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straightloco44 t1_j63qbwk wrote

Does anyone else find it disturbing that so many people (including myself) are sitting around waiting to watch a man being beaten to death by 5 policemen? Like a goddamn movie premiere. I wonder what effects experiencing this collective trauma has on us as a populace. It's a weird, sad, day.

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dmcd0415 t1_j63rl8f wrote

Watching it can seriously not make me think any less of police than I already do. I'll be avoiding that one. RIP.

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straightloco44 t1_j63rsjz wrote

I want to (avoid it). But in my heart of hearts I know I won't. And I don't know what that means.

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Madca t1_j63wk0e wrote

I mean this in a completely non-judgmental way, but it’s as simple as exercising self control and not watching it. I think it’s important to ask ourselves why we want to see it. If the answer is anything remotely close to watching out of morbid curiosity, then I think we should give Tyre respect and treat him with the dignity that the cops denied him by avoiding the video.

Your response implies that you have no choice in the manner other than to consume a viral piece of media, and I find that disheartening. Personally, I think the brutal description is enough. Where the situation murkier, watching to make an informed decision on the matter is one thing, but I think we need to be discerning in the media we consume if all we’re looking for is a thrill and to be outraged.

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straightloco44 t1_j63z8jk wrote

I appreciate that. I do understand it's a choice. However I also understand for me it's not out of morbid curiosity. With me, I feel it's more the need to bear witness. There are plenty of horrible viral things to view just to satisfy morbid curiosity. I feel like indifference and/or the desire to simply not confront horrible things play a big role in why nothing ever changes. When I say I wish to avoid it but I know I won't, it's because I don't want to turn a blind eye to it. Not saying those who choose not to watch like yourself are doing that, but for me it feels like not viewing is ignoring the problem. Kind of like making the German citizens walk through the concentration camps. When I say I'm not sure what that means about myself ( the fact I know I will watch), I wonder why I feel I have to be that witness? When in fact I know that simple act alone won't initiate change.

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Madca t1_j641bj6 wrote

I appreciate your thoughtful response and am glad that you clarified. I can’t answer why you feel that way, but I think it’s up to all of us to bear that weight together, to deal kindly with each other, and push for change here in Pittsburgh where we can. We can’t do much about Memphis beyond mourn with them, but we can do our best to make it better here.

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Jumpy-Natural4868 t1_j64an93 wrote

I just won't be able to do it. I know that news will show some stills and that will be too much for me. Empathy for his family and friends. So sad.

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dmcd0415 t1_j642vgf wrote

> I wonder why I feel I have to be that witness?

That's what morbid curiosity is lol

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straightloco44 t1_j646yhp wrote

I don't agree in this instance. I see morbid curiosity more or less as something like viewing a car accident. The act of watching is solely because you want to see. Whereas when it comes to videos such as police brutality, I feel like my need to see is connected to my desire to not ignore the issue. There are plenty of things that I come across that I choose not to look at. But I feel like I can't look away from these things . If so, I become part of the problem. The indifference. Trust there are many a time when I wish I can be like others and just say that's awful, not watch and move on.

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dmcd0415 t1_j648c3o wrote

You can be outraged by police behavior and not have to watch every single new video of them killing someone in cold blood. Watching to see just exactly how bad this one was is in fact morbid curiosity. Like I said, I can't possibly think any less of police without watching but now one who doesn't watch it is part of the problem because they're ignoring it and indifferent to police violence? This is some serious self righteousness here

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straightloco44 t1_j64ewnv wrote

I swear people on here don't read. I never said that people who don't watch are less compassionate or indifferent. I said for me. For me. Has nothing to do with no one else.

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Eubadom t1_j64rexu wrote

There are plenty of people who are not outrage already that absolutely need to see it.

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reverendsteveii t1_j64wl81 wrote

>Why we want to see it

It's kinda important to confront what they do in real, concrete terms. I'm going to watch it and I'm going to share it because that will prevent complacency. We all agree that this is a problem, but people are also perfectly capable of going "Yeah, that's awful. Well, anyway..." and they need to be confronted with what they fail to oppose directly. So yeah, I am kinda looking to be outraged and I'm looking for other people to be outraged as well, but to make this equivalent to the outrage bait of Obama's tan suit, for example, is to say that people shouldn't be outraged when the police murder people. They should. It's not just reasonable, it's a moral obligation to not let the firehose effect convince you to just knowingly ignore this shit.

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Madca t1_j653r50 wrote

I understand where you’re coming from and I think it’s a legitimate position to argue why people should watch it. We do not disagree there. What I was trying to get across was that if you’re going to watch it solely out of curiosity and being nosey, probably don’t watch it then if that’s your only motivation. It’s like stopping and staring at a car accident; if you aren’t stopping to help then be respectful and be on your way. I misunderstood the intentions of the comment I was replying to and they gave a thoughtful reply, so being nosey is neither how they’re approaching it nor how they intended the comment to come off.

We both agree that people should be outraged when the police do everything from abuse people to murder them. Some people need to see it happen because they don’t think cops are capable of that level of brutality for whatever reason. Others because they feel they have a moral obligation to bear witness. If that’s the case, do it. All I was saying earlier was if your motivation of watching is solely to be outraged and then do nothing else, perhaps consider where that’s coming from.

I will say, I’m curious why you brought up rage bait media like the tan suit and implied that I was treating them the same. Personally I feel that my original comment was treating this as a serious matter, but if I in any way made that seem otherwise it was not my intent.

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___cats___ t1_j64cpo5 wrote

Plus they were immediately fired and are being charged with all kinds of things including murder and kidnapping. There’s no reason to watch video unless they’re found not guilty.

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Cryptic_Skies t1_j63y19o wrote

i dont watch videos such as these (never watched any of the beheading videos either) nor did i ever watch any of the Phases of Death vhs series back when video tape rental was a thing.

consuming these videos both desensitises and anesthetises people to the point of acceptance. it doesnt happen all at once, but eventually one's compassion, sympathy, and potential empathy is eroded away.

i think the same people who watch these videos should ask themselves if they would buy tickets to an execution without knowing the context of why and how.

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Jumpy-Natural4868 t1_j64xg5i wrote

Faces of Death, right? Not phases.

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livefast_dieawesome t1_j655ft0 wrote

I disagree with the desensitization angle purely based on the national reaction to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests across the country and even internationally. I'd go so far as to suggest that people were/are very sensitive about it when they see these videos of violence against innocent people.

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straightloco44 t1_j647n8y wrote

I do agree there is a degree of desensitization that comes along with regular viewing of such things. However, it's not as black and white as that. I viewed many of those things over the years, whether for curiosity sake or to just be informed. While there's a sense of the shock value being lost, my compassion has not waned. Nor has my desire for change. Those who refuse to watch any of the things you reference, including police brutality videos, are no more likely to initiate change or to feel more compassion for victims of violence. I'm 45. I've seen a lot. A whole lot. I have yet to become numb.

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Cryptic_Skies t1_j648sfq wrote

i'm a year younger than you and our experiences are clearly very different.

> those who refuse to watch...are no more likely to initiate change or feel more compassion for victims of violence.

nice job there thinking i sit on my hands with my head in the sand while the world burns.

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straightloco44 t1_j64ae7c wrote

Wasn't looking for a reddit argument today. How did I imply that you sit around on your hands? I said people who don't watch or no "more" likely to act or have compassion. Not less likely.

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Cryptic_Skies t1_j64bm98 wrote

i quoted you verbatim and stated in my post i dont watch these videos. by stating i'm no more likely to have compassion or act you inherently imply less likely.

i dont have any desire to argue with anyone on reddit either.

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straightloco44 t1_j64c84j wrote

Sorry you took it that way. I in no way meant to imply that. I know plenty of people, compassionate and active in social justice, who would not choose to watch. I don't hold that against them. I meant to say that for myself, I am an example of somebody who has not become less compassionate or empathetic for watching those things. In fact, I believe in some instances it has made me more so.

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straightloco44 t1_j64ajvz wrote

And no, I wouldn't buy a ticket to an execution. Especially since I'm against the death penalty

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Cryptic_Skies t1_j64c87t wrote

> does anyone else find it disturbing we are sitting around waiting to watch like a goddamn movie premiere

> i wonder what affects...this has on the populance

> what a weird, sad day

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jsebby t1_j641u7u wrote

Yes. I find it disturbing that that is what you are sitting around waiting to watch.

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SpecialKayla t1_j66rqcu wrote

Just reading about how he screams for his mom had me sobbing. It won't change my view on police so I'm not going to watch a human being beat and pleading for his life.

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Jumpy-Natural4868 t1_j64agnz wrote

The news has been reporting that this tape is extra gruesome. And that's saying something given how many of these we've seen over the past 20 years. So sad. There are going to be lots of protests this weekend all over the country (and perhaps the world) and I don't blame anyone protesting.

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