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Murder tours

 
 
jcboy
 
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 12:29 pm
Question: Do you think it's disrespectful to the dead to go on "murder tours" or revisit famous locations of crime scenes to learn about what happened there? I have a number of friends who have participated in these. I remember quite a few people always wanting to drive by Nicole Brown Simpson's condo where she and Ronald Goldman were murdered. I personally don't find it disrespectful, I also don't have any interest in visiting murder scenes but that's just me.

Lizzie Borden's house, just being one that seems to be a popular tourist location. Plus I'm sure there are plenty more that I can't think of at the moment.

I read this article from 2012 and I imagine that it can seem tasteless or offensive to victims and their families if it's not handled well.

Walking tour of Jeffrey Dahmer's neighborhood spurs controversy

Quote:
(CBS/AP) MILWAUKEE - A Wisconsin marketing group is offering a walking tour of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer's old neighborhood, featuring the Milwaukee haunts where he met and stalked his victims, reports CBS Minnesota.

An organization called Bam Marketing and Media is selling tickets for 44 dates between March 3 and June 30, and even offered a Groupon for the tour - though the website eventually canceled the promotion. According to company spokeswoman Amanda Morden, the first two trips through the now infamous Walkers Point neighborhood had nearly reached the 20-person capacity by Thursday.

Dahmer's apartment building, where he stored body parts from the 17 young men he admitted to murdering, was razed in 1992, a year after he was arrested. Many of the bars he frequented to find victims have been replaced by newer restaurants and watering hole.

Victims' families and others call the tour an attempt to exploit an ugly part of the city's history and want it to be stopped.

"I just don't think this is the right timing," Walker's Point Association president Victor Ray said. "And a tour of the area is not the right thing to do. It's sensationalism in its finest."

Ray said most of dozens of emails he's received this week have criticized the tour, and there are plans by victims' relatives and others to protest Saturday. Ray said one victim's mother specifically asked for his group's help.

"She said `Do what you can to stop it,"' Ray said. The woman did not want to be interviewed by reporters.

Morden said the Bam Marketing is sensitive to victims' families, but has not sought their feedback.

"We are not being evasive in any way," she said. "If there is a concern we would be happy to address it."


http://cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2012/03/02/2cc77720-a644-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/270x150/a4673412bd724719f2b3af3c04325822/dahmer.jpg
 
View best answer, chosen by jcboy
chai2
  Selected Answer
 
  2  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 12:48 pm
I think it's disrespectful in cases like Dahmer, where victims immediate relatives are still alive. I'd add to that even a generation or 2 before that depending on the case.

Lizze Borden died in 1927, 88 years ago. Unlikely anyone directly related to her, or nieces, nephews or cousins are still alive.

I slightly knew the uncle of one of Dahmers victims. It hit him really hard. It would be a shame to have that reminder right out there.
If I were Nicole Brown Simpsons or Ron Goldmans family, I'd be hurt by that as well.

farmerman
 
  3  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 01:53 pm
@chai2,
Hell, Auschwitz has a web site for tourists. Ive never been there but I hope its done with deep respect an as a lesson based on Santayana's
"If we dont remember history, we are doomed to repeat it"... quote

In the US, our problem is that, we seem to forget the solemnity that should be attending our own sites. Like Gettysburg and Antietam, they came damn close to building a fuckin CASINO and a huge "space needle" (Until the park Service finally grew a set and said NO)

I must say that, in the USA, you Texans preserve the solemnity and demand respect from all visitors to the Alamo. I find that good.
I was down there once and the docent was giving some nicely worded "Will you shut that fuckin kid up"!!

The Alamo could give lessons on respect for some of our sites.

AS far as Dahmer, yeh, his victims families should be respected.
chai2
 
  2  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 03:34 pm
@farmerman,

Agreeing about the Alamo.

When I was there, I was struck with the aura of, as you said, solemnity about the place. Especially remarkable when you realize it's this very small area right in the middle of the city. When you are in there though, you are back in 1836, very much aware of those 13 days.

I think there's a big difference between Auschwitz, the Alamo, and gawking at where some looney pervert kept heads in his freezer. It's the difference between wanting to, as you said, remember history, and morbid fascination.

I just looked at the Alamo site to get the year, and I was surprised when a shiver literally went through me thinking about those men who engaged in a "heroic struggle against impossible odds." (from the site)
RABEL222
 
  3  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 04:07 pm
@chai2,
Isent that where John Wayne died?
0 Replies
 
farmerman
 
  4  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 04:13 pm
@chai2,
see, I can say something nice about Texas
chai2
 
  2  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 05:41 pm
@farmerman,
Well, you like the food trucks here too.
chai2
 
  2  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 05:54 pm
@chai2,
You know farmer, segueing from the original topic a bit, I'm reminded of Deadwood, SD.

I can honestly say Deadwood was one of the pleasant parts of the vacation we took up there. I'm sure you've been there. The main (and only street practically) running right through the middle of the gulch, with all the houses of the people running all around the top of the ridge, really showed in my mind how it would have looked, how it was situated, in days past.

Brother, the money that comes through that town. Whew! As Wally and I were driving around, we of course passed the cemetary where Bill Hickok is buried. We didn't go in (didn't feel like getting out of the car, we had a long trip back).

It was amazing to think of the millions of dollars that gets spent in that town, whose only draw is where Hickok got shot. I couldn't help but think how amazed he'd be if he knew that. I mean, of course there's the motorcyle rallies and the casinos now, but it was started with him.

Way to go Bill.
farmerman
 
  2  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 08:45 pm
@chai2,
Yeh, the food trucks are some of the best in the country (including NYC where I worry whether the rigs get cleaned)

Many of these historical towns have that second life afforded them by history. Many of those Western Towns are fun , but I like the real "ghost towns" where theres no big "push" to recreate and embellish history.
Theres one town up on the "turqoise trail" that my uncle and I used to visit to buy specimens when I accompanied him while he was on filed assignments in the summers (between his teaching years)

I was disappointed with "Old Town" recreations (Albuquerque, Santa Fe Sacramento, canyon City etc) These town recreations that still occupy a portion of the actual city dont do it too well.(I think its mostly because these kinds of recreations are still subject to codes and setback restrictions )
0 Replies
 
chai2
 
  1  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 09:15 pm
What I liked about Deadwood was how you drove through so many miles of beautiful scenery. You get such a different perspective of space and time....a better one as far as I'm concerned.

After we had lunch and drove around a bit, we looked at a map and said "Hey look! Devils Tower is only 80 miles away!"

That was cool too. We didn't even bother to go into the national park, I mean, it's right there just staring at you. We stopped at this little roadside diner for a cup of joe, and just looked at the thing.

If I won the lottery, I would definately by a vacation home in South Dakota.

http://goista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Showing-Tim-Fitzharris.jpg

BTW, Mt Rushmore, huge disappointment.
farmerman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 22 Aug, 2015 09:17 pm
@chai2,
"Gudson's Graffiti " Ive heard Rushmore called.

0 Replies
 
oralloy
 
  -2  
Reply Sun 23 Aug, 2015 03:44 am
@jcboy,
jcboy wrote:
Question: Do you think it's disrespectful to the dead to go on "murder tours" or revisit famous locations of crime scenes to learn about what happened there?

This is an age where we can reenact Meredith Kercher's rape and murder at the hands of Rudy Guede via a board game.


"The Amanda Knox Game is a board game based on the true events of November 1, 2007 in Perugia, Italy. Each player takes on the role of an individual present at the crime scene and pursues variable, hidden goals.

Decisions are made in real time. A sand timer is moved along a time track at the bottom of the board advancing fifteen minutes each turn. A die roll moves the player around the four-bedroom ground-floor apartment depicted on the game board.

Players must make choices that may alter or recreate historical events."

http://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic1233623.jpghttp://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic1233624.jpg
0 Replies
 
 

 
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