Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The Craigslist Killer

Am I the only one bothered by the media’s coverage of the Craigslist Killer?

I woke up a little late this morning, thanks to a late night with Bella, Edward and Jacob, made my tea and turned on Matt and Mere. Matt explained that coming up in the next hour was more information on the man suspected to be the Craigslist Killer.

Okay, I am not going to lie, I was in Allentown this weekend, where my parents only get two channels, the Fox News Network and the Lifetime Movie Network. You know Fox News was not about to report on something bad a preppy white person was doing, so this was the first I was hearing about CK.

Always looking for another excuse not to online date, I stayed tuned. I soon learned he wasn’t finding his victims in the women looking for men section, and no Mom and Dad I am not posting ads in the the “erotic services” section (yet). Even so, I was already hooked and so I continued to watch.

But here is where I started to get upset. It wasn't his actions that were news, it was who he was. Literally, the Today Show’s correspondent said (in so many words) “What everyone wants to know is what drove this attractive medical student to do something so depraved.”

Umm, what?

Are you saying that this would be okay, even understandable if he was ugly? Lonely? Poor? If CK weren't good looking and engaged to be married and smart and set for life would we even be hearing about his sick little spree? Correct me if I am wrong, but Ted Bundy was described as good looking and cultured, right? Isn’t the profile for a serial killer almost always a good-looking, white male?

I mean I know that is why I cross to the safer side of the street whenever I am walking alone and I see an attractive white male in his mid to late 20s approaching me.

6 comments:

Grace said...

This post is genius, Tati. I, too, will avoid handsome, successful 20-somethings in the future. ...And I hope you opted for Lifetime movies over Fox News.

Anonymous said...

It's the flip side of the Susan Boyle phenomenon. It's "surprising" that an unattractive woman is talented, just as it's "surprising" that an attractive man is dangerous. Both stories are the culmination of decades of looks obsession among members of the media.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Tatiana! My thoughts exactly.

Anonymous said...

You only had Lifetime or Fox News to choose from? I hope you brought a book.

Tina Marina said...

"It's the flip side of the Susan Boyle phenomenon. "

That's exactly right and I wish I'd thought of it. I don't know why we're all so shallow.

Though I'm not going to pretend that I'm not shallow (I love Susan Boyle). The whole part about the "Craigslist Killer" is kind of creepy, in a way. Like they would say "Oooh, well he murdered six women, but we should have all seen it coming, what with his ugly face. It's okay!"

That's enough to make you shiver. Great post.

Tatiana said...

I did have a book with me (thank goodness). I also had a lot of wine and I found even Fox and Friends are tolerable when you are loaded.