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Science Fiction made me do it!
01/06/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
How many of you have been inspired by your favourite SF or horror book, film or TV series to go out and repeat an action for real or blame what you've done on said things when caught? If you haven't then put your hands down. Also put your hands down if it was only at a convention in fancy dress, you're really a cyborg or proven alien (that includes a proper medical biopsy!). Hello everyone
Let's do a quick straw poll here:-
How many of you have played your vinyl heavy metal records backwards and heard messages on the tracks thinking it was the devil's music? Put your hands down only if you haven't really heard anything, carried out said instruction or thought it was an in-joke from the band. Can't do it with CDs, well not without scratching them and then the stylus just skids over the surface so you can't hear anything anyway. The new generation have probably never even heard of such a thing as vinyl anyway. Maybe it's a generation thing.
How many of you have been inspired by your favourite SF or horror book, film or TV series to go out and repeat an action for real or blame what you've done on said things when caught? If you haven't then put your hands down. Also put your hands down if it was only at a convention in fancy dress, you're really a cyborg or proven alien (that includes a proper medical biopsy!). We're talking really going out, do serious damage to people and/or property for no serious reason and then attribute the blame to what was the love of your life declaring something from the SF or horror genres made you do it. If you haven't done that either then put your hands down as well.
Assuming that I'm not facing a mob of people with their hands up in the air waving knives right now and out for my blood staring at their computer monitors then I can continue. I should be safe in the knowledge in saying the overwhelming majority here are meekly sitting on their hands or squeezing their mice, shaking their heads muttering to themselves, 'Not even tempted', reading this right now. If you're not and waving both hands in the air, here be some serious dragon discussions and you are forbidden from reading any further. This is for you folk who can tell the difference between fiction and reality. Therapy sessions only by request for the rest of you and my rates are reasonable.
So why is it that when we see or read about murderers who have some association with SF or horror hobbies that it is made out to be a bigger deal in the headlines than those who haven't? I mean, would 'He was cruel to flowers by ripping their heads off when young' be headlined? Murder is still murder. It's only the reason its committed that is likely to change or be suspect. There is no real justification that it would cause you to turn to violent behaviour solely based on what some of the population regard as an odd hobby taste. If, say, a murderer had a selection of violent horror films in their collection, it doesn't follow that they used the same MO in their own actions which you would expect if they were such devoted followers. If anything, the opposite is true. Many films have been based on the actions of real-life murderers. It isn't even a behavioural norm. If you look over your own or other non-SF/horror devotees there's bound to be a lot of material that could be regarded as being questionable to behaviour patterns that isn't in our genre. I mean, how many own copies of the book and film of 'The Silence Of The Lambs'? It doesn't turn us into psychopathic cannibal murderers, does it?
Thing is, though, if either genre was that dangerous then we'd all be raving psychos and the SF and horror genres would be so blacklisted that it would make prohibition seem like a drink waiting for a hangover. As most of us aren't, then it kinda puts it down to unstable individuals who'd just as likely murder cos you had the wrong colour eyes than by any fiction they read or watched. The real message is many such acts don't require justification just the means and desire - something, unfortunately, happens more on the other side of the pond than in the UK - and a lack of morals to walk away.
Yet, the fact remains that the media makes so big a deal of such announcements while at the same time quite happy to promote or advertise, within their own limits, the latest SF or horror film, let alone the depiction of other violent events at the same time. Then again, the press can always be righteous when it doesn't look at its house and ask what exactly does it mean to be have free choice. Granted there has always been a very large grey area between the press and our genres but why are we always the ones to take the flak for the craziness of murderers? It also probably falls under the same level as the desire for someone or something else to take responsibility for your actions which has been discussed before, only this is with more attitude and violence. Our genres just make great headlines, sell papers and little other consequence other than blacken us in the eyes of parents of kids who are getting into our kind of taste. Thankfully, there are now more parents brought up with a taste for SF and horror so are aware of the reality.
Film and TV SF and horror series are probably more violent than that contained on the printed page. There's also a better understanding of what's good and evil. A hefty dose of any is far more likely to develop some form of ethical thinking in terms of what to do under certain conditions and much of that is not to get into fights but get out of them. Those that aren't are set so far into the future that comparable circumstances aren't likely to arise anyway to duplicate said actions. Whether such material can unhinge you if you aren't unhinged already is highly debatable.
Is obsession seen as that close as that of our interest? Does being so 'out there' mean we lack a conscience or is it something to do with our lack of convention (sic)? There are equally odd and dangerous fanaticisms out there with far worse records. Look at the sports obsessives or more accurately the thug element associated with it and what a minority can do in terms of violence and tribal behaviour for the clubs they apparently support. It's not made as big a deal with bold headlines. Conversely, little is made of the benefits of our interest. No one makes a thing out of people becoming scientists because of their liking for Science Fiction or how much is given to charity from convention auctions. We're just supposed to harbour the most dangerous crazies rather than some extremely smart people amongst our ranks.
Am I being over-sensitive on this issue? I mean, it isn't as though it happens that often and usually it's on the other side of the pond than in the home country. Headline memories linger far longer than the event. Looking from the press perspective, they look into these murderers' lives looking for what motivated them to kill, find it pretty mundane and boring, other than an interest in SF or horror. Instant press psychology says that has to be the main motivation for eccentricity, being a loner and taking things into their own hands rather than an intellectual or emotional safety cushion, at least where SF or horror is concerned. If anything, the horror genre is more akin to acting as a safety value for our extreme emotions rather than bottle them up, not to mention the adrenal rush and relief from being frightened or intrigued. Better a fantasy than a reality.
So, despite most of us starting with a predisposition for our own company and escapism which led us into one of or all of Science Fiction, horror and fantasy (which oddly enough doesn't appear to connect to murderers blaming Gandalf or Sauron for leading them astray), why aren't we all being locked up as being considered violent psychopaths? Why aren't we all tainted with such a disposition? Statistically, those who combine such an interest and real life murder is really a very small percentage in proportion to press coverage. I doubt if it would make even 0.000001% of the number of people with our interest. If anything, it falls into the same limiting factor that is associated with any group where there is always a lunatic fringe who just need something to seemingly take responsibility for their actions than themselves. Maybe it speaks well for the rest of us that we are not so easily swung into such actions and can distinguish fantasy from reality.
We might not be able to totally remove the stigma associated with our genres but its within all of your powers to show Science Fiction, horror and fantasy in a positive light and at its worse, a healthy obsession. We might look obsessive but it's no worse than what we see with other interests. Compared to sport, ours is far more faceted, intellectual and thought-provoking. We need to remind people of that when we see bad press.
Thank you, take care, good night and be safe and be careful when you lock the doors at night. Geoff Willmetts editor: SFCrowsnest.co.uk
Serious Thought For the Month: If you actually kept your hands up for either of this editorial's opening questions, you should now put them down, find the nearest telephone and ask someone in authority for some help before doing anything rash.
(Less Serious) Thought For The Month # 1: For those in the UK watching the latest season of Doctor Who, don't you find there's a strong similarity between the alternative Earth creation of Cybermen and the story 'Genesis Of The Daleks'? All the Cybermen from the tenth planet Telos aka Mondas were all volunteers and although there were foot soldiers, they could think and act independently. If they were such a big threat, I wonder why the Cybermen never fought the Daleks?
A real Zen thought for everyone: Both hypothetically and metaphorically, if the sun shining is supposed to symbolise God smiling, when it rains, does it mean he's taking a...
A real Zen thought for potential writers: If you can express an opinion independently of others and aren't likely to bend to the masses then you might show potential as a writer.
BOOK REVIEWS PS Do you love Science Fiction, horror or fantasy books? Do you read? Think or can you write? Maybe even write well? Then read on...you maybe what we need... If you've survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything before giving a review. You want the bottom line about what you're going to choose to read. We roadtest books so you have some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. That means we need people actually willing to read the book and tell others what they think in reviews. For that, we're always on the outlook for more reviewers.
Do you think you have what it takes to review a book? It's a skill that can be easily mastered and we need a few more. Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively about the good and bad points about the books you read. We even let you choose from our pile of received books rather than foster something on you that you wouldn't normally read. You'll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy and that can always lead to other things. I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn't I? If you like reading books in the genre, can really think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled mostly prohibits elsewhere), then use the link below and see our requirements. We can't pay you but a review for the price and regular supply of new books, this has to be a good incentive. We have one of the most popular and biggest SF review columns on the Net. Do you think you're up to writing a review? If you think you can, then you're really going to think you've landed your hands in the biscuit tin. It won't hurt to try and see if you have the right stuff. Look up the Review Guidelines:
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN CONTRIBUTORS AND WRITING GENERALLY PPS: For those keeping track, I'm still about 24 months (mid-June 2004) behind. With going through the ebook samples, I have removed some who've gotten published elsewhere. Thank you for your patience but let me know if you've sold elsewhere so I can reduce my pile or if you've changed address, 
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