Mocking Your Safety Measures is Their Coping Strategy

Yeah, many of us who work with Victims know that people who are irritated with true crime have their ire in the wrong place. 

We discussed how women are blamed for taking precautions and actually being the people to pay attention to stories from victims and their families. To hear the voices that may not have been heard before it was too late. 

One thing that we wondered about was who was going to take responsibility for the way that murdered victims' stories are portrayed in the media?  Right away, one glaring problem was the usage of the phrase, "prolific serial killer."  Usage of this phrase makes murderers sound like the high scorers of a video game. 

A Whole New World

The younger people brought this to my attention.  (Gen Z/Millenial)

 In a conversation, I was informed that this is a Western phrase and that not all cultures speak of murderers this way.  

Me: "What do they say about the killer?"

Them: "Nothing. They do not spend years and years talking about serial killers.  When they send them to jail, they don't keep bringing them up and analyzing them as if they are wonderful and special.  That's how you don't have a society full of serial killers."

When we left the conversation my eyes were opened to how other cultures use the names of victims, dates of tragic events, and places as a way to reference the tragedy.  

Upon Reflection

1. Does evading police capture for decades demonstrate intellect on the part of the violent criminals or knowledge gaps on the part of the system?  Or could that mean that our Society needs to change criminal investigation tactics? Is what we are doing working?  

By the way, many Survivors are extremely "clever" and "intelligent".  These are the people who have to live their entire lives..... raising children, keeping jobs, maintaining households- while sharing private space with human beings who have little to no emotional regulation. 

Essentially living with the human equivalent of a bull capable of running through a store filled with breakables at any given moment. Those folks who manage that, are the true experts. 

2.  Experts in criminal behavior feature and focus on their research into the minds of violent criminals.  Visits to prisons. Hours of interviews.

Who is spending time getting into the minds of surviving victims to get more knowledge and information from these folks?  

3. Is this current structure serving us?  Are our financial and personnel resources allocated in the most effective way to keep people safe and solve crimes?

A Safer World

Rather than blaming the most vulnerable for doing what makes them feel safe, I hope we can take a look at how we as a society uplift violent crime.

How can the most vulnerable feel safe in a society that celebrates and uplifts men who murder numerous people?  What do we gain by re-visiting tales of serial killers rather than tales from victims and Survivors?

 In a society where the males who murder the most women and evade capture over the longest period are regarded as "clever", "intelligent", and "prolific" is it any wonder that women are challenged to truly feel safe?

Let's continue to encourage, uplift, and recognize both males and females when they do good things.  When they serve the needs of other people.  When they take action to encourage, uplift, and recognize others.  When they lead their families and communities to new heights.  

Then .....yeah, we shall crown thee "prolific".