Things that have been bugging me.

[Turtle25]

Well, I'll cut right to the chaste.... there are some things that I find unacceptable as elements of modern society. But this is nothing about personal preferences, or lifestyle choices. No, all those are fine... my rule of thumb concerning tolerance: If it does not hurt anyone, it is fine. Which leaves smoking somewhat ambiguous... but that's another thread.

I think the thing I am most concerned with in society can be summarised fairly nicely by "rotten.com". But why should it? Why does this site exist? It is violent and gruesome... but this is not my problem. My problem is, to find this site -not- repulsive and repugnant, is to lose all respect: for not just humanity in general, but all individuals as well. To find this site funny or pleasant (incredibly, some do) is to see absolutely -no- value in the lives of those people! But how can this possibly be a modern society? How are these people functioning in daily social interactions? Why are they not already locked away somewhere where they can't get us? I am apparently the only one, but when I did see that site (once and a long time ago), I was left sleepless for nights... not only because of the unspeakable content, but I thought, "who are these people? What happened to them?"

While I am aware that many tragedies happen daily that I am not aware of, there's a difference. I do not put them on display. I, unfortunately, do not care because I can't, I don't know of these people and their lives... nor should I; if I did, my life would be unmanageable. But someone will care about them, their families, the police, whoever. But I do not go out of my way to reduce these lives to meaninglessness. I do not find their pain and suffering funny. I'm sorry. Am I defective in some way? Should I be celebrating massive personality faults and violent antisocial behaviour like others?

And here, on the other hand... people criticise President Bush for releasing the photos of the two Hussein sons. It was not Bush who did it. Also, why not target this problem where it starts? "Barbarians"? The photos were proof. Compared to the aforementioned site, they are as agreeable as paintings of French mountain scenery. Let's not look in the wrong places. (The site: http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/BLOG/main.asp . Also, this might be a shock, but there was a problem concerning too many cartoonists drawing Bob Hope at the Pearly Gates. Someone suggested that he go to Hell instead, for that would make a better comic. He is an eminent newspaper cartoonist. Also, for the record, I hate Cagle. His style does not agree with me.)

So, that's it from me. I'll be focussing on happier things now...

[Tienshin]

Serenity now, insanity later.

[Digu Volz]

This is the dark side of diversity. People finding humor or enjoyment in the death and suffering of others. I think many of us do, though it is only actually attributed to those who take it to a more extreme level, such as rotten.com, as it should be. There's a little bit of everything in all people, you just have to watch out for how much of each they have. That's how you discern personality and characteristics.

I remember a while back there was a post about people getting hurt/drying in ways that were their fault and pretty stupid. Some found it humorous, just as some didn't. You could say those people deserved it or that they don't, as to laugh at their misfortune is to laugh at the pain of their loved ones. Which is more valid ? Only you can decide, and that theory is why I believe the world is black and white (which is far too confusing to be worth explanation).

How do these people interact in real life ? Well, look at the posters. You can be an otherwise outstanding citizen and enjoy bestiality or find humor in death. However there are thousands of factors as to the whys and just about any reason you can come up with will likely be adequate answers, even the more improbable ones.

As disgusted as you may be by people like the former, you have to come to terms with the fact tha there are people like that, not that you can't be disgusted and rail against it and still deem it unacceptable. In the end all you can do is roll with the punches, take oppurtunities, or make change, whichever you prefer. But I mostly agree with you on what you've said.

[Sublime420]

Wow, that site is really destubing.
I wonder if president bush browses it?

[Zoddman]

Why do you think the Romans had gladiatorial fights? It's in human nature to be excited by violence folks. But as humans, we need to show we can rise above the enjoyment of death and destruction.

[jeffrey 228]

I'm with you on that Zodd, I mean if I were to see such thing, I'd puke my guts off, and I mean puke my guts out.

[Digu Volz]

Why do you think the Romans had gladiatorial fights? It's in human nature to be excited by violence folks.

This reminds me of how they were drawing parallels between the Roman empire and America, specifically in the last days, though it seem periodically the media likes to discuss us all going to hell for some reason. At the same time, I don't anybody is denying anything about human nature; its one of the reasons wrestling or shows like DBZ is profitable. It's just the extent that some people take it, such as people getting off over dead bodies or smothering people. That certainly isn't normal by any definition, but I still find the majority of people, based on observation, fairly balanced. Then again, whose to say I couldn't be the webmaster of rotten.com ? Eh.

[Zim_Zany9000]

SpOONed wasn't working when I was trying to gather pics 4 my home made PowerMan5000 'That's Entertainment' Quicktime video... ahh well...

Goes to Rotten.com.

[Turtle25]

Son of a... well, you know, it's nice to know most here agree with me. I know of past examples of violence being entertainment... the gladiator fights... but at least those were under the tin-shield justification of those people who were being speared/eaten/disemboweled deserved it in one way or another... they were groups deemed below the populace, not human. Which is disturbing, but that is the past, and we must learn from these kinds of practices, of devaluing particular human lives for insignificant reasons, and know how not to repeat them.

But the thing about these sites, the thing that frightens me: first, they are real people, not actors, not special effects. They are (or used to be) living, breathing, human beings. They had lives, family, interests, hobbies, all that kind of stuff. Granted, for some of them their lives may have caused them to be in the condition they are presented, but most likely it was unrelated. but here's the biggie: Most of them had done nothing wrong. Even if they had it would be disgusting, but here the "tin-shield" is gone. Many were victims of accidents, car crashes, ill-designed industrial tools, random violence, etcetera. They did not deserve the calamity upon them. One particular example, there was a boy- a young boy, five maybe- whose jaw had been cut off by a guerilla group as a punishment to a non-conforming mother. I think you know what I'm getting at, right? This should not be a source of amusement for any civilised human being. If nothing stops you from viewing the mutilation and killing of innocent people as a good thing, then, you should seek help. If anyone is willing to get close enough to administer it, that is...

[zmanjz]

I think the thing I am most concerned with in society can be summarised fairly nicely by "rotten.com". But why should it? Why does this site exist?

Well, it exists for that baser part of mankind which we hate to acknowledge still exists. The people who hold their Ideals without considering reality are unable to come to terms with this.

But how can this possibly be a modern society? How are these people functioning in daily social interactions?

the problem lies in believing that modernity = Enlightenment

I believe that Mankind has come far and that mankind in general is more enlightened than say... cave men, but the problem here is that you've got to reconsile people's desires 1. Self Preservation: "What's bad for the other guy is good for you." 2. Mob/group Mentality: What's good for people in my group is good for me, and if you're not in my group, you're my enemy. 3. Cultural Grouping: Even though there are people not in my group, they're kind of like me, and there are others which are not, therefore if something happens to the groups that are not, we'll give prefrence to dealing with groups like me.

All of these interactions happen at once and across borders. it is deritivative of basic survival oriented logic. I know of no way to eliminate this other than to render humans into drooling idiots incapable of any thought processes. However I don't want to see that happen.

Why are they not already locked away somewhere where they can't get us? I am apparently the only one, but when I did see that site (once and a long time ago), I was left sleepless for nights... not only because of the unspeakable content, but I thought, "who are these people? What happened to them?"

Well,as a component of our culture, people who represent a danger to themselves or others generally ARE locked away. But otherwise you are dealing with interactions between Free-will, Differing levels of Education, knowledge, ignorance, and stupidity, and chaos-based random events. (at least: Random until a unified field theory is formulated.)

Am I defective in some way? Should I be celebrating massive personality faults and violent antisocial behaviour like others?

NO, the fact you find these things abhorent means that you have a well developed sense of right/wrong. however, you must be careful to balance your "Enlightenment" with your "barbarism" or you risk looking down on normal people and actually becoming culturally maladjusted. indeed it is a hard balance to strike. Some people formulate bright-line rules for them selves as guides, others follow the dictates of religions or spititual followings.

I find crime interesting. I use my interest and my ability to plan crimes as a tool to prosecute crimes. I have had 5 supression hearings, and one trial (which was almost entirely under my control) in each case, my ability to think like the defendant is what allowed me to be sucessful in assisting in locking them away.

I remember many science fiction stories of people from the future who were peaceful, and enlightened, but unable to deal with the slightest bad thing. (A most absurd refrence comes to mind: the movie: "Demolition Man") These purely fictional stories do contain a grain of warning that gaining "enlightenment" may cost us our ability to survive.

But then, I'm just a law student who's reading a cartoon-oriented website at 3Am on sunday, so what do I know.

Also, this might be a shock, but there was a problem concerning too many cartoonists drawing Bob Hope at the Pearly Gates. Someone suggested that he go to Hell instead, for that would make a better comic. He is an eminent newspaper cartoonist. Also, for the record, I hate Cagle. His style does not agree with me.)

Yes, I hate Cagle's style as well. the artist professes to highlight what he sees as wrongs, or things that require satire, but I find his work to be insulting, and purposely written out of context to serve his political agenda rather than express actual beliefs.