Media and Violence

Or what Tarantino should have said:

"Does violence in the media cause violence in the real world?"

"If you take a person, one who doesn't have any psychological issues or problems, and you break that person down mentally and physically; humiliate the person, insult him or her; work the person until they break down; then start building the person back up, teach him or her weapons and tactics; then yes, violent media can be used to reinforce what you have done. It won't cause the violence, it will only act as an enhancer. The military calls this training boot camp. The civilian world calls this severe bullying or a break down in civility. Violence in media alone does not cause a sane person to act violent. There are exceptions, as always, for those with mental disorders; but those are the exception, not the rule. So no, violence in the media does not cause people to be violent on its own. It must be combined with a breakdown, on purpose or by neglect, of the actor of violence."

Violence - No Knife

“Oh crap!”

Probably not a good idea to say that aloud with my hand back for my knife. But, I realized it wasn’t there. I took it out earlier when I was taking a nap. It kept jabbing me in my side. Like a knife. Yeah, I’m an idiot.

Of course that exclamation just encouraged him further to charge me. Why not hit me hard and take me down? He had at least fifty pounds and six inches on me.

The chest blow hurt some, but the real pain came when we (me) hit the floor. My air exploded out of my lungs, and my back felt like an instant bruise.

It didn’t help either of us that when he speared me he wrapped his arms around me. For me, it meant it felt like I had rocks in my lower back: Oh joy, more pain. For him, it meant his arms were trapped under me.

He squeezed hard, so there was still no air in my lungs. I knew what he was trying to do: slam me down again. I couldn’t beat him on strength for strength.

I looked around. Quickly. Needle nose pliers. Those would hurt.

I grabbed them and jabbed hard into that soft spot between the shoulder and the neck. I got lucky. Pretty sure I wouldn’t have done much if I hit hard bone since they were old and dull and a bit rusty.

I will take the luck.

Yanking them back out did it. He was done then. He recognized it, but still tried to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t going to stop. And I was damned if I was going to help him.

I kicked him hard in the face. Childish, but I said it out loud, “Sweet chin music.”

He dropped and bled out there.

No Story

“You fucked up again.”

“Yeah .. I am good at that.”

“That you are. Anything to say?”

“Not really. You know it all.”

“No pleading? No story?”

“Nah. What’s the fucking point? I did it. I fucked up.”

“Most people would tell some livid story. Some would cry. They would say something to save their asses.”

“Sorry. Not me. Unless you just want to be entertained. If so, I can recommend some good books and films.”

“Ha! I like that. ‘It is what it is.’”

“Yep. No dispute. No point in putting a spin on it.”

“You know I gotta do it it anyway.”

“Yeah. Just make sure I can work. No money coming in is no good for anyone.”

“I heard that. Ribs?”

“Yeah. Head some too is ok.”

Violence - The Shoulder

He tries to raise his right arm. He gets the gun up; points it at the door. Then the arm drops. He tries again. Holding it there. Shaking. Pain. His arm drops again. He looks down at the blood coming from his shoulder.

“Figures I get shot in my shooting arm,” he thinks.

He reaches over with his left hand and picks up the gun. It feels awkward in this hand. He raises it and points at the door again. Propped up in the bed like a sick school boy. Waiting, his left arm shakes not used to the weight. Holding the gun. He knows his aim will be off. But at this distance, all that matters is he hits center mass. As long as he can stay conscious. The blood flowing out of him. He waits for the door to open.

Violence - A Conversation - Worse Thing

"So when was the last time you were in a fight?"

"Been, well shit, let's see, since I was 19 or 20. Don't remember exactly when."

"What happened?"

"Guy mouthed off. Didn't like the look of him anyway. Took him to the ground."

"That's it?"

"No. Had him by the throat and started giving him the ways I could and was going to kill him from that position."

"...."

"Yes, I was serious."

"And what happened?"

"From what I have been told, someone was talking to my big brother and said: 'Why does your little brother have that guy on the ground?' He turned, saw what was happening, jumped off the porch and was on me in a few steps. Put his body over mine with his hand on my hands. All he said was 'Stand down.' So I did and let the guy go."

"That's all it took?"

"He was in charge. I let the guy go and he walked me off. Someone grabbed the guy and told him he needed to leave."

"Why? Why go that far?"

"Well, for starters I was drunk. Second, I was taught you only fight tot he end. Guy didn't know how to fight."

"How did it make you feel?"

"You a therapist?"

"No. But, I mean is this only time you did something like this? I mean what's the worse thing you have ever done?"

"Depends on what you consider 'the worse.' Really, what is a bad thing? What is wrong? Depends on your context. Do you consider beating someone up who owes someone else money or information a bad thing? Do you consider it a bad thing to point a gun at someone or a pull a knife on a person? Is it a bad thing to provide intelligence you are pretty sure leads to someone disappearing or something being stolen? If these things are your job, you don't feel guilt. You don't see them as wrong. They are a part of what you do."

"So you did these things? You were a what? An enforcer?"

"I never said I did any of those things. I posited them as questions. If you had to do those things as part of your job, would you consider them bad things?"

"Yes. They are bad things. I mean even soldiers feel bad for killing people."

"Nope. Wrong. Some soldiers feel bad for killing people. Most Marines don't. Spec Ops guys don't. They do it as part of their job."

"What about feeling guilty?"

"Goes back to what you consider the worse thing you have done? To what you consider bad."

"Well, what about the guilt.?"

"I don't feel guilty for the things others think I should or would feel guilty for. The things I feel guilty for are bigger than those things. At least they are to me. Letting people down. Not avenging wrongs to the family. Not being there for people. Those things I feel bad for. Hurting someone for work: no."

"But you realize that makes you a sociopath? That makes you evil. I mean hurting someone, no matter what they have done or owe or what your work is isn't right."

"Why? Because someone wrote it in a book once? Because certain philosophers decided it? No. Sorry. No joy was taken. It was what it was: bad things done to bad and sometimes good people. There was no thrill to it."

"So to you, letting someone down is worse than hurting someone?"

"Letting down the family is worse than hurting a stranger. Yes. Even if the family doesn't feel that way. Loyalty always has been my greatest weakness."