Fact or fiction

Many are concerned with how this constant access to stories filled with atrocities can affect people. Senior Meg Thomas shared her opinion on why true crime can be harmful.

“I think that it creates an almost fictional outlook on some serious events. Sometimes it can be harmful for the families of the victims. A lot of true crime sources care more about the publicity than respect for families that have lost someone,” Thomas said.

This idea of the “fictional outlook” on tragic events is one that many take issue with. Some believe that this could stem from why people are interested in true crime and why they started consuming true crime media. English teacher Alison Helms explained how her true crime fascination began.

“I think I got weirdly fascinated with it when I was in elementary school when the unsolved mysteries shows would be on at night. A lot of my first books were mysteries, like Nancy Drew. Crime solving was my first love in terms of reading,” Helms said.

With this origin story in mind, one can see how the fictional world of girl-detective archetypes can start to blend in with the stories about real people and their experiences. Many argue that this fictionalization is a form of desensitization. In response to this concern, DGS counselor Diana Benoist raised a counter argument.

“I think that exposure and understanding of what it is to be a victim of a crime, or how crime impacts our society can also have the effect of inducing feelings of empathy. Maybe it makes us more sensitive to the plights of others,” Benoist said.

This ideology was echoed by senior Brenna Humphris who has consumed true crime media for the majority of her highschool years.

“The world can be a scary place, and it’s better to know about these things than to be oblivious until you learn about it later on,” Humphris said.

While preparing people for potential traumatic events is a positive attribute, some believe that this preparedness is really just harmful paranoia in disguise. Sophomore Abby Martin who has been exposed to true crime since she was six-years old, shares this view.

“I feel like since I was exposed to this material at such a young age, it has ingrained a sense of paranoia in me and has had a negative effect on how I viewed the world growing up. I have also grown desensitized to extreme violence,” Martin said.