What is a ripperologist?

[Robert]

I suppose we are all used to the term "Ripperologist" now and don't give it a second thought. Similarly, "Beatles" was originally a pun but people soon ceased to be aware of the pun, using the term almost as a name like "John" or "Mary." But I imagine in the early days the idea of attaching "ologist" to the outlandish word "Ripper" must have given people a bit of a jolt. Psychologist, anthropologist, biologist....Ripperologist!?

[Stewart P Evans]

A To Z

Hi Stewart,
I don't think the A to Z was responsible for the "bad reputation" of the word. The A to Z simply reflected the attitude prevailing at the time when those who were interested in the case were perceived as the worst kind of armchair detective promulgating theories utterly lacking in historical foundation and giving themselves airs and graces with an "ologist" name (like the already existing UFOology and UFOologist). Many of the book reviews in 1987/8 reveal this. As study of the case has become increasingly respectable, researching and writing more demanding, the term has become a respectable one, even to the point where the leading magazine servicing those interested in the case is called "Ripperologist". I think the New A to Z gives a good account.

Hi Paul, I wasn't suggesting that the A To Z was responsible for the bad reputation, which is probably down to my poor wording. I realise that in your latest edition you have amended the entry to include, 'which once had derogatory connotations.'

In fact, I totally agreed with the old entry in the A To Z and I dislike the description of 'Ripperologist' myself. But, like it or not, it's here to stay. There is actually no great mystery about the word as '-ologist' may be added to almost anything (and always has been) to describe a person who studies that subject and in the case of Jack the Ripper it was apparently Colin who first did so.

In the early days it was the press who were actually responsible for the use of the word in a derogatory sense and I don't think that such use has been entirely lost today. I think that the media and academics still use it in a derogatory way.

[PaulB]

Hi Stewart,
I don't think the A to Z was responsible for the "bad reputation" of the word. The A to Z simply reflected the attitude prevailing at the time when those who were interested in the case were perceived as the worst kind of armchair detective promulgating theories utterly lacking in historical foundation and giving themselves airs and graces with an "ologist" name (like the already existing UFOology and UFOologist). Many of the book reviews in 1987/8 reveal this. As study of the case has become increasingly respectable, researching and writing more demanding, the term has become a respectable one, even to the point where the leading magazine servicing those interested in the case is called "Ripperologist". I think the New A to Z gives a good account.

[Stewart P Evans]

Ripperologist

...
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.
...
Phil

My old friend Colin Wilson is credited with 'coining' the term 'Ripperologist' back in the early 1970s.

It was not 'first used in a less than complimentary manner'. The first use of the word, I believe, was in Colin's excellent essay that appeared in Jack the Ripper A Bibliography and Review of the Literature, by 'Alexander Kelly', first published in 1972. The last paragraph in Colin's essay reads 'If investigation of Michael Harrison's theory proved that J. K. Stephen was Jack the Ripper, than the present bibliography of works on the Ripper would be, I assume, complete and the Ripper file would finally be closed. A sad but exciting day for Ripperologists, and a personal triumph for the compiler of the volume you are now holding in your hand...
Colin Wilson April 1972.'

'Ripperologist' has always been used as a term to describe a person engaged in reading about, and the study of, the 1888 'Jack the Ripper' murders and, as far as I know, has never had anything to do with what work any particular person has had published.

The 'bad reputation' of the word is possibly down to the A To Z where, under the heading 'Ripperology And Ripperologists' the authors stated, '...Not favoured by the authors, as it has increasingly become associated with cranks and charlatans.' But that was nearly two decades after Colin's first use of the word.

[mariab]

Well, I didn't say I admire Cris for that. ;-)

And Tom wants to be prom king. OK, then I'll be the quarterback. I'm the one most qualified for that on the boards. (Apart from, maybe, The Good Michael.)

[Trevor Marriott]

It was a really silly joke, Tom.
Most profound apologies to Hunter, whom I admire very much.

And of course Chris has another claim to fame in that he by his own admission can kill and gut a deer carefully removing its uterus and kidney with anatomical precision in a matter of minutes in almost total darkness whilst wielding a long sharp knife. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm does this sound familiar?

[Tom_Wescott]

Since the Ripper has never been identified to the satisfaction of all, or even most, then there can be no Ripper 'experts', so in that sense, we're all students.

I just happen to be the prom king and valedictorian.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[harry]

A student! At my age?

[mariab]

It was a really silly joke, Tom.
Most profound apologies to Hunter, whom I admire very much.

[Tom_Wescott]

I 'divulged' his real name? He posts under Cris Malone at the forums. And how is the term 'losing his cherry' gay? Do gay men have cherries that straight men don't? You're something else.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[mariab]

To me, this is just a silly kind of 'what if' debate that we're having for fun.

Of course. That's why not many serious Ripperologist have taken part in this debate. Plus I'm feeling so bad about Hunter, cuz I started talking about him not having yet published (like it's my business), and then you divulged his real name and joked about him losing his “cherry“, which made me think gaylord or something.

[Tom_Wescott]

Perhaps we could reach a consensus of calling the established folks Ripperologists and the ones learning about the case “students of Ripperology“.

I see no need. To me, this is just a silly kind of 'what if' debate that we're having for fun. Anyone is welcome to call themselves a Ripperologist as long as they don't call me a 'Ripper fan'.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Steelysama]

Because there is no certification behind the title of Ripperologist then debating it's parameters is pointless. The apellative refers to students of the case either part-time or full-time as opposed to those with a general interest in criminology. Whether anything is published is irrelevent.

Regards, Jon S.

That is a very good thought. It does get to the root of Ripperology, being the study of a single set of crimes, as a sub-division of of Criminology in general. At the same time, there are people who are genuine experts with the Ripper case who are not professional criminologists or in an otherwise related field.

It reminds me of another interest of mine - amateur radio. It has been remarked before that it is strange how the name "amateur radio" gives the idea that those involved are, well, amateurish. Yet the truth is far from that! There are amateur radio experts, maybe better called "hams", who are incredibly well-versed in electronics, propagation techniques, and even the effects if atmospheric conditions on the use of radio communication. Some of these "amateurs" regularly experiment with bouncing radio waves off of the ionosphere, making use of tropospheric ducting to send transmissions long distances, and other technical feats - not to mention the homebrewers who build their own equipment.

But I digress.

My point is that Ripperology might have some similarities in terms of housing some really smart folks being brought together through a shared interest

Oh. And in case anyone is wondering.... my callsign is KK4CIU

[Fleetwood Mac]

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

Best wishes,
Steve.

Walks with a limp; mutters in some semi-coherent language as impenetrable as the deepest, darkest rain forests of South America. Can often be seen scurrying among the bushes late at night, and has forsaken the women of this world for a slavering wreck who lived 100 years ago.....called Kosminski. Does believe a serial killer was a genius with a plan more cunning than a fox's tail; doesn't believe that the scrawl of a human being with the brain capacity of a small stoat is nothing more than the third rate art work of a public nuisance. Is a staunch defender of the cartel and writes books claiming Peter Pan was Jack the Ripper.

The aforementioned is my understanding.

[mariab]

Perhaps we could reach a consensus of calling the established folks Ripperologists and the ones learning about the case “students of Ripperology“.

I also think it's a circular argument to say 'why bother publishing research when new research could come along rendering it valueless'.

This is an unavoidable fact for every single field of science or the humanities. Without the previous published stuff the future generations would have nothing to learn from and correct.