Have you noticed the upswing of interest in true crime?
My Favorite Podcast
Kelly and I were carpooling to Legally Blonde rehearsal one day when she told me the story of The Galapagos Affair. It was an amazing and insane story. She had heard it on the podcast My Favorite Murder.
So, I went and looked up My Favorite Murder and listened. The format is that Karen and Georgia talk. Then, they tell each other true stories they’ve researched about murder and true crime and anything in that spooky realm.
They are fascinating. And, somehow, also hilarious. It’s like listening to my two gal pals having a conversation. I think that’s what I like the most.
Am I a Freak?
But, yes, the content is dark. It’s dark enough that I find it to be an escape from anything terrible I may be feeling.
But it also comes from something else. Women tend to be the main demographic that like true crime stories. Why? Kelly says that true crime and fiction horror stories are cathartic for women. Women are often the victims, but when we consume the stories on our own terms it gives us a sense of control.
I, however, cannot watch, read, or listen to anything too scary too close to bedtime. Especially if I’m sleeping alone, which, you know I am.
The thing that concerns me is if telling these stories is disrespectful to the victims and their families. I like survival stories the best. One of the gals from MFM likes to watch “I Survived,” and she will sometimes share a story of a badass woman surviving an attack from a horrible would-be killer.
My Firstest Murder
I hated watching the news as a kid. It was always scary. Little did I know that the year 2020 would scare me even more.
But, the true crime story that sparked my fascination was the murder of Jonbenet Ramsey. I was in fifth grade, and I was at school early because we’d come from Dad’s house. Dad got my sisters to school first, then he dropped me off. I guess my school started later than theirs. I waited in the alcove between the doors with a few other kids who got there early, too.
Logically, my sister should have been there with me, but I don’t remember that. A girl from my class, Crystal, was there with us. And a few other kids. And a mom with her little boy, I think.
Crystal had a magazine and she was reading me the story of Jonbenet’s murder. It must have been just weeks after her death. I didn’t fully understand the details. Jonbenet was a pageant queen. I thought she was competing in adult pageants and winning. Crystal and I decided a jealous pageant competitor must have done it.
Then, the parent asked Crystal to stop reading the story out loud. It was scaring the little kids. I knew she was right, but I wanted to know more.
I looked into the story a few times over the years. I learned about the ransom note. Then, I watched a documentary that put a lot of attention on the strange behavior of Jonbenet’s brother. Stories like this fascinate me, but I think it’s because it’s so impossible to understand, and there’s no answer.
Have you seen the new Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix? Omg!
Wait . . . I’m getting ahead of myself . . . .
Questions
Do you like true crime and/or dark stories?
What’s your favorite podcast?
