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.

I'm not sure what you're saying here?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.