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You make some very good points Worldwalker. What is the definition of 'weird'? I doubt anyone can really give you a definitive definition of the word, because what is weird to one person is normal to another. Of course we as a society in general have some common ideas as to what is acceptable behaviour within that society, such as theft from another being wrong for example, but other that that there are probably as many definitions of what is normal as opposed to weird as there are people walking the earth. Normality is really in the eye of the beholder for the most part. One person might enjoy polka music for example and another might think that the polka music lover is weird for enjoying it. Or there are the football fans who paint themselves up in the team colors. Some would say they are weird, but from their point of view it's just a way of showing support to their favorite team. It's all relative in that regard, but some things do cross the line from self expression to not being to the public benefit I think. The book in question (IMO) crosses that line by a fair margin. Murder mysteries tell how a murder was committed but they don't give you a blueprint on how to commit a murder. All they do is present a fictional murder. They don't tell you to go to Murry's pool hall on 82nd street in New York (or where ever) if you are looking to buy a gun cheap. And the Writer's Digest books aren't intended as such aids either I don't think. They give general details about various topics so that a story can be told effectively, not so you can go out and get away with a crime.
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