Basic Lessons to Learn from True Crime
Guest post by Chloe Sinclair
True crime is alluring as it plays on our fascination with fear, mystery, and death. With the genre sparking the interest of viewers, streaming platforms have taken notice and begun to roll out their own offerings, like Netflix's 'Sophie: A Murder in West Cork,' or HBO's 'The Vow.' In a feature on the rising popularity of true crime documentaries, Justin Sayles reports that while the documentary genre as a whole has become the fastest-growing section of the streaming industry, with a 63% growth rate between January 2018 and March 2021, the most successful documentary subgenre was revealed to be true crime.
Across the gripping depiction of horrifying crimes, there are some truths and lessons you can draw from true crime stories that will help you to take better care of yourself.
Here are three lessons that can help you:
Use personal safety mobile apps
In our discussion on '8 Tips for a Safe Commute', we emphasize the need to habitually share your location with loved ones before heading out. This not only keeps you accounted for when someone needs to get in touch with you, but it also serves as reassurance that your location is known.
Daily commutes have become increasingly dangerous nowadays. In fact, a commute gone wrong resulted in the terrible murder of Christina Yuna, who was stabbed by a man who had followed her into her apartment from the street. In situations where you feel you’re being followed, it’s crucial to remember that most smartphones have built-in emergency SOS features. If you’re worried about how the initial fear can cause you to freeze up and neglect to make an emergency call, don’t fret. There are safety mobile apps you can download that can provide you with the help you need.
With our One Scream app, a keyword or your panic scream can trigger a response, and this hands-off approach will send a text and automated call with your location immediately to your nominated contact. You can rest easy knowing you can activate the app in a few short seconds, even when you can’t reach your phone.
Don't be fooled by charming personalities
After thirteen deaths in 1980s' Los Angeles, the name Richard Ramirez would signal fear, torture, and sadistic murder. Ramirez’s crimes recorded in The Night Stalker are substantiated by the author’s extensive interviews with the criminal. Interestingly, once the book was published, thousands of women from all over the world were captivated by Ramirez and requested to be put in touch with him. In an updated edition, the author has cataloged the disturbing stories from his interviews with these women, along with Ramirez’s thoughts on the “Ramirez Groupies.” This shows how criminals can easily manipulate people with their charming personality.
It isn’t uncommon to respond to sensationalized stories with curiosity. However, the biggest names in true crime, like Ramirez, Ted Bundy, and Charles Manson, cement the need to be wary when it comes to meeting charming people. These criminals were incredibly manipulative and famously used their charm to lure victims.
Mindfulness is key, even in everyday situations. For example, when a stranger offers you food or drinks or makes unwanted advances, you have to be wary. Learn how to exercise restraint in new interactions and be vigilant of people's motives. It is important that you don’t do anything or go anywhere you don’t want to out of politeness.
Learn self-defense
Self-defense can sharpen your attention to your surroundings and help improve your overall body condition. Moreover, it trains your reflexes to ward off any potential threats you may face during an attack. Taking defense classes can help a great deal in ensuring you can respond quickly and effectively in dangerous situations before they take a turn for the worse.
As a Claremont serial killer survivor, Wendy Davis emphasizes the need to fight back in her recently published book Don’t Make a Fuss: It’s Only the Claremont Serial Killer. Davis shares that had she not taken a moment to assess the situation and moved to kick her attacker in the shins, she might not have gotten away at all. Beyond her reflection on the miscalculations of the law that led to the dismissal of the Claremont murders, she also expounds on the importance of women and other vulnerable groups being able to physically fight back. Knowing self-defense will give you a much better chance of survival should you find yourself under attack.
The lessons you’ve learned from true crime stories can make a world of difference should you ever find yourself inside a potentially dangerous situation.