Jack to the future?

[The Rookie Detective]

Hi all


With only 4 new members joining Casebook since the start of this year, and with only 22 new.members in total since the start of 2023, my questions are these...




What does the future of Ripperology hold?

Is interest in the Ripper crimes slowly diminishing?

Where will the next generation of Ripperologists come from and how can they move the case forward?

Are there still new discoveries to be made by the next generation of Ripper case enthusiasts?

How can we avoid all of our accumulative knowledge and understanding being lost to the sands of time and ensure the case lives on for future generations?

How can we ensure the memory of the victims is not forgotten?

[jmenges]

Casebook is often closed to new membership for extended periods of time. The numbers you cite are only an illustration of that fact, and should not be interpreted as indicating a diminishing public interest in the crimes.

JM

[Admin]

To Clarify Slightly: Casebook has a stringent vetting process to APPROVE new members. Casebook is a time suck enterprise, and therefore we have a stringent vetting process on who gets APPROVED to post. Admin feels that if people can't follow simple instructions to show they are capable of being good guests, they aren't the kind of guests we want invited in.

In the last year probably more than 500 have REGISTERED for an account. Only a handful have done their due diligence to follow the very simple instructions to get that account approved to post.

There are many other forums where there are less stringent requirements on being a member and I am sure their numbers reflect that. So OUR stats should not be used as evidence of interest.

[The Rookie Detective]

It's at this point that I would like to make a clear and unreserved apology directly to Admin and all of those involved with this wonderful site.

It was not my intention to suggest in any way whatsoever anything that could be perceived as negative with regard to this forum.

This site is a wonderful place to share thoughts and ideas and to learn more about the common interest we all share. I am aware it is a privilege to be part of it and I fully support everything that this site stands for and endeavours to achieve.

Please allow me the opportunity to amend my initial post with the complete omission of the first paragraph and instead ask just the 6 questions I posed; ergo, without any reference to this site whatsoever.

Despite having no intention to cause any negativity, it is clear that on reflection I made a grave error of judgement when I wrote my initial post; specifically the 1st paragraph which when reading back can be seen as negative.

I was nieve and somewhat moronic, for not considering the possible ramifications of my initial post and I again wish to apologise for any negatively that may have arisen from my poor attempt to initiate a conversation about the future of Ripperology as a whole.

I had sincere intentions, which missed the mark.

I am sorry.

[Admin]

It's at this point that I would like to make a clear and unreserved apology directly to Admin and all of those involved with this wonderful site.


I am sorry.

No apologies are needed and no offense was taken at all. I just wanted to make clear that our numbers on New Members should NOT be taken as representative of interest in the case at all.

Seriously no offense was taken, we just tend toward the pedantry and I wanted to make it clear that statistically our numbers should not be used to represent general interest.

To take our Admin hat off, I would say that Jack the Ripper is an oddity. It is a small isolated case that has the distinction of being the first, and decades ago, would have been one of the few that would have allowed enough research for the True Crime Community to research and discuss. With the easy availability of crimes throughout the world, I think JtR interest HAS faded as people become more interested in "solving" cases with a better hope of success. Amateur detecties WANT the laurels of "solving" a case, and Jack, will unfortunately never truly scratch that itch.

As for the case and the victims being lost to the sands of time, well..... why should they be any different than the murderers and the unfortunate murdered who preceded and followed them. There are far more serial killers and their victims from the dawn of time to the Victorian era and extending beyond than we could every comprehend or count. Thousands upon thousands (maybe millions) whose names were never recorded and will never be known. The fact that these ladies names are known today, is something of an anomaly. All humans are ... forgettable. We are brief and we burn out and the ages bury us in dust. Great Kings of the past are unknown to anyone today and so too will all of us be one day. I try my best to be utterly forgettable, bury me quickly and forget.

My Opinion Only, feel free to disagree VEHEMENTLY. I will take off the Admin hat and respond under my non-authoritarian persona from here on out.

[The Rookie Detective]

No apologies are needed and no offense was taken at all. I just wanted to make clear that our numbers on New Members should NOT be taken as representative of interest in the case at all.

Seriously no offense was taken, we just tend toward the pedantry and I wanted to make it clear that statistically our numbers should not be used to represent general interest.

To take our Admin hat off, I would say that Jack the Ripper is an oddity. It is a small isolated case that has the distinction of being the first, and decades ago, would have been one of the few that would have allowed enough research for the True Crime Community to research and discuss. With the easy availability of crimes throughout the world, I think JtR interest HAS faded as people become more interested in "solving" cases with a better hope of success. Amateur detecties WANT the laurels of "solving" a case, and Jack, will unfortunately never truly scratch that itch.

As for the case and the victims being lost to the sands of time, well..... why should they be any different than the murderers and the unfortunate murdered who preceded and followed them. There are far more serial killers and their victims from the dawn of time to the Victorian era and extending beyond than we could every comprehend or count. Thousands upon thousands (maybe millions) whose names were never recorded and will never be known. The fact that these ladies names are known today, is something of an anomaly. All humans are ... forgettable. We are brief and we burn out and the ages bury us in dust. Great Kings of the past are unknown to anyone today and so too will all of us be one day. I try my best to be utterly forgettable, bury me quickly and forget.

My Opinion Only, feel free to disagree VEHEMENTLY. I will take off the Admin hat and respond under my non-authoritarian persona from here on out.

Thank you for your kindness and understanding.

I must admit that when I saw that Admin and the Moderator had commented, I had a mini panic, got sweaty palms, and was about to say my goodbyes.

Relieved is an understatement.

And...breathe Chris....breathe...

[The Rookie Detective]

No apologies are needed and no offense was taken at all. I just wanted to make clear that our numbers on New Members should NOT be taken as representative of interest in the case at all.

Seriously no offense was taken, we just tend toward the pedantry and I wanted to make it clear that statistically our numbers should not be used to represent general interest.

To take our Admin hat off, I would say that Jack the Ripper is an oddity. It is a small isolated case that has the distinction of being the first, and decades ago, would have been one of the few that would have allowed enough research for the True Crime Community to research and discuss. With the easy availability of crimes throughout the world, I think JtR interest HAS faded as people become more interested in "solving" cases with a better hope of success. Amateur detecties WANT the laurels of "solving" a case, and Jack, will unfortunately never truly scratch that itch.

As for the case and the victims being lost to the sands of time, well..... why should they be any different than the murderers and the unfortunate murdered who preceded and followed them. There are far more serial killers and their victims from the dawn of time to the Victorian era and extending beyond than we could every comprehend or count. Thousands upon thousands (maybe millions) whose names were never recorded and will never be known. The fact that these ladies names are known today, is something of an anomaly. All humans are ... forgettable. We are brief and we burn out and the ages bury us in dust. Great Kings of the past are unknown to anyone today and so too will all of us be one day. I try my best to be utterly forgettable, bury me quickly and forget.

My Opinion Only, feel free to disagree VEHEMENTLY. I will take off the Admin hat and respond under my non-authoritarian persona from here on out.

An exceptional post.

I agree with your assessment here and I feel I can relate to being one of those who wants to solve the case, but at the same time knowing that it's never going to happen.

In a way, I think that may be part of the fundemental reason for the immense interest in rhe case overall.

The unknown and unsolved aspects are perhaps what draws us in.

I hope that in decades to come that there will be the same desire, commitment, dedication and understanding of the case as there is today.

I guess only time will tell.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Chris,

I think that you have recently noticed that Casebook is perhaps a little ‘quiet’ at the moment but it often happens where one topic becomes the focus of most of the posting. At the moment of course we’re all spending most of our time on Berner Street (going around in circles). A while ago and it was Hanbury Street and Chapman’s ToD interspersed which ongoing Cross/Lechmere stuff. There’s very little that is new coming into a topic as old as this one which is understandable. I’ve known threads that I thought would run on which have died a death and others that I expected 2 or 3 pages which have run on and on. You can never tell.

You are obviously concerned that interest in the subject is petering out. Even before you began this thread I suspected that’s how you felt by the amount of threads that you’ve tried to ‘bump up.’ I don’t think that interest has particularly lessened but perhaps we just need some new topics or different angles.

[etenguy]

I would think there are some good indicators of on-going interest in this case:

Public interest through popular culture - I haven't done the maths, but - book sales, documentaries, youtube channels etc'... It seems to me that using this measure we are not seeing any diminuation in interest - just look at public discussion surrounding the five and the new opera, which I saw at the ENO, let alone watches of youtube videos and attendees at ripper tours.

Those we might call ripperologists - again I haven't done the maths, but - casebook page views, the other place page views, number of posts on these forums, downloads of ripperologist magazine etc...

Nothing suggests to me a dwindling interest in the victims and the murders just yet.

[The Rookie Detective]

Hi Chris,

I think that you have recently noticed that Casebook is perhaps a little ‘quiet’ at the moment but it often happens where one topic becomes the focus of most of the posting. At the moment of course we’re all spending most of our time on Berner Street (going around in circles). A while ago and it was Hanbury Street and Chapman’s ToD interspersed which ongoing Cross/Lechmere stuff. There’s very little that is new coming into a topic as old as this one which is understandable. I’ve known threads that I thought would run on which have died a death and others that I expected 2 or 3 pages which have run on and on. You can never tell.

You are obviously concerned that interest in the subject is petering out. Even before you began this thread I suspected that’s how you felt by the amount of threads that you’ve tried to ‘bump up.’ I don’t think that interest has particularly lessened but perhaps we just need some new topics or different angles.

Excellent post as always Herlock

You know how my mind works far too well! Haha!

I do love reading through old threads, as there are some real treasures that I do fear will get lost in the ether.

I do love a good "bump up" yes!

Haha!

[Herlock Sholmes]

Excellent post as always Herlock

You know how my mind works far too well! Haha!

I do love reading through old threads, as there are some real treasures that I do fear will get lost in the ether.

I do love a good "bump up" yes!

Haha!

There are bound to be threads that deserve revisiting.

[c.d.]

I do love a good "bump up" yes!

Is that U.K. slang for uh...well...you know? Why does that sound dirty for some reason? Well maybe it is just me.

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I do love a good "bump up" yes!

Is that U.K. slang for uh...well...you know? Why does that sound dirty for some reason? Well maybe it is just me.

c.d.

It’s just you

[Enigma]

Hi RD, I do enjoy reading many of your posts and thank you for 'bumping' threads which otherwise will be overlooked. Ally's post was most eloquent on the subject of interest in the JtR case. I have no doubt she is correct. The case will continue to be discussed long into the future.

As for activity on this site, there are currently 99 active members. Many of whom mostly lurk as do I, which means the majority of the posting is confined to a small number of the active members.

Thanks for your contributions.

Regards
Gazza

[Filby]

Hi RD, I do enjoy reading many of your posts and thank you for 'bumping' threads which otherwise will be overlooked. Ally's post was most eloquent on the subject of interest in the JtR case. I have no doubt she is correct. The case will continue to be discussed long into the future.

As for activity on this site, there are currently 99 active members. Many of whom mostly lurk as do I, which means the majority of the posting is confined to a small number of the active members.

Thanks for your contributions.

Regards
Gazza

I tend to lurk in the shadows as well. I enjoy the discussions.