What is a ripperologist?

[Steven Russell]

What do people think is meant by the term "ripperologist" and, depending on the chosen definition, how many are there worldwide?

Best wishes,
Steve.

[lynn cates]

try this

Hello Steven. Interesting question.

How about someone who has published a book or essay on "Jack the Ripper" and who occasionally researches that topic?

How many? Fewer that 50, I should think.

Cheers.
LC

[Steelysama]

I agree with Lynn's definition. Since there is no degree or certification involved, it is probably best to base it upon published work.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello Steven. Interesting question.

How about someone who has published a book or essay on "Jack the Ripper" and who occasionally researches that topic?

How many? Fewer that 50, I should think.

Cheers.
LC

Hello Lynn

I would go along with this definition but "Fewer that 50" is a serious underestimate for the number of Ripperologists worldwide, Lynn!!!

Think about it: fifty persons would be an average or low number at a Jack the Ripper conference and that's not counting all the people who would like to attend that particular event and cannot, and all the people registered on "Casebook: Jack the Ripper" and on other English language and foreign language Jack the Ripper sites, and there are quite a number of them.

We might broaden the definition to make it anyone who has taken a serious interest in the case, enough to read more than one book on the case, to write something about the case, even if only on the message boards, and to debate the ins and outs of the case.

Best regards

Chris

[lynn cates]

precising

Hello Steely. Thanks. I should have added "in a major journal" to the essay portion.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

they?

Hello Chris. I'm not sure that all those attending conference are authors on "JTR."

Message boards? Well, we have some who pop round to ask a single question then disappear.

Cheers.
LC

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

I may be wrong here but have an odd notion that the term was first used in a less than complimentary manner? Since then it has become 'acceptable'?
I cannot remember exactly who first used the epithet and when though.

I agree with your definitions of a 'Ripperologist'.
A larger number of people rather than a few.

Best wishes

Phil

[Robert]

I don't know who first used the term, but it is certainly preferable to the previous - and unfortunate - "Ripperphile."

[lynn cates]

one for the philes

Hello Robert. Agreed. Sounds slightly naughty.

Cheers.
LC

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello Chris,

I may be wrong here but have an odd notion that the term was first used in a less than complimentary manner? Since then it has become 'acceptable'?
I cannot remember exactly who first used the epithet and when though.

I agree with your definitions of a 'Ripperologist'.
A larger number of people rather than a few.

Best wishes

Phil

Hi Phil

I believe the origin of the term "Ripperologist" has been attibuted to Colin Wilson.

Best regards

Chris

[Steelysama]

Hello Chris,

I may be wrong here but have an odd notion that the term was first used in a less than complimentary manner? Since then it has become 'acceptable'?
I cannot remember exactly who first used the epithet and when though.

I agree with your definitions of a 'Ripperologist'.
A larger number of people rather than a few.

Best wishes

Phil

It would be interesting to find out if the term were originally not complimentary.

Certainly, I think that there needs to be a term which specifies someone who is a published writer on the subject of Jack the Ripper while lacking the credentials to be considered a "Criminologist" - such as a degree in Criminology, Psychology (with some concentration in Psychopathology), or other related field. Ripperologist seems an appropriate term.

On the other hand, perhaps "Ripper Researcher" would sound less like we were trying to make up a scientific field ;p

[mariab]

We might broaden the definition to make it anyone who has taken a serious interest in the case, enough to read more than one book on the case, to write something about the case, even if only on the message boards, and to debate the ins and outs of the case.

I agree with Chris George rather than Lynn here. Publications are not required to qualify as a Ripperologist if one knows his stuff well. A perfect example illustrating this fact is casebook poster Hunter (who, as far as I know, is currently preparing a publication).

I don't know who first used the term, but it is certainly preferable to the previous - and unfortunate - "Ripperphile."

Ripperphile? Ouch. A dangerous term, prone to severe misunderstandings.
Wasn't Robin Odell's meta-analysis volume Ripperology: A study of the world's first serial killer and a literary phenomenon published in 2006? This book will soon be in need of an update, and the title should be changed from “literary phenomenon“ into “a new field“. Like it or not, Ripperology will soon constitute a new field in the Humanities.

There used to be also a very entertaining old casebook thread called “You're a Ripperologist if...“ which contained criteria like
- You think SPE is God
- You meet someone named Hutchinson and can't refrain from asking about their ancestors
- You get in days-long debates about where Hanbury Street 29 was in relation to today
- You venomously fight against someone on the boards and in the next Whitechapel conference run to them and hug them like a long lost brother.
Gonna look for that old thread!

[Steven Russell]

Nice one, Maria. Never saw that old thread.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Phil Carter]

Hi Phil

I believe the origin of the term "Ripperologist" has been attibuted to Colin Wilson.

Best regards
Chris

Hello Chris,

Thank you for the reminder, April 1972 if memory serves me correctly. I believe SPE wrote of the origin of both this term and 'Ripperphile' in a dissertation under the heading 'Walking the beat'- again if memory serves.

best wishes

Phil

[sdreid]

I think a Ripperologist is someone whose main focus in the true crime field is this case. For that reason, I'm not sure I am one. Some will say for certain that I'm not a Ripperologist.