Discussion Are you fascinated by true crime or, fictional crime drama? Why?

[Forever Sleep]

I am. Both really. I enjoy all types of crime drama from the more obviously staged and extreme- like Midsomer Murders and Jonathan Creek to more gritty series like Dept. Q. I'm fascinated by true crime though also.

I imagine a lot of people must be. It's so popular. So many different series out there. I can't think it's all together healthy though. Just to be clear- I have no desire to commit crime of any sort! So, why is it so fascinating?

I think I'm weirdly doing it in part to feel better about my safe and boring life choices. I watch a lot of catfishing and romance scam type cases or ones where partners have abused and even murdered their significant other. I guess I'm simultaeously telling myself that yes- I missed out on a relationship but, at least I spared myself from that. I wonder how common it actually is. How many relationships are abusive on some level.

Maybe it's also to remind myself that my life could be so much worse. I think I'm also using it to reinforce my pessimistic view of the world in general.

Do you ever wonder why you like certain things though? Things that you feel probably aren't that healthy? Do you feel bad about it? Or, ashamed if people find out?

I think lots of people enjoy crime drama but, true crime feels more of a dodgy thing to admit to somehow. I suppose because it may suggest an element of sadism. After all, it is a real person who's been hurt. Even if we don't enjoy that aspect of it, we still accept that to watch it.

 

[getoutgirl]

I don't watch as much now but yeah I pretty much devoured anything I could true crime wise. I kinda understand its allure, I definetly feel it. Morbid curiosity, the monstruous and evil irrupting in normality, always in the familiar settings dispelling the illusion we have of safety there, it plays with horror but in a more detached retrospective way in which you are not in danger, you feel more like peeping into these secret forbidden moments in someone's life (who actually was, very much, in danger), and so it's more entertaining but safe. It plays into our gossipy nature too, when people do things out of the societal norms, and this is the extreme of that. And I agree there is a catharsis effect in knowing at least I've not been tortured for a year in a basement and choped up inside a suitcase, life's not too bad when you look it like that.

It does turn tragedies and actual extreme suffering by the families into pretty much just disposable uncaring entertainment, it uses empathy in its favour but also kinda helps killing it imo. Not saying its like "videogames turn people violent", but it's also true that since screens are a thing every bit of violence we see through one can become mere content or less impactful, more detached for some people. And there could be better ways to portray these stories, but those arent's as entertaining or profitable so... People clearly like these. I do. I think they should come with a warning first saying "Hey, please don't kill people :)" and all our problems would be solved.

Spoiler: tru crime

 

[chudeatte]

I much prefer true crime. real cases are much more easy for me to engage in since it really happened. I dont really know why I like it. I guess ive just been drawn to that kind of stuff since I was young, and watching videos on it reminds me how bad the world is/what people are capable of and that is interesting. I feel the same in that it kinda reinforces my pessimistic view on the world. I dont really have a great outlook, and it makes me think yeah my life sucks but I could be doing so much worse. maybe its bad to use real suffering as a kind of reassurance for myself but idk. I dont feel like it isnt healthy for me. I feel like in some ways it can be positive such as being aware of all the scenarios that can lead me to be hurt, so I know how to be careful. although maybe it does desensitise me to that kind of violence, I also dont think about hurting people so it doesn't really have an effect on me. I guess more vulnerable people could think otherwise which is why these copycat crimes happen and thats when the morality of true crime comes into question. I feel like it's a double edged sword

 

[amerie]

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy a good rotten mango episode or bodycam from time to time, but I don't think it's healthy or morally…justified(?) to watch that shit every single day like it's a k drama

If it's fictional I mean, go ahead, but I seriously question real life true crime fanatics.

 

[Pluto]