Comments on Study Proves the Nature of Murderers...Sure

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Mary

Yeah, that was a big point of what I was trying to say. It included drugs/alcohol/depression/PTSD. If you're in a group of as few as 5 people, I'm fairly certainly you'll find one or two in these categories. I think, technically, you'd find many more than that. If someone puts you on a ranch, the odds are you'll run into some horses and cattle, right?

posted by terpgirl30 on May 12, 2005 at 10:12 AM | link to this | reply

Terpgirl,

It's not surprising that the study found so much mental illness in murderers, considering that mental illness now is defined as anything from Sociopathy (which menas "know the difference between good and evil, and doesn't care") and psychopathy (doesn't know the difference, just evil), and disorders that sound like adolescence. Basically, anything is a disorder is you look at it that way. So, I'm sure that Hitler had a disorder (maybe "dissociative personality with narcisstic features and a desire to be spanked). The sad thing is that the vast majority of mentally ill are harmless, except to themselves.

posted by Blanche. on May 11, 2005 at 10:05 PM | link to this | reply

terpgirl

I think you may have had more than your fair share of violence...

But I also believe that you are right in that they can't just automatically link murder and mentally ill. I hate how many people get away with murder by pleading insanity, temporary insanity, they had a horrible childhood, etc.

posted by FactorFiction on May 11, 2005 at 2:57 PM | link to this | reply

Actually, I believe you on that, May

I'm afraid there will be a spillover as other places take the theory as their own. The US is not Sweden, not by a long shot. If we judged it that way, would murderers in Minnesota be less guilty than someone in Arizona?

I had a problem with their definition of mental illness as well. Depression and PTSD. Well, I went through a weird thing in my family, and was told I had both, although it was situational. So, it seems to me if I wanted to off someone, I should have done it then. Dang. Do you think I would have gotten away with it? That's the big point for me. I don't think you can throw a stone without hitting someone who ISN'T affected by depression, PTSD, alcoholism or drug abuse at some time or another. If it isn't in the person directly, it's a family member.

Thanks for the side angle here. That's what this stuff is all about, isn't it?

posted by terpgirl30 on May 10, 2005 at 10:26 PM | link to this | reply

terpgirl30, in Sweden there is something in the mental health/depression argument I believe to do with the climate. The lack of light and the cold weather makes many people depressed and the suicide rate is high so I guess that some folk may decide to take some other people out with them. I am not discounting your theory not at all. I am just adding this as data. I try not to leave stones unturned.
I remember visiting Sweden in December one year. I met up with a friend who was living there at the time and she was miserable and said to me that she now knew why the suicide rate was so high.

posted by Azur on May 10, 2005 at 9:19 PM | link to this | reply

Mark...Mike

Mark...drop that model. You probably can't hold onto them because of the suntan oil...or is that bacon grease?

Mike...here's a theory. Follow the logic. I don't think the meatballs made them crazy. Before you start slamming your shoe on a desk, hear me out. Maybe, just maybe, the Swedes made the meatballs in the first place because they were really Italian and didn't know it. Something like that might make you crazy, don't you think? They spend years as Italians trapped in a Swedish body, only to find out decades and generations later that someone has been holding out the truth. They look at the meatballs! They should have known. Not just anybody gets the urge to make meatballs. Alas, they go crazy.

posted by terpgirl30 on May 10, 2005 at 9:13 PM | link to this | reply

Mandinka, thank you.

You got it exactly. The big point that strikes me time and time again is that my grandparents (and mom/aunts/uncles) grew up in the same circumstances as the person who did this. They didn't/don't hurt people. During the trials, the lawyers made a big deal of that sort of thing. That's just wrong. Like you said, excuses and rationalizing. My aunt, who never owned her own home, took 2 sandwiches to work every day so she could give one to someone when she got off her bus.

My mom hammered responsibility into us. It's the "Do no harm" concept. It applies in every walk, in every neighborhood.

Moreover, for those who are really mentally ill, this just undermines their problems.

I debated whether or not to write as personally as I did, but given the statistics they were giving here, it seemed to make sense. I know my story is not as unusual as it might seem. So, from a statistical standpoint, this just doesn't hold up, and it's a real slap in the face to thinking humans.

posted by terpgirl30 on May 10, 2005 at 9:09 PM | link to this | reply

Hi Terp

I understand why you are pissed. Like you stated, it's very personal. By saying that the murderers have mental illness it takes away from their accountability and saying that they are evil makes them accountable. You don't want anybody who comitted an atrocity like murder having some kind of built in excuse. That's my interpretation of your anger. Is that a fair interpretation?And by the way I agree with what you are saying. I am sorry for your losses. Be well.

posted by mandinka on May 10, 2005 at 7:45 PM | link to this | reply

Swedes

I think it's the meatballs that make the Swedes go on crazy binges.

posted by mikea18 on May 10, 2005 at 7:29 PM | link to this | reply

I've tried....

...but apparently it's considered kidnaping. Damn models always put up such a fuss.