Originally posted by Fisherman
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Ill-founded indeed.
Many things changed from Victorian times, also in slaughterhouses. For instance, I believe a poster here (Gary Barnett, as I recall) has a special interest in knacker dynasties of the 19th century. The fact that it could be a family trade immediately sets apart the Victorian butchers from our modern slaughterhouse workers. Your second article deals with the shock and coping strategies of modern low class slaughterhouse employees. It must be very obvious that their modern and postmodern ways of making sense of their work will differ significantly from that of a young Victorian butcher who’s been brought up in the trade.
This is why historical methodology is needed when discussing the Ripper-cases, and why sociology is irrelevant. Something that has, by the way, been mentioned many times over the years when comparisons with modern serial killers have been made.
But I’m glad you think I can do better, thanks for the vote of confidence - I’m sure working and discussing together we can improve our understanding of the case.
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