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Incredible bit of analysis and presentation. It's hard to watch this sort of footage for me now. Once upon a time when I was younger I could handle it, but wit

by aidos 8y ago

Incredible bit of analysis and presentation. It's hard to watch this sort of footage for me now. Once upon a time when I was younger I could handle it, but with young children the same sort of age it really tears me apart. Though, I think people should be forced to confront it, because it's the only way it's ever going to improve.

abalone 8y ago
Totally. In terms of handling it, there was a French horror film "Inside" which is very good but involves attacking a pregnant woman. After having kids I found I just couldn't stomach it, which was a change. Same for Sicario's child murder scene which I found just terribly lazy and desperate to be "edgy" and all these rave reviews just pissed me off. Having kids definitely over sensitized me.. in a good way.
- duxup 8y ago
  There was a Frontline show about life in North Korea, they follow some folks who sneak into North Korea and try to distribute food / money to the poor. One child about 5 or 6 they meet says his mom had to go to the next town to work and had to leave him ... she never came back. The little boy tells the story as directly as a 5 year old would tell it, he is homeless with no family fending for himself in the streets. At the time my oldest was 5.... I can't get that child's voice and image out of my head.
- davedx 8y ago
  Game of Thrones too. My wife can't watch it, and despite reading the books, I find the constant over-the-top ultraviolence pretty unwatchable too. When I was younger I would have loved it.
- MisterOctober 8y ago
  Yep -- same with 'Macbeth' for me [the Macduff castle scene] -- especially the recent Stewart version
davedx 8y ago
> Though, I think people should be forced to confront it, because it's the only way it's ever going to improve. I'm conflicted about this. On one hand I agree, and the news performs a vital service in exposing us to the terrible things in our world that we should try to fix. But on the other, too much news can numb and demoralize you. The US political news cycle is a good example of this too. I can only stand so much of it before having to tune out for a while, even though I want to engage to the extent that I am able. More important than watching the news is choosing a good couple of charities to donate to, IMO.
ascorbic 8y ago
Yes, this is one of the things that most surprised me about having kids. I know it sounds trite and insufferable to say "I didn't understand until I had children", but I have totally lost the ability to deal with seeing anything involving harm to children. It really came home to me a few years ago when I was watching the news and literally burst into tears when this image came on[1]. I'd never had anything like that happen before, and I was really shocked at my reaction. Even now, searching for that link, I found it hard to keep it together. I saw the BBC thread when it was first posted, and it's an incredible piece of reporting, but I was very careful to not watch the video. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Alan_Kurdi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Alan_Kurdi
- arethuza 8y ago
  Don't worry, it's not just you - I also react very strongly to images or descriptions like that. Pretty sure this only started when I had kids of my own.
dmichulke 8y ago
> but with young children the same sort of age Same for me, just one thing: > Though, I think people should be forced to confront it, because it's the only way it's ever going to improve. Assuming you can't force anyone to feel empathy, you'd be punishing (and demoralizing) the emphatic and annoying (at best) those that don't care. Be careful what you want to force on others.
- aidos 8y ago
  Indeed. I meant that in a less literal sense. Was thinking more about it for myself - these innocent kids were mercilessly killed, and I should at least take the time to acknowledge their suffering, even if it’s uncomfortable for me.
opwieurposiu 8y ago
My brother died a rather pointless death at age 22. The buddha teaches us that all things are temporary. Stoicism teaches us not to worry about things we have no control over. If you can grok these two concepts then you will be well armored against the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. https://aeon.co/essays/do-not-weep-for-your-dead-how-to-mourn-as-the-stoics-did https://aeon.co/essays/do-not-weep-for-your-dead-how-to-mour...

by aidos 8y ago

abalone 8y ago

Totally. In terms of handling it, there was a French horror film "Inside" which is very good but involves attacking a pregnant woman. After having kids I found I just couldn't stomach it, which was a change. Same for Sicario's child murder scene which I found just terribly lazy and desperate to be "edgy" and all these rave reviews just pissed me off. Having kids definitely over sensitized me.. in a good way.

duxup 8y ago
There was a Frontline show about life in North Korea, they follow some folks who sneak into North Korea and try to distribute food / money to the poor. One child about 5 or 6 they meet says his mom had to go to the next town to work and had to leave him ... she never came back. The little boy tells the story as directly as a 5 year old would tell it, he is homeless with no family fending for himself in the streets. At the time my oldest was 5.... I can't get that child's voice and image out of my head.
davedx 8y ago
Game of Thrones too. My wife can't watch it, and despite reading the books, I find the constant over-the-top ultraviolence pretty unwatchable too. When I was younger I would have loved it.
MisterOctober 8y ago
Yep -- same with 'Macbeth' for me [the Macduff castle scene] -- especially the recent Stewart version

davedx 8y ago

> Though, I think people should be forced to confront it, because it's the only way it's ever going to improve. I'm conflicted about this. On one hand I agree, and the news performs a vital service in exposing us to the terrible things in our world that we should try to fix. But on the other, too much news can numb and demoralize you. The US political news cycle is a good example of this too. I can only stand so much of it before having to tune out for a while, even though I want to engage to the extent that I am able. More important than watching the news is choosing a good couple of charities to donate to, IMO.

ascorbic 8y ago

Yes, this is one of the things that most surprised me about having kids. I know it sounds trite and insufferable to say "I didn't understand until I had children", but I have totally lost the ability to deal with seeing anything involving harm to children. It really came home to me a few years ago when I was watching the news and literally burst into tears when this image came on[1]. I'd never had anything like that happen before, and I was really shocked at my reaction. Even now, searching for that link, I found it hard to keep it together. I saw the BBC thread when it was first posted, and it's an incredible piece of reporting, but I was very careful to not watch the video. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Alan_Kurdi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Alan_Kurdi

arethuza 8y ago
Don't worry, it's not just you - I also react very strongly to images or descriptions like that. Pretty sure this only started when I had kids of my own.

dmichulke 8y ago

> but with young children the same sort of age Same for me, just one thing: > Though, I think people should be forced to confront it, because it's the only way it's ever going to improve. Assuming you can't force anyone to feel empathy, you'd be punishing (and demoralizing) the emphatic and annoying (at best) those that don't care. Be careful what you want to force on others.

aidos 8y ago
Indeed. I meant that in a less literal sense. Was thinking more about it for myself - these innocent kids were mercilessly killed, and I should at least take the time to acknowledge their suffering, even if it’s uncomfortable for me.

opwieurposiu 8y ago

My brother died a rather pointless death at age 22. The buddha teaches us that all things are temporary. Stoicism teaches us not to worry about things we have no control over. If you can grok these two concepts then you will be well armored against the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. https://aeon.co/essays/do-not-weep-for-your-dead-how-to-mourn-as-the-stoics-did https://aeon.co/essays/do-not-weep-for-your-dead-how-to-mour...