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Touring the Dark Side: Exploring True Crime Tourism

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Summary

True crime tourism is a growing phenomenon where individuals visit sites or locations associated with infamous criminal events or notorious criminals. It is popular because people are naturally curious and want to satisfy their need for knowledge by seeing things for themselves. Examples of true crime tourism destinations include Alcatraz Island and the Jack the Ripper walking tours. Digital true crime tourism is also becoming popular with 3D models and augmented reality experiences. Keeping crime scenes unaltered can be beneficial for evidential integrity and may also be cathartic and therapeutic for victims' families. It is important to approach cases with sensitivity and respect when engaging in true crime tourism.

Q&As

What is true crime tourism?
True crime tourism is a growing phenomenon where individuals visit sites or locations associated with infamous criminal events or notorious criminals.

What motivates people to engage in true crime tourism?
People innately desire to understand unthinkable horrors while also wanting to satisfy a natural need for knowledge and seeing things for themselves, rather than simply reading about it or watching content online.

What are some examples of true crime tourism destinations?
Some well-known examples of true crime tourism destinations include Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, the Jack the Ripper “Original Terror” walking tours in London, and the home of notorious 1980s Californian serial killer Dorothea Puente.

How has the internet impacted true crime tourism?
The internet has made true crime tourism more accessible digitally, with 3D models of crime scenes, video tours of properties, and augmented reality experiences.

What are the potential benefits of maintaining true crime locations for evidential integrity?
Keeping locations available after a trial to be viewed can be a cathartic and therapeutic experience for victim’s families, survivors, and communities, and memorials can be erected alongside infamous locations to make sure the victim’s memory is not lost.

AI Comments

👍 I love this article! It's really eye-opening and informative about the growing trend of true crime tourism. It's fascinating to learn about the psychology behind why people are drawn to these sites, and the example of the Murdaugh property going up for sale is really interesting.

👎 This article is really exploitative and insensitive. It's distasteful to discuss these tragic events as if they are tourist destinations or attractions. It's disrespectful to the victims and their families.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the phenomenon of true crime tourism. It talks about how people are drawn to infamous criminal events or notorious criminals, and why they do it. It also discusses the implications of visiting high-profile locations, as well as digital true crime tourism.

Friend: That's really interesting. It does raise some interesting questions about our fascination with the dark side of humanity. I wonder if it's just a voyeuristic curiosity, or if there's something more to it.

Me: Yes, I think it's a fascinating topic. It's definitely a complex phenomenon, and it's important to consider the ethical implications of true crime tourism. It can certainly be a disrespectful and intrusive form of voyeurism if people aren't careful. On the other hand, there are some benefits to keeping sites standing, such as for evidential integrity and for therapeutic purposes.

Action items

Research more about the phenomenon of true crime tourism and its implications.
Join a true crime discussion group or forum to discuss the ethical implications of true crime tourism.
Consider donating to a victim's family or organization that supports victims of crime in order to show respect for the victims and their stories.

Technical terms

True Crime Tourism: A growing phenomenon where individuals visit sites or locations associated with infamous criminal events or notorious criminals.
Dark Tourism: Also referred to as “dark tourism” or “crime tourism,” this type of sightseeing can be done in different ways.
Rubbernecking: The act of slowing down to look at something, usually an accident or other incident.
Institute for Dark Tourism Research: A research group at the University of Central Lancashire that studies the phenomenon of dark tourism.
Alcatraz Island: An island in San Francisco Bay that was the site of the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
Jack the Ripper: A Victorian serial killer in London whose identity remains unknown.
Dorothea Puente: A notorious 1980s Californian serial killer.
Caylee Anthony: A Florida girl who was murdered in 2008.
Alex Murdaugh: A prominent lawyer who was found guilty of killing his wife and son.
Idaho Students: Four students in Idaho who were murdered in November 2022.
JonBenet Ramsey: A six-year-old girl who was murdered in Boulder, Colorado in 1996.
Augmented Reality (AR): A technology that uses a device's camera to project crime scenes visually.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: A high school in Parkland, Florida where a mass shooting occurred in 2018.
Gabby Petito: A Wyoming woman who was murdered in 2019.