Was Aileen Wuornos Really A "Monster"?

I knew a little bit about Aileen Wuornos before Hollywood decided to come up with the sensational "Monster" flick. And Charlize Theron won the best actress Oscar for her incredible performance.
Peace,

PD

 

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Actually, I don't think the life of a middle class male is worth more than that of a young female prostitute.
Peace,

PD

 

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Thanks for the clarification. I'm glad I'm not the only one that sees it this way.

Peace,

PD

 

the movie was made so that theron could justify (to herself and others) the fact that her mother murdered her father, wuornos admitted she wasn't a good person (in different words) the movie softened some of the things thaty she personally did and shifted a great deal of blame off of her even from her own account

 

This is a good thread.

I agree with you, PoetDude, about Aileen Wuornos. I do not see her as the monster at all. Her life was indeed sad and unfortunately ended unhappily, as the only person she truly loved betrayed her. The fact that she fell in love with this girl depresses me. Though not a lesbian, she fell in love with this girl because she loved her for the person selby was inside. The fact that she did not return her love and instead used her, is very frustrating from my third-person point of view.
I think you hit on a lot of good points, PD.

 

Nobody is saying she was an angel here. But how did she become THAT disturbed. Was Aileen Wuornos a natural born killer? Or do you think it might have turned out much better for her (and her victims) if she'd been given a chance at a more humane way of life? If she'd received professional help and guidance before she became so violent. Just a few decent people to nurture her while she was still young. You suggest she was not a good person. But what made her become so bad? That's what I am wondering about. Because if we can find out how to help people (like Aileen) before they become such a threat to society, then maybe we can prevent this sort of tragedy from playing itself out again and again.

Peace,

PD

 

Thanks. It's interesting to see that I am not the only one trying to look at both sides of this story. Also, I am not the only person that believes "Selby" knew a lot more than she was owning up to. But she was clever enough to cut a deal, and shift all the blame onto Aileen. So how was justice served? There's a lot more to this story than what was shown in the movie. Thank you for your insightful words.

Peace,

PD

 

Sadly enough, most people think so. Also, serial killing of womyn seems almost more "accepted" than serial killing of men. (Not that IMO either are acceptable, in any way.) How many slasher movies have men as the main victim? Few.

I have no idea what made Aileen what she was. Probably a combination of bad genes, terrible upbringing (if you can call her horrible childhood an "upbringing") and a womyn just sick of being raped again and again. I saw the site you were talking about. It said the average street hooker gets raped about 11 times a year. NO ONE chooses to be a prostitute. Horrible situations, drug addiction, kidnapping, an upbringing where womyn are made to feel the only thing they are good for is sex, and sexual abuse is what makes a prostitute.

But MOST pros get raped, few of them kill. I have no idea what made this womyn cross the line that most womyn, even in the worst of situations won't. I don't think we will ever know. It amazes me, the horrible crimes that don't get the death penalty, and this one did. She did, however, kill some men who probably didn't harm her. But that first guy she killed looked like a serial killer in the making. I don't think HIS killing was in any way a murder, it was self defense, but I don't beleive ALL the men she killed tried to kill her also. So, a few of them at least were basically innocent victims.

Sad stuff, people.

 

I think most of all you've said is very true indeed. I am nodding in agreement as I read most of what you have written.

Although I do have one small issue I would like to take up with you. I DO realise when you write 'we' you of course mean 'generally' in society. However, I must ask you please don't pull on my heart strings to make 'me' feel quilty by saying 'we' hate and 'we' shamelessly neglect...because my friend 'I' am part of 'we' but 'I' am not guilty of shamefull neglect or hate. I do not have the kind of heart that is able to hate anyone. So please don't inclued me in your analysis of this hateful bunch of people who do the likes of Aileen wrong because I don't. But saying 'we' suggests I do, because as I said before 'I' am part of 'we' am I not?

As for the differing values of a life/person from person to person depending on the inderviadual's 'life style' 'class' or 'creed' etc...I would agree that no one life/person is worth more than another. After all we are ALL Mother Earths creations. Life is life. Death is death. Whoever you are or whatever choices were made in life.

 

Wow. Now that's what I call a mixed bag. But since I was including myself in the royal "we" (and I actually have done volunteer work for the homeless, and was even homeless myself for several years during my youth) I think you are making much more out of my statement than I originally intended. Homeless people are oftentimes treated like lepers here in the USA. When the only crime most of them are guilty of is being mentally ill. And due to all the Medicaid cutbacks, less subsidized housing and such, they have suddenly found themselves on the streets without their much needed doctors and meds.

So since a majority of Americans helped to put Bush back in the White House (again!) when he has made his hatred of the poor and homeless very obvious, it is pretty clear that they are not valued at all by many (we). And I see that as neglect. Period. Many of these mentally ill homeless folks once paid taxes too. And now that they are ill, and can no longer work, they are suddenly unworthy of having their basic medical and housing needs met? I guess our tax dollars are much better spent on the current war. Instead of vulnerable American citizens? I mean, if I am to believe the message Bush is trying to preach to all Americans. So I really don't need to attempt to make anybody feel guilty. The homeless problem is only becoming much bigger. And that says it all. Thank you for your comment. And I hope I was able to clarify my point for you.

Peace,

PD

 

My reply to you honestly was not ment in a 'negitive' way towards you. Not at all!! You are obviously a real good soul with real issues of others at the forefront of you concerns, and that is a really rare and beautiful thing. You are clearly a good person.

I just think the the royal 'we' kind of includes a lot of others like, yourself, like me, who DO care, who DON'T hate and DO do what we can, as mear motal inderviduals, to give our time and our hearts to causes that we care about. Wouldn't it be far fairer, and more ACCURATE, to perhaps instead of generalising and boiling it down to 'we' to instead say 'society in general' ??

That's just my view. I'm not suggesting you ought to agree. That's just my opinion,...and what a wonderful gift is we have that we CAN speak so freely our opinions without fear of persecution? Just a thought.

(P.s. Just a quick point to add I must just make it known, incase you were unsure, I am NOT against you. I am WITH you in most of your beliefs you have written about. The world needs more like you. X)

 

I think there really is a genuine bias against prostitutes and street people. And too many people (although it largely goes unspoken) believe that if a prostitute gets raped or killed, then she/he has nobody to blame but their own self. And that's why Wuornos is such an oddity. Although I could never condone what she ultimately did to her victims, I do think it is unwise to view her as some sort of monster. As if something like her can never happen again. She was a person. Not some monster. And somehow she became a threat to society. Big time. When so many others just like her (as you pointed out) were raped, yet never actually became serial killers. And I would like to know why? It's just too easy to write her off as a freak.

I think the horrendous childhood she had, and then a violent life on the streets were only the start of what made her become such a threat. I mean, why did she not kill anyone until she met "Selby"? I think Aileen killed all those men so that she could try and hang on to her relationship with her lover. She needed money to support them both. And she was not able to make enough from prostitution alone. She was too mentally and physically ravaged by her hard life on the streets, and was lucky if she was offered more than a few bucks for her services.

So after the first killing (when she shot the john that had raped her so violently) she'd finally crossed the line. She'd actually taken a life. And it didn't seem like such a taboo to her after that. And since she needed money and a car to keep her demanding lover satisfied, she was willing to do anything (even murder) to keep her lover happy. I don't think it ever would have happened without Selby's manipulation. And I think (at the very least) she had to know that Aileen was not earning all that cash from prostitution alone. I mean, where did she think all these different cars were coming from that Aileen suddenly had at her disposal? So Aileen really did seem to love her more than life itself. And that's how all those men lost their lives. Anyway, that's just my theory. I'd be curious to find out if anybody else has considered this. Does anybody else wonder how Selby could have been so totally clueless? (If she, in fact, was.) Thanks for your very thoughtful and intelligent response.

Peace,

PD

 

Concidering what Aileen had gone through in all her sad, sorry life coupled also to the fact that Aileen was clearly suffering from mental illness, I think it boils down to one key element. Selby was her FIRST ever 'stabillity' and 'sorce of love' in her entirer life!! And much like a child needing to be loved when they never really have been, they are going to cling for dear life onto that and who ever is supplying it at ANY cost. I don't think she was such a monster. Just a lost and lonely soul who desperately craved the stability and love she had lacked all her life and when Selby gave her that (or at least the illusion of that...) Aileen went to extreme measures, unthinkable measures to desperately keep it in her life. If anything that speaks volumes of how very desperate she was to be loved. Now the 'mother' in me, as I am a Mummy, I just find that almost heartbreakingly, very, very sad.

 

Hey, thank you for your very kind words! I pretty much figured we were saying the same thing. But with different words. LOL. It's sometimes hard to express how we really think and feel online. And things can get easily misunderstood. So no harm in taking a closer look at an important issue. I knew you were sympathetic to what I was trying to say, etc. So no harm done. Thanks again!

Peace,

PD

 

I wasn't just paying you lip service (lol!!) but I said what I said because the world really IS in a sad and desperate need of more like you.

Yep, I think we are both pretty much thinking along the same lines. I just think sometimes it is SO much easier to spot those with opposing ideas to ourselfs but perhaps a little less obvious to spot those who's beliefs are the same/similer.
Definately no bad blood with you my friend!!

 

Very well said. I think you are absolutely correct. It was a deadly combination of things that made Aileen the killer she became. And I don't believe (for a moment) that she was born a monster. She was made that way by circumstances (including her mental illness). That does not justify what she did, but it does leave the door open for a little bit of understanding.

Peace,

PD

 

Yes. Quite. I think the phrase is "Human Compassion" Wonder what ever happened to that????..........

Although, to be fair, we must remember that lives did get taken and I wonder could their families be quite as forgiving?

But I just think so-called 'Monsters' could possible be haulted of their transformation from innocent new born child (who knows NOT how to hate, hurt or kill) into these 'monsters'. These people who become capable of murder. If people with significant 'problems' or serious mental illness (esp. if someone presents both...) were intersected and given HELP, real help and support BEFORE they 'turned bad' then, not definately, but possible it might change the direction of that person's life. That potential 'murder's' / 'abusers' / etc, etc's life. Thusfore also protecting the community and law abiding citizons better!! No???

Sociatey in general does have a hand in this too. That's NOT to say they are directly or indirectly responcable for such people,...BUT if it IS possible to shape and alter the paths walked by potential 'offenders' (though care giving, help, support and guidence..) should that not be something that should be done??? (Of course, as anything of this nature, there sadly WILL almost definately be the odd few who somehow slip through the net, that's just a sad fact) But my point is "Prevention is better than the cure" Not only would that potential 'offender' recieve much needed help and support that would make a difference to their life, think of the 'ripple' effect that would have that you wouldn't even know about. How many people would (in therory) NOT then become these peoples 'victims' who might of done otherwise.

 

There are people who have and had worse lives than hers and don't kill people, she killed because she gave in to weakness, not because she was treated poorly, there have been so many who despite being treated worse have done productive things with their lives