Do you think something such as "Watch People Die" should be allowed to exist?

If you don't know what it is, Watch People Die is a forum on Reddit, where like the name implies, is a compilation of people dying.

I would highly recommend not looking at it, as some of them are gruesome. (Some of the clips show mass beheadings by terrorist groups).

I went on it, not to watch the videos, but to read what people were commenting. A majority of the comments are jokes, or poke fun at the video. I saw a couple of crueler comments saying the people in the video deserved it. Usually I would dismiss this as someone trying to get a reaction, but considering the type of forum it is, the people leaving those comments are probably serious.

It had me thinking, why something like this is allowed to exist. But it is almost a grim reminder of how much evil exists. Something you would view on the news, but not think much because you here it all the time.

What are your thoughts on this on place, and do you think it should remain open?

I think it's abhorrent, but it is up to Reddit to police it

Just shows how hateful and self absorbed humanity has become. It's why I'm introverted these days, im honestly praying for the end. Hell I used to follow the Chicago car spotters page on fb and people were laughing and joking about people's cars being stolen when someone posted their missing cars info. I know it's not the same as death but it's still fucked up. People will do anything for a little bit of attention even if it means going against basic human morals. The fact people find that entertaining shows they got a sick mind. I have no issue with Deaths in movies and games and the such but when it's real human flesh and people are posting it and joking about it, you know humanity has lost its way. There's more evil than good in this world because people are letting their demons consume and control them. Why can't humans just spread peace and love towards another and help others than spew hatred? At the same time tho, I'm not one bit shocked. In the end tho, I'm just that crazy conspiracy theorist that's been warning everyone about shit like this. People just need to wake the fuck up and take a look in the mirror and realize they're part of the problem.

I think it's borderline psychopathic.
Sure, all humans have a certain fascination with death, and I can see how even a normal person would be drawn to something like this, it's extreme and it's taboo and it's wrong.
It's the people who'd stay and keep following the forum, people who would make a habit out of watching videos of humans die awful - and often gory - deaths, people who will potentially get desensitized and emotionally detached from situations where others are suffering and/or dying. Hence why I used the word psychopathic in the beginning. I don't know if that's how it works, but when I imagine a person that can look at another human being suffer and/or die and feel absolutely nothing, perhaps even enjoy it, I imagine a psychopath.

seems to be a thread to rant on humanity rather than actually addressing, except for hands.

The simple fact is, humanity is filled with different people, who are all different. It's honestly why I find peeps that use "humanity is going down because humans only make things worse" as merely a generalizing rant on the fact that sentient beings have the choice to not do things that are what one would consider "moral".

Does there even need to be an answer, since well it's all up to Reddit's guidelines on that. If it's within the realm of their rules, it should be allowed (encouraged isn't relevant cause I'm sure most peeps wouldn't enjoy something like that). They can change the rules if they want and get rid of it (though there might be qualms about that, but eh).

The simple fact is that you can't force someone not to do something, unless it would cross over the rules established or the rights of another. I can't make idiot teens that choose to make a baby before they can support it not do it, but I'll sure as hell call it out.

That's the thing though isn't it? There's such a thing as societal morality and individual morality. These two things don't always coincide. So what if some idiot enjoys watching some messed up stuff, if they aren't actually killing anyone, then it's their business, their own life to hurt.

Now I will say I'm also fine with calling out stuff like that. Being able to talk about it, make fun of it, and other things that isn't as far as inciting violence, because that's just the differences we share in our moral bars.

So please, stop with the lame ass excuse of "humanity is only meant to hurt" or whatever is written in your young adult novel, and actually think about what's going on in these situations. What is it that society should deem as proper in this?

My answer, it's some idiots watching vids that are shown on the news and apparently liking it or trolling. You can't force someone not to like something, nor can you make them like something they don't. The only time you can do that, is when your society can make people do things or not do thing on choices. Pick your poison, "restrictive, or your own judgement" It's the pros and cons of these two that honestly is what is displayed in society.

It really wasn't meant as a rant.

ZeoStar said:

It really wasn't meant as a rant.

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I more or less, meant after Hands comment. You just brought the question to the discussion table, as you should.

I understand your feelings, the comments on there are crass comments and jokes, like regular unfunny reddit humor cranked up to the max, it's especially irritating when it's an innocent guy or lady dying. But deleting the subreddit would not stop their morbid interest and it's up to reddit policy.

I understand morbid curiosity. I had a friend in real life who constantly talked about viewing the section, and it wasn't until recently I decided to see it for myself.

While I dislike the comments, it wouldn't be my reason for shutting the place down.

However, it still seems insensitive to the families. If a family member died in a vehicle accident, I doubt anybody would want it publicly displayed online.

Interestingly, Reddit seems undecided on taking it down. Since the section has been deleted and revived a couple times over the past year.

Who on earth wants to watch people die like you have to have something wrong with you to engage in that.

That came off mean but like...why?

It's how their brains are wired.
As Vragon said everybody is different but I'm still sticking to humanity being the virus of the planet. Put the destruction of the planet aside, we don't actually know how to cope with one another. To be blunt, most mental illnesses happen due to a way one is treated, it makes a huge impact on their lives and they completely lose themselves. As long as humans can remember our differences and what we find acceptable or not in society has been growing larger since the beginning and now it's impossible to say or do anything without someone being bigoted and or hateful. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if these people that enjoy these clips simply hate humanity and hate all people. I don't "hate" humanity but I hate what we've done and become. To each their own tho, if someone gives me a bad vibe (I have this ability to feel someone's energy) then I keep my distance.
You're also right. Right and wrong is determined by those in authority. Everything's a gray area but it makes humans feel more comfortable to follow guidelines set by those in power.

Humanity has always had a morbid streak. Look at the crowds at gladiator fights, at executions, the people that picnicked at battles during the civil war.

Y?all really acting like this is brand new. Horror movies and horror video games have existed for ages showing shit like this and yet some of you are acting surprised as if people?s curiosity for death and violence has sprung up out of nowhere. I?m not surprised that a subreddit like that exists. Hell, gore sites have existed for ages. And like LDS said, throughout history humans had a penchant for violence (y?all should research what they did to prisoners in the Roman theatre...)

Whether it?s morally acceptable is a different argument and depends on the person. I usually say to be respectful of the dead unless the disrespect is being directed at blatantly horrible people (which is an incredibly rare occurrence for me). Not everyone has that philosophy. I don?t approve of the subreddit myself but I don?t know enough about it to have more of an opinion than that.

Trev said:

Y?all really acting like this is brand new. Horror movies and horror video games have existed for ages showing shit like this and yet some of you are acting surprised as if people?s curiosity for death and violence has sprung up out of nowhere. I?m not surprised that a subreddit like that exists. Hell, gore sites have existed for ages. And like LDS said, throughout history humans had a penchant for violence (y?all should research what they did to prisoners in the Roman theatre...)

Whether it?s morally acceptable is a different argument and depends on the person. I usually say to be respectful of the dead unless the disrespect is being directed at blatantly horrible people (which is an incredibly rare occurrence for me). Not everyone has that philosophy. I don?t approve of the subreddit myself but I don?t know enough about it to have more of an opinion than that.

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There's a world of difference between fictional displays of ultra violence or horror and actually watching real people die for enjoyment.

Hands said:

There's a world of difference between fictional displays of ultra violence or horror and actually watching real people die for enjoyment.

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No shit. What I'm saying is that people's fascination with this stuff isn't exactly surprising. There are some truly gruesome movies out there that use some pretty hyper-realistic violence, and I'm willing to bet that the people who enjoy this subreddit are people who enjoy those films to.

Trev said:

No shit. What I'm saying is that people's fascination with this stuff isn't exactly surprising. There are some truly gruesome movies out there that use some pretty hyper-realistic violence, and I'm willing to bet that the people who enjoy this subreddit are people who enjoy those films to.

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People who watch legitimate rape videos probably watched normal porn too, there's not much of a correlation. In fact, I'd argue that those watching the real deal are doing so because the fiction doesn't do it for them

Yes. Personal distaste is a terrible standard to use for what should or shouldn't be allowed to exist.

While I agree that it is normal to have some interest in death, threads such as WatchPeopleDie is pushing the envelope. In all fairness though, I believe that it is up to Reddit and it's users to determine if the content is unsuitable.

I would say such things should be allowed to exist, and should such things be censored from the human experience could also set a dystopic precedent of one set of human beings censoring information of what could most likely be truth but not convenient for said human being with such political power (e.g. The State, and/or large media corporation with strong ties to said State via government contracts, lobbying firms, revolving door bureaucracies, etc.) from the rest of the human population. Of course, that is also assuming those who hold such power do so from coercive means as opposed to a voluntary interaction (in this case, Reddit).

Point being, as long as Reddit is a purely private organization (not merely by name) then they may do whatever they want with the content, since it becomes theirs---regardless what our feelings are toward said content. if you do not like it simply don't view and/or share it.

Oh god.

NO.

Something like that should be ended AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

People should look at more cute things. >:(

EDIT: I'm glad this thread exists. It shows people other than me DO care about violence in media going too far.....*is really happy about that trust me :3*