If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't go there. However, when you take away moonshiners, murderers, thieves, plunderers of maidens and pirates, among others, you greatly diminish the available volume of folk song. Not being a psychologist, I am not qualified to answer for the fascination itself. It is probably like going to auto races and watching the accidents. You feel horrified and exhilirated at the same time, and can't take your eyes off the carnage. I don't know what that says about us, but few can deny it.