avatarElaine Hilides

Summary

The website content discusses the rise of armchair detectives who solve real crimes using online resources and genealogy databases, highlighting the impact of true crime fascination on society and the potential risks of amateur sleuthing.

Abstract

The article "Sleuthing in Your Slippers" delves into the growing trend of armchair detective work, where individuals and groups use the internet to solve true crimes. It explores the author's personal interest in detective stories from childhood to adulthood, noting the popularity of murder mysteries in mainstream media. The piece highlights the transition from fictional crime to real-life cases being unraveled by amateurs, facilitated by the vast reach of the internet and social media. It cites examples such as the "Don't F**k with Cats" case, where online vigilantes tracked down a killer, and the proliferation of true crime podcasts that engage listeners in solving crimes. The article also reflects on the psychological appeal of true crime, suggesting that it allows people to engage with the concept of justice and satisfy a curiosity about evil from a safe distance. However, it acknowledges the potential for error and harm when amateur detectives disseminate false information, leading to harassment and threats against innocent people.

Opinions

  • The author admits a personal fascination with the process of solving murders, enjoying detective series and books as leisure activities.
  • There is a belief that the internet's pervasive influence has made it easier for amateurs to access and analyze personal information and records related to crimes.
  • The author expresses admiration for the success of armchair detectives in solving real crimes, particularly cold cases.
  • The case of "Don’t F**k with Cats" is presented as a gripping example of successful amateur detective work.
  • True crime podcasts are seen as a popular and engaging medium that allows listeners to indulge their inner sleuth.
  • The article suggests that the fascination with true crime may stem from a desire for justice and a safe way to explore the concept of evil.
  • The author points out the risks of online detective work, including the spread of misinformation and the potential harm to innocent individuals.
  • There is a note of caution about the role of online communities in crime solving, emphasizing the importance of not letting opinion overshadow fact

Sleuthing in Your Slippers

How armchair detecting is on the rise

Photo by Keren Fedida on Unsplash

I love a good murder.

No, that’s not technically true. I wouldn’t say I like watching or reading about gruesome murders, but I do love how the process of how murder is solved. Watching a detective series or listening to a book is my downtime, and I enjoy getting engrossed while cooking or on the treadmill.

Maybe I can trace this fascination back to the Famous Five and Nancy Drew books of my childhood?

And, it seems, I’m not the only one who is fascinated. Almost every best selling fiction book is a psychological thriller, a murder mystery, and there are new tv series and films weekly on the subject.

But now we have a new twist. We have true crime.

There are series depicting how a murder happened and was solved and documentaries on the same subjects.

We have true-crime series about serial murders, and we’re fascinated by the likes of Ted Bundy.

But true crime isn’t confined to what we see on the screen or read in a book anymore.

Now we have armchair amateur detectives solving crimes on their laptops.

Amateur detectives

I’m not talking about games you can play online where you solve a murder but real, true crimes solved by individuals and groups of vigilantes.

This detective work is getting easier and more accessible now that the internet pokes its tentacles into every part of life.

You can find any record online, and it’s easy to search through someone’s life on their social media accounts. Pretend to be a friend and talk to the real friends of a victim.

Armchair detectives use genealogy databases to solve crimes and check Google maps to see where people live.

And on and on.

And real crimes are getting solved.

Don’t F**k with Cats

If you’re looking for a true-crime story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than the case of “Don’t F**k with Cats.”

This tale of amateur sleuths tracking down a killer is gripping and disturbing. The story begins with a simple Facebook group dedicated to stopping animal abuse. But when one member posts a video of a man killing two kittens, the group takes on a new mission: finding the killer and bringing him to justice.

But the man doesn’t stop at killing kittens; Luke Magnotta goes on to kill Chinese international student Jun Lin and is tracked down by the armchair vigilantes.

But there is a question? Was Magnotta pushed to murder because he knew about the group of online detectives on his trail for the kitten killings? Did he like the attention?

Most of the crimes solved by these vigilante armchair detectives groups are cold cases. And then there are the true-crime podcasts.

True crime podcasts

Who didn’t enjoy’ Only Murders in the Building’ with Steve Martin and Martin Short starring as ageing true crime podcasters? The viewers are with them every step.

And in the last six years, over 200 true crime podcasts have launched. There’s something about a true-crime podcast that draws you in. Maybe it’s the amateur sleuth in all of us that wants to solve the crime?

And there isn’t likely to be an end to them. The public seems to be as fascinated by the older cold cases as the recent crimes committed daily. Look at how many new books and films are generated by Jack the Ripper.

TV programmes seem to go in cycles. We’ve had seasons of gardening, home makeover, cooking, reality shows that deal with any love interest, survival series and now we have true crime documentaries, many inspired by a podcast. It must be easy for producers to see which podcasts grab the most attention and take them from audible to visual.

And there doesn’t seem to be any dying of the light for true crime.

What is it about true crime that fascinates us?

Maybe it’s satisfying to see justice done in a world where it often feels like we’re powerless, even if it’s only on TV or in a book. And with true crime, we get to play detective, piecing together the clues and trying to solve the case.

You can even join an online forum, websleuths.com, where people worldwide get together to solve the crime. Members gather online to discuss live cases and share information they’ve discovered about the various crimes they’re investigating.

And, using IP addresses, members know that law enforcement agencies regularly log on to the website to find out what the amateur detectives have found out.

On a psychological level, human beings are fascinated by evil, relieved we’re not the victim, and true crime satisfies that fascination from a distance.

When amateur detectives get it wrong

Of course, there is always the chance that things might go wrong. Rumour spreads online faster than a forest fire.

Prof David Wall of Durham University, one of the UK’s leading criminologists, believes online communities can be hugely beneficial in some cases. Still, the temptation to get involved in more serious crimes is a recipe for disaster. “The problem comes when it ceases to become a matter of fact and becomes instead a matter of opinion,” he explains.

It’s easy to get so far down the rabbit hole that the armchair detective doesn’t want to admit defeat and starts to make up stories to fit the case. And then manipulate facts to substantiate the stories and spread untrue rumours.

In many cases, these rumours can have serious consequences. Innocent people have been harassed, threatened, and even assaulted because of false information circulated online.

When Michael Brown was shot in the summer of 2014 by an officer, the group, Anonymous, posted online that Bryan Willman was the officer in question.

But Willman was a Missouri police dispatcher, not an officer, and wasn’t a good fit for the murder.

Willman had hundreds of death threats within hours, but then the group released Willman’s address — except it wasn’t Willman’s address. It was his dad’s ex-girlfriend’s house. “I guess I’m going to have to sleep with my gun and put cameras on the house,” the woman told one reporter. “Now I have to defend myself, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Willman locked himself in his house for six days and only came out when Darren Wilson was named as Brown’s killer.

So, I’ll enjoy the detective shows I watch and read, but I think I’ll leave real detecting to real detectives.

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