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straightloco44 t1_j63rsjz wrote

Reply to comment by dmcd0415 in Men gathered around sign reading “Police.. We need your protection... not your harassment, Garfield Teen Organization,” on Columbo Avenue, Garfield: April, 1968: photograph by charles "teenie" Harris. by Yinzerman1992

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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