I think its a sensual thing.

the guy puts his hand on your knee - you know if your gay.

the talk comes round to capital punishment - and you know if you're up for it.

whenever there's a history book about Mary Queen of Scots or Charles 1, we all skip to the head chopping and take a sneaky look. some of us feel - we are enjoying a furtive frisson of sadism - and we know its not good for us really.

Warden Howe of Sing Sing - who attended many executions wrote in his auto biography he was inundated with requests from people who wanted to attend an execution - they always had brilliant and ingenious reasons. Howe contemplatecd what a success live radio broadcasts from the execution chamber would be....a nation crouched round the radio, getting off on the sensual thrill of killing someone.

Take a good look in the mirror - John on th Sunset Coast -isn't that what its reall about. that buzz, that frisson from ruining living human flesh.