so many people know so much about a serial killer and refer to him as "Ted".
shareIf you read "The Stranger Beside Me", he becomes so personalized, it is scary. Just because he becomes personalized, doesn't mean people don't fear him.
enjoy life
the dude abides
Stand.
www.michaelsavage.com
He was like your best friend
But there was a monster inside of him!
Ready to unravel!
People tend to call him "Ted" because in the early investigation of the murders, it was known that at Lake Samanish (I don't know if that's spelt right), he introduced himself as Ted to potential victims, and whether they would help him with his boat.
For a large majority of the investigation, they were known as "the Ted Murders", because all they had was the killers first name, and a database was setup in the later stages with all the men in the King County and surrounding areas with the name "Ted".
So people who have read the books, or have done research on Ted Bundy, would understandably pick up the habit of calling him Ted, including myself.
I call him "Ted" because that was his name. Don't know if that helps clear this up, but it seems obvious enough to me. I also, sometimes, refer to him as "Bundy," being that was also his name. Perhaps it's disconcerting to some that I refer to people by their names, but to me, it just seems natural.
As for knowing so much about him, what's wrong with that? Oh wait...you're not one of those "It's sick to study serial killers" people, are you? You know, if it was sick to study serial killers, and no one took the time to do it, there are scores of serial killers who never would have been caught. They were caught because someone took the time to study other serial killers and develop a system of profiling based on their newly-found insights. Really, the less you know about serial killers, the easier prey you are. If you want to ignore this stuff, go right ahead. But ignorance can be a pretty dangerous thing in a world where people like Ted Bundy still exist.
lol. he was called Ted because that was his name.
* <3 *
Great response. Just like we speak of O.J., Scott Petersen, etc.--we call them that because they are people WITH NAMES. Also for those of us old enough to remember TED and his crimes, apprehension, trials, appeals and execution he was daily, weekly monthly etc. news--when this happens, like it or not these people become a strange part of at least part of your life. Kind of like that stupid young blonde bimbo who should remain nameless.
shareWhich stupid young blond bimbo are you referring too? There's so many to choose from these days.
shareHi...Very good replies from both you and beccatx. My husband is one of those people that thinks I'm "sick", because I buy a lot of books & movies about serial killers & murderers.
Most of them I had not even heard of till I was older. Always new about Manson, maybe because of my Mom, and remembered bits about Gacy, as I lived near at the time. The first one I actually followed was Danny Rolling (the Gainesville murderer), that one really scared me. After he was caught bought every book I could find on him, and hopefully they will release the movie.
But anyway, just wanted to tell you you're right--"ignorance CAN be a pretty dangerous thing", in the world we live in today.
I call him "Ted" because that was his name. Don't know if that helps clear this up, but it seems obvious enough to me. I also, sometimes, refer to him as "Bundy," being that was also his name. Perhaps it's disconcerting to some that I refer to people by their names, but to me, it just seems natural.
As for knowing so much about him, what's wrong with that? Oh wait...you're not one of those "It's sick to study serial killers" people, are you? You know, if it was sick to study serial killers, and no one took the time to do it, there are scores of serial killers who never would have been caught. They were caught because someone took the time to study other serial killers and develop a system of profiling based on their newly-found insights. Really, the less you know about serial killers, the easier prey you are. If you want to ignore this stuff, go right ahead. But ignorance can be a pretty dangerous thing in a world where people like Ted Bundy still exist.
There are a number of reasons for that, not the least of which is that he had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of a budding author, Ann Rule, who introduced him to millions of readers; and the TV movie that followed. However, I think there are more important reasons.
It was the type of person he was: handsome, intelligent; he had that "boy next door" quality. Ted Bundy, if you met him, was the type of guy that if you met him in a social situation, you'd want your daughter to marry him. He was the epitome of what a serial killer ISN'T supposed to look and act like: smart, charming and handsome.
But what you saw was NOT what you got. He was a riddle wrapped in an enigma shrouded in a mystery. He was perverted, twisted and sick. That charming outside disguised the type of ugly inside that most of us can't and don't want to imagine. It is for those reasons that his story has captured the attention of millions of women around the world, and obviously men, too.
I know that I was of the same age of the women that "Ted" was killing when he started his spree in the 70's; and I know that my dating life was bifurcated by the "before Ted" and "after Ted" timeline. Ted represented not only a wakeup call as to how "successful" a serial killer could be, but also how women who are smart and cautious are just as vulnerable to his type of killer as women who are neither.
And that's the story of how "Ted Bundy" became "Ted," the most infamous serial killer in the US, and how the name "Ted" has become shorthand for a viscous, sexually sadistic serial killer.
Eddie: "You just broke his ankle, Jack!"
Jack: "He shouldn't have been playing with adults." ii.iv
thats the whole point, something that has been known by serial killer detectives and something this movie was trying to get across - that serial killers ARE "normal" people. yeah, people hearing that will react like the cop in the movie "normal people dont kill people..." but this way of thinking is pretty much wrong, and thinking like that never catches killers.
what you have to accept is that serial killers, whether you believe theyre "normal" or not, is that they deffinitely APPEAR normal, theyre not these cartoon cut out bad guys you see portrayed in some hollywood movies, thay wouldnt get away with it if they where.
killers are not automatons with no thought in their heads other than "kill, kill, kill...." - whether you believe or want to interpret that they are "people", one thing that is not open to opinion is that they where ONCE people. the where ONCE just like you and me, and thats why people seem to have a hard time accepting this, because that means that you or me could one day become like THEM. while this is a disturbing thought, its nontheless true.
and what the movie was doing, and is actually true in real life, is that Ted Bundy was so scary BECAUSE he was so normal, or "acted" normal.
the "Hannibal Lecter" idea of a serial killer, while entertaining to watch, is alot rarer and simply not what happens.
the fact is "Ted" seemed like a normal guy, even when he was behind bars, he was "nice" and polite to nearly everyone he spoke to, and spoke like the guy next door. thats the whole point.
and imo it actually makes him more creepy in the movie.
and it actually makes him more sinister in real life
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First I want to repeat a few things, We call him "Ted" because his name is Ted. Why would we call him anything else?
Second to whoever said it's not a bad thing to study serial killers (almost spelled that "cereal" lol) I couldn't agree with you more. It's a good thing, because first we'd never catched them if no one looked at their profile, and second it helps in some senses to prevent more people being killed by them.
As a friend of mine once said, "Ignorance is not bliss, ignorance kills," and I think that is a very valid point for this discussion. In a case like this being ignorant can definitely kill you because this world is full of sick people, and if you don't watch out for them they will get you.
Why must close-minded people always open their mouths?share
Exactly!
one thing i like that is highlighted in the book more (which i'm currently reading) is that thinking of serial killers as "that sick bastard" or "evil nutcase" will only hinder their capture and is at the end of the day, not true.
it helps us to demonize these people, so we can pretend theyre not human and just a black soulles void of evil with no other thought than "must kill! must kill! must kill!...." , the fact is, though it may be hard to admit it, is they ARE people and they ARE human beings, i'm sorry to say, and i'm sure i'm gonna get flamed for saying it, at the end of the day, this whole "evil" thing, is crap. at least in most cases.
very rarely do i see a case of a serial killer who was actually "evil" in the true definition of the word - every killer, even bundy, who is imo one of the worst and bordering on evil, has or had some "reason" for doing it - whether that reason is completely incorrect, wrong, or downright INSANE is irrelevent - they believed they had a reason, most of them, which means the notion of "evil" cant really be applied to them.
even the ones who say "i kill cos i enjoy it" - you will find that if you analyze WHY they "enjoy" it, it comes from the act of ending someones life, not causing them or their families suffering.
the thing that gets most people, myself included, when someone is murdered is we look at their families crying and how much pain theyre in, and its that that makes us think "anyone who causes this suffering on people has to be EVIL...." - the fact is, most killers, not just serial killers, dont even think about the effect their victims death will have on their families, it doesnt even enter the equation for them, it might as well have nothing to do with them, in THEIR mind. and when you see a killer showing no sign of remorse at seeing a victims relatives pain, its usually the case that in this murderers mind, he or she is not responsible, so they look at this person crying, just wondering why theyre crying.
then theres the killers who dont even understand or comprehend feelings such as grief or sorrow for a loved one, these ones neither enjoy or dislike what they cause, they simply cant relate to such emotions.
very few killers in the world did it for no "reason" and actually enjoyed causing misery to families, and openly laugh about it afterwards, though i admit there are a few and it does happen.
look at Ed Gein, you say his name and people think "evil" "monster" "bastard" in fact people often associate Gein with intelligence and even genius - the truth is Ed Gein was a bloody simpleton, the guy was considered the "village idiot" in his town and it wasnt an act, he had a carer at one point and the mental problems he had made it impossible for him to actually be "evil", simply because the guy was basically so stupid. Ed Gein was like these "odd" people you see in bus shelters and public transport, when theyre not talking to themselves theyre talking to YOU, like theyve known you for years, and say really bizarre things, you know the type, anyone who's sat on a bus next to one and thought "oh god, please go away...." while they talk to their hat or something knows what i'm talking about - the kind of people that have carers and are looked after by people in their community - Ed Gein was one of these, only after a certain point he had no carer or anyone giving him boundaries, and so eventually without anyone to tell him not to, he went too far.
in Ed Geins "messed up" mind, he wasnt even killing people. thats why he dressed his victims in his home and had conversations with them - people say "because he was a nutjob" without putting any thought behind actual psychology, and it is true to a certain extent, but the reason was because in HIS HEAD they wern't dead.
this is not "making excuses" for him, a typical "lefty" trying the soft approach, this is the reality of the situation. the fact is people would rather think of him as an evil genius with a demon-like mind and no desire other than to see people suffer. but however difficult it may be for people to face this, it simply isnt the case.
Ed Gein actually went into the local bar one night when residents where talking about a missing woman (one of Ed's victims) and Ed Gein actually said, to everyone in the bar "oh, shes over at my place, if you want to see her, she's staying with me...." - of course, no one believed him, everyone thought "yeah, right Ed...." the typical nonsense of a fool - this is not the actions of an evil man who knew what he was doing, would an evil murderer TELL a hundred people exactly where his victims body was and INVITE them to come and take a look? of course they wouldnt. the truth of the matter is, Ed was an idiot, with some mental problems, nothing more, with no one to ground him in reality.
this doesnt mean i dont think they should be treated any less harshly, if it means saving lives. i just dont think spouting blame and hatred and labelling someone as "Evil", even if they have killed people, is right and doesnt really help anyone in the long run
i'm sure i'm gonna be flamed for saying that but that is the fact of it at the end of the day.
wow, that was a long post
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