I rail against people rubbernecking at accidents all the time, well not ALL the time, but often enough that I probably become more tedious than I already am, but a co-worker and I were talking about gruesome accidents today during lunch (this is the kind of shit we talk about) and he argued with me a bit that it was completely natural to want to look at stuff like that.
His point was that ALL animals, given a chance, will check out a corpse... and not only check it out, check it out at length. besides that, he thinks thats its not so much gruesome or ghoulish for someone to do that, but life affirming or a celebration of life. Sort of a "There, but for the grace of chance, go I."
He thinks this is also why gory horror movies are important culturally.
I'm torn. I can sort of see his point, but at the same time if I was beheaded publicly by a falling sheet of aluminum, I really wouldn't want people gawking at it... but then again, I will be dead, so who cares?
Thoughts? Opinions?
I think it just IS. It's totally annoying on the highway or something, and hurtful if you're the one IN the accident, but I think it's totally natural as a human condition. We seek out the gore, the ugly and the bizarre. The safety of the distance between this gore and ourselves makes it more attractive, even. There are those that are sickened and so don't seek the thrill of that sort of exposure to death, destruction and "the other" that is our flesh and seeing it all discombobulated, but those people are, to me, more fearful than your average bear.
I've been in traffic jams for over an hour caused by people slowing to see what's happening on the other side of the highway. That is not fucking okay.
Otherwise it's perfectly natural and okay to rubberneck, if you aren't making it worse by doing so. If the person involved is worrying about other people looking on, they're lucky to not have been involved in something that would otherwise completely capture their intention.
after I've been waiting in traffic for 20+ minutes because of people looking at an accident, I feel like I earned a glance too.
Quote from: Hoopla on November 18, 2010, 09:44:41 PM
I rail against people rubbernecking at accidents all the time, well not ALL the time, but often enough that I probably become more tedious than I already am, but a co-worker and I were talking about gruesome accidents today during lunch (this is the kind of shit we talk about) and he argued with me a bit that it was completely natural to want to look at stuff like that.
His point was that ALL animals, given a chance, will check out a corpse... and not only check it out, check it out at length. besides that, he thinks thats its not so much gruesome or ghoulish for someone to do that, but life affirming or a celebration of life. Sort of a "There, but for the grace of chance, go I."
He thinks this is also why gory horror movies are important culturally.
I'm torn. I can sort of see his point, but at the same time if I was beheaded publicly by a falling sheet of aluminum, I really wouldn't want people gawking at it... but then again, I will be dead, so who cares?
Thoughts? Opinions?
This is a big difference I have. If I were beheaded publicly by a falling sheet of aluminum, I'd want there to be as much gore and splatter as possible. I would want gawkers getting sick to the mess and unable to describe which piece of me was strewn on their stupid fucking outfits. And I'd want one little kid to just stand there and go "THAT WAS AWESOME."
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on November 18, 2010, 10:12:14 PM
Quote from: Hoopla on November 18, 2010, 09:44:41 PM
I rail against people rubbernecking at accidents all the time, well not ALL the time, but often enough that I probably become more tedious than I already am, but a co-worker and I were talking about gruesome accidents today during lunch (this is the kind of shit we talk about) and he argued with me a bit that it was completely natural to want to look at stuff like that.
His point was that ALL animals, given a chance, will check out a corpse... and not only check it out, check it out at length. besides that, he thinks thats its not so much gruesome or ghoulish for someone to do that, but life affirming or a celebration of life. Sort of a "There, but for the grace of chance, go I."
He thinks this is also why gory horror movies are important culturally.
I'm torn. I can sort of see his point, but at the same time if I was beheaded publicly by a falling sheet of aluminum, I really wouldn't want people gawking at it... but then again, I will be dead, so who cares?
Thoughts? Opinions?
This is a big difference I have. If I were beheaded publicly by a falling sheet of aluminum, I'd want there to be as much gore and splatter as possible. I would want gawkers getting sick to the mess and unable to describe which piece of me was strewn on their stupid fucking outfits. And I'd want one little kid to just stand there and go "THAT WAS AWESOME."
I feel similarly. I have said before that if I must die, let it be on prime time television.
I can't rubberneck. I drive by with my gaze fixed straight ahead, praying that I will not accidentally see something horrible out of the corner of my eye.
Though i would be very interested to see all the gore and stuff i refuse to be an annoyance to those actually trying to help in that situation.
So i get the fuck out of the situation.
It's the least you can do. The las time i was in such a situation i had to drag some younger friends away because they wanted to see the fight.
I hope my speech about either helping or getting out of the way of those helping got through to them.
I have to admit, I'm a gawker. My first husband used to threaten to pull over so I could get a closer look.
I agree that it's natural. Like kids and scabs. EWWW now but I remember.
I'm so damned anal that I'm early enough that losing some time doesn't really stress me. So I don't have the added stress of wanting to be somewhere and time is essential.
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
It might say something to your own outlook that your assumption is that it's an enjoyment of suffering and not a hope or relief that there isn't any.
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on November 19, 2010, 01:55:51 AM
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
It might say something to your own outlook that your assumption is that it's an enjoyment of suffering and not a hope or relief that there isn't any.
It might. If I hadn't read the previous replies to this thread about seeking out the gore, or known far too many people in my time who actually like knowing someone had a worse day than they did to make themselves feel better or give them perspective, then I might even say it was an unreasonable outlook.
I think we should encouraging rubber necking AS LONG as its not getting in the way, fucking bystander effect, someone could have their life saved by a rubber necker, as long as they're not *just* rubbernecking and actually trying to *do something*.
And I don't mean taking pictures so they can tweet about it.
I think part of that might be the impulse behind rubbernecking, honestly. Some shit goes down on my street, people all run outside. I know for absolute fact that if someone needed help my neighbors would be on it.
This is funny cuz I ALWAYS look if something pops off I just can't help myself LOL I'm sure alot of people are the same way.
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
I think it's a little bizarre that you assume that's the motivation for this sort of phenomenon.
Quote from: Cramulus on November 18, 2010, 09:57:29 PM
after I've been waiting in traffic for 20+ minutes because of people looking at an accident, I feel like I earned a glance too.
this right mhea....
i try to glance, and go on though.
It's not uncommon on the motorway, to see an accident on the eastbound carriageway, and another one, on the westbound, where people have rubbernecked as they passed, and ploughed straight up the arse of the car in front, who had slowed down to get a better look.
I come from a very small town. Rubbernecking is the only kind of entertainment some people got. Hell, I knew several people who had police scanners just so they can go chasing after ambulances and firetrucks. Sick bastards.
Quote from: Iason Ouabache on November 22, 2010, 06:11:57 AM
I come from a very small town. Rubbernecking is the only kind of entertainment some people got. Hell, I knew several people who had police scanners just so they can go chasing after ambulances and firetrucks. Sick bastards.
Yeah, we get them too. We call them "Police".
Quote from: Risus on November 22, 2010, 01:22:27 AM
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
I think it's a little bizarre that you assume that's the motivation for this sort of phenomenon.
might want to read through this thread.
I'm not talking about the first responders, the people who genuinely want to know if they can be of any assistance. I'm talking the ones helping to create a mile long traffic jam, long after it's obvious that all the help that can be offered has been offered.
I generally try and give people the benefit of the doubt, but come on.. I seem to recall a thread here recently about people more interested in Tweeting that The Science Guy fell on his ass than actually rushing to help him.
It's wrong when I'm trying to get home to eat suppah!
If I see a dead body around, my thought process is going to be something like: I want to know why it's dead, mostly so I don't end up the same way.
Animals that displayed a curious disinterest in why other animals around them were dying probably didn't manage to pass that genetic quirk onto their descendents, in most cases.
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 22, 2010, 12:24:51 PM
Quote from: Risus on November 22, 2010, 01:22:27 AM
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
I think it's a little bizarre that you assume that's the motivation for this sort of phenomenon.
might want to read through this thread.
I'm not talking about the first responders, the people who genuinely want to know if they can be of any assistance. I'm talking the ones helping to create a mile long traffic jam, long after it's obvious that all the help that can be offered has been offered.
I generally try and give people the benefit of the doubt, but come on.. I seem to recall a thread here recently about people more interested in Tweeting that The Science Guy fell on his ass than actually rushing to help him.
Maybe
you should go back and read
that thread.
But maybe you're right and the real reason traffic slows down is because everyone is wondering if they have time to turn back home and break out their snuff films.
Quote from: Subetai on November 22, 2010, 02:02:20 PM
If I see a dead body around, my thought process is going to be something like: I want to know why it's dead, mostly so I don't end up the same way.
Animals that displayed a curious disinterest in why other animals around them were dying probably didn't manage to pass that genetic quirk onto their descendents, in most cases.
This makes more sense.
Quote from: Risus on November 22, 2010, 03:39:29 PM
Maybe you should go back and read that thread.
But maybe you're right and the real reason traffic slows down is because everyone is wondering if they have time to turn back home and break out their snuff films.
wow that's.. not what I said at all.
Cain you make a good point that I hadn't previously considered but makes perfect sense hearing it. I have myself, upon seeing the aftermath of what was obviously a high speed accident, made a mental note to remember that next time I feel compelled to speed.
I have no patience in traffic and care not about what happened.
Now if I witness it happen (over and over with this shit) I jump out and make sure everybody's ok and call for police and/or medical.
Jesus. For as much as I hate people, I have no problem helping the filthy fucks. What's wrong with me??
tangent, might be interesting to some:
http://trafficwaves.org/
this website talks about what causes traffic, and how to actually clear up traffic by driving in certain ways.
(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite3.gif)(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite3.gif)
(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite2.gif)(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite2.gif)
(http://trafficwaves.org/wtlite1.gif)(http://trafficwaves.org/wtlite1.gif)
(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite2.gif)(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite2.gif)
(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite3.gif)(http://trafficwaves.org/twlite3.gif)
Quote from: Dane$$a on November 21, 2010, 11:17:57 PM
This is funny cuz I ALWAYS look if something pops off I just can't help myself LOL I'm sure alot of people are the same way.
Tell Enrico more about things pop off?
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 02:07:04 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on November 19, 2010, 01:55:51 AM
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
It might say something to your own outlook that your assumption is that it's an enjoyment of suffering and not a hope or relief that there isn't any.
It might. If I hadn't read the previous replies to this thread about seeking out the gore, or known far too many people in my time who actually like knowing someone had a worse day than they did to make themselves feel better or give them perspective, then I might even say it was an unreasonable outlook.
Seeking out gore has many uses--Cain pretty much hit on the preservationist side. Babies are the ultimate gawkers. They watch EVERYTHING and pay attention to the slightest, most benign of details, both awful and unawful. Why? Because that's how they LEARN.
The human tendency to overcome fear of the unknown and seek knowledge has to have titillation in it--otherwise we wouldn't do it. The visceral reaction of seeing torn flesh and wreckage as we hurtle down the same road that others in their 3-ton vehicles had found their final end on is something that a lot of people keep in their minds at all times. Overcoming that reaction of fear and abhorrance is necessary to a large degree to 1) rescue them if you're in the rescue business and 2) treat them when they arrive at the hospital if you are in THAT end of the show.
I think pretending you're of a "higher mind" and above it all is disingenuous, though I understand being pissed off at traffic.
Quote from: Jenne on November 22, 2010, 09:41:24 PM
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 02:07:04 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on November 19, 2010, 01:55:51 AM
Quote from: The Dancing Pickle on November 19, 2010, 01:51:09 AM
annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.
It might say something to your own outlook that your assumption is that it's an enjoyment of suffering and not a hope or relief that there isn't any.
It might. If I hadn't read the previous replies to this thread about seeking out the gore, or known far too many people in my time who actually like knowing someone had a worse day than they did to make themselves feel better or give them perspective, then I might even say it was an unreasonable outlook.
Seeking out gore has many uses--Cain pretty much hit on the preservationist side. Babies are the ultimate gawkers. They watch EVERYTHING and pay attention to the slightest, most benign of details, both awful and unawful. Why? Because that's how they LEARN.
The human tendency to overcome fear of the unknown and seek knowledge has to have titillation in it--otherwise we wouldn't do it. The visceral reaction of seeing torn flesh and wreckage as we hurtle down the same road that others in their 3-ton vehicles had found their final end on is something that a lot of people keep in their minds at all times. Overcoming that reaction of fear and abhorrance is necessary to a large degree to 1) rescue them if you're in the rescue business and 2) treat them when they arrive at the hospital if you are in THAT end of the show.
I think pretending you're of a "higher mind" and above it all is disingenuous, though I understand being pissed off at traffic.
that's fair. I've done it, and been secretly glad it wasn't me. I'm not above slowing, I do attempt to find away around them whenever possible though.
so I gave this some thought while I was crawling down the interstate home from work.
the OP concerns rubbernecking in traffic but really, rubbernecking can apply outside of a vehicle. You see this phenomenon on neighborhood streets when blue lights go flashing down an otherwise quiet street, or when someone is getting the cuffs put on them but there's no ambulance or evidence of another person harmed.
I only have experience with two countries news papers, but in the states you don't see violent pictures in news papers, just segments describing what happened if it's known at the time.
In Mexico however, violent color pictures showing bad accidents and especially violent shootouts between police and drug gangs make front page news. When I discussed this with a friend down there, he said it is supposed to act as a kind of deterrent to the population: slow down in your car, don't deal drugs and don't shoot at police. But then there was one instance I remember in particular of an apparent murder aboard a Yacht that was found anchored between Cancun and Isla Mujeres. There was a picture of the woman, dead in the bed, blood all over. I say suicide but If I remember correctly they were investigating it as a homicide.
Would this be valid along the same lines? I'm not sure I agree with the idea of showing blood splattered carcases in newspapers, but it follows along with what Cain was saying: You see it and how it happened, so you maybe remember to think twice before doing the sorts of things to cause that end.
I'm still kicking this around and may have more later. There's dinner to be cooked.
Quote from: Cramulus on November 22, 2010, 07:24:53 PM
tangent, might be interesting to some:
http://trafficwaves.org/
this website talks about what causes traffic, and how to actually clear up traffic by driving in certain ways.
Yeah. Emergence. If there's a lot of traffic, even just a slight instinctive slowing down when seeing a traffic accident (or anything, really) in the opposite lane, can cause a traffic jam 20 minutes later. Usually a bit earlier up the road, not next to the accident. For some reason the traffic density waves move backwards in the direction of traffic.
The simplest trick to clear traffic is to drive at the most constant speed possible, even if it means occasionally leaving a huge gap in front of you. Cruise control helps. I wonder if that site offers more advanced tips, though.
Ok, so what about gory horror movies? Life affirming?
Quote from: Hoopla on November 23, 2010, 03:57:34 AM
Ok, so what about gory horror movies? Life affirming?
I only watch gory horror films to make sure they are all right, call emergency if necessary and to make sure I don't end up as one.
Quote from: Triple Zero on November 23, 2010, 03:33:37 PM
I only watch gory horror films to make sure they are all right, call emergency if necessary and to make sure I don't end up as one.
WINNER. Thread over.
Quote from: Triple Zero on November 23, 2010, 03:33:37 PM
I only watch gory horror films to make sure they are all right, call emergency if necessary and to make sure I don't end up as one.
:lulz:
A HA HA HA HA!
:lol: :lol: :lol: