thoughtcatalog--2020-10-05--7 Things I Learned From Getting Ghosted By A Guy

1 .
Getting ghosted doesn ’ t mean anything is wrong with you .
At this point , pretty much everyone has been ghosted at one time or another .
It ’ s simply a part of modern dating .
So don ’ t get too down on yourself about losing someone out of the blue .
It doesn ’ t mean you ’ re unlovable .
It doesn ’ t mean you ’ re never going to find love again .
It happens to the best of us , so don ’ t start doubting yourself .
Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with you .
2 .
Even though it might feel like this person sent you mixed messages , dropping out of your life without warning sends a pretty clear signal .
You don ’ t have to waste much time trying to figure out what them going MIA means because the answer is pretty obvious .
They aren ’ t interested in dating you .
They aren ’ t willing to put in the effort you deserve .
They aren ’ t going to rise to your expectations .
Even if they try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future , they aren ’ t worth another second of your time .
3 .
It doesn ’ t really matter what sent them running .
Even though it sucks to lose someone without knowing what you did wrong , it wouldn ’ t make much of a difference if they sat you down and told you exactly why they left .
What some people see as flaws , other people will see as strengths .
The fact of the matter is , they simply weren ’ t the right person for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
At least now you have the opportunity to move on and find someone who makes you happy .
4 .
There ’ s no point in chasing them .
When someone ghosts you , your first instinct might be to chase after them .
You might want to change their mind .
You might want to beg for another chance .
But , honestly , if someone is unable to see your value at the start of your relationships , they probably aren ’ t going to come to their senses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not your responsibility to convince them how wonderful you are .
If they can ’ t see what you ’ re worth , that ’ s their loss .
5 .
Not every connection is going to escalate into something more .
Sometimes , relationships are going to fizzle before they become official .
Some people are only temporary .
They aren ’ t meant to be around for long .
They ’ re meant to leave so you can fill their spot with someone who fits you better , someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While you might be sad they ’ re gone now , you ’ ll be relieved about it later .
6 .
The relationship was never going to work .
If you ’ re not a good match , you ’ re not a good match .
You might be disappointed you didn ’ t get a chance to reach certain milestones with this person , but it ’ s probably better they left your life sooner rather than later .
Otherwise , you would ’ ve grown even more attached to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been even harder than it already is .
7 .
The right person would never dream of walking away from you .
Once you stumble across your forever person , you won ’ t be in danger of losing them .
They won ’ t be going anywhere .
They will stand by your side .
Always .

1. Getting ghosted doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. At this point, pretty much everyone has been ghosted at one time or another. It’s simply a part of modern dating. So don’t get too down on yourself about losing someone out of the blue. It doesn’t mean you’re unlovable. It doesn’t mean you’re never going to find love again. It happens to the best of us, so don’t start doubting yourself. Don’t assume there’s something wrong with you.
2. Even though it might feel like this person sent you mixed messages, dropping out of your life without warning sends a pretty clear signal. You don’t have to waste much time trying to figure out what them going MIA means because the answer is pretty obvious. They aren’t interested in dating you. They aren’t willing to put in the effort you deserve. They aren’t going to rise to your expectations. Even if they try to walk back into your life in the future, they aren’t worth another second of your time.
3. It doesn’t really matter what sent them running. Even though it sucks to lose someone without knowing what you did wrong, it wouldn’t make much of a difference if they sat you down and told you exactly why they left. What some people see as flaws, other people will see as strengths. The fact of the matter is, they simply weren’t the right person for you. You don’t belong together. At least now you have the opportunity to move on and find someone who makes you happy.
4. There’s no point in chasing them. When someone ghosts you, your first instinct might be to chase after them. You might want to change their mind. You might want to beg for another chance. But, honestly, if someone is unable to see your value at the start of your relationships, they probably aren’t going to come to their senses anytime soon. Besides, it’s not your responsibility to convince them how wonderful you are. If they can’t see what you’re worth, that’s their loss.
5. Not every connection is going to escalate into something more. Sometimes, relationships are going to fizzle before they become official. Some people are only temporary. They aren’t meant to be around for long. They’re meant to leave so you can fill their spot with someone who fits you better, someone who brings you even more excitement and joy. While you might be sad they’re gone now, you’ll be relieved about it later.
6. The relationship was never going to work. If you’re not a good match, you’re not a good match. You might be disappointed you didn’t get a chance to reach certain milestones with this person, but it’s probably better they left your life sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you would’ve grown even more attached to them. Losing them would’ve been even harder than it already is.
7. The right person would never dream of walking away from you. Once you stumble across your forever person, you won’t be in danger of losing them. They won’t be going anywhere. They will stand by your side. Always.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-05--8 Signs You’re Crushing Hard And Don’t Even Realize It

1 .
You want their attention on you and only you .
When you ’ re hanging out with a large group of people , it annoys you when they pay too much attention to someone else .
You want them to laugh the hardest at your jokes .
You want them to be the most interested in your stories .
You want them to spend the most time with you .
When it comes to their attention , you ’ re incredibly greedy .
2 .
You want to be close to them .
Since you haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you probably haven ’ t been fantasizing about kissing them .
But you get nervous when they scooch close to you , when they touch you , when they brush up against you .
You always want to be sitting in the seat next to them .
You hate when anyone comes in between you .
You want to stay as close to them as physically possible .
3 .
You ’ re obsessed with their style .
Whenever you see them , you think about how nice they look .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their personality .
Their little quirks .
You might not realize it ’ s a crush , but you consider them someone you admire .
Someone you would love to get to know better .
Someone you prefer to anyone else in the room .
4 .
You ’ ve been desperately seeking their approval .
You ’ re careful to craft the perfect texts to them because you want them to think you ’ re hilarious or intelligent or mysterious or a combination of all three .
Whenever you get the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much effort into your appearance .
You wouldn ’ t dream of throwing on whatever is sitting around in your closet .
You want them to see you at your best .
You want them to be impressed by you .
5 .
You ’ re overly excited to spend time with them .
Whenever their name appears on your phone , you get excited .
More excited than when anyone else on your contact list texts you .
And whenever you get the chance to hang out with them in person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week long because they get you so well .
And you hope the feeling isn ’ t one-sided .
6 .
You feel amazing whenever they compliment you .
Or whenever you make them laugh .
Or whenever you come up with a new inside joke to share .
You want to have your own secret world with this person — and when anyone else comes along who gets along with them as well as you do , then you get jealous and you ’ re not sure why .
7 .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You either roll your eyes because you feel like that person isn ’ t good enough for them or you get jealous .
If they get into a new relationship , it ’ s hard to be happy for them because you ’ d rather have them be with you , whether you realize it or not .
8 .
You can never get enough of this person .
You ’ re not exactly sure what you want from them , but you know you want to be around them all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more from them than they ’ ve already given you .
You know there ’ s something missing and you can ’ t quite put your finger on what that is — but it ’ s clearly a crush .

1. You want their attention on you and only you. When you’re hanging out with a large group of people, it annoys you when they pay too much attention to someone else. You want them to laugh the hardest at your jokes. You want them to be the most interested in your stories. You want them to spend the most time with you. When it comes to their attention, you’re incredibly greedy.
2. You want to be close to them. Since you haven’t realized it’s a crush yet, you probably haven’t been fantasizing about kissing them. But you get nervous when they scooch close to you, when they touch you, when they brush up against you. You always want to be sitting in the seat next to them. You hate when anyone comes in between you. You want to stay as close to them as physically possible.
3. You’re obsessed with their style. Whenever you see them, you think about how nice they look. You love their hair. Their clothes. Their personality. Their little quirks. You might not realize it’s a crush, but you consider them someone you admire. Someone you would love to get to know better. Someone you prefer to anyone else in the room.
4. You’ve been desperately seeking their approval. You’re careful to craft the perfect texts to them because you want them to think you’re hilarious or intelligent or mysterious or a combination of all three. Whenever you get the chance to see them, you put just as much effort into your appearance. You wouldn’t dream of throwing on whatever is sitting around in your closet. You want them to see you at your best. You want them to be impressed by you.
5. You’re overly excited to spend time with them. Whenever their name appears on your phone, you get excited. More excited than when anyone else on your contact list texts you. And whenever you get the chance to hang out with them in person, you look forward to it all week long because they get you so well. And you hope the feeling isn’t one-sided.
6. You feel amazing whenever they compliment you. Or whenever you make them laugh. Or whenever you come up with a new inside joke to share. You want to have your own secret world with this person — and when anyone else comes along who gets along with them as well as you do, then you get jealous and you’re not sure why.
7. You feel uncomfortable whenever they mention a crush. You either roll your eyes because you feel like that person isn’t good enough for them or you get jealous. If they get into a new relationship, it’s hard to be happy for them because you’d rather have them be with you, whether you realize it or not.
8. You can never get enough of this person. You’re not exactly sure what you want from them, but you know you want to be around them all the time. You know you want even more from them than they’ve already given you. You know there’s something missing and you can’t quite put your finger on what that is — but it’s clearly a crush.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-05--Please, Check On Your Friends

Please, Check On Your Friends

Check in on your friends because you have no idea what they ’ re going through .
Some people aren ’ t vocal about their deepest , darkest feelings .
They don ’ t want to bother anyone with their problems .
They don ’ t want to admit how badly they ’ ve been struggling .
They don ’ t want to give anyone a reason to worry about them or to pity them or to judge them .
You might not have a clue that they ’ re secretly suffering , so make sure you check in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you love them just in case .
Remind them you ’ re there if they need absolutely anything just in case .
Check in on your friends because even the people who seem like they have their lives together , one-hundred percent , might be struggling .
They might be covering up their pain with laughter and smiles .
They might be acting like they ’ re perfectly fine because they don ’ t want to show any weaknesses .
They might be overcompensating for how miserable they feel by acting happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what someone is going through behind closed doors , not even your closest friends , so make sure you treat them with as much kindness as you can carry .
Check in on your friends because the world can be a scary place .
It ’ s easy to doubt yourself .
It ’ s easy to get overwhelmed .
It ’ s easy to feel like you ’ re alone , even when you ’ re surrounded by friends and family who only want the best for you .
The questions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the fears that have been keeping you up late at night , are probably fears your friends have as well .
You ’ re probably not as alone as you think .
The people around you might need to be cheered up as badly as you need to be cheered up , so don ’ t keep to yourself .
Check in on your friends because they would do the same for you .
They ’ ve always been there for you in the past .
They ’ ve never left you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like you were being overdramatic when something was bothering you .
They listened to your rants .
They gave you advice .
They gave you encouragement .
They had your back and you should have theirs .
Return the favor .
Pay them back for so many beautiful years of friendship .
Make sure they know how much they mean to you , because even if you think it ’ s obvious , they might need to hear the words again .
Check in on your friends because they deserve the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re feeling low .
They deserve to have their egos boosted when they ’ re experiencing self-doubt .
They deserve to be comforted when they ’ re unsure of themselves .
Even if they aren ’ t actually struggling , even if they ’ re doing pretty damn well for themselves , they still deserve to hear how much you love them .
They deserve to hear how much you care .
Never hold back from telling someone important to you how you feel about them because you could make their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smile to their face .

Check in on your friends because you have no idea what they’re going through. Some people aren’t vocal about their deepest, darkest feelings. They don’t want to bother anyone with their problems. They don’t want to admit how badly they’ve been struggling. They don’t want to give anyone a reason to worry about them or to pity them or to judge them. You might not have a clue that they’re secretly suffering, so make sure you check in on them just in case. Tell them that you love them just in case. Remind them you’re there if they need absolutely anything just in case.
Check in on your friends because even the people who seem like they have their lives together, one-hundred percent, might be struggling. They might be covering up their pain with laughter and smiles. They might be acting like they’re perfectly fine because they don’t want to show any weaknesses. They might be overcompensating for how miserable they feel by acting happy all the time. You never know what someone is going through behind closed doors, not even your closest friends, so make sure you treat them with as much kindness as you can carry.
Check in on your friends because the world can be a scary place. It’s easy to doubt yourself. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. It’s easy to feel like you’re alone, even when you’re surrounded by friends and family who only want the best for you. The questions that you’ve been asking yourself, and the fears that have been keeping you up late at night, are probably fears your friends have as well. You’re probably not as alone as you think. The people around you might need to be cheered up as badly as you need to be cheered up, so don’t keep to yourself.
Check in on your friends because they would do the same for you. They’ve always been there for you in the past. They’ve never left you hanging. They’ve never acted like you were being overdramatic when something was bothering you. They listened to your rants. They gave you advice. They gave you encouragement. They had your back and you should have theirs. Return the favor. Pay them back for so many beautiful years of friendship. Make sure they know how much they mean to you, because even if you think it’s obvious, they might need to hear the words again.
Check in on your friends because they deserve the world. They deserve to be lifted up when they’re feeling low. They deserve to have their egos boosted when they’re experiencing self-doubt. They deserve to be comforted when they’re unsure of themselves. Even if they aren’t actually struggling, even if they’re doing pretty damn well for themselves, they still deserve to hear how much you love them. They deserve to hear how much you care. Never hold back from telling someone important to you how you feel about them because you could make their day. You could bring a well-needed smile to their face.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-05--Why Each Zodiac Will Never Get Into An Almost Relationship Again

You don ’ t do anything halfway .
When you ’ re invested in someone , you want something real with them .
You can ’ t stand inconsistency .
You need someone who is always going to show up when you need them .
Mixed signals drive you insane .
You don ’ t want to guess what ’ s on someone ’ s mind when they could easily tell you .
You ’ re looking for something serious .
You aren ’ t interested in anything casual .
You have too many options to waste your time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they feel about you .
You don ’ t want to waste your precious time on someone who won ’ t commit .
You have better things to do .
You want to be admired .
You don ’ t want to be neglected and ignored .
You suck at holding back your feelings and playing it cool .
You would rather be upfront and honest .
You lose interest in people once you realize they aren ’ t all that interested in you .
You don ’ t actually mind being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than with someone who strings you alone .
You don ’ t want to be the one who cares more .
You want a relationship that is equal .
You ’ ve recently raised your standards .
You ’ ve decided to stop accepting less than you deserve .

Aries
You don’t do anything halfway. When you’re invested in someone, you want something real with them.
Taurus
You can’t stand inconsistency. You need someone who is always going to show up when you need them.
Gemini
Mixed signals drive you insane. You don’t want to guess what’s on someone’s mind when they could easily tell you.
Cancer
You’re looking for something serious. You aren’t interested in anything casual.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
You have too many options to waste your time with someone who can’t figure out how they feel about you.
Virgo
You don’t want to waste your precious time on someone who won’t commit. You have better things to do.
Libra
You want to be admired. You don’t want to be neglected and ignored.
Scorpio
You suck at holding back your feelings and playing it cool. You would rather be upfront and honest.
Sagittarius
You lose interest in people once you realize they aren’t all that interested in you.
Capricorn
You don’t actually mind being single. You would rather be alone than with someone who strings you alone.
Aquarius
You don’t want to be the one who cares more. You want a relationship that is equal.
Pisces
You’ve recently raised your standards. You’ve decided to stop accepting less than you deserve.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--These Are The Zodiac Signs Who Have The Hardest Time Falling In Love

Capricorns aren ’ t anti-commitment or against relationships- quite the opposite .
Yet the falling in love part is a little more complicated .
Capricorns are pretty goal-oriented and often have other priorities rather than following their feelings , despite that the feelings may seem pretty great .
Even if they want to fall , they spend a great deal of time going through what could possibly go wrong .
They hate investing in things where they can ’ t fully see the outcome , and given that love requires quite a leap of faith in most cases , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to do .
Like their other Earth sign counterparts , Virgos have difficulty letting themselves fall in love without resistance .
They enjoy planning and pride themselves on having control of their lives .
However , once love and emotions enter the picture , it ’ s hard to plan how they will react- or even more , how the other person will .
It ’ s hard for Virgos to let go and just lead with their hearts .
They recognize that love is often unpredictable and a little chaotic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into that kind of situation ?
It isn ’ t the easiest .
Scorpios certainly aren ’ t against falling in love or being in a relationship .
Given their vast amount of passion , intuitiveness , and dedication to others , they have so much to offer a partner .
However , Scorpios are also pretty guarded and uncertain about other ’ s intentions .
While they would love nothing more than to dive in and trust someone with their fears and insecurities , they feel being totally vulnerable with someone is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust with a person , they won ’ t hold back how they feel- yet getting to a place where they feel safe takes some time .
Aquarians hold a reputation for being emotionless or unable to fully engage in romantic relationships- yet it couldn ’ t be farther from the truth .
While they aren ’ t ones to be overflowing with expressive emotion or wearing their heart on their sleeve , they aren ’ t immune to falling in love and what it entails .
Nonetheless , falling head over heels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them .
It takes a particular type of person to make them feel intensely , and they won ’ t settle for just anyone .
When they find that kind of person , they have a hard time stepping out of their reclusive nature and strict need for independence .
It ’ s possible , but old habits die hard .
Taurus signs genuinely thrive in commitment , but that doesn ’ t mean falling in love is simple .
They know what they want and usually know whether or not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first meeting .
However , they still wish to confirm that the person they have a crush on is who they believe them to be .
They will take a considerable amount of time to get to know the person before allowing themselves to move any farther in the relationship .
Even if the feelings are strong , they restrain themselves until they are confident the person will stick around for a while .

Capricorns aren’t anti-commitment or against relationships- quite the opposite. Yet the falling in love part is a little more complicated. Capricorns are pretty goal-oriented and often have other priorities rather than following their feelings, despite that the feelings may seem pretty great. Even if they want to fall, they spend a great deal of time going through what could possibly go wrong. They hate investing in things where they can’t fully see the outcome, and given that love requires quite a leap of faith in most cases, it’s not the easiest thing for them to do.
Like their other Earth sign counterparts, Virgos have difficulty letting themselves fall in love without resistance. They enjoy planning and pride themselves on having control of their lives. However, once love and emotions enter the picture, it’s hard to plan how they will react- or even more, how the other person will. It’s hard for Virgos to let go and just lead with their hearts. They recognize that love is often unpredictable and a little chaotic, so allowing themselves to be willingly thrown into that kind of situation? It isn’t the easiest.
Scorpios certainly aren’t against falling in love or being in a relationship. Given their vast amount of passion, intuitiveness, and dedication to others, they have so much to offer a partner. However, Scorpios are also pretty guarded and uncertain about other’s intentions. While they would love nothing more than to dive in and trust someone with their fears and insecurities, they feel being totally vulnerable with someone is too risky. If they can establish trust with a person, they won’t hold back how they feel- yet getting to a place where they feel safe takes some time.
Aquarians hold a reputation for being emotionless or unable to fully engage in romantic relationships- yet it couldn’t be farther from the truth. While they aren’t ones to be overflowing with expressive emotion or wearing their heart on their sleeve, they aren’t immune to falling in love and what it entails. Nonetheless, falling head over heels for someone isn’t exactly easy for them. It takes a particular type of person to make them feel intensely, and they won’t settle for just anyone. When they find that kind of person, they have a hard time stepping out of their reclusive nature and strict need for independence. It’s possible, but old habits die hard.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Taurus signs genuinely thrive in commitment, but that doesn’t mean falling in love is simple. They know what they want and usually know whether or not a person is worth their time from the first meeting. However, they still wish to confirm that the person they have a crush on is who they believe them to be. They will take a considerable amount of time to get to know the person before allowing themselves to move any farther in the relationship. Even if the feelings are strong, they restrain themselves until they are confident the person will stick around for a while.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--37 Creepy Stories Of Serial Killers That Have Stuck With People Over The Years

“ My cousin and I were working a summer job together as teenagers at his dad ’ s machine shop in Houston .
We were walking home from work one day and passed over some train tracks at a busy intersection .
A man walked past us down the tracks and we all did the little head nod greeting and kept on our way .
A few days later I was watching the evening news and saw that ‘ The Railroad Killer ’ had been caught .
It was the same guy we saw on the tracks .
I called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the news .
He started freaking out and his parents wouldn ’ t believe that we saw him until I confirmed it .
I ’ m glad we saw him at a busy intersection in the afternoon and not anywhere else.
” — crash11b “ I used to serve tables in Auburn CA ( where he used to be a police officer ) .
In 2014 , I served him .
Well actually I took over for another , female server , because he was giving her the creeps .
When I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had written on a napkin , which was turned outward on the edge of the table so I could clearly read it , “ I know how to scalp you ” .
Obviously that ’ s why I remembered him , and what he looked like .
For years he was just a creepy old man , but when he was first arrested and his pictures were all over the news , I recognized him immediately .
He was a sadist so he was obviously just trying to get a reaction out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I didn ’ t give him one , I just ignored it .
The craziest and scariest part to me , is that even with that note , I did not think too much of it .
I was inches away from a man who had raped and murdered dozens of people , and I had no idea .
I normally consider myself very socially aware , and yet even with the overwhelming obvious evidence , I didn ’ t think this man was anything more than a creep .
Serial killers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so rare the average person doesn ’ t worry about being randomly murdered .
Which is I ’ m sure how most victims of this man felt , unsuspecting and safe… until it was too late .
That has truly terrified me since realizing who he was .
It could be anybody.
” — dooglek “ The Toolbox Killers cousins Lawrence Bitaker and Ray Norris are different from the Toybox ‘ Killer ’ David Parker Ray though both have infamous recordings that were part of their criminal trials .
Bitaker and Norris recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lynette Ledford was a 16 year old waitress who was hitchhiking home from her job , a practice not uncommon in 1979 .
She was horrifically brutalized and raped over the course of two hours by the end of which she was pleading to be killed .
The tape detailing her abuse has been used by the FBI for decades to train and desensitize their agents to sexually motivated crimes and murders .
David Parker Ray was never actually covicted of any murders though he and his accomplices are strongly implicated in several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and torture at least two women before being caught after one victim escaped .
The recording associated with this case was a tape Ray made of himself going into extremely graphic detail as to what he planned to subject his captive to including rape , sodomy , torture , forced drugging , and bestiality .
The prerecorded diatribe was to be played for each new victim as they awoke alone , naked , and strapped to a gynaecological chair specifically converted into a tortue implement .
Thankfully neither actual recordings can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transcriptions are readily avaliable .
The strongest possible of warnings to anyone who seeks out these transcripts .
They are graphic to the absolute extreme .
To me they are both life alteringly shocking and vile.
” — triggerfish_twist “ Look to their childhoods and you can see where their extreme sexual deviancies came from .
Both their families were incestuous and physically abusive to the maximum .
Rose was sexually abused by her father and her father only allowed her to marry Frank when Frank approved of his occasional “ use ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abused by his mother and was encouraged by his father to sexually abuse all the farm animals and his sisters and his mother .
Not to make anybody sympathetic for these freaks but holy shit they had bad childhoods .
There ’ s like a trifecta of trauma that so many serial killers seem to have in common .
Sexual abuse as children , violence as children , brain injuries.
” — SVCD_GUY6 “ William Bonin aka The Freeway Killer killed my childhood friend in 1980 .
He was 16 .
I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too young an age to wrap your head around having a friend a victim of a serial killer .
It changed me .
I am 55 years old now and still when I think about it it breaks my heart .
His body was found in such a horrific manner .
When you are 15 years old you just can ’ t fathom .
But then life dishes some hard lessons and the realization of it is manageable .
Just barely tho .
I was able to hear the news of Bonin execution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief although I will never understand how Bonin found recruits to help in his killings .
It ’ s a sad story .
Thank you for your reply.
” — jexypop2 “ One of the saddest stories is one of the boys he picked up was 14 years old and on his way home from the gas station .
He was saving up bottle caps for recycling money to take a girl to the movie and he never made it home .
Imagine how high on life that kid was .
He must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money together to take a pretty girl he probably had a crush on for a long time to the movies .
He must ’ ve been so happy on the walk home .
But then he ended up dying a slow and painful death .
Shit makes me tear up The boy ’ s name was James Stanton Dreymala .
He was the very last boy that Corrl killed.
” — anothershitposter2

Someone on Reddit asked, “Which real life serial killer frightened/disturbed you the most?” and the question received over 11,000 chilling comments. These are the most disturbing stories of serial killers that have stuck with people over the years.
The Railway Killer
“The Railway Killer in the late 90’s. He rode trains throughout North America and many of his victims were in Texas, where I lived as a teenager. We had railroad tracks just behind our backyard and we frequently saw people riding in open/empty cars. When it became apparent a serial killer was riding on trains in Texas, my parents got the house alarm fixed and then monitored, and my dad slept with a gun near his bed.” — Bibber_Song
“The Railway Killer was Ángel Maturino Reséndiz. I lived within a 5 minute walk of the main railway line that he used in Southwest Houston. I remember when he killed that lady in West U, not too far away. Whenever I’d hear the train passing through (it’s a major line), I’d get a little chill.” — bullshitfree
“My cousin and I were working a summer job together as teenagers at his dad’s machine shop in Houston. We were walking home from work one day and passed over some train tracks at a busy intersection. A man walked past us down the tracks and we all did the little head nod greeting and kept on our way. A few days later I was watching the evening news and saw that ‘The Railroad Killer’ had been caught. It was the same guy we saw on the tracks. I called my cousin and told him to turn on the news. He started freaking out and his parents wouldn’t believe that we saw him until I confirmed it. I’m glad we saw him at a busy intersection in the afternoon and not anywhere else.” — crash11b
Richard Chase, The Vampire Killer
“Richard Chase. Dude thought he was a vampire and that the government vaporized his blood. The solution? Kill people (and rape some post mortem), and drink the blood. This one time he was almost caught so he made himself a baby milkshake on the way.” — Nosewitz_
“He’s pretty high on my list because he took an unlocked door as an invitation to enter. I always lock my doors at night because of him (and I was born after he died).” — FaceofBeaux
Robert Hansen, The Alaskan Serial Killer
“Robert Hansen. Champion hunter in Alaska who would kidnap sex workers, fly them into the wilderness, and then hunt them for sport.” — i-am-a-yam5
“He was also a baker (hence the media nickname Butcher baker) who had a wife And two kids and was an active member of the community. What is scary about him to me is he was an average Alaskan, no one would think it weird if you went Missing several times a year to go fishing and hunting, it’s the culture here. He was active for 12 years and killed at least 17 women.” — Krisy2lovegood
The Golden State Killer
“East Area Rapist, who went on to become the Golden State Killer and we now know as Joseph James Deangelo. This guy would stalk his victims for weeks leading upto attacks, along with many other houses,while he was working as a police officer. When he attacked he was relentless and would stay in the house for hours messing with his victims. When cornered he would kill without a second thought.” — ReallyLongElbows
“I think the craziest part to me about the GSK is that he would break into homes and leave shoestrings in hidden places in the house so he could quickly retrieve them to tie victims up when he came back for the attack. Imagine being one of those victims and slowly realizing not only the situation you were currently in, but also that this isn’t the first time this masked man has been in your home.” — robinhood_glitch
“Victims would wait hours blindfolded thinking he’s gone but he’s still in the room.” — StormySleep
“He would also, when breaking into the house of a couple, bind the man, force him to lie down and place plates and bowls on his back while he raped the woman. This way if the man tried to get up he would be alerted. Imagine having to watch and hear your wife/ girlfriend being raped while you can’t do anything about it. Shows how sick this guy was to be so prepared.” — communist-empress
“I used to serve tables in Auburn CA (where he used to be a police officer). In 2014, I served him. Well actually I took over for another, female server, because he was giving her the creeps. When I went to drop off his food, he had written on a napkin, which was turned outward on the edge of the table so I could clearly read it, “I know how to scalp you”. Obviously that’s why I remembered him, and what he looked like. For years he was just a creepy old man, but when he was first arrested and his pictures were all over the news, I recognized him immediately. He was a sadist so he was obviously just trying to get a reaction out of me. I’m glad I didn’t give him one, I just ignored it. The craziest and scariest part to me, is that even with that note, I did not think too much of it. I was inches away from a man who had raped and murdered dozens of people, and I had no idea. I normally consider myself very socially aware, and yet even with the overwhelming obvious evidence, I didn’t think this man was anything more than a creep. Serial killers are something everyone talks about, but are so rare the average person doesn’t worry about being randomly murdered. Which is I’m sure how most victims of this man felt, unsuspecting and safe… until it was too late. That has truly terrified me since realizing who he was. It could be anybody.” — dooglek
Bad cop in Australia
“My dad was a cop in South Australia in the 80’s and 90’s and he told me a story about one of the guys on the SA Police Force who did similar – except his was that he’d get the information from their ID at traffic stops, find out if they were single/married etc and then go rape them if/when he thought they’d be alone. Took about 2 years to figure it out and finally some rookie noticed the pattern of traffic stops to rapes. Not sure if it ever made the papers much and I totally forget what I was told happened to the cop in the end.” — FuzzyRoseHat
The Toolbox Killers
“Toolbox Killers. The transcript of the tape of Shirley Ledford’s torture was one of the most terrifying things I’ve read. Some sick fucks.” — Escobarhippo
“Bittaker and Norris. There’s some footage on YouTube of the local station covering the trial but were not allowed in the courtroom, had to stay in the hallway. Apparently one of the tapes was played in open court and there are shots of various people coming out in varying degrees of distress just from listening. Makes me very pleased that those two are dead.” — deleted
“I’ve heard the FBI uses those tapes to desensitize agents or to give them an idea of the fucked up shit they might see. Those transcripts are chilling.” — Rallings
“The Toolbox Killers cousins Lawrence Bitaker and Ray Norris are different from the Toybox ‘Killer’ David Parker Ray though both have infamous recordings that were part of their criminal trials. Bitaker and Norris recorded themselves torturing a live victim. Shirley Lynette Ledford was a 16 year old waitress who was hitchhiking home from her job, a practice not uncommon in 1979. She was horrifically brutalized and raped over the course of two hours by the end of which she was pleading to be killed. The tape detailing her abuse has been used by the FBI for decades to train and desensitize their agents to sexually motivated crimes and murders. David Parker Ray was never actually covicted of any murders though he and his accomplices are strongly implicated in several. He did kidnap, sexually abuse, and torture at least two women before being caught after one victim escaped. The recording associated with this case was a tape Ray made of himself going into extremely graphic detail as to what he planned to subject his captive to including rape, sodomy, torture, forced drugging, and bestiality. The prerecorded diatribe was to be played for each new victim as they awoke alone, naked, and strapped to a gynaecological chair specifically converted into a tortue implement. Thankfully neither actual recordings can be found online in their entirety, though transcriptions are readily avaliable. The strongest possible of warnings to anyone who seeks out these transcripts. They are graphic to the absolute extreme. To me they are both life alteringly shocking and vile.” — triggerfish_twist
Fred and Rose West
“I just read about Fred and Rose West, a married couple in the UK who collectively were among the most prolific serial killers in modern UK history. It is a grim tale of rape and incest and prostitution and brutal murders and dismemberment of family members and random strangers, some of whom they buried in the garden behind their house. It’s a fascinating yet horrific story” — VictorBlimpmuscle
“Look to their childhoods and you can see where their extreme sexual deviancies came from. Both their families were incestuous and physically abusive to the maximum. Rose was sexually abused by her father and her father only allowed her to marry Frank when Frank approved of his occasional “use” of Rose. Frank himself was sexually abused by his mother and was encouraged by his father to sexually abuse all the farm animals and his sisters and his mother. Not to make anybody sympathetic for these freaks but holy shit they had bad childhoods. There’s like a trifecta of trauma that so many serial killers seem to have in common. Sexual abuse as children, violence as children, brain injuries.” — SVCD_GUY6
The Freeway Killer
“William Bonin aka The Freeway Killer killed my childhood friend in 1980. He was 16. I was 15 at the time and that is too young an age to wrap your head around having a friend a victim of a serial killer. It changed me. I am 55 years old now and still when I think about it it breaks my heart. His body was found in such a horrific manner. When you are 15 years old you just can’t fathom. But then life dishes some hard lessons and the realization of it is manageable. Just barely tho. I was able to hear the news of Bonin execution by radio and breathed a sigh of relief although I will never understand how Bonin found recruits to help in his killings. It’s a sad story. Thank you for your reply.” — jexypop2
The Nightstalker
“The Nightstalker, Richard Ramirez. Did some sick shit. Lived in Los Angeles, a dad and son team caught him in broad daylight. He gives me nightmares.” — S3RG10
“My mom said it was the hottest summer yet in LA, and she couldn’t even open the windows at night, because that’s how he caught his victims. My uncle was a police officer (actually, he was a detective with the sheriff’s office), and was transferring someone to the prison, or something like that when Nightstalker was caught. He said that, when it was reported that the guy was caught, the prisoners cheered, because most prisoners, though often being depraved people, hate those who abuse and kill women and children.” — MoonChild02
“My mom lived five minutes down the street from one of his victims in Mission Viejo before he was caught. She said she remembers how his presence in CA made everyone so scared they slept with windows shut even in the summer heat, and my mom had to call her husband(at the time) every day before he left work to make sure she knew when he’d be home by.” — spacebitchxxx
“I covered murder and rape trials as a reporter, saw some shit and followed so many serial killer cases before. This case was the only one to give me full on NIGHTMARES, the kind where you wake up heart racing, afraid of the dark kind of shit.” — bbeachbbaby
Israel Keyes
“Israel Keyes, rapist, serial killer, necrophiliac. He was raised in a militant Fundamentalist Christian household, joined the military, then came back to the US and killed at least 11 people all over the country. He went to extraordinary lengths to not be caught by choosing victims at random, killing far from his home. He would hide “kill kits” and return years later when he was ready to kill someone in that area.” — bittyitty
“It’s terrifying how he killed a woman in Alaska, went on vacation with his family to some Caribbean island for a few days. Flew back to Alaska. Took the poor womans body and sewed her eyes opened and had her corpse pose with a newspaper that was a few days old to throw off law enforcement into thinking she was a run away. Dismembered her. He then used her credit card in different states to show she was on the move. But that was what got him caught.” — WeenisPeiner
“The scariest quote from him in True Crime Bullshit was when a detective asked him how long it took him to make his way to one of his victims once he made it into their house and he said “about 5 seconds”. This motherfucker didn’t creep silently to your room to terrorize you like the golden state killer, he essentially ran there. Imagine being sound asleep and waking up to footsteps tearing through your house towards you. Absolutely chilling.” — JBRawls
“Yeah, what always chilled me about this guy was, he was an average dude who wanted no fame or recognition, he truly was just killing for enjoyment like making vacations out of it. It made me wonder how many people are like that out there, who haven’t been caught? Israel Keyes only got caught because he got careless at the end.” — binglebelle
“Mr. Cruel”
“Mr Cruel (Unsolved). He is an Australian serial rapist who abducted and sexually assaulted three girls and is the prime suspect of the abduction and murder of another young girl. After sexually assaulting his victims he bathed them carefully to get rid of evidence, one victim described it as “like a mother washing a baby”. In one case, he took a second set of clothes from the girl’s home to dress her before he let her go. This case makes me feel so uneasy.” — i___may
BTK
“BTK. Worked code enforcement so plenty of access to homes, prominent church member, family man, depraved murderer.” — everjenny
“He was sort of a doddering fuckwit in his day to day. Just somebody’s dad, who was visibly odd but inoffensive. Not unpleasant but not bright. But behind the scenes he was an extremely dangerous man who would hide in a family’s home for hours before sneaking out to bind, torture, and sloppily kill all of them.” — friendlygaywalrus
“Saw an interview with one of the prosecutors, said the scariest thing about Rader was ‘When you look at him and talk with him after seeing what I’ve seen, you realize the Dennis Rader you’re talking to is not the real Dennis Rader'” — deleted
“I remember reading an article about a woman he was supposed to kill. As in, he scoped her out, planned the kill, swans by, broke into her house, and waited for her to walk through the door. She had a few too many drinks at a friend’s house or something and ended up staying there. He left her a note. That’s the kind of shit that keeps you looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life.” — ACaffeinatedWandress
Dean Corll
“Dean Corll. I almost puked when reading about the methods of torture he used on little boys. He was such an asshole that his teenage accomplice was the one that killed him, which revealed his 28+ murders to the public. There is a haunting photo of an unidentified victim that was found in his accomplices property years after they got busted. Nobody has any clue who the kid is but the image of distress on his face and the toolbox full of torture tools next to him have forever been burned into my mind.” — mightydouchebro
“One of the saddest stories is one of the boys he picked up was 14 years old and on his way home from the gas station. He was saving up bottle caps for recycling money to take a girl to the movie and he never made it home. Imagine how high on life that kid was. He must’ve worked so hard to get the money together to take a pretty girl he probably had a crush on for a long time to the movies. He must’ve been so happy on the walk home. But then he ended up dying a slow and painful death. Shit makes me tear up The boy’s name was James Stanton Dreymala. He was the very last boy that Corrl killed.” — anothershitposter2
“Dean Corll is the the serial killer that sticks out the most for me. What I find particularly horrifying, besides the photo and his methods of torture, is that so many young boys & men went missing from a particular neighborhood in Houston, and the police didn’t think anything of it. From what I’ve read and heard regarding him, it was a combination of it being the 1970s, and that since the neighborhood was poor/working class, these were kids whose disappearances weren’t high priority for law enforcement.” — Potstirrer_Podcast
Gary Ridgway
“Not sure if it’s been said yet but I’m going with Gary Ridgway, or the Green River Killer. Dude killed between 50 and 70 women (usually teen runaways or sex workers) by picking them up in his car, smooth talking them, showing them pictures of his son to gain trust, having sex with them and then strangling them with his bare hands and dumping them in the forest near Green River (just outside of Seattle). Normal looking mid 30’s family man who claimed murdering young women was his career and bragged about having the most confirmed kills of any American serial killer.” — onemangang15
David Russell Williams


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--What Each Zodiac Sign Worries About The Most During Dates

You worry about coming across as too sarcastic , dark , and intimidating .
You worry about coming across as @ @ @ @ @ and weird .
You worry about coming across as too laidback , distracted , and @ @ @ @ @ coming across too clingy , emotional , and needy .
You worry about coming across @ @ @ @ @ , and cocky .
You worry about coming across as too stubborn , loud , @ @ @ @ @ about coming across as too flirtatious , spoiled , and materialistic .
You worry about @ @ @ @ @ , nosy , and impulsive .
You worry about coming across as too insecure , @ @ @ @ @ You worry about coming across too serious , too blunt , and too heartless .
@ @ @ @ @ as too awkward , quiet , and uncomfortable .
You worry about coming across as @ @ @ @ @ and gossipy .

Aries
You worry about coming across as too sarcastic, dark, and intimidating.
Taurus
You worry about coming across as too talkative, childish, and weird.
Gemini
You worry about coming across as too laidback, distracted, and uninterested.
Cancer
You worry about coming across too clingy, emotional, and needy.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
You worry about coming across as too controlling, high-maintenance, and cocky.
Virgo
You worry about coming across as too stubborn, loud, and obnoxious.
Libra
You worry about coming across as too flirtatious, spoiled, and materialistic.
Scorpio
You worry about coming across as too whiny, nosy, and impulsive.
Sagittarius
You worry about coming across as too insecure, judgemental, and cynical.
Capricorn
You worry about coming across too serious, too blunt, and too heartless.
Aquarius
You worry about coming across as too awkward, quiet, and uncomfortable.
Pisces
You worry about coming across as too sensitive, dramatic, and gossipy.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--Never Take Advantage Of Your Forever Person

Don ’ t take advantage of your partner ’ s kindness .
Don ’ t use them as a punching bag , even if they allow it to happen without consequence .
Don ’ t say mean things and engage in inappropriate behaviors , simply because you ’ re sure they ’ re going to forgive you in the end .
They might love you too much to walk away when you mess up — but that doesn ’ t mean you have permission to keep making mistakes without being held accountable for them .
If your partner isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , then you should at least set high expectations for yourself .
Promise yourself you ’ re going to be the best partner you can be , the best human you can be .
Remember , just because you get away with something once doesn ’ t mean you should do it a second time .
It doesn ’ t even mean it was okay that you did it the first time .
It simply means that your partner is willing to give you a second chance — and you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You don ’ t want to make them regret trusting you .
Instead of running around , doing whatever you want , because you feel like your partner is always going to forgive you , you should put energy into bettering yourself .
You should grow into the person your partner knows you can become .
It ’ s going to take some work , but it ’ s better than hurting the person who loves you more than anything in the world .
It ’ s better than settling for a subpar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than giving up on yourself when you know you have so much more to give .
The fact that your partner is always there for you , even when you mess up , is a beautiful thing — but you shouldn ’ t expect them to stick around forever .
If you keep taking advantage of their kindness , one day they ’ re going to snap .
They ’ re going to realize the relationship isn ’ t working .
They ’ re going to walk away from you and decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them anymore .
You don ’ t want your relationship to reach that point .
You don ’ t want to put your person through that level of stress .
You don ’ t want to be the reason why they ’ re upset .
You shouldn ’ t hate yourself for making mistakes — but you should hold yourself accountable for your mistakes .
Take responsibility .
Understand that you shouldn ’ t have done what you ’ ve done and decide to make better , smarter decisions moving forward .
Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incapable of changing .
Don ’ t act like whoever is with you needs to take the good with the bad .
You should always be doing your best — for your sake and for your partner .
We ’ re all a work in progress .
We aren ’ t going to get it right every single time .
We ’ re bound to make mistakes .
But you can ’ t expect your partner to stick around if you ’ re repeating the same bad behaviors over and over again with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do stick around , you know you should do better .
You know they deserve so much more .
And you know you ’ re capable of so much more .

Don’t take advantage of your partner’s kindness. Don’t use them as a punching bag, even if they allow it to happen without consequence. Don’t say mean things and engage in inappropriate behaviors, simply because you’re sure they’re going to forgive you in the end.
They might love you too much to walk away when you mess up — but that doesn’t mean you have permission to keep making mistakes without being held accountable for them. If your partner isn’t going to have high expectations for you, then you should at least set high expectations for yourself. Promise yourself you’re going to be the best partner you can be, the best human you can be.
Remember, just because you get away with something once doesn’t mean you should do it a second time. It doesn’t even mean it was okay that you did it the first time. It simply means that your partner is willing to give you a second chance — and you don’t want to blow that chance. You don’t want to make them regret trusting you.
Instead of running around, doing whatever you want, because you feel like your partner is always going to forgive you, you should put energy into bettering yourself. You should grow into the person your partner knows you can become.
It’s going to take some work, but it’s better than hurting the person who loves you more than anything in the world. It’s better than settling for a subpar version of yourself. It’s better than giving up on yourself when you know you have so much more to give.
The fact that your partner is always there for you, even when you mess up, is a beautiful thing — but you shouldn’t expect them to stick around forever. If you keep taking advantage of their kindness, one day they’re going to snap. They’re going to realize the relationship isn’t working. They’re going to walk away from you and decide you don’t get to hurt them anymore.
You don’t want your relationship to reach that point. You don’t want to put your person through that level of stress. You don’t want to be the reason why they’re upset.
You shouldn’t hate yourself for making mistakes — but you should hold yourself accountable for your mistakes. Take responsibility. Understand that you shouldn’t have done what you’ve done and decide to make better, smarter decisions moving forward. Don’t act like you’re incapable of changing. Don’t act like whoever is with you needs to take the good with the bad. You should always be doing your best — for your sake and for your partner.
We’re all a work in progress. We aren’t going to get it right every single time. We’re bound to make mistakes. But you can’t expect your partner to stick around if you’re repeating the same bad behaviors over and over again with no end in sight. Even if they do stick around, you know you should do better. You know they deserve so much more. And you know you’re capable of so much more.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--Stay Single Because It’s Better Than Dating Someone Blah

You should give other people a fighting chance .
You shouldn ’ t write them off right after meeting them , without getting to know them .
They could surprise you .
You could grow to care about them deeply .
However , if you ’ re absolutely positive this person isn ’ t the right one for you , then there ’ s no reason to date them .
There ’ s no reason to keep them around , hoping that your feelings will magically change .
Stay single because it ’ s better than dating someone who doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Someone who only has the smallest sliver of your heart .
Someone who you only keep around because you want company , not because you like their company in particular .
Stay single because it ’ s better than stringing someone along .
It ’ s better than entering a one-sided relationship where the other person does the bulk of the work because your heart isn ’ t really in the relationship .
It ’ s better than making someone think they ’ ve found the love of their life , when really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time until you walk away .
Stay single because it ’ s better to be alone than to be in a relationship that you couldn ’ t care less about .
It ’ s better to consider yourself single than to consider yourself taken — until a nicer option comes along .
It ’ s better to spend some time working on yourself and doing what makes you happy than spending every waking moment with someone who bores you .
Stay single because it ’ s better than trying to make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than staying together because there ’ s technically no reason you should break up with them .
It ’ s better than making excuses to prolong a relationship that is never going to make you happy .
Stay single because it ’ s better than pretending you feel emotions that are nonexistent .
It ’ s better than playing a role you feel is expected of you .
It ’ s better than acting like everything is fine all the time , when really , it feels like something important is missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than laughing along to jokes you don ’ t find funny and nodding along to stories you don ’ t want to hear .
It ’ s better than forcing yourself to respond to texts and to have sex and to go on dates with this person , when you would rather be doing anything else .
Stay single because it ’ s better than dating someone blah .
Someone who you ’ re going to forget about as soon as you break up .
Someone who is only going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most , because you don ’ t value them as much as they value you .
Because you don ’ t think you ’ re a great match , after all .
Stay single because you deserve someone who gives you butterflies .
You deserve someone who makes you feel like you ’ re at home when you ’ re in their arms .
You deserve someone who makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning — and excited to climb into bed with them at night .
You deserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find .
Stay single because the relationship isn ’ t worth it unless you ’ re fully invested , too .

You should give other people a fighting chance. You shouldn’t write them off right after meeting them, without getting to know them. They could surprise you. You could grow to care about them deeply. However, if you’re absolutely positive this person isn’t the right one for you, then there’s no reason to date them. There’s no reason to keep them around, hoping that your feelings will magically change.
Stay single because it’s better than dating someone who doesn’t do it for you. Someone who only has the smallest sliver of your heart. Someone who you only keep around because you want company, not because you like their company in particular.
Stay single because it’s better than stringing someone along. It’s better than entering a one-sided relationship where the other person does the bulk of the work because your heart isn’t really in the relationship. It’s better than making someone think they’ve found the love of their life, when really, it’s only a matter of time until you walk away.
Stay single because it’s better to be alone than to be in a relationship that you couldn’t care less about. It’s better to consider yourself single than to consider yourself taken — until a nicer option comes along. It’s better to spend some time working on yourself and doing what makes you happy than spending every waking moment with someone who bores you.
Stay single because it’s better than trying to make the wrong relationship work. It’s better than staying together because there’s technically no reason you should break up with them. It’s better than making excuses to prolong a relationship that is never going to make you happy.
Stay single because it’s better than pretending you feel emotions that are nonexistent. It’s better than playing a role you feel is expected of you. It’s better than acting like everything is fine all the time, when really, it feels like something important is missing.
Stay single because it’s better than laughing along to jokes you don’t find funny and nodding along to stories you don’t want to hear. It’s better than forcing yourself to respond to texts and to have sex and to go on dates with this person, when you would rather be doing anything else.
Stay single because it’s better than dating someone blah. Someone who you’re going to forget about as soon as you break up. Someone who is only going to be around for a few months, at most, because you don’t value them as much as they value you. Because you don’t think you’re a great match, after all.
Stay single because you deserve someone who gives you butterflies. You deserve someone who makes you feel like you’re at home when you’re in their arms. You deserve someone who makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning — and excited to climb into bed with them at night. You deserve everything you’ve been hoping to find.
Stay single because the relationship isn’t worth it unless you’re fully invested, too.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--You’re Allowed To Start Over In Your Twenties

You ’ re not supposed to have everything figured out in your twenties .
Your twenties might be the point when you have to start from scratch .
It might be the point when you realize what you ’ re doing isn ’ t working and you ’ re in desperate need of a change .
You might quit your career and switch to another field .
You might leave your long-term relationship to embark on another .
You might flee from your town to build a future someplace else .
You shouldn ’ t worry that it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the perfect moment .
You ’ ve learned so much more about yourself during the last few years .
You should take that knowledge to build a better future for yourself .
Don ’ t settle for what you already have if you ’ re worried it ’ s not going to make you happy , long-term .
You ’ re not supposed to have everything figured out in your twenties .
You ’ re not supposed to feel like you ’ ve mastered the art of happiness .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s normal for you to feel lost and unsure , maybe even more lost and unsure than you were ten years earlier .
Although it might feel like everyone around you looks like they have their life together , like they ’ re successful , like they ’ re in love , like they ’ re off living their happily ever afters , you have to remember that these people are only showing you what they want the world to see .
They aren ’ t going to show you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to show you their failures and rejections .
They ’ re only going to let you see the best aspects of their life , which will paint an inaccurate picture of what they ’ re experiencing .
Remember , you shouldn ’ t be trying to live their life according to their rules .
You ’ re not supposed to stick to some imaginary timeline .
There isn ’ t a set date when you should get married , when you should settle down in a house with children and a white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different pace and it ’ s okay if the people around you are moving a little faster .
It ’ s okay if you feel like you ’ re falling behind as long as you constantly remind yourself that you ’ re exactly where you ’ re meant to be right at this moment .
However , if you ’ re unsatisfied with your life , it ’ s good that you ’ re aware .
It ’ s good that you aren ’ t pretending .
It ’ s good that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The next step is to make a change .
To do something about the unhappiness you ’ ve been experiencing .
You ’ re not supposed to have everything figured out in your twenties .
You ’ re still young .
You still have so much to explore about yourself .
You ’ re allowed to start over .
You ’ re allowed to quit your job , break up with your partner , and move across the country .
You ’ re allowed to begin again .
You might feel like you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , like you ’ re ruining all of the progress you ’ ve made , but you know more this time around .
You have a better idea of what you want .
Don ’ t remain in the wrong place because you ’ re scared of chasing after what would really make you happy .
Don ’ t settle when you could reach for the stars .

You’re not supposed to have everything figured out in your twenties. Your twenties might be the point when you have to start from scratch. It might be the point when you realize what you’re doing isn’t working and you’re in desperate need of a change.
You might quit your career and switch to another field. You might leave your long-term relationship to embark on another. You might flee from your town to build a future someplace else. You shouldn’t worry that it’s too late to do those things. This is the perfect moment. You’ve learned so much more about yourself during the last few years. You should take that knowledge to build a better future for yourself. Don’t settle for what you already have if you’re worried it’s not going to make you happy, long-term.
You’re not supposed to have everything figured out in your twenties. You’re not supposed to feel like you’ve mastered the art of happiness. It’s natural for you to have doubts. It’s normal for you to feel lost and unsure, maybe even more lost and unsure than you were ten years earlier.
Although it might feel like everyone around you looks like they have their life together, like they’re successful, like they’re in love, like they’re off living their happily ever afters, you have to remember that these people are only showing you what they want the world to see. They aren’t going to show you their breakdowns. They aren’t going to show you their failures and rejections. They’re only going to let you see the best aspects of their life, which will paint an inaccurate picture of what they’re experiencing.
Remember, you shouldn’t be trying to live their life according to their rules. You’re not supposed to stick to some imaginary timeline. There isn’t a set date when you should get married, when you should settle down in a house with children and a white picket fence. Everyone moves at a different pace and it’s okay if the people around you are moving a little faster. It’s okay if you feel like you’re falling behind as long as you constantly remind yourself that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be right at this moment.
However, if you’re unsatisfied with your life, it’s good that you’re aware. It’s good that you aren’t pretending. It’s good that you aren’t lying to yourself. The next step is to make a change. To do something about the unhappiness you’ve been experiencing.
You’re not supposed to have everything figured out in your twenties. You’re still young. You still have so much to explore about yourself.
You’re allowed to start over. You’re allowed to quit your job, break up with your partner, and move across the country. You’re allowed to begin again. You might feel like you’re being pushed back to square one, like you’re ruining all of the progress you’ve made, but you know more this time around. You have a better idea of what you want.
Don’t remain in the wrong place because you’re scared of chasing after what would really make you happy. Don’t settle when you could reach for the stars.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--30 Best Books To Read If You Haven’t Picked Up A Novel Since High School

1 .
Jurassic Park .
I know reading books after seeing the movies can sometimes be dull , but the book is waaay darker than the movie .
Muldoon driving around drunk as fuck on whiskey , swearing like a sailor and blowing up dinos with a rocket launcher for example .
2 .
Howl ’ s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones !
!
!
I hadn ’ t read a book purely for pleasure in years .
This August , I saw it on a bookshelf at my parents ’ home .
Once I started , I couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I opened that book at 10am , finished it at 8pm the same day .
Please go read it !
!
!
!
!
3 .
John Dies At The End .
The first chapter is hilarious and makes it clear that books aren ’ t just the boring old things you read in school .
4 .
Shutter Island .
This is one of my favorites in the mystery/thriller genre .
Absolute fucking page turner especially if you ’ ve never seen the movie ( which is also great ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather not spoil just go in blind .
5 .
The Da Vinci Code .
Yeah , a bit of a controversial book , but the extremely short chapters and the catching mystery is PERFECT for someone who has not read for a long time .
With phones , TV , etc reading requires concentration , which requires practice , so a book with chapters that short is ideal to start reading again .
This is 100 % the book you are looking for .
6 .
Any book by Jon Ronson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into cults , psychopaths , politics , and other interesting stuff .
Really accessible writing style !
7 .
The Things They Carried .
My English teacher my senior year convinced me to read that and started reading non-stop ever since .
First time I ever felt heard… 8 .
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and Monday ’ s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson are both very page-turner-y quick reads that don ’ t have any of the triteness you might expect from something called a “ page-turner ” .
9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : what if superheroes were the bad guys ?
It ’ s YA without being shallow ; first chapter that hooks you ; long enough to take a while but not intimidating .
10 .
Kitchen Confidential .
Anthony Bourdain was an amazing storyteller .
It is a short autobiography of his early years in the underbelly of the American culinary scene .
11 .
Old Man ’ s War by John Scalzi .
Great interesting take on war in space/future .
Netflix is making it into a movie too .
12 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories that tie into the greater story .
13 .
Born a Crime .
It ’ s a really easy read , and it ’ s really funny and enlightening to see a completely different culture and way of life .
14 .
The original Millennium Trilogy books by Steig Larson , especially the first book The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo .
It ’ s definitely more grown-up than high school material , it ’ s at its core a great thriller/mystery novel which is rewarding but not difficult to read .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ story is well crafted , and the themes are very relevant both then and now .
I ’ ll add a caveat that the depictions of sexual violence and abuse in the book might be triggering for some , so people may want to consider that before starting .
15 .
Enders Game .
I think it provides an excellent adventure , all the while giving you a most interesting perspective .
16 .
Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins .
I ’ m not a native English speaker , and yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is written in brief chapters that allow you to read a few pages or a lot at a time .
I think the characters are well developed and the story well planned for such a short book ( it ’ s not super short , but it ’ s not 600 pages ) , and the story is really entertaining , and as usual , the book is much better than the movie .
17 .
Unwind .
Perfect dystopia setting in the not so distant future with a lot of relatable characters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ready Player One .
It has a good first chapter that hooked me .
It ’ s not a super tough read either and the story is great .
19.The Song of Achilles is my favorite book because it involved greek lore ( obviously ) and it ’ s about the relationship between Achilles and his lover , Patroclus .
It is told from Patroclus ’ perspective .
20 .
The Martian .
The book had me laughing out loud !
My son did not know how a book about a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be funny but it is !
21 .
The Hunger Games .
I have never read a book faster .
22 .
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris .
I was laughing out loud and related to so many of his stories !
24 .
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan .
Especially if you ’ re into Greek mythology .
25 .
Dracula .
It got me interested in reading for enjoyment again .
26 .
Freakonomics… it ’ s nonfiction but makes you look at everyday things in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tower : The Gunslinger .
It got me hooked on phonics again .
28 .
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss , I read a lot of fantasy and this is by far the best series I ’ ve ever read .
The sequel is even better .
Only downside is that the last book in the trilogy has no release date in sight so you ’ ll be stuck in an endless search of other books to fill the void in your soul where book three should be .
29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has got me back into reading again .
30 .
The Princess Bride .
It ’ s a delightful read , it ’ s easy , and everyone I know that has read it has absolutely loved it… I ’ ve recommended it to several friends , including like 8 people in a work book club , and again , 100/100 across the board .

According to Ask Reddit, here are the best books to get you back into reading again.
1. Jurassic Park. I know reading books after seeing the movies can sometimes be dull, but the book is waaay darker than the movie. Muldoon driving around drunk as fuck on whiskey, swearing like a sailor and blowing up dinos with a rocket launcher for example.
2. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones!!! I hadn’t read a book purely for pleasure in years. This August, I saw it on a bookshelf at my parents’ home. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Literally. I opened that book at 10am, finished it at 8pm the same day. Please go read it!!!!!
3. John Dies At The End. The first chapter is hilarious and makes it clear that books aren’t just the boring old things you read in school.
4. Shutter Island. This is one of my favorites in the mystery/thriller genre. Absolute fucking page turner especially if you’ve never seen the movie (which is also great). This is another one I’d rather not spoil just go in blind.
5. The Da Vinci Code. Yeah, a bit of a controversial book, but the extremely short chapters and the catching mystery is PERFECT for someone who has not read for a long time.
With phones, TV, etc reading requires concentration, which requires practice, so a book with chapters that short is ideal to start reading again.
This is 100% the book you are looking for.
6. Any book by Jon Ronson. He’s a journalist who dives into cults, psychopaths, politics, and other interesting stuff. Really accessible writing style!
7. The Things They Carried. My English teacher my senior year convinced me to read that and started reading non-stop ever since. First time I ever felt heard…
8. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson are both very page-turner-y quick reads that don’t have any of the triteness you might expect from something called a “page-turner”.
9. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. Premise: what if superheroes were the bad guys? It’s YA without being shallow; first chapter that hooks you; long enough to take a while but not intimidating.
10. Kitchen Confidential. Anthony Bourdain was an amazing storyteller. It is a short autobiography of his early years in the underbelly of the American culinary scene.
11. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. Great interesting take on war in space/future. Netflix is making it into a movie too.
12. World War Z. Lots of short stories that tie into the greater story.
13. Born a Crime. It’s a really easy read, and it’s really funny and enlightening to see a completely different culture and way of life.
14. The original Millennium Trilogy books by Steig Larson, especially the first book The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
It’s definitely more grown-up than high school material, it’s at its core a great thriller/mystery novel which is rewarding but not difficult to read. The characters are very memorable, the story is well crafted, and the themes are very relevant both then and now.
I’ll add a caveat that the depictions of sexual violence and abuse in the book might be triggering for some, so people may want to consider that before starting.
15. Enders Game. I think it provides an excellent adventure, all the while giving you a most interesting perspective.
16. Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I’m not a native English speaker, and yet I enjoyed it a lot. It is written in brief chapters that allow you to read a few pages or a lot at a time. I think the characters are well developed and the story well planned for such a short book (it’s not super short, but it’s not 600 pages), and the story is really entertaining, and as usual, the book is much better than the movie.
17. Unwind. Perfect dystopia setting in the not so distant future with a lot of relatable characters and a strong undertone message.
18. Ready Player One. It has a good first chapter that hooked me. It’s not a super tough read either and the story is great.
19.The Song of Achilles is my favorite book because it involved greek lore (obviously) and it’s about the relationship between Achilles and his lover, Patroclus. It is told from Patroclus’ perspective.
20. The Martian. The book had me laughing out loud! My son did not know how a book about a man alone struggling for survival on Mars could be funny but it is!
21. The Hunger Games. I have never read a book faster.
22. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I was laughing out loud and related to so many of his stories!
23. Good Omens. It’s short and funny.
24. The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. Especially if you’re into Greek mythology.
25. Dracula. It got me interested in reading for enjoyment again.
26. Freakonomics… it’s nonfiction but makes you look at everyday things in life differently.
27. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger. It got me hooked on phonics again.
28. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, I read a lot of fantasy and this is by far the best series I’ve ever read. The sequel is even better.
Only downside is that the last book in the trilogy has no release date in sight so you’ll be stuck in an endless search of other books to fill the void in your soul where book three should be.
29. The Color of Magic. Discworld has got me back into reading again.
30. The Princess Bride. It’s a delightful read, it’s easy, and everyone I know that has read it has absolutely loved it… I’ve recommended it to several friends, including like 8 people in a work book club, and again, 100/100 across the board.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-06--Why Each Zodiac Feels Like They Aren’t Moving Forward Anymore

You ’ re too comfortable .
You haven ’ t been making necessary changes because you don ’ t want to disrupt your status quo .
You ’ ve settled .
You ’ re not happy but you ’ re not miserable , so you ’ ve decided to take what you could get instead of reaching for the stars .
You ’ re getting distracted by outside problems .
You haven ’ t been able to devote the necessary time to your work because there have been so many other issues stealing your attention .
You ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Right now , you ’ re lucky if you simply make it until the end of the day .
The world is on fire .
It ’ s difficult to concentrate when there ’ s always a new problem popping up that ’ s way more important than whatever you ’ ve been working on .
Right now , you ’ re more worried about maintaining what you already have than gaining more .
And right now , that ’ s enough .
You ’ re letting fear take ahold of you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to fail so you ’ re quitting while you ’ re ahead .
You are too stubborn to make the changes you need to make .
You ’ re refusing to do what is best for yourself .
You ’ ve lost your inspiration .
You don ’ t feel like there ’ s a point in trying so you ’ ve slowly given up .
You haven ’ t been sticking to a routine .
You ’ ve been sleeping too much , drinking too much , wasting too much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laziness win .
It ’ s easier to give up than to put in the effort so you ’ ve been letting yourself slack .
You have too many doubts .
You have a lot of big dreams but you ’ re hesitant to try to turn them into a reality .

Aries
You’re too comfortable. You haven’t been making necessary changes because you don’t want to disrupt your status quo.
Taurus
You’ve settled. You’re not happy but you’re not miserable, so you’ve decided to take what you could get instead of reaching for the stars.
Gemini
You’re getting distracted by outside problems. You haven’t been able to devote the necessary time to your work because there have been so many other issues stealing your attention.
Cancer
You’ve been struggling lately. Being productive is impossible. Right now, you’re lucky if you simply make it until the end of the day.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
The world is on fire. It’s difficult to concentrate when there’s always a new problem popping up that’s way more important than whatever you’ve been working on.
Virgo
Right now, you’re more worried about maintaining what you already have than gaining more. And right now, that’s enough.
Libra
You’re letting fear take ahold of you. You’re scared you’re going to fail so you’re quitting while you’re ahead.
Scorpio
You are too stubborn to make the changes you need to make. You’re refusing to do what is best for yourself.
Sagittarius
You’ve lost your inspiration. You don’t feel like there’s a point in trying so you’ve slowly given up.
Capricorn
You haven’t been sticking to a routine. You’ve been sleeping too much, drinking too much, wasting too much time.
Aquarius
You’re letting your laziness win. It’s easier to give up than to put in the effort so you’ve been letting yourself slack.
Pisces
You have too many doubts. You have a lot of big dreams but you’re hesitant to try to turn them into a reality.


thoughtcatalog--2020-10-07--10 Creepiest Episodes Of Law And Order: SVU

While all episodes of Law and Order : SVU have a creep factor , some are more chilling than others .
This episode was written for true crime fans .
A serial killer on the loose , a visit from the FBI ’ s behavioral analysis unit , bodies turning up in Central Park… this episode could be a standalone thriller movie and it would kill at the box office .
Signature follows the detectives as they get wrapped up in a murder mystery surrounding a serial killer known as The Woodsman .
The Woodsman ’ s MO was abducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber , recording their cries for help , murdering them by dry-drowning , and then leaving bodies for the police to find in the woods .
The murder the team is searching for is scary enough on its own but this one also has a twist ending you won ’ t see coming .
Every SVU fan knows this episode where Olivia Benson goes undercover to investigate a ring of prison guard rapists — only to come inches away from being orally raped herself .
Saved at the last minute by Odafin Tutola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her best lines of the series , ‘ Who ’ s the bitch now ?
” It ’ s hard to believe the William Lewis episodes of SVU even exist in the same universe as the normal episodes of the show .
These episodes are beyond disturbing .
William Lewis is arrested in Central Park for flashing and the SVU team can not identify him because he has burned his fingerprints off on a stovetop burner .
A game of cat and mouse begins as Lewis seems to always be one step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eventually the case against Lewis is dismissed .
However , Lewis ’ real story begins here .
Following the trial he breaks into Olivia Benson ’ s apartment and holds her hostage .
He forces Benson to consume sleeping pills and liquor while torturing her .
He drives her to a secluded house where he keeps her incapacitated and bound .
The whole saga is long and contains plot twist after twist .
The entire William Lewis arc can be found in episodes : The lines between media and reality are blurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailer and the perpetrator is found to be the teen son of a famous shock jock DJ who obsessed over the starlet ’ s sexuality .
I don ’ t know about you , but the very real threat of impressionable men driven by ideological hatred to violence against women and minorities is more real and scary than ever before .
You can literally trace the line from where this kid started to how he was made into a rapist .
What ’ s creepier than a child murderer ?
One who toys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
What at first seems to be just a tragic accidents turns into something more sinister as the team investigates a boy who murders another boy in his neighborhood .
Gregory Yates and Carl Rudnick were classmates at Duke University where they both studied medicine .
Both Yates and Rudnick grow up to be serial rapists and murderers who compete against each other to be more famously depraved .
Yates is a criminal mastermind and it ’ s genuinely unnerving to see him out-maneuver the detectives and ADAs at every turn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think the all time creepiest moment in this entire show is when Yates tells Rollins he knows she is pregnant because he can “ smell ” it .
The Yates/Rudnick arc takes place in these episodes : Another case of killer kids .
This time a school nurse notices injuries on a young girl and calls the SVU .
They discover the girl is being tortured by her sadistic older brother , unbeknownst to their busy parents .
Henry , only a child himself , is described by the nanny as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon after the detectives visit .
Dr. Huang evaluates Henry and says he is a psychopath and urges the family to get help for him .
In this iconic SVU episode the gang investigates a 12-year-old who checks herself into the hospital , about to go into labor .
They discover the girl is a member of a cult lead by a charismatic leader who rapes and impregnates his follower ’ s daughters .
If you remember one thing from this episode , it ’ s the creepy blue-eyed star of cult leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the headlines episodes are always a treat and this take on the real life “ Slenderman ” murder is no different .
Three girls go into the woods , two come out .
A rare SVU episode that flirts with the paranormal .

While all episodes of Law and Order: SVU have a creep factor, some are more chilling than others.
Signature (Season 9, Episode 12)
This episode was written for true crime fans. A serial killer on the loose, a visit from the FBI’s behavioral analysis unit, bodies turning up in Central Park… this episode could be a standalone thriller movie and it would kill at the box office. Signature follows the detectives as they get wrapped up in a murder mystery surrounding a serial killer known as The Woodsman. The Woodsman’s MO was abducting women, torturing them in his torture chamber, recording their cries for help, murdering them by dry-drowning, and then leaving bodies for the police to find in the woods. The murder the team is searching for is scary enough on its own but this one also has a twist ending you won’t see coming.
Undercover (Season 9, Episode 15)
Every SVU fan knows this episode where Olivia Benson goes undercover to investigate a ring of prison guard rapists — only to come inches away from being orally raped herself. Saved at the last minute by Odafin Tutola (also undercover, Benson delivers one of her best lines of the series, ‘Who’s the bitch now?”
The William Lewis episodes
It’s hard to believe the William Lewis episodes of SVU even exist in the same universe as the normal episodes of the show. These episodes are beyond disturbing. William Lewis is arrested in Central Park for flashing and the SVU team cannot identify him because he has burned his fingerprints off on a stovetop burner. A game of cat and mouse begins as Lewis seems to always be one step ahead of the SVU and ADA Barba. Eventually the case against Lewis is dismissed.
However, Lewis’ real story begins here. Following the trial he breaks into Olivia Benson’s apartment and holds her hostage. He forces Benson to consume sleeping pills and liquor while torturing her. He drives her to a secluded house where he keeps her incapacitated and bound. The whole saga is long and contains plot twist after twist. The entire William Lewis arc can be found in episodes:
Season 14: Her Negotiation (S14, E24)
Season 15: Surrender Benson (S15, E1)
American Tragedy (S15, E3)
Psycho/Therapist (S15, E10)
Wednesday’s Child (S15, E14)
Beast’s Obsession (S15, E20)
Post-Mortem Blues (S15, E21)
Obscene (Season 6, Episode 3)
The lines between media and reality are blurred when a starlet is raped in her trailer and the perpetrator is found to be the teen son of a famous shock jock DJ who obsessed over the starlet’s sexuality. I don’t know about you, but the very real threat of impressionable men driven by ideological hatred to violence against women and minorities is more real and scary than ever before. You can literally trace the line from where this kid started to how he was made into a rapist.
Conscience (Season 6, Episode 6)
What’s creepier than a child murderer? One who toys with the empathy of the adults around him. What at first seems to be just a tragic accidents turns into something more sinister as the team investigates a boy who murders another boy in his neighborhood.
The Yates and Rudnick episodes
Gregory Yates and Carl Rudnick were classmates at Duke University where they both studied medicine. Both Yates and Rudnick grow up to be serial rapists and murderers who compete against each other to be more famously depraved. Yates is a criminal mastermind and it’s genuinely unnerving to see him out-maneuver the detectives and ADAs at every turn. However, I have to say, I think the all time creepiest moment in this entire show is when Yates tells Rollins he knows she is pregnant because he can “smell” it.
The Yates/Rudnick arc takes place in these episodes:
Season 16: Daydream Believer (S16, E20)
Season 17: Devil’s Dissections (S17, E1)
Criminal Pathology (S17, E2)
Nationwide Manhunt (S17, E4)
Born Psychopath (Season 14, Episode 19)
Another case of killer kids. This time a school nurse notices injuries on a young girl and calls the SVU. They discover the girl is being tortured by her sadistic older brother, unbeknownst to their busy parents. Henry, only a child himself, is described by the nanny as a “monster” who stabs his mother soon after the detectives visit. Dr. Huang evaluates Henry and says he is a psychopath and urges the family to get help for him.
Charisma (Season 6, Episode 7)
In this iconic SVU episode the gang investigates a 12-year-old who checks herself into the hospital, about to go into labor. They discover the girl is a member of a cult lead by a charismatic leader who rapes and impregnates his follower’s daughters. If you remember one thing from this episode, it’s the creepy blue-eyed star of cult leader “Abraham”.
Glasglowman’s Wrath (Season 16, Episode 6)
SVU ripped from the headlines episodes are always a treat and this take on the real life “Slenderman” murder is no different. Three girls go into the woods, two come out. A rare SVU episode that flirts with the paranormal.