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The tens of millions of people who watch stuff like Goodfellas, The Godfather and The Sopranos.

by jedrek 11y ago

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
- blowski 11y ago
  Whenever you see "we" in a title, it doesn't mean the author believes every single member of the human race feels that way. They're just saying "a lot of people feel that way". Many people do sympathise with the mob - my grandmother is very nostalgic about when the Krays dominated London, and talks about it as a time when there no paedophiles or drug users.
  - FilterSweep 11y ago
    > Whenever you see "we" in a title, it doesn't mean the author believes every single member of the human race feels that way. Good comment. Unfortunately however, it's implied in it. Do note that there is a click-baitish aspect to the title - albeit, it's a very well constructed title; it implies that if you click on the link and read the article, you are one of those who admire said criminals. I wouldn't call this a "royal we," but rather a "journalistic we." It annoys me too sometimes.... Its understandable some HN commenters who proverbially "take a step back" in their analysis are left with a bad taste in their mouth.
amelius 11y ago
Exactly. There is too much praise in the media for people who act selfishly.
thomnottom 11y ago
Watching The Godfather does not mean that one admires mobsters any more than watching Downfall means one admires Hitler... Oh crap, I didn't mean to invoke Godwin so quickly. It was just an easy comparison. But seriously, someone else pointed out Walter White in Breaking Bad and, as much as I loved the show I (and the friends I spoke with) had no admiration for him in the end. We admired the storytelling not the actions.
- agumonkey 11y ago
  I disagree. I heard about The Sopranos and watched it a bit after the buzz peaked. I mostly hated it. I can't swallow anything related to mafiosi. Sure, the show had some brilliant ideas from time to time (the premises only were gold), and some brilliant execution (the surreal dreams). But the whole story .. I'm still angry just thinking about it. Yet millions of people watched, and bought the DVDs. Personally that's already far too much love to such a thing. Many people mention Breaking Bad, but it's a completely different situation isn't it ? it's more a 'back against the wall' / idiotic heroism thing. He didn't go there to sustain a lifestyle, he was cornered.
  - icebraining 11y ago
    I didn't follow The Sopranos, but the people I know who loved it, did so exactly because of that contrast, especially by the protagonist. The way he could have some great qualities, and suddenly so something so horrifying; it was a jump from feeling empathy to absolute disgust in a few moments. None of my friends "admired" Tony Soprano, they found it fascinating, in the same way that you might find a venomous spider.
  - thomnottom 11y ago
    I just wanted to point out that plenty of people watch shows and movies that focus on characters they dislike. Personally I only saw snippets of The Sopranos and had no interest in the stories or characters, however I do love the 1st 2 Godfather movies even though I find the characters to be largely horrific. In Breaking Bad, the motivation actually changes quite a bit over the course of the series. My meandering point is just to say that millions of people watching a show or movie does not automatically mean they condone the actions of the main characters or admire them in any way.
  - qbrass 11y ago
    >Many people mention Breaking Bad, but it's a completely different situation isn't it ? it's more a 'back against the wall' / idiotic heroism thing. He didn't go there to sustain a lifestyle, he was cornered. That's why he got started, but he started empire building in season 2.
maccard 11y ago
I see them the same way as I see suits/mad men/House of Cards. They're interesting stories about interesting people.

The tens of millions of people who watch stuff like Goodfellas, The Godfather and The Sopranos.

by jedrek 11y ago

The tens of millions of people who watch stuff like Goodfellas, The Godfather and The Sopranos.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

blowski 11y ago
Whenever you see "we" in a title, it doesn't mean the author believes every single member of the human race feels that way. They're just saying "a lot of people feel that way". Many people do sympathise with the mob - my grandmother is very nostalgic about when the Krays dominated London, and talks about it as a time when there no paedophiles or drug users.
- FilterSweep 11y ago
  > Whenever you see "we" in a title, it doesn't mean the author believes every single member of the human race feels that way. Good comment. Unfortunately however, it's implied in it. Do note that there is a click-baitish aspect to the title - albeit, it's a very well constructed title; it implies that if you click on the link and read the article, you are one of those who admire said criminals. I wouldn't call this a "royal we," but rather a "journalistic we." It annoys me too sometimes.... Its understandable some HN commenters who proverbially "take a step back" in their analysis are left with a bad taste in their mouth.

amelius 11y ago

Exactly. There is too much praise in the media for people who act selfishly.

thomnottom 11y ago

Watching The Godfather does not mean that one admires mobsters any more than watching Downfall means one admires Hitler... Oh crap, I didn't mean to invoke Godwin so quickly. It was just an easy comparison. But seriously, someone else pointed out Walter White in Breaking Bad and, as much as I loved the show I (and the friends I spoke with) had no admiration for him in the end. We admired the storytelling not the actions.

agumonkey 11y ago
I disagree. I heard about The Sopranos and watched it a bit after the buzz peaked. I mostly hated it. I can't swallow anything related to mafiosi. Sure, the show had some brilliant ideas from time to time (the premises only were gold), and some brilliant execution (the surreal dreams). But the whole story .. I'm still angry just thinking about it. Yet millions of people watched, and bought the DVDs. Personally that's already far too much love to such a thing. Many people mention Breaking Bad, but it's a completely different situation isn't it ? it's more a 'back against the wall' / idiotic heroism thing. He didn't go there to sustain a lifestyle, he was cornered.
- icebraining 11y ago
  I didn't follow The Sopranos, but the people I know who loved it, did so exactly because of that contrast, especially by the protagonist. The way he could have some great qualities, and suddenly so something so horrifying; it was a jump from feeling empathy to absolute disgust in a few moments. None of my friends "admired" Tony Soprano, they found it fascinating, in the same way that you might find a venomous spider.
- thomnottom 11y ago
  I just wanted to point out that plenty of people watch shows and movies that focus on characters they dislike. Personally I only saw snippets of The Sopranos and had no interest in the stories or characters, however I do love the 1st 2 Godfather movies even though I find the characters to be largely horrific. In Breaking Bad, the motivation actually changes quite a bit over the course of the series. My meandering point is just to say that millions of people watching a show or movie does not automatically mean they condone the actions of the main characters or admire them in any way.
- qbrass 11y ago
  >Many people mention Breaking Bad, but it's a completely different situation isn't it ? it's more a 'back against the wall' / idiotic heroism thing. He didn't go there to sustain a lifestyle, he was cornered. That's why he got started, but he started empire building in season 2.

maccard 11y ago

I see them the same way as I see suits/mad men/House of Cards. They're interesting stories about interesting people.