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AIBU?

To not understand why people watch people being murdered on youtube and similar?

62 replies

lottieandmia · 08/05/2013 17:51

I know it's human nature to have an element of morbid curiosity (which I will admit to myself)

But why do some people watch horrible videos of people being beheaded or shot over and over? I will never ever watch these videos - once you've seen it you can't unsee it can you?

It disturbs me that stuff like this is freely available these days. But nothing can be done about it. I just hope my children never see it...

OP posts:

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marjproops · 08/05/2013 18:26

theres too many progs/films/x-box games that show the same, and people watch those.

and while they may be fictionalised, theyre still graphic and unfortunaletly there are some sicko people out there wholl love it all.

and if these utube things are real why arent the perps caught?

Dawndonna · 08/05/2013 18:26

I think I'll avoid stuff like that thanks, I couldn't cope. I don't 'do' gore, although Oryx and Crake made me want to rip Attwood's head off!

ConfusedPixie · 08/05/2013 18:31

I remember my peers watching these in school :( there was a particularly bad one of a western gent being beheaded by al qaeda that they watched on repeat.

Birdsgottafly · 08/05/2013 18:46

It isn't as simple as being "sick or twisted" that is the interesting part and I certainly don't need me head testing. I cannot watch stuff involving animals or children, or anyone vulnerable. I think its the ability to not link what you see with your own life and those around you. its similar to watching a lot of Holocaust recordings, or writings, yet there are one or two scenes that stay and they aren't the "worse" they just have the ability to touch us because we have linked our own life to what is happening. There are psychological explanations for this.

LittleDirewolfBitJoffrey · 08/05/2013 18:53

Its part of a culture of normalisation.

Compare it to porn: the more pornographic acts became mainstream the more extreme porn become en masse. Now that some of those extremes are becoming more normalised the more hardcore porn has to be to create demand.

Now look at what we have today: 24 hour news. The stations/websites have to draw viewers so they get as much news out of whatever story is huge at the time. If that means showing graphic images then so be it, to try to compete with all the other news out there. Add to that the fact that the internet is so easily accessible by almost everyone and the techo-savviness of so many people that we will end up with shit like this on YouTube. They can remove it and remove it, but someone will have seen and reposted it and they can always put new stuff up there.

As to what can be done I don't know. Stricter rules on internet use with likely only penalise those of us who are already law abiding web users. Vigilance, I guess, is the only solution.

I hate it.

lottieandmia · 08/05/2013 18:55

I hate it too - and yes it is exactly like porn (which I feel, could damage the sexuality of young people in some instances and where people grow up watching it all the time as a habit).

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Sidge · 08/05/2013 18:57

The people that watch/post/enjoy these sort of videos on YouTube are probably the same people that stand around filming things on their phones, such as fights, car crashes, paramedics attending to accidents.

An evolution of attending gladiatorial fights, or the guillotine, or stonings maybe?

CreatureRetorts · 08/05/2013 19:01

Anyone who watches this stuff is messed up.

It's all part of a creeping acceptance of things which are indecent and plain wrong. Movies like SAW, disgusting pictures on facebooks, videos on YouTube. Don't people understand that it isn't normal. It changes how you think about the world - seeing something like that.

Birdsgottafly · 08/05/2013 19:05

There is always going to be shocking stuff available, though. The most upsetting stuff I have seen has been via documentaries or information type programme's that feature Unit 731 and similar, or the Chinese baby dying rooms. The adults who take part in this, have normal lives, outside of their "work", we, as a society ignore such acts, especially if we benefit from them, well maybe more the US. A lot of the video's are taking place in what is essentially a "normal, functioning" society.

Birdsgottafly · 08/05/2013 19:05

There is always going to be shocking stuff available, though. The most upsetting stuff I have seen has been via documentaries or information type programme's that feature Unit 731 and similar, or the Chinese baby dying rooms. The adults who take part in this, have normal lives, outside of their "work", we, as a society ignore such acts, especially if we benefit from them, well maybe more the US. A lot of the video's are taking place in what is essentially a "normal, functioning" society.

lottieandmia · 08/05/2013 19:07

I went to see Saw at the cinema, not having heard much about it. I hid my eyes for most of it and checked the back of my car for weeks! But at least that isn't real life.

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lottieandmia · 08/05/2013 19:09

'chinese baby dying rooms'??? WTF? Sounds too awful.

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expatinscotland · 08/05/2013 19:19

'I cannot watch stuff involving animals or children, or anyone vulnerable.'

I guess Chinese Baby Dying Rooms are somehow different. Anyone who can disconnect this sort of them from themselves and their lives needs a head check or locked up, because that's what scum who do this sort of thing do to carry it out, film it and post it on the fucking internet for sick tourists to watch.

expatinscotland · 08/05/2013 19:20

'Compare it to porn: the more pornographic acts became mainstream the more extreme porn become en masse. Now that some of those extremes are becoming more normalised the more hardcore porn has to be to create demand.'

Exactly.

thebody · 08/05/2013 19:30

Expat totally agree with all of your posts.

There are some sick, psychotic bastards out there who perform this just as SS guards did.

There are weak but viciously inclined cowardly bastards who watch and so promote this stuff just like those who post, watch and send this filthy horrible vile stuff the same people who would watch Jews being Herded into cattle trucks.

When my dd and her friends were injured, covered in blood and being rescued from an accident lots of good people helped.

Some stood and filmed, I hate those people so much it physically hurts.

lottieandmia · 08/05/2013 19:36

But, thebody - the SS guards were not psychopaths, a lot of them. Many of them would have led ordinary lives, had it not been for the rise of Hitler.

It's much easier to distance yourself from people who partake in violence in some way by writing them off as sick or psychotic but this is not the case, I fear. Which is why this issue need to be addressed.

I do, however believe that watching stuff like this could cause psychological damage. I despair that we can do nothing about it.

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expatinscotland · 08/05/2013 19:37

'When my dd and her friends were injured, covered in blood and being rescued from an accident lots of good people helped.

Some stood and filmed, I hate those people so much it physically hurts.'

And now, think of them posting it for gawpers because it's 'interesting' 'just an accident' and how warped you have to be to completely dissociate their pain and misery from your own life.

expatinscotland · 08/05/2013 19:40

'I do, however believe that watching stuff like this could cause psychological damage. I despair that we can do nothing about it.'

It desensitises human beings from the pain and suffering of others. The way porn does, so it becomes entertainment, 'interesting', 'fascinating' or even something they can do/film themselves.

BegoniaBampot · 08/05/2013 19:49

I really fear for my children growing up with all of this round about them and it will probably only get worse.

Remember a case years ago where a woman's date or boyfriend made her watch the Ken Bigley beheading in his flat. he was prosecutted and i think even possibly imprisoned. Ken Bigley was someone's son, husband, father etc - folk watching it and having a laugh are beyond me.

thebody · 08/05/2013 19:55

Yes expat agree.

Lottie, many psychopaths have wives and families. As do rapists and paedophiles. Doesn't mean they arnt psychopaths just means they are able to disassociate and not empathise,, so psychotic.

LEMisdisappointed · 08/05/2013 19:57

I find it disturbing enough hearing about atrocities on the news, i do not have ANY morbid curiosity whatsoever. I have a cast iron stomach when it comes to blood and guts but the taking of a human life, or hurting someone (or an animal) is not entertainment and i woudl question the morality of someone who thought this was ok to watch.

As someone said upthread, once you have watched this you can't unwatch it.

I struggle with violence in films and on TV, even though its not "real" why would anyone want to watch that?

LEMisdisappointed · 08/05/2013 19:59

lottie that is a good point about the SS and hitler, i think its about depersonalisation - they are indoctrinated to believe that the people they torture and murder are somehow subhuman so do not matter. Its horrible.

lottieandmia · 08/05/2013 20:43

thebody - iirc, some senior members of the SS who were caught were found to be 'normal' and not psychopathic.

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thebody · 08/05/2013 20:57

Yes lottie take your point.

I just feel such evil people must be ill when in fact they are just evil. No excuse. Very scary.

Horrible op agree with you.

HollyBerryBush · 08/05/2013 20:59

I was given a link to a sharia law punishment once. Never again, and I never watch you tube unless I'm googling very crap 1980's music

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