As the title suggests...

Comparing earlier UM cases, lets say 87-92ish (also includes cases profiled for years previous to the 90s) against later cases that were profiled, say after 92ish....

Always personally felt that the earlier cases always seemed to be more complex because it took investigators longer to piece them together and sometimes they couldn't and/or as well as this lacked leads/evidence etc.

Later cases seemed to nearly always have more evidence at hand which didn't mean they were automatically solved but were much closer to being solved more quickly - unless the perp happened to take extra precautions such as wearing gloves and covering tracks etc.

There definitely seem to be a much greater number of cases relating to the 80s trailing into the early 90s more so than later to this which may be related to above.

Obviously this is due to the advances in science, criminal databases, profiling and all sorts of other policework and so on, but related to this...


Someone mentioned previously that it's worse to be living in today's society, because there are more psychopaths around now than ever before, compared to say the 1970s/1980s.


But would like to hear people's opinions...

Was society back when UM first aired more dangerous and was profiling it's cases (e.g. 1980s and also profiled 70s cases) than late 90s-2002 series/today?


PS - Personally I voted yes it was more dangerous then, as I believe that back then (70s/80s) you had a good chance that had something happened to you, it may not have been so easily solved.

As the title suggests...

Comparing earlier UM cases, lets say 87-92ish (also includes cases profiled for years previous to the 90s) against later cases that were profiled, say after 92ish....

Always personally felt that the earlier cases always seemed to be more complex because it took investigators longer to piece them together and sometimes they couldn't and/or as well as this lacked leads/evidence etc.

Later cases seemed to nearly always have more evidence at hand which didn't mean they were automatically solved but were much closer to being solved more quickly - unless the perp happened to take extra precautions such as wearing gloves and covering tracks etc.

There definitely seem to be a much greater number of cases relating to the 80s trailing into the early 90s more so than later to this which may be related to above.

Obviously this is due to the advances in science, criminal databases, profiling and all sorts of other policework and so on, but related to this...


Someone mentioned previously that it's worse to be living in today's society, because there are more psychopaths around now than ever before, compared to say the 1970s/1980s.


But would like to hear people's opinions...

Was society back when UM first aired more dangerous and was profiling it's cases (e.g. 1980s and also profiled 70s cases) than late 90s-2002 series/today?


PS - Personally I voted yes it was more dangerous then, as I believe that back then (70s/80s) you had a good chance that had something happened to you, it may not have been so easily solved.

I voted no. My opinion on this is the likelihood of a nutcase doing something to you is just as good now as it was, then. Humanity hasn't changed. All that has changed is the ability to catch some of those nutcases. But the ability to catch someone who killed you doesn't make it any less dangerous for you. You're already dead. Just my two cents.

Statistically, violent crime (murder, rape, etc.) was much higher in the late 80s/early 90s then it is now. The reasons for the decline are a matter of much debate.

Its actually gotten much worse in my area.

Its actually gotten much worse in my area.

Statistically, or anecdotally? Either way, even if national trends go down, certain area or area(s) may have increases for various reasons.

Well even though there isn't complete agreement I'm glad to hear all opinions, hence the poll.

Interesting thoughts above though.

Statistically, violent crime (murder, rape, etc.) was much higher in the late 80s/early 90s then it is now. The reasons for the decline are a matter of much debate.


I didn't bother to read your post but the avatar freaks me out. That is maybe the single most disturbing composite ever shown on UM.

Interesting question, I love stuff like this. Basically I think it's a little bit of both.

I think a higher percentage of "everyday people" seemed cooler, more friendly and just nicer in the old days (i.e. pre-late 90s or so), but maybe that's my personal feeling growing up in the suburbs and now living in a big city (not downtown or anything, but still, the pace of life is faster).

Now if we're talking about actual murders and criminals I'd say it's about the same or even a little more dangerous back then. There's a perception that it was safer, but it's because we didn't have the internet, all day cable news stations and of course stuff like Youtube and social networking where you could share anything. The COVERAGE of crimes and the ability to track them wasn't nearly as good (like the guy who killed John Walsh's son - if you read his book, it's really eye opening and scary how in 1981 the local police and investigators seemed to be stuck in the 50s or something!). Of course there's internet crime too, but other than that I think bad things just get more press these days, so it makes us feel less safe.

Of course I love the older UM shows because of the thorough investigations and just the more serious tone to it. But I think that also made things seem more dangerous too, like the possibility of something like that happening to any of us. I'm not sure when it changed exactly, but I think things started seeming a little less "dark" in like 1994, and certainly by '97 or so. I'm talking both about the world as well as how things were portrayed on UM.

My take is by the example of our society as a whole. I was raised in the 80's and 90's. In the 80's the general attitude of people was more friendlier and more concerned. These days due to many things people are more self involved. We have more distractions and people don't really communicate. We text, facebook, email, tweet etc. People go out and don't talk, just spend time on their phones. I do it all the time.

Yes we have 24hr news and the whole world is open, but no one can convince me that people have become more crazier over the years. Yes, back in the day crime was hard to solve and now with technology there is more evidence, but I feel strongly that there are more perps out there.

More pervs, more abusers, more nut jobs. People use to have a bit of restraint, but it seems a bit more looser.

My take is by the example of our society as a whole. I was raised in the 80's and 90's. In the 80's the general attitude of people was more friendlier and more concerned. These days due to many things people are more self involved. We have more distractions and people don't really communicate. We text, facebook, email, tweet etc. People go out and don't talk, just spend time on their phones. I do it all the time.

Yes we have 24hr news and the whole world is open, but no one can convince me that people have become more crazier over the years. Yes, back in the day crime was hard to solve and now with technology there is more evidence, but I feel strongly that there are more perps out there.

More pervs, more abusers, more nut jobs. People use to have a bit of restraint, but it seems a bit more looser.

Totally agree with you. :) I admit I'm guilty of Facebooking, texting, downloading and all that myself too, but I also really miss the days before that existed too. Because like you said, average people were friendlier or went out of their way to help you.

I think simple things had more of a "magic" back then too, because nowadays people can get anything they want so it's no big deal. Like in the 80s you might tape a song off the radio and that was your only copy for months, so you valued it more!

As far as when the feeling of the old days completely ended, I'd say about 2004/05, although even by the late 90s it was going that way. Once the internet was big that really changed the way people interacted, even subconsciously.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Viper652
Its actually gotten much worse in my area.

Statistically, or anecdotally? Either way, even if national trends go down, certain area or area(s) may have increases for various reasons.

Nationwide crime statistics are useless IMHO.

You can't compare New York's crime situation with Detroit or New Orleans.

New York has so many more advantages that either of those cities.

You can;t even compare Baltimore and DC's crime situations...even though they are separated by a few miles.

Comparing earlier UM cases, lets say 87-92ish (also includes cases profiled for years previous to the 90s) against later cases that were profiled, say after 92ish....

There was a spike in crime during the 90s due to recession and crack/cocaine.
Personally, Washington DC posted some horrific homicide numbers for most of the 90s. It was not as fun time to be in the "murder capitol" of the world.
So technically the country was probably more violent from 92-on than in 87-92.

Terrorism in the US also spiked up after 92. Two attacks on the WTC, Oklahoma, Amerithrax etc, etc.

With internet, there are more crime opportunities that did not exist before.
Especially in terms of the sex trade and child pornography. Identity theft is easier to do than before.

The fall of Soviet Union, brought a new organized crime to the world in the Russian Mafia..essentially replacing the old and dying Cosa Nostra.

Increased trading and technological advances in transportation have brought newer opportunities to sell contraband.

I believe the increase in the storytelling of the exploits of various serial killers, thrill killers, spree killers and assorted psychos has inspired many more people to learn and follow in those peoples footsteps. Probably has led to an increase in the number of people. Thinking about killing everyone in your school? Well guess what? You can read all about the exploits of someone that did just the same deed over the internet, in books...or even on true-crime television shows. You can learn from them, be inspired, or even simply copy their crimes.:(