This board truly amazes me. I'm a casual poster/reader of this site. some of you guys go way above and beyond research. it's really quite impressive. I've learned so much on some of the cases. or have just scared myself silly for the fun of it leafing through threads.

My question is: What is it about this show that makes us care so much? is it the mystery? the victims? the forensic sceince behind it? I'm not sure... I think it's a little bit of all three.

Also I know I get alot of flack for not really staying on topic 90% of the time.or just reiterating what others say. I can't help it sometimes. I have ADD and other emotional issues.

Well, for me, it is a combination of things. I grew up watching this show with my folks. I can clearly recall watching certain episodes in their original broadcast. For example, I can recall watching the 10/26/1988 episode that night. The bunk bed segment was in that episode and that case took place in Horicon, WI. When I was growing up, we lived 15 miles away from Horicon. My grandparents live there! Ever since then, it became a weekly staple in my household. In my teens, I kind of took a break from it, but then in college I really got into again, through repeats on Lifetime.

I don't know, something about that show is so awesome yet creepy at the same time. I also think it has to do with some of the presentation aspects, Stack's voice, the music, the combination of it all.

This board truly amazes me. I'm a casual poster/reader of this site. some of you guys go way above and beyond research. it's really quite impressive. I've learned so much on some of the cases. or have just scared myself silly for the fun of it leafing through threads.

My question is: What is it about this show that makes us care so much? is it the mystery? the victims? the forensic sceince behind it? I'm not sure... I think it's a little bit of all three.

Also I know I get alot of flack for not really staying on topic 90% of the time.or just reiterating what others say. I can't help it sometimes. I have ADD and other emotional issues.

I don't know exactly why, but I have been baffled by all kinds of mysteries since I was little; I have a deep interest in solving things. I like mysteries of the universe, of the past, of the future, and of crimes.

I remember seeing a couple segments when I was very little but it wasn't until I was about 10 years old when I saw it again and followed its schedule and became a regular viewer. Since then, I have become delved into many true crime shows such as Forensic Files, the Investigators, etc.

I suppose this show is an inspiration to me as well since I am coming up graduating from college with a bachelor's in Justice Studies and wish to go into the field of solving crime (but not a typical street cop, that isn't really on my radar), so I'd much rather be a detective.

But aside from all that, the other thing about the show that gets to me are the victims. There have been so many victims and/or their family and friends on the show that I feel I could relate to somehow. I am sure that might be something we all have in common on this board.

My question is: What is it about this show that makes us care so much? is it the mystery? the victims? the forensic sceince behind it? I'm not sure... I think it's a little bit of all three.

The mystery. I think a lot of people just like to exercise their mind in pursuit of a solution to a good mystery.

while i applaud those courageous individuals who run sites like the DOE network and do the hard work of trying to solve cases, call in tips etc...

ive always viewed the appeal of UM as being the same as a horror film. there is a reason the lost love and paranormal segments arent as loved by people on here and elsewhere.

We like to be scared. We like to see or learn about mysteries, the unknown. We like to be frightened.

Its an art to create a film or tv show that scares people. And while this show obviously involves real people as opposed to Saw or something which is not real, the appeal of both is the same.

We love the feeling of being scared. its addictive. and intoxicating.

As i said there are no doubt many people here and elsewhere who deserve praise for their hard work in these cases, the real appeal, if we are honest, is the scare factor.

the scary intro music, stacks eerie voice, the scary reinactments, the scary scenarios. thats the draw

The most frightening thing to me about the show is that these horrific crimes happen to ordinary everyday people. Unsolved Mysteries brings people together from different class and race groups and removes the boundaries. Everyone is susceptible, and everyone just wants that one clue that can solve their case.

The directors/writers also did a great job with reenactments, as stated above. They were eerie and Robert Stack's voice had a way of expressing emotion yet being extremely chilling. The actors weren't always the best but Stack's narration usually hid that.

Also, for me, the updates are gratifying. I used to get excited when they'd start that "Update" music (even though something about it was a little creepy) because some good news was probably about to come. This part of the show also displays Stack's message--anyone out there can solve a mystery. Anybody can have that one piece needed and not even know it. Perhaps....it's me. (lol, but srsly)

I started watching the show when I was 7 (too young now that I look back) and the scare factor was what attracted me at first. I have to say that what draws me to UM are the cases. As gruesome or sad as they may be, I almost feel a responsibility to understand these crimes. I can't explain why.

I have always been a fan of any unsolved mystery so when a show called "Unsolved Mysteries" was first advertised waaaay back when....well I was on board.

Are some of the re-enactments kinda cheesy? Yes but that is the awesomeness that is Unsolved Mysteries.

I think the reason people cared so much for UM was because they could actually help in solving a crime/disappearance. It also brought a lot of people who thought, "that would never happen to me" back down to reality, because a lot of these horrible things were happening to everyday people from Smalltown, USA. For me, I've always been fascinated with "mysterious" things, and this show actually gave me an outlet to be an "armchair detective" and possibly help aid in solving a case. And I think a lot of UM's viewers felt the same way.