"Would you hit it?"
I have something in common with Terri Schiavo.
Here's a photo I took of myself about a week after my surgery and cancer diagnosis:
That was a pretty rough time and I was doing my best to hang on and keep a positive attitude.
A member of The Vestibule was quite taken (in one way or another) with that photo, because he amused himself by asking, Would you hit it?, with a hammer? (I have changed the name of the file on the server, so it won't show up on the board anymore. Enough is enough!)
I suppose I should be relieved that is the question. For Terri, the question instead was, How hard would you hit it?
People are sick. I've known that for-seeming-ever. This is the first time that such mindless cruelty and depravity has ever been directed towards me. I've had run of the mill mean stuff happen to me, but nothing like this. Of course it's not personal, because these people don't know me (nor did they know Terri.) But this kind of casual disregard for the humanity of a stranger is quite disturbing. We could speculate these people would never really hit someone with a hammer, a chainsaw, or a bus -- but why is it amusing to them to talk about it? The normal reaction to a question like that should be revulsion.
On the Terri thread, there were some replies objecting to the topic. Apparently it's not OK to want to hit brain-damaged people, but it is OK to hit people who aren't pretty enough, or fail to meet some other criteria you dream up. You want to talk about slippery slopes? This kind of attitude, unchecked, leads to bullying and then to Columbines. Get enough sociopaths like this together and you've got an Islamo-fascist movement. Parents, do you know what your kids are saying in those forums and chat rooms?
Here's a photo I took of myself about a week after my surgery and cancer diagnosis:
That was a pretty rough time and I was doing my best to hang on and keep a positive attitude.
A member of The Vestibule was quite taken (in one way or another) with that photo, because he amused himself by asking, Would you hit it?, with a hammer? (I have changed the name of the file on the server, so it won't show up on the board anymore. Enough is enough!)
I suppose I should be relieved that is the question. For Terri, the question instead was, How hard would you hit it?
People are sick. I've known that for-seeming-ever. This is the first time that such mindless cruelty and depravity has ever been directed towards me. I've had run of the mill mean stuff happen to me, but nothing like this. Of course it's not personal, because these people don't know me (nor did they know Terri.) But this kind of casual disregard for the humanity of a stranger is quite disturbing. We could speculate these people would never really hit someone with a hammer, a chainsaw, or a bus -- but why is it amusing to them to talk about it? The normal reaction to a question like that should be revulsion.
On the Terri thread, there were some replies objecting to the topic. Apparently it's not OK to want to hit brain-damaged people, but it is OK to hit people who aren't pretty enough, or fail to meet some other criteria you dream up. You want to talk about slippery slopes? This kind of attitude, unchecked, leads to bullying and then to Columbines. Get enough sociopaths like this together and you've got an Islamo-fascist movement. Parents, do you know what your kids are saying in those forums and chat rooms?
posted by Joan at 11:19 AM
3 Comments:
Folks post things like that because they can.
They do it because there is no fear of retribution.
They do it because they think it's funny.
It's not.
AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!! MY EYES!!!
That was funny - but only funny in a certain context. I would never presume to continue it if you ever took offense. Besides, there is a context to that comment which goes back many years to another time and place - and I think it's still funny.
I'm sorry that some dipwad was heartless enough to post a comment that he can never be held accountable for.
Anyway, I need to visit an opthomologist - suddenly it seems I can see anymore.
~~ snerk ~~
Geez. People like that are just stooooopid. I liken them to junior high idiots. Pay them no mind. They obviously have very little to say and even less to contribute to any intelligent dialogue.
Of course, "hit it" means to "f**k it". I would have translated to something more decent, but that is the correct context. You may be relieved at this point to know that they would not have sex with you - and it's nice to know they're not actually talking about violence. The "clever" response when you would definitely not "hit it" is to say you would hit it... with a shovel/hammer/etc.
So, the Schiavo reference was an attempt at sick humor. The reference to you was trying for cruel humor. With this in mind, I think your mention of high school was spot on - not Collumbine, just ordinary, Anytown, U.S.A high school.
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