Talk:Arson
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Just something to stimulate discussion, it is a well-known fact/urban legend (prolly fact) that firefighters stand a much higher chance of becoming arsonists than the general population, because adrenaline is addictive -- hence, they set fires then rush to go put them out once someone calls 911. This needs documentation, but is interesting and thus, I'm putting it here until someone can confirm in some verifiable way. Tuf-Kat
- I'd lean towards fact. In recent years, there was a well reported case (in California I believe) of a highly regarded arson investigator who was working on a novel. There was an accumulation of baffling and suspicious arson occurrences; meanwhile a working draft of the novel somehow met eyes they weren't intended for and it happened that occurrences in the plot of the book matched rather closely the fires that were being perpetrated. And that's just one example I've heard of. -- knoodelhed 11:55, 4 Oct 2003 (UTC)
- It is an urban legend. John Orr was an aberration and a disgrace. If anything, the opposite is true, with arsonists being drawn to the fire service, but I don't think most of them make it through training. The psychology of arson just doesn't propel them to like it. If you'd like some reading on the subject, try: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-141.pdf. Meanwhile, for more information on the John Orr story, which was made into a TV movie, you cna run a search for his name.--catseyes 18:39, 31 October 2005 (UTC)
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- According to the pyromania article, pyromaniacs are attracted also to instiution that control fire like fire alarmds and firehouses. Therefore I think it makes more sense that someone is obsessed with fire when they become a fireman, not they become obessed with fire while they are a fireman (though it seems possible) Johhny-turbo 05:59, 28 December 2005 (UTC)
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[edit] Arson in fiction
I wonder what the point of the subsection "arson in fiction" is? Marc K 11:49, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Psychology
Maybe a section on the Psychology of arson should be added. (unless that is covered by pyromania)
I've added a section on Firesetter Motivation, which has a brief discussion of psychology, and well as other motives behind arson.--SLCFD876 16:33, 2 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] picture caption
Is The fire of the century, caused by arson trying to refer to Old_Fire? --Espoo 05:52, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Intent
Going back through the edit history, I noticed that the original, broad definition of arson posted was "setting a fire with the intent to cause damage." Then this language about "with the intent to kill people or animals inside." If someone sets a fire with the intent to kill people, and it kills them, that's a homicide. If they fail to kill the people, that's attempted homicide. Granted, arson is still involved, but the definition is not so narrow as to requrie an intent to kill. I know of no statute that requires the intent to kill an animal as an element. I understand PETA and ELF/ALF have arson related animal rights activisim, but there are no statutes of which I am aware that employ animals or require an intent to harm an animal in any element of the crime of arson. Arson is setting a fire with the intent to cause damage, plain and simple. I've removed the superfulous language, but I guess we can discuss what if any ought to be back in. I think the arson definition language is more accurate without it.
- you are correct Urukagina
[edit] Galicia (under motivation)
193.203.200.2 wrote about the frequency of man made fires in Galicia. It seems very specific to me. Without verification to the paragraphs significance, ill just correct puncuation for now. Urukagina 02:49, 3 September 2006 (UTC)
