Violence is Awesome

[sonicmaster1989]

I'm writing a paper for my college professor about the human being's want to watch death and destruction. What is it about watching a gladiator fight for his life that is so appealing? What about horror flicks where a girl is ripped into shreds with all the gory detail? Why do people feel entertained by watching such things? I would like you to tell me what you think it is.

 

[Simich]

Because they have issues...

 

[Aqualung]

..Because we're animals?

Grrr.

 

[EXPLICITasian]

because it gives me an errection

 

[SharPhoe]

Because Gantz was a cool anime?

Is there a right answer to this question?

 

[TaborMallory]

Ask the little kids who play Gears of War just for the chainsaw bayonet.

Someone told me it's just human nature, that they really don't know why they're drawn to that sort of thing.

 

[sonicmaster1989]

There is no right answer for this. I would just like your opinion.

 

[chunkydude84]

This immediately came to mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_(Tool_song)

 

[Cliff_m85]

We all fear our death and are also drawn to it. We want to have that rush of danger flowing through our veins, but we want a safe way to do it. The safest way is to observe someone we care about in the same instance. That's why we care about horror movie heros and heroines, we are living through them at the moment.

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Because violance is cathartic? And some people just have issues *eyes anyone who actually enjoyedthe saw films*.

 

[Hypochrisy]

Id like to say some deep instinct about hunting or some other stuff. But when you mentioned the horror film girl it's usually because people hate the stereotypical wimp from the start of the film.

They let you see things you'd never usually get the chance to see (unless your a psychopath), and that usually intrigues people.

 

[Danzaivar]

Rush of endorphins from seeing someone else die, I'd wager either due to the brain thinking "Someone died and it wasn't me, I need to reward myself for surviving" or "Someone died, I need to be ready in case they try get me next".

Both would make sense from an evolutionary stand-point.

 

[Hallow'sEve]

because it's something that we all want/feel but can't do in real life.

 

[Hyper-space]

for the lulz?

 

[Andalusa]

It's like watching surgery on tv.
Completely gross, don't know why they do it, you don't want to watch, but when it starts... you can't look away. It's just so compelling.

 

[Marble Dragon]

Perhaps it's a sense of internal fear that springs up whenever we watch somebody get torn to pieces. Blood is flying everywhere, and we don't consciously see this as scary. However, some sort of deep instinct reminds us that we should run and hide because our species is being slaughtered. Somewhere inside, we know it's scary, but we still like it for the same reason we like watching scary things. I guess seeing as this is a college assignment, I'm probably too young to "get it." And really, I'm just sort of making wild assumptions. It's still interesting to think about though.

Unrelated: Sonicmaster, that is a hilarious avatar you have...

 

[MasterStratus]

It's because you can't spell slaughter without laughter. It's true, try it.

 

[RebelRising]

It's an escape, an indulgence, if you will. People can expend all their frustrations on imaginations rather than letting it out into the real world. It's the sugar pill of hyper-violent psycho-sadism.

 

[similar.squirrel]

It's because you can't spell slaughter without laughter. It's true, try it.

Lafftur.

It's yet another evolutionary anomaly..
Perhaps it's mixture of 'I could do that' coupled with 'I'm glad that's not being done to me'