Originally Posted by Shannow
This has been playing on my mind lately.
All my life, there have been schoolyard brawls, fist fights outside pubs and the like, but something's changed in the not so long past.
Rather than a display of physical dominance, the desire to absolutely destroy the opponent...more specifically head stomping.
A week ago, a little kid, 4 days into highschool was set upon by another kid, 16 years old.
He quickly hit the ground, and then the head stomping started...end result all teeth lost, broken nose, fractured eye socket, and suspected brain damage...life changed forever even if the physical heals. The kids in the playground (mine included) are still reeling at the violence and the sight of it.
Another guy outside a pub 3 months ago, the fight should have been over, but the head stomping started. Three years ago, a neighbour's nephew walking down a road, a guy crossed to intercept him, robbed him, then head stomped him into an electric wheelchair.
It's an issue that I'm really struggling with is what has happened where people feel the need to
The answer is: Death Culture
Look around and you will see that people's opinions are stronger than ever, and even many rational people believe that death and elimination is the answer to many of the world's problems.
I think a lot of it comes from the struggle to be validated. Look at most acts of mass murder. Motives are almost always recognition and respect. If you're a threat, you'll be taken seriously.
Our nation in particular has been extraordinarily changed by 9/11.
Desensitization is a major factor, but I'm not of the opinion that it comes from games and such. It comes from a lack of violent experiences. Most of my family fought in truly violent war and all of none of them desired to be involved in a fight or cause another human being harm.
I grew up on Rated-R movies, guns, violent video games, violent music, etc. I should be a poster child for violence. I'm not. Sadly, I have witnessed real-world violence and it's after-effects and want nothing to do with it. I lived through NYC in the 80s. Despite living in quite a good part of the City, I was 5 when I witnessed a man pull a firearm of my mother, 7 when I first saw a dead human body, and as I grew I saw a few instances where people were nearly beaten to death.
The desensitization is not a matter of supply. It's a lack of context. I myself have been forced to defend myself, but I have no "pride" or anything over that. It's just really sad.