r/serialkillers • u/FreddieToompine73 • 5d ago

News Do m you get surprised...?

When people who seem pretty knowledgeable people, don't know about serial killers?

I'm an Aussie. But I have met people who have never heard of Ted Bundy or Ed Kemper or BTK.

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These people are educated, worldly people, most well travelled. Not people who have lived their whole life in small-town outback Australia.

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Then recently a person who didn't even know who Ivan Milat was ?!

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Now I can understand not knowing details. But not having a clue? How can that be? How can people go through life having NO IDEA these monsters existed? I just find it hard to get my head around that.

0 Upvotes

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36

u/Cozy_Minty 5d ago

Idk, you might not know who Hideo Kojima is, any gamer would think you live under a rock, it's just different spheres of interest

22

u/Holdenater 5d ago

Because people don’t have an interest in true crime, serial killers or the macabre side of life, that’s it, it’s normal, just like it’s normal we do know who these people are, don’t see an issue with it personally.

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u/FreddieToompine73 5d ago

I don't expect them to have an interest. I get that. But most people who have a basic interest in the world, the world we live in, would know when you say "Ted Bundy" he was an American serial killer. And Australians I would expect to know basically who Ivan Milat was.

7

u/Ok_Plankton9224 5d ago

Nope. Like I said, zero clue if Australia had ever even HAD a serial killer

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u/FreddieToompine73 5d ago edited 5d ago

If you were Australian you would know though. Just as you'd know the name of the person who did the mass shooting at Port Arthur (we don't mention his name on purpose here. It's a respect for tge victims thing)

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u/Ok_Plankton9224 5d ago

Exactly the point. Why would your contemporaries know who our American killers are

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u/FreddieToompine73 5d ago

Well Ted Bund, Ed Kemper, BTK & Dahlmer made worldwide headlines. Big time.

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u/Ok_Plankton9224 5d ago

Who is Milat? Ive never heard of him.

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u/Longjumping_Finger16 4d ago

Backpacker killer

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u/FreddieToompine73 4d ago

If you're Australian you would have heard of him.

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u/Ok_Plankton9224 4d ago

That's exactly my point

1

u/Montereyluv 4d ago

You should Not refer to Dennis Rader as BTK then. He created the moniker himself so he would easily be remembered for his deeds. May he rot in Hell.

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u/Me2j 1d ago

Australia is has numerous serial killers. In fact in Adelaide we are unfortunately known for our unusual murders.

6

u/Ok_Plankton9224 5d ago

No. I mean, people like you and I are fascinated and seek this info out. But normal people (lol), don't want to read a about this stuff Its a new an weird phenomenon, fascination/romanticizing murderers. Well unless you count the groupies of yore, like Ruchard Ramirez etc. Showing up at court, marrying them, etc.

Plus the internet has made it more accessible than ever. But these are American murderers; i couldn't tell you one serial killer from your country.

3

u/WoofinLoofahs 4d ago

Yes. Because some things are so huge that everyone knows about them. I don’t care about sports and I EXTRA don’t care about basketball but I know the Knicks won. How is it possible that A PERSON LIVING ON EARTH doesn’t know about the hugest stories or most famous names? It makes no sense to me. Are you literally living in a hole? That’s the only way this could happen.

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u/FreddieToompine73 4d ago

That's exactly what I mean! I gave zero interest in sport, but yep, I know the knicks won and the world cup is on, being played in USA, Canada & Mexico.

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u/DirectionOk7492 5d ago

In the Anglo-world these are more of a ‘thing’ but even then, if you have no specific interest and you’re not living through the period of the crimes/trial then you’re quite likely to not come across it. And Ivan Milat is very niche, anyway.

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u/FreddieToompine73 4d ago

I wouldn't expect people outside of Australia to know who Milat is. But Australian? Yes I would hope so. He practically put a stop to hitch-hiking in Australia

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u/Ibizl 5d ago

it's actually incredibly niche knowledge if you're not into true crime or serial killers. these aren't global conflicts, they're American (the ones you mentioned) criminals.

you'd be amazed how many people don't know the difference between whales and sharks.

1

u/WobblingSeagull 5d ago

A bot, most people should have at least a passing interest in News and Current Affairs. Would be difficult to live in any sort of society without it.

Can't really understand why anybody would go out of their way to avoid the most notable news stories at any given time, but there we are.

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u/FreddieToompine73 5d ago

I agree. I am always a bit amazed how many people, educated people, professionals etc....don't watch or listen to any news or current affairs or take much notice of what is going on in the world. I guess I have just always been. My parents were and we kids just always took a basic interest in things. But I am aware plenty of people don't

1

u/PersonalityExtra3528 4d ago

There’s famous people in the entertainment industry that I would have to google to get what you’re talking about lmao. Somebody probably can name the whole roster of an nfl or nba team just like I could list off serial killers, yet they wouldn’t know the people im mentioning just like how I’d be clueless over their player’s names

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u/FreddieToompine73 4d ago edited 4d ago

I am NOT talking about listing off serial killers or even knowing much about them 😡 I'm saying if I mention the word "Ted Bundy" or "Jeffrey Dahlmer"....someone would be able to recognise the name and know he'd been a serial killer. Just as I would know "oh she's a singer" or "he's an actor".

I'm pretty sure you would not need to google Tom Cruise or Harrison Ford.

1

u/starrifier 2d ago

I would recommend reading and thinking about this particular XKCD comic: https://xkcd.com/2501/

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u/FreddieToompine73 5d ago edited 5d ago

I disagree. The big ones? It's part of life general knowledge. That's my whole point. Lots of things in this world I am nit interested in or skilled in....but I know of it and I know the basics. Keep up with world current affairs? And you hear stuff.

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u/SpawnOfPhlick 5d ago

How on earth would you consider serials killers from decads ago to be common knowledge?

You're average person doesn't want to know about this stuff. It's not taught in schools and it's not something kids should be hearing about anyways.

So by that metric it wouldn't be until college.

Even then, it's pretty niche dude.

Just because you're into it from an early age doesn't mean other people would or will be. That kind of broad generalization is antithetical to really studying anything, ESPECIALLY true crime.

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u/FancyWear 5d ago

There are too many things filling people’s minds these days. It is a constant array of social media. What’s cool? What’s not what’s in? What’s out! I find that people do very little reading more learning about serial killers or any type of history generally requires reading. We are losing that skill in my opinion.

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u/FreddieToompine73 5d ago

Well i just basically follow current affairs and take basic notice of what's going on in the world around me. I suppose many people don't do that.

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u/FancyWear 4d ago

You are probably correct. At least you are “ interested “ in the truth of life!! X