• Rhynoplaz
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    1026 days ago

    Blackbeard, Colonial Revolutionaries, Jesse James, Billy the kid, Butch Cassidy, Wild Bill Hickock, Guy Fawx, Al Capone, John Dillinger, Bonnie & Clyde, Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffery Dahmer, OJ Simpson, Mike Tyson, Donald Trump.

    • @otp@sh.itjust.works
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      336 days ago

      I don’t think Manson, Gacy, or Dahmer are idolized.

      Simpson and Tyson are idolized for their non-criminal activities, not because they’re criminals. They’re not famous for being criminals, whereas most of the others are.

      Trump is definitely an interesting one though…lol

      • Captain Aggravated
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        166 days ago

        Dahmer is one of those who had prison groupies. As do the Columbine shooters, Harris and Klebold. Apparently there’s a certain kind of chick that gets lubed up for mass murderers.

        • @otp@sh.itjust.works
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          46 days ago

          That’s a good point. I wouldn’t call that mainstream, though.

          I’m not sure if Al Capone gets support the way that Walter White does or if he’s more of a Robin Hood…but a lot of the “heroic criminals” in US folklore (especially the criminals of the “wild West” who robbed banks and supported the poor) are purely the Robin Hood types.

          Dahmer’s fans are crazy. As are the Columbine Shooters’ fans. But Robin Hood-types could generally be supported by the general person without raising an eyebrow these days.

      • Rhynoplaz
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        46 days ago

        I was thinking about that as I was typing them up. It’s really hard to draw a line on how criminal they are, or fame vs infamy, etc.

        • @otp@sh.itjust.works
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          46 days ago

          Yeah. The serial killers are definitely infamous, but nobody normal is thinking “Boy, we could sure use someone like that again”.

          …but someone who goes around stealing from big banks and insurance companies while also destroying people’s mortgages (so they don’t have to make payments on their houses)? I’m sure some people could get behind that.

          Especially with the reaction we’re seeing to the murder of the health insurance company CEO. I’m sure people have been coming up with lists of other deserving CEOs.

      • @PoopSpiderman@lemmy.world
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        336 days ago

        I think George Floyd is mentioned by people to highlight how out of control the police in America are. They are thugs with badges, and they need to be reigned in, but that’s not likely to happen due to America leaning more toward “bootlicker” these days. George Floyd was murdered by shit cops. He should be remembered so we can hold bad police actions accountable. Fuck the police.

          • @DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
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            6 days ago

            Being an actual outlaw literally means you have been declared outside of the law for your presumed crimes. Anyone can kill you without question because society has washed its hands of you.

            On the way to that status you will typically rack up some warrants and bounty offers.

            Or not, depending on how corrupt the judge was.

          • @ccunning@lemmy.world
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            76 days ago

            I think it crossed over with Manson which was 60s/70s but I think your point stands.

            Some of the criminals after the crossover were cult leaders though…

            • Jo Miran
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              36 days ago

              Came back around with Tyson and Trump (depending on your preferred political party).

          • Rhynoplaz
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            26 days ago

            I noticed that too. And I think it has to do with WW2. Hitler and his allies were the bad guys, and it seems there was a period going into and after the war where didn’t pay much attention to any other criminals. During this time we saw the birth of Super heroes, and we rallied around the good guys.

  • Uranium 🟩
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    486 days ago

    Bonnie and Clyde, Killdozer man, Al Capone, Christopher Dorner, Billy the Kid to name a few.

    There are a few different common themes amongst them, either functioning as part of a gang or as a lone wolf, Bonnie and Clyde captured attention for the romantic twist attached to it.

    There are also greater numbers of outlaws during periods where laws are hard to enforce due to remoteness and isolation (old west) or due to the laws being flaunted by basically everyone due to the laws being considered ridiculous (prohibition).

    The key common theme is that they are viewed as fighting against an (what the public view as) unjust system, though often it’s more to do with their goals coincidentally aligning with the publics perception of an unjust system.

  • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️
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    6 days ago

    Jesse James.

    Billy the Kid.

    Jeffery Dahmer.

    Charles Manson.

    Al Capone.

    Baby Face Nelson.

    And many, many more.

    Out of all these, though, the only one I have seen still be idolized in some capacity is Dahmer. Women seem to love him, despite the fact he was gay. And a cannibal.

  • @Mango@lemmy.world
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    115 days ago

    Bonnie and Clyde! Billy the Kid! I haven’t yet met the cute got girl who doesn’t have a list of favorite serial killers!

  • Despotic Machine
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    6 days ago

    Pretty Boy Floyd

    Woody Guthrie - Pretty Boy Floyd

    Yes, as through this world I’ve wandered I’ve seen lots of funny men Some will rob you with a six-gun And some with a fountain pen

    And as through your life you travel Yes, as through your life you roam You won’t never see an outlaw Drive a family from their home

    From the Youtube comments: “This is the acoustic version of ‘Fuck the Police’”

  • Jo Miran
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    186 days ago

    You can see it in our media, even comic books. The Punisher is wanted by law enforcement all the time. Just look at the United Health Care shooting. Guy does what the Punisher does and he instantly becomes an American hero.