Thursday, January 21, 2010

Any Armchair Psychiatrists Out There?

I can't watch violent TV shows. I've talked about this before and I've always said that I don't like them. I use to love the show 24. I love the idea behind the show, I love the suspense, I love the acting and I love Keifer. Last season I stopped watching because I just couldn't bring myself to sit through the violence which seemed to be increasing each season.

The show premiered on Sunday and Monday this week and I decided to try again. The first night I turned it off and on and off and on and then off for good when the bad guy had the husband tape his wife's mouth and then the bad guy shot her in the leg.

Thinking it was silly that I couldn't sit and watch a TV show, I tried again the next night and I didn't get very far. The recap of the night before and seeing the terror in the wife's eyes was the end of 24 for me. I won't watch it. I know everyone likes different kinds of programs, but I use to love this show. What happened?

My family loves 24 as do many, many other people. I asked my daughter if it bothers her at all and she said "Not one bit. It's a TV show."

I know that, so why on earth do I find shows like that so disturbing? I know it's actors. I know it's fake. I know the blood isn't real. It isn't that it scares me or the sight of blood makes me sick. I guess I just don't see the point in watching it. It isn't entertaining....at least to me. It makes me feel sad that people would do stuff like that....and maybe that is part of it. Even though it's fake...things like that really do happen, and they happen every day.

I don't know. I think the older I get the stranger I get!

17 comments:

DUTA said...

I have the same approach. I don't like to watch violence on the screen not less than in real life. I think that's the right, normal attitude.

aliceinparis said...

I figure,there is enough pain and misery in the world, why clutter your head with more. I often will turn away from shows like that too. Images stay with us, why collect the miserable ones?

Kittie Howard said...

You're not alone, Kathy. I don't like/don't watch tv violence... there's enough in real life (nightly news, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq...) and think it's normal not to participate in tv's programming obsession with violence.

Cathryn said...

You made me glad that I gave up watching TV.

Anonymous said...

You're not strange at all! You're self-censoring for comfort. I don't watch violent shows GENERALLY and I never watch TV news for that reason. It's smart.

Lanyardlady said...

Promoting brutality is cruel and senseless. Yes, it's TV. But some screenwriter came up with the idea, some network said it's an idea that will make money, and some people will see it and emulate the behavior as a way to solve their problems. It is utterly distasteful and disrespectful to humankind.

Ms Sparrow said...

I find that when a show is openly fiction, I can tolerate it OK. What really turns me off are all the "Reality" shows that are so edited, contrived and orchestrated as to totally deceive the viewer.
The producers of those shows take people who are exhibitionists and exploit them shamelessly.

Together We Save said...

Thank you! I kinda thought I was nuts... we love NCIS at my house but the crazy people, mass murders, and gross pics have really started getting to me. I wonder how it is really effecting their brains.

Mary Richmond said...

I so get this! I have a real aversion to watching violence and have missed many movies because of this. I know it's not "real" but I'm not sure our hearts and minds know the difference. It's like when the kids watch ads and everyone says "oh, they know the difference..." My oldest daughter only watched Sesame Street forever and when she saw her first show with ads she was very confused and thought they were shows....

I think we get attached emotionally in stories as well as life and the violence, sadness, joy, whatever all feel really real in that moment...

There's enough icky stuff in the world right now...I don't need to disturb myself any more than I am already disturbed. I can't even watch the Haiti coverage without getting really agitated because other than donating I can't really do anything to ease anyone's pain...

Anonymous said...

You answered your own question ~ it's not entertaining. I can only take so much too.

Oklahoma Granny said...

I don't mind suspense but the violence gets me every time. If my husband is watching the show I have to go in the other room or cover my head and sing "la-la-la" loudly until the scene is over.

Give me a good ol' chick flick any day.

Joyce said...

I haven't watch the show so I can't give any honest opinion. I think it is hard watching violence even if it is acting when there is so much real pain in the world. Plus I think some of these shows/movies give ideas to some of the minds out there.

I rarely watch TV and tonite I am going to spend as much time as I can with our Kelly (dog). xo

tattytiara said...

I used to date a guy who couldn't watch any violence at all. It was one of the things I liked best about him.

Matty said...

We love 24 here and watch it every week. We saw the two opening nights and were on the edge of our seats. But then again, that's why we're all unique. Everyone likes different things.

gayle said...

I love 24 and all of those types of shows but I do wonder Why do I watch them and what is it really doing to me watching them...

Baroness Bijoutery said...

I really love a good Mystery Show but there is a difference between that and Violence for Violence sake...Why does the Movie and TV industry find it okay to promote this for a buck...Our children are becoming desensitized so they think this is okay and just everyday happenings...Case in point is the Violent Games the kids play today....Sorry didn't mean to rant...

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm with you Kathy. I had to stop watching "24" because of the over the top violence. It's just too much for me.
xo

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