Pistorius implicated in a murder

[18.99s]

The story gets weirder everyday. If it was fiction no one would believe it...

Half of the information in the media about this probably is fiction.

[Conor Dary]

The story gets weirder everyday. If it was fiction no one would believe it...

Half of the information in the media about this probably is fiction.

Yes, but which half?

[18.99s]

Is roid rage actually real? Could it possibly be a defense for what happened?

If anything it could be an incriminating factor, especially if steroids are illegal in South Africa. When you harm somebody while under the influence of an illegal substance, or a substance that is illegal to consume under the circumstances (e.g. alcohol and driving), the penalties are increased. For example, if the car you're driving kills somebody and it's found that you were DUI, you're getting locked up for manslaughter, you're not just facing a lawsuit like what would happen with a sober driver.

[Conor Dary]

Is roid rage actually real? Could it possibly be a defense for what happened?

Perhaps Pego could enlighten us.

[jeremyp]

Now perhaps an argument over "roid rage" which is amping up on other sites. Is it a genuine phenomenon? Do steroids merely accentuate already present behavioral problems? Enquiring minds....

[Blues]

Is roid rage actually real? Could it possibly be a defense for what happened?

Perhaps Pego could enlighten us.

Based on my own limited experiences, my opinion is that yes, roid rage is possible, and I've personally witnessed personality changes and possible "roid rage" symptoms in anabolic steroid users... I'll wait for Pego and other medical professionals to comment though.

[Daisy]

Is roid rage actually real? Could it possibly be a defense for what happened?

Perhaps Pego could enlighten us.

The reason for my question is that I'm reminded of the myths associated with 'supermales', those that have an extra Y chromosome (XYY); see below. Possibly roid rage is another example of confirmation bias?

XYY men in particular have been negatively stereotyped by society. When it was first discovered, popular science writers speculated that the extra Y would make males more aggressive – and more prone to criminality – than their XY peers. (This view persists: the film 'Aliens 3' was set in a penal colony for XYY prisoners.)

The myth was backed up by some rather misleading statistics. A paper published in the 'Lancet' in 1968 claimed that the prevalence of XYY men in prison was 25-60 times as high as the prevalence in the general population. This prompted some to suggest that screening for XYY would identify potentially violent and criminal males.

But the quality of this research was soon questioned (it was later pointed out that only two XYY male prisoners were identified in the study) and the consensus today is there is no strong link between XYY and criminality. XYY men may tend to share certain features, but these are well within the 'normal' range of human variation.

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Education-res ... 028518.htm

[Pego]

I have no personal experience with "roid rage," all I know is what I read in literature which also seems to be more anecdotal than a comprehensive assesment. Of what I know, some cases of manic behaviour in long-term anabolic steroid users has been described, usually in those that had manic tendencies in their premorbid personalities. Be it as it may, there does not appear to be tendency of disconect with reality. In other words, use of roids may be an excuse for breaking a few dishes, not for murder.

[Conor Dary]

I have no personal experience with "roid rage," all I know is what I read in literature which also seems to be more anecdotal than a comprehensive assesment. Of what I know, some cases of manic behaviour in long-term anabolic steroid users has been described, usually in those that had manic tendencies in their premorbid personalities. Be it as it may, there does not appear to be tendency of disconect with reality. In other words, use of roids may be an excuse for breaking a few dishes, not for murder.

Oh, dear, that doesn't sound helpful for BM.....What next????

[jamboy]

Banned steriods found at Pistorius home.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... nkamp.html

BANNED steroid drugs were found in Oscar Pistorius’s house after he shot dead lover Reeva Steenkamp.
Police also discovered a blood-stained cricket bat in the Blade Runner’s mansion in Pretoria, South Africa — and evidence of heavy drinking before the 3am shooting. Cops are now probing a theory that Pistorius may have blasted Reeva in an explosion of fury caused by the performance-boosting steroids.

[JumboElliott]

Ugh. There is little science behind so-called "roid rage"

[user4]

Now perhaps an argument over "roid rage" which is amping up on other sites. Is it a genuine phenomenon? Do steroids merely accentuate already present behavioral problems? Enquiring minds....

Pretty sure that they just accentuate already present problems. For instance, any guy (with average metabolic function) having to endure a stunningly beautiful super model at his residence over night on valentines day would be absolutely outraged and beside himself with bitter deep seated resentment and anger. But while the average guy would have simply beat her senseless, toss some steroids into his cocktail and that all american boy will immediately grab for the glock pistol to shoot her to death. Makes perfect sense.

Next out, a special report on whether emotionally handicapped people that are exalted as saints and treated like rock stars and demi-gods by multi-billion dollar corporate media machines are prone to narcissistic fits of homicidal rage.

[gh]

After decades of observation of the subject and talking to many users/friends of users, my take is that roid rage exists, but not in the sense that it takes ordinary people and Jekyll & Hydes them. It merely amplifies existing personality traits. So if somebody is generally meek and mild-mannered, they stay that way. Somebody with a temper, on the other hand, MAY end up with that being amped-up a little.

My guess is that most roid-rage incidents through the years have actually been amphetamine fueled, since there's definitely a linkage of doing the two in concert.

[jeremyp]

After decades of observation of the subject and talking to many users/friends of users, my take is that roid rage exists, but not in the sense that it takes ordinary people and Jekyll & Hydes them. It merely amplifies existing personality traits. So if somebody is generally meek and mild-mannered, they stay that way. Somebody with a temper, on the other hand, MAY end up with that being amped-up a little.

My guess is that most roid-rage incidents through the years have actually been amphetamine fueled, since there's definitely a linkage of doing the two in concert.

Add to that a super competitive personality and alcohol...... My career in mental health tells me Pistorius had personality issues already in place that steroids and alcohol (?) accentuated. These will probably come out in the media as more people tell stories.

[JumboElliott]

I just hope that the steroids crap doesn't take away the fact that there's no excuse for killing someone in malice.

[tandfman]

The latest news from The Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/oscar- ... dif,31341/

Facing allegations that he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp during a dispute at his Pretoria mansion last week, track star Oscar Pistorius swore before a judge Monday that a bloodied cricket bat found on his property was in fact used in a completely different murder.

[18.99s]

I just hope that the steroids crap doesn't take away the fact that there's no excuse for killing someone in malice.

If steroids affect the case it would be a negative factor for him, not an excuse that helps him to get away with anything. Just like if a drunk pilot crash-landed a plane due to pilot error, they'll go to prison because of being drunk, whereas if the same error happened when sober maybe they only get their license suspended or revoked.

[mump boy]

No juries in SA and other questioned answered here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/fe ... al-q-and-a

[Conor Dary]

The latest news from The Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/oscar- ... dif,31341/

Facing allegations that he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp during a dispute at his Pretoria mansion last week, track star Oscar Pistorius swore before a judge Monday that a bloodied cricket bat found on his property was in fact used in a completely different murder.

I think this crime could have only happened in SA. In the UK while cricket bats are plentiful, guns are very hard to come by, especially handguns. And in the US while there is no shortage of handguns, cricket bats are a rare commodity, though I own one, on this side of the Atlantic.

[Grasshopper]

After decades of observation of the subject and talking to many users/friends of users, my take is that roid rage exists, but not in the sense that it takes ordinary people and Jekyll & Hydes them. It merely amplifies existing personality traits. So if somebody is generally meek and mild-mannered, they stay that way. Somebody with a temper, on the other hand, MAY end up with that being amped-up a little.

My guess is that most roid-rage incidents through the years have actually been amphetamine fueled, since there's definitely a linkage of doing the two in concert.

Reminds me of an old Bill Cosby line, "I said to a guy, 'Tell me, what is it about cocaine that makes it so wonderful,' and he said, 'Because it intensifies your personality.' I said, 'Yes, but what if you're an asshole?' "

[GMH454]

sorry to drop in late, but Gh is right as usual, coming from PLing back in the 70's and 80's when people were taking doses that would blow up the modern testing equipment, (you would not believe what some of those guys did ... sad but true) the amount of violence among lifters was very low. (although I do remember the odd scary moment, ).

think if that is part of your nature then upping your "T" levels no matter how it is done can make your more of a "hairy chest beater", than you might of been, they raise confidence and other factors that can obsure judgement.

as a defence, been tried before, but think it is like trying to defend killing someone on DUI..... "sorry your honour I was off my face drunk and could barely walk let alone drive", that one does not fly any more

if he was on, what was he using to beat the tests, intrigues me more

[user4]

I just hope that the steroids crap doesn't take away the fact that there's no excuse for killing someone in malice.

I think your hopes are well founded and you will not be disappointed.

[Dave]

I just hope that the steroids crap doesn't take away the fact that there's no excuse for killing someone in malice.

I think your hopes are well founded and you will not be disappointed.

Doesn't testing apply to paraolympians?

[mump boy]

I know they have to try something but seriously who shoots a suspected burglar through a locked door !!

it is so totally implausible it might just work

[Blues]

I just hope that the steroids crap doesn't take away the fact that there's no excuse for killing someone in malice.

I think your hopes are well founded and you will not be disappointed.

Doesn't testing apply to paraolympians?

I don't know what steroids they found in his home, but today's testing isn't too effective when it comes to testosterone PED usage if the athlete and his/her medical advisors are careful. If we knew the truth, I think we'd all be familiar with multiple athletes who supplement with testosterone but haven't tested positive.

[az2004]

i try to stay away from the details because there's too muach i cant know about

the locked in a bathroom etc, etc

if the case convinces a jury, guit or innocence is irrelevant

[schigh]

It appears that one key 'fact' the two sides disagree on is whether or not he had his prosthetic legs on at the time of the shooting. It seems like they should be able to determine this by the angles of the bullets, etc.

[bushop]

... who shoots a suspected burglar through a locked door?

I would; if I thought the intruder was reloading or unjamming a weapon.

[jeremyp]

i try to stay away from the details because there's too muach i cant know about

the locked in a bathroom etc, etc

if the case convinces a jury, guit or innocence is irrelevant

As stated earlier there are no juries in S.A.

[eldanielfire]

Ugh. There is little science behind so-called "roid rage"

There is little Science behind any effect of steroids which aren't related to medical use because it would be unethical to perform those kind of tests. However there is plenty of reports and anecdotal evidence that Scientists have been perfectly happy to reference over the years.

[Conor Dary]

... who shoots a suspected burglar through a locked door?

I would; if I thought the intruder was reloading or unjamming a weapon.

Really? Unless you were alone wouldn't you assume it might be someone in there you know. I mean I think I would at least yell through the door to find out who was there.

But of course BM already knew who was there since she ran there...

[kuha]

Unless there was an OUTSIDE door leading directly to the bathroom (rather unlikely) the whole "I had no idea who could possibly be in my bathroom" scenario is absurd. But its also absurd that that observation even needs to be made.

[Conor Dary]

Unless there was an OUTSIDE door leading directly to the bathroom (rather unlikely) the whole "I had no idea who could possibly be in my bathroom" scenario is absurd. But its also absurd that that observation even needs to be made.

With all of the gun violence in this country I have never heard of an instance where someone shot an actual intruder behind a closed bathroom door. A pretty lame story. I am surprised BM couldn't have thought of something more plausible. Which probably shows that BM is not very bright.

PS. An outside door!! Like some outhouse.

[Dave]

Unless there was an OUTSIDE door leading directly to the bathroom (rather unlikely) the whole "I had no idea who could possibly be in my bathroom" scenario is absurd. But its also absurd that that observation even needs to be made.

I am guessing the prosecutors will be focused on discredited this sort of absurd scenario.

[mump boy]

Unless there was an OUTSIDE door leading directly to the bathroom (rather unlikely) the whole "I had no idea who could possibly be in my bathroom" scenario is absurd. But its also absurd that that observation even needs to be made.

This ^^

it's not even like he woke up in the middle of the night and heard noises, we know from neighbours that there was shouting in the house but even if he did just wake up, rather than wondering where his girlfriend was and assuming she was in the bathroom, he just got a gun and started shooting !! with no evidence of a break in, no warning, not seeming to care that there was someone else legitimately in the house

Why would a burglar be in your bathroom anyway unless he was there to steal your steroids !!

What a load of crap