New Video: The Troubling Thirst for Jeffrey Dahmer

Wait - I had to stop the podcast - Killing Stalking is getting a live adaptation? I am conflicted in how I should feel about that… at the same time - I absolutely would watch that.

Yes, I definitely think you're onto something there. I've followed Sarah Z for a long time - her American Vandal video is fantastic

When I first tried to come out at 13, my mom denied it, saying that anyone I'd met would be a serial killer. It's crazy that even today such a specific case persists in the minds of people.

Sean

Welcome to the wonderful world that is RPF (Real Person Shipping). Leave ethics at the door, and remember, boundaries are just pesky obstacles in the way of your sexual fantasies. If the subject of your desires objects, they're just invalidating you, which is the worst crime in the world. (All of that was sarcasm, RPF is batshit.)

Bonsha

*sigh* I miss when Evan's most controversial role was Ralph Bohner. I grew up hearing about Dahmer. His horrible acts and the equally horrific (and publicized) fate of Matthew Shepard are what kept me in the closet far, FAR longer than I should have been. I've never seen him fetishized to this degree before. It's deeply, DEEPLY disturbing. And the little I've seen even seems to eroticize his sexual abuses of his victims; they look like they're emulating S&M porn films (which, let us be clear, THIS IS NOT S&M. THESE WERE ATROCITIES.). I can only imagine how much fun the families of the real life victims must have found THAT.

Curt Clark

I think that'd be a fun one to explore - if only to wash the taste of Dahmer out of my brain.

Curt Clark

Exactly. I think that a lot of this is that evan peters is hot and a lot of gen zer's see dahmer as some kind of scary fairytale that would NEVER happen today. Mix in the usual stew of obsessives and grifters trying to latch onto a trend and its created this gross potion.

My Youtube last summer encouraged young men on tiktok. The ad before it was a doc about John Wayne Gacy. In a less tragic vein, someone give Evan Peters a sitcom. If its Ryan Murphey they will still figure out a way to dress Evan in rubber.

Michael Adkins

My mind recoils in horror at the thought of women saying, "he's hot!" when admiring serial killers. What sort of trauma did they go through for them to consider that option? Maybe it's not exactly trauma, but the knowledge that the convicted felons are never getting out might make them "safe crushes" for these ladies. Either way, I'm smh over this phenomenon.

Cynthia McGarvie

I remember a very handsome Mark Harmon who portrayed Ted Bundy in THE DELIBERATE STRANGER from 1986. I also recall the discomfort many women felt afterward because they thought they had a “thing” for the serial killer. It was a national advice columnist who pointed out that it was the actor to whom they felt so attracted and told them not to confuse their feelings/attraction for Mr. Harmon with the real Ted Bundy.

I have the same feeling. The psychology of serial killers is interesting; but true crime stuff is so exploitative and sensationalist; which I think is a large part of what creates the fandoms for these killers. That and from what I've seen, most of the people -- predominantly cishet women -- romanticizing them are of the "fixer" type, they believe that they can "cure" the killers. Sarah Z on Youtube has a good video about the exploitative nature of true crime media, "American Vandal and the Ethics of True Crime".

BatwingCandlewaxxe

Thank you for putting the thoughts I had whirling in my mind the last weeks so eloquently in one video. Sometimes I feel instead of arguing with people I should just post your video. :) As an older millennial who still dabbles in fandoms these points are often part of the discussion with my like-minded mutuals. There is a fine line when it comes to darker content and how to deal with it. While I am of the mind that fiction is a place where everything should be allowed and can be both entertainment or a way to deal with trauma, it isn't existing in a void. Engagement should be mindful. When real events and persons are involved, the lines are often crossed and - in my experience - particularly distastefully so. The true crime landscape is a particular minefield. Salacious exploitation is more often the heart of a media piece than an exploration of the underlying systems, psychology and effects a crime brought with it. I personally have no appetite for that and recently find myself stopping more and more things about 10 minutes in. As a queer person the little stabs seem to keep coming... Thank you, James. Your work is amazing and I am so happy I discovered your channel. ❤️

Kitsune

While I've long had a fascination with the psychology of serial killers, the true crime documentaries have always made me feel uncomfortable. I've almost never found one that doesn't come off as exploitative, especially when survivors and the victims' families are still alive. The romaticisation of incredibly dangerous people is very worrying too. As you said - it's not new, but it's terrifying how quick some people are to excuse atrocities and ignore the suffering of the victims.

I read the post title and thought we were gonna get a video about the venn diagram of gays and monsterfuckers, but alas, just people romanticising irl monsters

Kalia Grey