Posted on 03/19/2009 8:03:48 AM PDT by PotatoHeadMick
The last comment aside--I don't understand why people on this thread insist that wanting honest terminology in the article is absolving Manson of anything--the definitions you posted actually disprove your point. Manson did not instruct his followers to kill people one by one in a series of incidents; the last definition doesn't make sense, the "relatively short interval" being too plastic a term--what's the length of a "relatively short period"?
The last in particular blends the definitions of two distinct types of killer--"serial" and "spree" killers are not synonymous. The murders in question would be considered spree killings, not serial killings, due to the nature of the murders. For example, a serial killer generally is defined as one who lures or stalks his victims individually. I was young at the time, but I bet these murders weren't called "serial killings" at the time, but the phrase "shooting spree" was a common term, so I wouldn't be surprised if this was described as a "killing spree".
"Serial Killer" makes a more spectacular, easily-grasped headline, as the phrase is a pop-culture reference thanks to Hannibal Lecter. Just because it appeared in a newspaper, that doesn't make it accurate.
The bizarre comments by some on this thread are kind of amusing. If I were to point out that Adolph Hitler were not, in fact, a farmer from Alaska, would someone then accuse me of not being sufficiently anti-Nazi?
Accuracy matters in journalism. I thought that was obvious, but maybe not.
Food for thought.
What part of two different sets of murders, in two different places on different dates is not serial enough to be a “series of incidents”.
The two most famous incidents are not the only ones attributed to them, just the ones most people remember.
The fact that they were apprehended before committing more murders as part of his overall Helter Skelter scheme doesn’t disqualify him from the title.
Because Hitler/Stalin/Lenin didn’t commit murder with their own hands does that disqualify them as genocidal mass murderers?
Manson is correctly classified as a serial killer.
Yes, you’re right, I’d forgotten it was originally an “X”.
“Also, prisoners aren’t supposed to have facial hair”.
-—Hey,(to inject a little black humor into this) , I hope that’s the worst thing Manson ever does........
What a silly, emotion-based statement, having nothing to do with the discussion at hand.
Yes, because I dare expect accuracy, you're right, I am a big fan of Hitler, Stalin, Lenin and Manson. Happy?
Manson is correctly classified as a serial killer.
No, he's not. Enjoy your ignorance of facts and your childish self-righteousness.
I made no personal comment about you or who you are a fan of. You are bent out of shape over your assumptions, not mine. Nor am I ignorant of facts or definitions or the ongoing debate among experts and armchair detectives. So put on your big boy britches and quit tantrumming.
Hitler/Stalin/Lening are all correctly classified as genocidal mass killers for orchestrating/ordering the killing.
Manson is correctly classified as a serial killer. Two orchestrated “event” killings over a period of time with 7 victims. 3 other attributed killings, claims of 35-40 other killings and the “list” of intended victims. That’s absolutely within the spectrum of serial killing.
Luckily he was stopped before carrying out the bulk of his intentions. His prosecution cost a million plus and they got a death penalty (even if the dumbass court later converted it to life). There was no point in pursuing further investigations and more prosecutions at more expense. Just too much other upheaval going on in SoCal at the time.
OK, you’re right. Two people who supported Obama were Manson fans.
Yes two very prominent supporters of the young Barack Obama, when he was a fledgling politician in Chicago and when he needed all the assistance he could get, were people who shared the same mindset of this murderous lunatic at a time when the United States was dealing with a very severe shock to its social order. These two supporters who nurtured the young Obama were quite literally bomb throwing terrorists in their youth but are now regarded as rather harmless mainstream academics.
If a Republican politician’s career had been started in a salon run by former neo-Nazi Klansmen who had rejoiced in the lynching of innocent black people by psychotic fascists and who were now prominent in the promotion of hard right philosophy among young people in some Deep South college town I dare say you would be aware of it as the mainstream media would be screaming about it from the rafters.
The fact that you are so blissfully unaware of such an appalling facet of Obama’s past political background is very telling indeed and says more about you than it does about me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.