Do you ever wonder what is going on inside someone’s head? Now, where have I heard something like that before?
It may seem like I am referencing the opening line of a certain Pixar movie, but I am truly asking a serious question. I wonder all the time what other people are thinking and why they do the things they do. I especially wonder how people could possibly think of committing a crime. It can be any kind of crime, but I am mainly talking about the kind of crimes that are so horrendous that warrant entire podcasts or television series, the kind of crime that leaves you feeling like you are being followed home in the middle of the day when in reality, it is just someone who took the same two turns as you but is not really trying to kidnap you.
I am no criminal justice or psychology major, but I have watched a lot of “Criminal Minds.” I think that justifies what I am about to say, right? Probably not, but let us just see where this goes.
It is no secret that many people have an infatuation with true crime. I mean, it is everywhere. How are we not to get sucked into the void?
However, is true crime as entertainment ethical?
“I don’t think it would be very ethical because it seems to be generally centered around specific kinds of crime that don’t happen as often, such as murder or serial killers, and it does not even cover the smaller kinds of crime that happen more often,” said Cassie Zepetelle, a junior criminal justice major. “I believe it is unethical because the smaller kinds of crime, such as shoplifting, trespassing, vandalism, etc., can happen more often, yet people seem more attracted to murderers, serial killers and shootings.”
What is with the infatuation with terrible murders? Why is it that we can listen to hours of true crime, yet when we watch a horror movie, we have to cover our eyes and sleep with the light turned on for the next week?
I think people are drawn to these stories because of curiosity about the motivations of criminals, concerns about justice and the legal system and the thrill of solving a real-life case. However, the harsh truth is none of us are Velma, Fred or any of the members of the Scooby-Doo gang. This is not just another mystery to solve about some janitor who stole famous artwork for money or a spooky ghost trying to ward people off his property; that is actually nothing supernatural at all, just some guy named Larry or Bob.
The reality is that in true crime, the monsters are real, and the person under the mask is not some harmless cryptkeeper just trying to scare some meddling kids; he is a cold-blooded murderer who committed horrifying crimes. These stories are not some make-believe nonsense but real cases that have happened — and could happen again.
“I used to listen to true crime, but I don’t anymore because I just can’t listen to certain things,” said Emma Chambers, a sophomore liberal studies major. “I did enjoy listening to the minds of serial killers and what was going on in their heads, but I do not like the descriptive torture or things like that.”
In short, I do not think it is right to listen to true crime as entertainment, but it is also not completely wrong either. I agree with Chambers that it is hard to listen to how people are murdered and what these victims underwent, but it can be interesting to learn about the motives of the criminals and the psychology behind criminals’ minds.
It can even be beneficial to hear about crimes that have happened and understand the rationale these criminals use. It can help us be more cautious and can keep us safe. If you were completely unaware that if you go to Walmart at night by yourself, you could potentially be kidnapped, then that would be very bad. It is not good to be wholly unaware of the world around us.
It does not have to be unethical to listen to true crime if we listen for the right reasons and remember that the victims are real people and are meant to be respected. True crime does not have to be insensitive or crass, and we should be cautious about how these stories are told.
