Morbid fascinations

66Mustang

I’m posting this in the hopes of starting an interesting conversation - this website is one of the few places I’ve been able to bring up “heavy” stuff in the past and have a proper grown up debate! 

Has anyone ever had a strange interest in something that is perhaps not an appropriate thing to show too much of an interest in?

I have been reading into several random subjects recently and often I am drawn to stuff when extreme cruelty (i.e. torture and execution) is involved. For example I’ve been reading about the history and rise of some dictators like Stalin and Hitler, but find myself especially interested in the cruelty experienced by victims. Another similar topic of interest has been the "Unit 731" secret human experimentation complex in Japan in the 1940s

I know lots of people are interested in “taboo” subjects - many people like stuff like criminology or murder mystery, and lots of people (especially men) are interested in things where sex is involved - but those topics don’t really affect me

I don’t think that with me it’s anything sinister (like sadism) because, while gaining any new knowledge is a pleasure in itself, I don’t get any direct pleasure from learning the gruesome details, quite the opposite, often I am upset and wonder how people can be so cruel - yet I keep wanting to read on

Is it maybe similar to a horror or tragedy story - they are designed to be read/watched for entertainment, even though the viewer experiences negative emotions?

Has anyone got any ideas/views or experiences/examples of their own?

WelshBlue

My wife watches a lot of true crime programmes.  She calls it interesting ... I call it research ... 

They don't interest me, possibly because I've lived amongst some truly evil people.

I'm not sure I've a morbid fascination but I've read a lot of books on Aokigahara-Jukai.  A forest at the base of Mount Fuji.  About the amount of people who commit suicide there and psychogenic amnesia of those who have failed in their attempts.  Shouldn't really be as interesting as it is, but it is

66Mustang

@WelshBlue not trying to dismiss your issues or the evilness of some of the people you've encountered as I am sure I have had an easier time so it's unfair of me to suggest this. However, I feel I have suffered at the hands of others, but reading about some of these things made me realise how lucky I am, if that makes sense? That said, I would admit that it is rather depressing if it is necessary to read about how someone was tortured to death to make oneself feel lucky in comparison...

@Ada just thought I'd mention as you might find this an interesting topic/debate - you probably remember me saying my Dad was a police detective and he helped lock up his share of the kinds of criminals that you mention. He would totally share your view that these criminals deserve longer, like, a life sentence equal to murder. However there is one big problem with that which is that if the punishment is the same as for murder, it actually encourages criminals to murder their victims because they would have nothing to lose - seeing as in the UK you only do the longest sentence, even if you commit multiple crimes. In the US it would be different because you serve time for each crime so you'd do 25 years for the first crime, then another 25 for the murder (there are actually people in the US who have been locked up for hundreds of years, which is strangely satisfying knowing they'll never be free again)

WelshBlue

@66Mustang ... don't worry I don't read it as dismissive 

The saying ... always someone worse off ... not always true because we're all entitled to feel our pain etc. in our own way

As for evil, I'm sure you're father would concur that whilst some mask it, with some it just exudes off them and you just know they're a wrong 'un

Prison sentences ... I've known murderers who I would have let babysit my kids on the outside, one act defining their lives for ever.  Child sex offenders get a lenient sentence despite ruining lives forever.  I've seen it.  A small sentence and early parole.  

My own daughter was a victim at a very young age with no-one caught ... one way I wish they were punished, but the not so rational side of me knows it's a good job I don't know who it was.  

Let's not be quick to judge every prisoner.  We never know everything.  Being sent there is the punishment.  Being kept there is the rehabilitation.  Habitual is one thing.  Making a mistake another ?

vikingqueen

           Serial killers, their crimes fascinate me! I would have been a criminologist but life got in the way 
              
             I know a murderer, a very good friend of the family in fact. He came to visit one Sunday, had tea with us, played all afternoon with my children then left saying "same time next week". My children loved him. Monday morning I had a visit from the police... He had left my house and gone to meet a friend then proceeded to batter an old lady to death with a hammer for reasons unknown.

            Would I still trust him with my family and their children, in a heartbeat. He served 20 years of a life sentence and then disappeared into the ether. I never knew why he did it, but I know it was totally out of character for this gentle man. I would have loved to sit down with him and ask 'why'.

            @WelshBlue I hope your daughter went on to have a good life after the evil that she suffered. It's for the best you didn't know who the perpetrator was or your life could have been very different. 

         

Jimm_Alumni

Not sure if it's morbid, I think I've also mentioned this before, but I like watching reviews of air traffic incidents by this pilot who runs a youtube channel. Though, it actually makes me feel safer flying cause he goes into all the improvements in safety that happen afterwards. 

I somehow think I failed to answer the topic properly  I'm not huuuge into truecrime but I have watched them with my partner before who likes them.

WelshBlue

@vikingqueen ... thanks.  It was touch and go when she hit her teenage years.  Bulimia, self harming ... until our GP called us in to tell us the reason why.  Words will never explain that day.  CAMHs were absolutely fantastic.  Now she's been a paramedic for 5 years nearly finished her MSc to be an advanced paramedic.  Not even a diagnosis of MS 3 years ago at the age of 23 has dented her desire for life and is living it to the fullest, and is the kindest, caring most empathetic person I know

So proud of her

Your family friend is proof that anyone, all of us can snap (not minimalising murder ... still an awful crime)

I have got another morbid fascination - looking at old photographs and asking myself - what the hell happened to you ...