Staring Into the Craigslist Cesspool

"Craigslist killer" Philip Markoff was arraigned on grand-jury charges that include first-degree murder, robbery and two counts of armed kidnapping. As if Craigslist users needed another reason to feel jumpy.

It seems every day brings more stories that help paint the listings website as a cesspool of scams, killers and sexual exploitation. Here's just a random smattering of the coverage from the past week or so:

• Queens woman allegedly rents same apartment to seven people via Craigslist (NY Post)
• Woman reports buying fake tickets to Chesney (Fargo Inforum)
• Two busted in Craigslist hooker scam (NY Daily News)
  
• Nebraska Mom Attempts to Sell Her 18-Month-Old on Craigslist (AP)
  
• Hawaii Craigslist Sex Ring Busted; Woman Wanted (KGMB)

These sorts of stories may well be the natural result of Craigslist's ubiquity and desperate economic times. But don't be surprised if Craigslist starts bragging about good news — its charitable contributions, jobs it has found for people — much more loudly. The company needs all the good news it can get.

Send an email to Ryan Tate, the author of this post, at ryan@gawker.com.