many factors at play. I think there are probably quite a few sociopaths operating just fine in our society that would not have a “moral” issue with killing for fun at all. It often has nothing to do with “choosing to be good”, more often it is about realizing that not being "good" can seriously @#$@ up their lives.
Originally posted by KilgoreTrout If you take a cross-section of serial killers you will find that in the majority of cases they felt deep remorse for their first attempt at 'acting out' their fantasy. Most report that they vomited or felt physically sick by the act of murder. They are also deeply fearful of 'getting caught'. They know it is wrong.
Originally posted by Sparkly_Eyed777And maybe they believed they were meant to be killers because of these thoughts. So they decided it was probably inevitable so they acted on them.
Originally posted by Sonya610
Originally posted by Sparkly_Eyed777And maybe they believed they were meant to be killers because of these thoughts. So they decided it was probably inevitable so they acted on them.
I actually believe that the internet may help in that regard. There are groups out there devoted to those interests, sheesh there are groups devoted to every bizarre interest, but in that specific case I think contact with other somewhat likeminded folks can have a positive affect on many.
Originally posted by Heike
The easy answer to the puzzle of the serial killer is a bad childhood. Although we do imprison or execute them, public opinion often still allows them to escape some of the personal responsibility for their actions. "Poor thing, he was abused. Not surprising he turned out that way.."
Originally posted by Sonya610
Well Son of Sam is certainly popular with the christians. He is now eligable for parole and I would bet some of his christian fans write in favor of him being released.
Originally posted by chissler
Infamy or Obscurity: The Mind of a Serial Killer
Eight people were killed and five wounded before the shooter ended the horror by taking his own life. He left behind a note that read, in part, "Now I'll be famous."
Sadly, we only get the answers after they are caught.
Why do serial killers do what they do?
Originally posted by chisslerI would find it ironic that a Christian group would be fond of him considering he was a member of a satanic group that intended on raising hell on New York city.
Originally posted by HeikeTaking another look at my own attitude and feelings, I think I resent what I perceive as the popular conception that childhood abuse made them serial killers.
Originally posted by atlasastro
From what i have read on this subject, most of the well known cases involving serial killers end up infamous while commiting their crimes in relative obscurity.