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When I was young, probably 12 or 13 I think, I saw a series of images of a spider bite on a mans thumb causing the thumb to swell, split open, go necrotic, and

by Crito 13y ago

When I was young, probably 12 or 13 I think, I saw a series of images of a spider bite on a mans thumb causing the thumb to swell, split open, go necrotic, and eventually require amputation. Did this damage me? No, I'm fine. I gagged when I saw the images, then I scrolled down and looked at some more. Lasting effects? Well today as an adult, I smash spiders when I see them. Not a big deal.

archagon 13y ago
I disagree. I saw a ton of stuff I never should have seen at that age. It didn't scar me for life, but it's desensitized me to a lot of terrible things. Unless you're a doctor, I just don't think it's healthy to look at NSFL gore, go "meh", and move on to something else. I also occasionally have those images flash in my head. I don't want them there, but there's nothing I can do about that now. (Granted, the same thing would have happened if I first saw them in my 20s, but at least I would have known what not to click.)
- Crito 13y ago
  I don't think that desensitization is an inherently bad thing. There are any number of things that people become desensitized to as they grow up. In this modern society, there are many adults who have never so much as seen a dead body (having never even gone to wakes). In previous generations, and in different societies, seeing dead bodies is common place and does not have the same power to disturb. Does it harm a child to desensitize them to the sight of a dead human body? I don't think so. Does it help? Probably. It opens them up to being able to experience a wider range things, even if it is just going to somebodies wake, being able to watch that optional-attendance autopsy video in highschool, or consider becoming a doctor. Further, in particularly prudish societies people may not be desensitized to exposed human flesh. Is an Amish child going to be damaged by the sight of a bare ankle? Is an American child going to be damaged by the sight of a finnish sauna? I sincerely doubt it. On the other hand, which is going to have a more difficult time wearing speedos when they join the swim team? Many humans in industrialized societies are unaccustomed to the sight of an animal being slaughtered and butchered. Are children that grow up in farming communities where they are desensitized to this somehow at a disadvantage when compared to children who grow up in urban communities and only know meat as "that stuff that comes from the store"?
  - archagon 13y ago
    Surely you would agree that there are limits, socially determined or otherwise? Would you be OK with your child seeing a motorcyclist's head blown off? A man's distended anus? There are no limits on the internet. I saw all these things because I didn't know any better, or because I was morbidly curious. It didn't ruin me or give me PTSD or anything, but it definitely shaped my personality. I regret it now, in my mid-twenties.
    - dkuntz2 13y ago
      I think the crux is that you were "morbidly curious". Being denied access through one medium isn't going to deter someone curious enough. Sure the internet is a HUGE medium, and it's a lot easier to get access to that material using the internet, but that content's been around for almost as long as we've had photography. Why exactly do you regret it?
      - archagon 13y ago
        I was morbidly curious to the extent that if somebody put a nasty link in front of me, I would have followed it. But I didn't actively seek those things out. To some extent, it was a test of macho-ness: can I handle this gore? What about this birth defect? I think a lot of kids are like that. I regret it because I feel it's shaped my personality, lessened my sense of empathy, and put a bunch of disgusting images in my head that I'll never be able to get rid of.
        judk 13y ago
        Why don't you feel.empathy for the people whose suffering you saw?
    - Crito 13y ago
      I'd draw the line at where PTSD is actually induced. IE, actual damage. Replace "motorcyclist missing a head" with "photos of Hiroshima or liberated nazi death camps" and I don't think anybody would think it particularly strange that disturbing images are available to view. Yeah, there is historic significance behind those examples, but that doesn't really come into play when considering the effects of disturbing images on people, does it?
- archagon 13y ago
  PS, I don't care what you believe, but please don't downvote just because you disagree with something. It's passive-aggressive and it ruins communities. Use your words. (This was in response to my comment getting downvotes.)
  - rimantas 13y ago
    Does the same apply to upvotes? If not, why?
    - archagon 13y ago
      Perhaps, but I think the bigger issue is that downvotes can make your comment illegible. If you spend any time on Reddit, you'll know that the vote system pushes down any comments that go against the grain and reinforces the echo chamber effect. Upvotes can do that too, but to a lesser extent. Personally, I much prefer linear discussions with hidden favorites, like Metafilter.
- phazmatis 13y ago
  Why do you think it's unhealthy?
  - archagon 13y ago
    I've noticed myself showing a lack of empathy when horrible things happen to people who aren't close to me. This is especially the case with photos of war or famine. I really feel like I should have a visceral reaction, but I've just seen it all before. As I said, I also sometimes see these images in my head. I don't want to have anything to do with them, but now they're impossible to get rid of.
    - phazmatis 13y ago
      I would be careful not to confuse having a reaction with having empathy. If nothing you do can stop that war or famine, then an emotional reaction serves no one. Is it healthier? That's subjective.
- LinXitoW 13y ago
  I've personally observed a big difference between my reaction to pictures/videos vs. the real thing. When my dads bone peeked out of his arm after breaking it i almost vomited, but gore doesnt phase me. Normal porn doesnt do much for me, but in real life, even just my clothed girlfirend can have me standing at attention.
einhverfr 13y ago
Some of it is context though. Kids have curiosity, and often an ability to look at things and process them in ways that we adults have lost. My son came to me when he was 8 and asked me what gangrene was, so the first thing we did was a Google image search. We talked about it, what it was, etc. All too often we focus on content more than context but context is extremely important. Kids look to adults on how to react. A frightened parental figure is far more scary to a child than any image the child could ever see is.
judk 13y ago
Well it seems to have stifled your compasssion for lower life forms, most of which are harmless.
- Crito 13y ago
  Listen, I'm not an outdoorsy person, so if I see a spider then chances are that spider is intruding on human space. Other things I don't allow in my home: ants, stray cats, earthworms, seagulls, termites, bears,... I operate with a whitelist when it comes to animals in my home.

by Crito 13y ago

archagon 13y ago

I disagree. I saw a ton of stuff I never should have seen at that age. It didn't scar me for life, but it's desensitized me to a lot of terrible things. Unless you're a doctor, I just don't think it's healthy to look at NSFL gore, go "meh", and move on to something else. I also occasionally have those images flash in my head. I don't want them there, but there's nothing I can do about that now. (Granted, the same thing would have happened if I first saw them in my 20s, but at least I would have known what not to click.)

Crito 13y ago
I don't think that desensitization is an inherently bad thing. There are any number of things that people become desensitized to as they grow up. In this modern society, there are many adults who have never so much as seen a dead body (having never even gone to wakes). In previous generations, and in different societies, seeing dead bodies is common place and does not have the same power to disturb. Does it harm a child to desensitize them to the sight of a dead human body? I don't think so. Does it help? Probably. It opens them up to being able to experience a wider range things, even if it is just going to somebodies wake, being able to watch that optional-attendance autopsy video in highschool, or consider becoming a doctor. Further, in particularly prudish societies people may not be desensitized to exposed human flesh. Is an Amish child going to be damaged by the sight of a bare ankle? Is an American child going to be damaged by the sight of a finnish sauna? I sincerely doubt it. On the other hand, which is going to have a more difficult time wearing speedos when they join the swim team? Many humans in industrialized societies are unaccustomed to the sight of an animal being slaughtered and butchered. Are children that grow up in farming communities where they are desensitized to this somehow at a disadvantage when compared to children who grow up in urban communities and only know meat as "that stuff that comes from the store"?
- archagon 13y ago
  Surely you would agree that there are limits, socially determined or otherwise? Would you be OK with your child seeing a motorcyclist's head blown off? A man's distended anus? There are no limits on the internet. I saw all these things because I didn't know any better, or because I was morbidly curious. It didn't ruin me or give me PTSD or anything, but it definitely shaped my personality. I regret it now, in my mid-twenties.
  - dkuntz2 13y ago
    I think the crux is that you were "morbidly curious". Being denied access through one medium isn't going to deter someone curious enough. Sure the internet is a HUGE medium, and it's a lot easier to get access to that material using the internet, but that content's been around for almost as long as we've had photography. Why exactly do you regret it?
    - archagon 13y ago
      I was morbidly curious to the extent that if somebody put a nasty link in front of me, I would have followed it. But I didn't actively seek those things out. To some extent, it was a test of macho-ness: can I handle this gore? What about this birth defect? I think a lot of kids are like that. I regret it because I feel it's shaped my personality, lessened my sense of empathy, and put a bunch of disgusting images in my head that I'll never be able to get rid of.
      - judk 13y ago
        Why don't you feel.empathy for the people whose suffering you saw?
  - Crito 13y ago
    I'd draw the line at where PTSD is actually induced. IE, actual damage. Replace "motorcyclist missing a head" with "photos of Hiroshima or liberated nazi death camps" and I don't think anybody would think it particularly strange that disturbing images are available to view. Yeah, there is historic significance behind those examples, but that doesn't really come into play when considering the effects of disturbing images on people, does it?
archagon 13y ago
PS, I don't care what you believe, but please don't downvote just because you disagree with something. It's passive-aggressive and it ruins communities. Use your words. (This was in response to my comment getting downvotes.)
- rimantas 13y ago
  Does the same apply to upvotes? If not, why?
  - archagon 13y ago
    Perhaps, but I think the bigger issue is that downvotes can make your comment illegible. If you spend any time on Reddit, you'll know that the vote system pushes down any comments that go against the grain and reinforces the echo chamber effect. Upvotes can do that too, but to a lesser extent. Personally, I much prefer linear discussions with hidden favorites, like Metafilter.
phazmatis 13y ago
Why do you think it's unhealthy?
- archagon 13y ago
  I've noticed myself showing a lack of empathy when horrible things happen to people who aren't close to me. This is especially the case with photos of war or famine. I really feel like I should have a visceral reaction, but I've just seen it all before. As I said, I also sometimes see these images in my head. I don't want to have anything to do with them, but now they're impossible to get rid of.
  - phazmatis 13y ago
    I would be careful not to confuse having a reaction with having empathy. If nothing you do can stop that war or famine, then an emotional reaction serves no one. Is it healthier? That's subjective.
LinXitoW 13y ago
I've personally observed a big difference between my reaction to pictures/videos vs. the real thing. When my dads bone peeked out of his arm after breaking it i almost vomited, but gore doesnt phase me. Normal porn doesnt do much for me, but in real life, even just my clothed girlfirend can have me standing at attention.

einhverfr 13y ago

Some of it is context though. Kids have curiosity, and often an ability to look at things and process them in ways that we adults have lost. My son came to me when he was 8 and asked me what gangrene was, so the first thing we did was a Google image search. We talked about it, what it was, etc. All too often we focus on content more than context but context is extremely important. Kids look to adults on how to react. A frightened parental figure is far more scary to a child than any image the child could ever see is.

judk 13y ago

Well it seems to have stifled your compasssion for lower life forms, most of which are harmless.

Crito 13y ago
Listen, I'm not an outdoorsy person, so if I see a spider then chances are that spider is intruding on human space. Other things I don't allow in my home: ants, stray cats, earthworms, seagulls, termites, bears,... I operate with a whitelist when it comes to animals in my home.