Can you be a pacifist and still read comics?

[rogue11]

I try to not use violence to solve my problems (no matter how badly I really want to) and I dont support a lot of different forms of violence. On the other hand I like reading comics and reading superhero comics where there's a lot of fighting and violence. Not to mention all the action tv shows I grw up on.

Is there some sort of contradiction here? Hypocritical in anyway?

[Skytteflickan88]

A lot of people can turn off their conscience when watching/reading fiction.

While I think that Angelus is very entertaining on TV, I hate knowing there are people that evil out there in the real world. It makes me sick thinking about it.

But I can't always turn off my consience. Sometimes what I watch on TV feels so real I can't watch it. Like Warren. Not as evil as Angelus, yet I find him more sickening. I think it's because he feels more real to me, while it's easy to just see Angelus as a fictional character.

I think most people do this. While people moan and drool over villains in comics and on TV, I think most of them, the sane ones, wouldn't want to meet that guy in reality. Okay, maybe sleep with him once, then watch a policeman shoot them to death. No? Just me?

[Astray]

Sept 14, 2010 15:09:25 GMT -5 Skytteflickan88 said:

Okay, maybe sleep with him once, then watch a policeman shoot them to death. No? Just me?

Just once? You prude

I don't think its hypocritical. Everyone has violent tendencies, but for the most part no one acts on them. I think through fiction we can live vicariously through heroes/villains to release our pent up aggressions. Sometimes zombie slaughtering makes me sad though...I sympathize with zombies sometimes...that's another topic though I suppose..

[Skytteflickan88]

^^ Once as in one long night, maybe weekend.

[Randi Giles]

I love Spike, but if I actually met him 'the character' in real life I would run like hell. Or maybe I would find a abandoned building to smash.

Back to subject I wouldn't worry about sounding hypocritical especially since you're not a violent person. Violence is everywhere. Comics, television, newspaper...you can't escape it really.

[Silver]

There's nothing wrong with reading or watching stuff with violence in them, it doesn't mean that you are any less of a pacifist for doing so. I've tried to live a life of peace all my life, I hate racism, sexism and believe that we all have the right to pray to whatever God we wish, and to live and let live. We are on this earth for a very short time, far too short to hurt each other.

But, I love comics of Superhero's, good horror films and cop shows, even play good gore games on my PS3. All of these things are fiction intended to entertain, so I enjoy and have fun!

[rogue11]

But can't our sources of entertainment have an influence over our way of thinking/ behaving in our daily lives?

[Skytteflickan88]

^^ Yes it can, and probably do on some level.

Watching violent movies can let our inner animals out. Maybe it will make us act violent in RL, or maybe it will make us less of a animal in RL, since we get that out of our systems? Or maybe it's simply entertainment, not affecting us (much) at all.

I think it's different for each individual. Sure, I feel like kicking ass after watching a Buffy-ep more than before I do, but I don't actually go out and fight people, so I think I have a healthy balance. Doesn't mean that works out fine for everyone. Some people can't handle violent video games. So they shouldn't play.

If you feel like you should, for moral or mental reasons, cut down on your fictional violence, try that and see how it makes you feel. Just remember, that as long as you don't hurt anyone, or yourself, you're not "evil" because you're doing something you like. If people call you hypocrite, that's their problem.

[Miss. Rogueh]

You may relate to a fictional charater in every way but one and still feel a strong connection to them. Plus most of the charaters us violence only as a last resort. You may be a pacifist but everyone has a breaking point where enough is enough and the only way to stop/solve the problem is through neutralizing it with a physical act. Example... I like how Buffy dives off the tower in The Gift, but presented with the same situation myself I don't think I could bring myself to do that. I would have probably thrown the annoying brat off the tower.

[forgottendreamer]

Sept 14, 2010 19:13:41 GMT -5 rogue11 said:

But can't our sources of entertainment have an influence over our way of thinking/ behaving in our daily lives?

I think that in all but the most unbalanced minds this will have no effect whatsoever. I've read numerous arguments put forward by the media that video games create killers.
I've been playing video games since I was about 8. Playing games like Mortal Kombat from the age of 9. I have yet to cause any fatalities.
In all honesty I hate confrontation and I am a firm believer that violence is not the solution. Having said that sometimes it is an answer.

[The Night Lord]

I like violence. I have a violent mind, but I don't act it out, which is why I play games where I can commit violence and enjoy it. If I play something like GTA, I'll take glee in blasting everyone to smithereens. And that's where I contain it. Not a fan of violence in real life though, but I only like it in games, Tv shows, movies, etc.

[BuffyFanOne]

I am a pacifist. I am a consciences objetor. I love action/horror Movies. I love Super Hero books....
I think it is completely normal to be attracted to something violent in fiction but not in real life. Violence, or action rather, is exciting. That doesn't mean we want it to happen in real life.

[Josh]

There is a line between fiction and reality.

When I'm showing people who haven't seen Buffy yet the series, I'm excited to see their reaction to things that occur in episodes like The Passion, The Body, and Seeing Red. But in real life, I would never want those things to happen to someone, nor would I want anyone to be exposed to those sort of things.

I firmly believe that readings, shows/movies, and games have no effect on people and whether they are violent or not. I believe that's just a copout for people to complain and try to censor things. I think that if someone has the potential to be a killer, it will come out of them of their own will and twisted mind...not because they read something or played a game. To me that would be like saying Monopoly is the reason some people get money hungry.

[The Night Lord]

^ So...I'm guessing that Anya must have played Monopoly at some point lol. And speaking on censoring certain things (like games!), let's not do it. Takes away the fun

[Josh]

Oct 12, 2010 18:11:54 GMT -5 The Night Lord said:

^ So...I'm guessing that Anya must have played Monopoly at some point lol. And speaking on censoring certain things (like games!), let's not do it. Takes away the fun

Which is actually funny because it seems like her love of money began with a combination of her winning "Life" when her, Xander, and Dawn were playing it combined with her getting a job at the Magic Box

And I agree. I don't like censorship at all. I feel like it ruins art. I feel like if you have an issue with something in music, paintings, books, movies/tv, then you should simply not expose yourself to the particular thing that you have an issue with.

[Secret Scoobie]

I am the same - I'm a completely non-violent, anti-violence person. In REAL life that is.

But I have NO problem enjoying fictional TV, film, comics, books or whatnot that employ violence, explore it, display it, use it, etc etc - because for one it's not 'real' and for two, it's entertaining, and often a useful plot device and character tool.

I don't think they really correlate, you could easily hate both fake and real violence, love both fake and real violence or like one or the other exclusively. It's all personality and preferences. Each to their own?

And I completely agree with the anti-censorship. Freedom people, freedom. We should all have the choice about what we experience and expose ourselves too. It's out right!