Let's narrow down some Ripper 'facts'

[Errata]

I've been banging the same drum for years. But somebody always has a friend who ...

Well, you get the picture.

A friend who likely won't make it to age 60 because the physical toll on the body is so harsh.

Whatever happened to the days when you looked up a friend's illness so that you could be there for them in an educated manner when they need you?

But that's neither here nor there.

[DVV]

I was talking of suspectology, and in our case the two main questions are (and were in 1888) :
1/ Jew or Gentile ?
2/ Anatomical knowledge or not ?

That his moustache was curled up at the end or not is of lesser importance.

[GregBaron]

Not so fast y'all...

I think that if people were more aware of the fact that it is not a mental illness like depression, that it is a cognitive disorder that permanently cripples the very thought process and information storage in the brain, and about as benign as a railroad spike through the head, and causes physical brain deterioration faster than any known disease other than lethal dehydration and Ebola, they would realize that in an age with no treatment whatsoever, a violent paranoid schizophrenic has about as much of a chance of getting away with a series of crimes undetected as your average elephant. In tap shoes.

Hi all,

I must first say I basically agree with Errata and Garry. My feeling is that the ripper more than likely suffered from an antisocial personality disorder. What we frequently call psychopathy.

But, and I must say it again, but, Mr. House makes a pretty good case in his book for violence among schizophrenics who have a co-morbidity with psychopathy. He also discusses the progressive nature of the disease (schizophrenia) and how a young man like Koz, if psychopathic and sliding into schizophrenia, might still be capable of the murders and the lucidity required at that stage of his illness. It's very compelling reading if not convincing.

He also names schizophrenic lust murderers like Richard Chase and Herbert Mullin who show distinct similarities (murder-wise) to the ripper.

Rob, of course, can state things much better than I, but I just thought I'd throw this out there because for me, unlike Jewishness, it's one of the most interesting aspects of the case...


Greg

[The Good Michael]

He also names schizophrenic lust murderers like Richard Chase and Herbert Mullin who show distinct similarities (murder-wise) to the ripper.

Rob, of course, can state things much better than I, but I just thought I'd throw this out there because for me, unlike Jewishness, it's one of the most interesting aspects of the case...

This is correct Greg. There are no experts that can say a person with such and such a disorder can only do this or only do that. One can suggest tendencies, but that doesn't cover all possibilities. For every archetype, there are numerous exceptions. Too bad some can't see this.

Mike

[DVV]

I do know a lot about Jack's mental disease. He was mostly a paranoiac. No big mystery here.

[DVV]

Rob, of course, can state things much better than I, but I just thought I'd throw this out there because for me, unlike Jewishness, it's one of the most interesting aspects of the case...
Greg

Hi Greg,
certainly it's interesting. But don't confuse everything : jewishness is interesting to discuss as long as we have no definite name for the killer, it's just like trying to assert whether he was a poor local, or something else.

The disease you're talking about, on the contrary, is only interesting once you have a suspect in mind who was actually suffering from it.

But you can't deduce schizophrenia from the crime scenes or witnesses testimonies.

[The Good Michael]

But you can't deduce schizophrenia from the crime scenes or witnesses testimonies.

Agreed, but you can deduce insanity, or abnormal behavior.

Mike

[GregBaron]

Lots of mental illness...

Hi Greg,
certainly it's interesting. But don't confuse everything : jewishness is interesting to discuss as long as we have no definite name for the killer, it's just like trying to assert whether he was a poor local, or something else.

The disease you're talking about, on the contrary, is only interesting once you have a suspect in mind who was actually suffering from it.

But you can't deduce schizophrenia from the crime scenes or witnesses testimonies.

Fair points DVV although some would say you can deduce schizophrenia from the crime scenes or at least assert it. Nevertheless, it seems many of our top suspects are/were schizophrenic; Lynn's JI, Koz, Hyam Hyams, Joseph Levy, David Cohen, Fleming.

Just throwing some names off the top, there are others and I may be wrong about some of the above. The point is it seems highly prevalent among the suspects.

Even some of our disrespected profilers believed a disorganized schizophrenic at work.

Michael's point is also pertinent. We can suggest, infer, deduce, believe etc. but we can't say with certainty what the killer may have suffered from...


Greg

[DVV]

Fair points DVV although some would say you can deduce schizophrenia from the crime scenes or at least assert it. Greg

They can speculate over one or two details, perhaps, but "deducing" schizophrenia ? No, they can vaguely suggest it, at best.
As for Fleming, he also suffered from delusions of persecution. Medics also said "melancholia"...not sure how this would be called today.

[GregBaron]

Brain disease...

They can speculate over one or two details, perhaps, but "deducing" schizophrenia ? No, they can vaguely suggest it, at best.

Agreed.

As for Fleming, he also suffered from delusions of persecution. Medics also said "melancholia"...not sure how this would be called today.

These are most likely phases of the same illness. Melancholia would be depression today so he could be manic-depressive or what they currently call bipolar. Delusions of persecution are common among schizophrenics and depression can be a phase of the cycle. I imagine the poor, tall fellow was suffering from some form of schizophrenia, most likely of the paranoid variety.


Greg

[DVV]

These are most likely phases of the same illness. Melancholia would be depression today so he could be manic-depressive or what they currently call bipolar. Delusions of persecution are common among schizophrenics and depression can be a phase of the cycle. I imagine the poor, tall fellow was suffering from some form of schizophrenia, most likely of the paranoid variety.
Greg

Ah yes ?
Then who said Jack wasn't schizo ?

[GregBaron]

Join your brethren...

Ah yes ?
Then who said Jack wasn't schizo ?

Aha, I knew it. An unabashed Flemingo! Guilty as charged.

Please join the the cabal, clan, coterie, circle, cartel or clique of your associates as have the Hutchinsonians, Kozminites, Druittists, Tumblers, Cross-dressers and Maximalists.

Without a protective gang, your chances of survival are slim...


Greg

[DVV]

Nah.
"Le pluriel ne vaut rien à l'homme et sitôt qu'on
Est plus de quatre, on est une bande de cons" (Brassens)

[DVV]

Please join the the cabal, clan, coterie, circle, cartel or clique of your associates as have the Hutchinsonians, Kozminites, Druittists, Tumblers, Cross-dressers and Maximalists.
Greg

One of these clans may be right, Greg. If not two.
Agnostics are a clan also. And not always the less stubborn, in my stubborn opinion.

[lynn cates]

variables

Hello Michael. The 50% figure depends upon holding all variables constant. It cannot be done. You seem to agree with that.

Cheers.
LC