A mugshot often reveals something sinister about a criminal suspect. Who among us doesn’t see the disturbing image of a dangerous man above capable of murderous acts of madness?
However, a mugshot taken recently that’s now circulating online exposes a far more dangerous sickness. Not about him. But about us.
You may have seen the criminal mugshot taken of a muscular punk with tattoos reportedly linked to gang activity. He’s the slime with the pretty blue eyes.
His mugshot has inexplicably received 86,000 “likes” on Facebook. That’s the new currency of the realm within this superficial society. Getting “likes” by thousands of strangers now amounts to social acceptance.
Based on the comments and discussion, thousands of viewers expressed their opinion that the gang member in the mugshot looked rather cute. “Hot” and “sexy” were a few of the words used to describe the repeat felon from Stockton, California.
Gee, I wonder. How “hot” and “sexy” would that piece of shit look while he’s raping your grandmother? How hot and sexy would that be?
Of course, superficiality is nothing new in the age of Kardashians, where lip-synching pop queens top the music charts, where the most popular Italian restaurant in the country is Olive Garden, and where the average attention span of the masses is measured in seconds rather than minutes.
Just as with our television shows and music, as well as our restaurant choices and online habits, it’s the same with criminals and convicts. We used to say — “If it feels good, do it.” Now it’s — “If it looks good, embrace it.”
We’re obsessed with style at the cost of substance. This goes for all facets of society. We judge those who we elect based on their appearances. We listen to music based on what the performer looks like. We watch television shows with pretty people. Meanwhile, newspapers are folding. Publication houses are shutting down. This all happens while an 18-year-old androgynous Internet sensation commands a six-figure deal just for eating Taco Bell on camera. It’s fucking lunacy!
Where are we headed? The answer is frightening. There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Abraham Lincoln couldn’t be elected today. Probably the same goes for FDR and LBJ. Take a look at each of our recent presidents — all considered by most to be above average-looking. As though that has anything at all to do with running a country.
We’re going to pay a price for all this. Indeed, we’re already paying for it. It’s called dumbing down. America is in decline in every single meaningful category, except for gun deaths, wars, and income inequality. Half the kids in school can’t find Mexico on a map.
And so it doesn’t matter what the creeps do anymore. Whether they rape or steal or commit acts of senseless violence — it’s what they look like that matters. Now, the scum in the mugshot has even reportedly been offered a modeling job. What next? A music video? A TV show? A run for office? Would anyone be surprised?
We already have plenty of teachers screwing their students. Big deal, so long as the offender it cute. We don’t seem to care much about the crime so long as the people committing these acts are sexy. You tell me the difference between a female teacher who seduces a minor and what Jerry Sandusky did. The hottie becomes a late-night talk show punchline, and we whistle and laugh. Meanwhile, Sandusky is a pervert who goes to jail for life. The only difference between the crimes they face in the mugshot. One is pretty. The other isn’t.
A generation ago, many vulnerable women thought that a certain man of about 30 years old was hot-looking. Indeed, after he was finally arrested and convicted, all reports were that he was a real charmer. He was charismatic. He could have been a model, too. Sadly, none of his 30 victims knew the real side of this serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who first assaulted and then carved up numerous young women during the 1970s and 1980s.
His name was Ted Bundy. He was sexy, too.