Is my beheading video reaction bad?

Question

Ok, so my dad emailed me yesterday and was beside himself because he saw the beheading videos. He totally regretted and said he felt sick.

I decided to have a look. They were bad. But... Since this is the internet, and anonymous, I'll be honest. I wasn't severely angry, sick, sad, vengeful, or surprised. Please note: I did not get any pleasure out of watching it. But I regret that I might be so desensitized by movies, video games, the internet, and daily news, that this stuff doesn't have a more potent effect on me. Does anyone else feel this way? Is it possible that people report having the severe reactions because they feel that's the most humane or politically/religiously correct reaction to report having?

Think about what doctors deal with everyday in the ER. Think about paramedics and firemen. Think about what our soldiers have to look down and see on their OWN BODIES after they've been bombed. People are exposed to this kind of gore all the time. Maybe people should consider the gore of war before they enlist because they want to be the next hero.

Is it better to deny these kinds of things, or to acknowledge that they exist? I watch the videos and I see stupid people doing stupid things - nothing new. I'm sorry that I'm not more reactive. I'm more annoyed by the people who reciprocate with equally hateful, gruesome, and barbaric comments about what they'd do to those guys if they had the chance. I prefer to view it more objectively and less emotionally.

Answer 1

Everyone reacts to these type of things differently. Personally I think it is sad that we have become so desensitized by what we see on TV,movies and video games that when we see something that is real,that happened to a living human being,it doesn't affect us.

I'm in the medical profession. I've helped at accidents where someone was decapitated,worked in the ER when someone blew their head off and seen more than I care to remember. At that moment,you have to separate yourself from the situation or else you would be of no use to get the job done. After that,when you get home,you cry. It is something you never get used to.

I've seen the Nick Berg video. It affected me alot. I guess I put myself in his family's place. Knowing that your son was murdered in such a horrific way and then realizing millions of people are watching your child be murdered.

Your reaction to these videos is not bad. Probably more common than you might think.  

Answer 2

Wow, I totally agree with the desensitized theory. I also feel the same way, I watched this sick video about gore (no i did not get any pleasure out of it either) and didn't really react to it as I used to (I used to almost vomit). I think it is because I have been so desensitized by movies, video games, and the internet, so I want you to know that you aren't alone on that issue. I think that it isn't wrong that we don't have such a 'whoa' response to those kinds of gore, because we have gotten used to it and it is almost everywhere.