Do you think CSI type shows/movies will/has create(d) a super serial killer?

[Mr Slugger]

I did a little research on this one trying to find out what the highest kill count for a serial killer was, and kind of surprised myself.

Anyway I'm kind of curious on what you all think about some of the shows like CSI, as well as things like the Saw movies. Do you think it's possible at some point shows like these will create a kind of "super" serial killer, that is pretty much unstoppable? I mean because shows like CSI got into how they solve crimes so unless how they solve the crimes is total BS you'd think it would give a killer ideas on how to not get caught. As well as movies like Saw where every thing seems planned out, and the killer has everyone even the cops under his control.

Although in the research it seems like there's serial killers that have killed hundreds of people already so how much more "super" of a serial killer could there be I guess.

[Rapscallion]

I did a little research on this one trying to find out what the highest kill count for a serial killer was, and kind of surprised myself.

Let me guess, Shipman?

Anyway, television and films have certainly given criminals of all sorts a fair amount of information. It would be a foolish person intent on murdering someone who didn't try to mask their fingerprints, for example.

However, it also relies on the native wit of the person. Most people wouldn't have the ability to think past the script of last night's Poirot or Columbus. A few people might get away with it for a death or two, but most would be picked up.

It's also worth noting that a serial killer has a certain personality, and as such he or she would not be 'created' by the viewing of such material, but rather evoked by it. Most people would be watching the program to be horrified, but scripts require certain things to happen in a certain order.

Most people who tried it would fail. I can't see that a successful serial killer would emerge - very unlikely.

Rapscallion

[Greenday]

I don't think it'd help create a super serial killer. CSI and the other crime shows don't really reveal much but the obvious and there's a lot of things you just can't do jack shit about. I mean, if you don't already know not to leave the murder weapon at the crime scene, shave your pubes (if you are going to be a rapist too), use a condom (same as last), wipe everything down for prints, etc. etc., you don't stand a chance regardless of becoming a super serial killer.

[Flyndaran]

Information is so readily available today, that no one source is really that important.
I learned the basics of genetics etc. from high school, for example. TV programs with their predictable tropes ain't that big of a deal.

[powerboy]

Well they are already copycat criminals. But a super one, I don't think so

[Gravekeeper]

Hell, if they tried to emulate CSI, it'd probably make them easier to catch. >.>

[Lace Neil Singer]

Shouldn't think so; most serial killers are motivated by other things rather than TV programmes. XD

Pedro Lopez has a pretty high kill count... and he's free today. O_o Scary.

[MystyGlyttyr]

I've known how to read blood spatter since I was a tweener, thanks to a penchant for true-life crime, documentaries, and autobiographies of police and investigators. I must've read Bitter Almonds a dozen times by itself, let alone anything else. CSI is a come-lately.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I have tons of books on true crime, mostly serial killers. It's one of my obsessions tho strangely enough, people tend to get twitchy when I mention it. XD A lot of them have autopsy photos too, or photographed evidence.

[Bloodsoul]

Even Leopold and Loeb got caught.

[AdminAssistant]

Even Leopold and Loeb got caught.

Yeah, well they did confess. And they were just smart rich kids, hardly criminal masterminds.

Never the Sinner is an amazingly good play by John Logan about the Leopold and Loeb trial. Charles Darrow, FTW.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Well, let's face it; they were pretty careless.