Enjoyment from watching others get hurt, and sociopathy

[vorlon13]

What could possibly go wrong ?

[Rev. Rye]

I think a lot of comedians have very strong sociopathic streaks.  People think they are 'joking' but I'm pretty sure a lot of what they say is real.  If you listen to Carlin or Louis CK, they might as well be in therapy.

This is in regards to Mel Brooks' quote.

With recent revelations in mind, Louis CK almost certainly needs to be in therapy.

That said, misery is one of the cornerstones of comedy; some (most notably Doug Walker) have said it's the only cornerstone of comedy. Then again, where's the misery in this?

[chorlton]

I think a lot of comedians have very strong sociopathic streaks.  People think they are 'joking' but I'm pretty sure a lot of what they say is real.  If you listen to Carlin or Louis CK, they might as well be in therapy.

This is in regards to Mel Brooks' quote.

With recent revelations in mind, Louis CK almost certainly needs to be in therapy.

That said, misery is one of the cornerstones of comedy; some (most notably Doug Walker) have said it's the only cornerstone of comedy. Then again, where's the misery in this?

let me guess Louis CK is an atheist so youre cumming in your pants to highlight hes been an abuser?

can you show me where on line you've been posting about the thousands of theist abusers?

blinkers on for jeebuz typical

[Rev. Rye]

Well, here’s just one I brought up recently:

https://atheistforums.org/post-1661187.html#pid1661187

Kindly do some damn research (like, for instance, learning that the ULC is basically an ordination mill with just enough credibility that many states allow its ministers to legally perform marriages and I put the title Rev. In front of my name out of a sense of irony) before making assumptions about what beliefs I hold.

[Astreja]

I like a fair fight, a clean tackle or body check. I do *not* enjoy seeing people get hurt; in fact, my sympathetic cringe response is so strong I'm surprised that the LIGO detector and seismographs haven't picked it up.

Over the years this tendency has gotten stronger. I used to be able to watch action/adventure movies, but nowadays have to be a lot more selective. Cartoonish violence like Thor vs. Loki in Avengers is about the only thing that's okay for me to watch.

[chorlton]

Well, here’s just one I brought up recently:

https://atheistforums.org/post-1661187.html#pid1661187

Kindly do some damn research (like, for instance, learning that the ULC is basically an ordination mill with just enough credibility that many states allow its ministers to legally perform marriages and I put the title Rev. In front of my name out of a sense of irony) before making assumptions about what beliefs I hold.

how about no.
how does that make you feel ?

10years in a lab is research
caring who or what you are is comical

sorry youre big ego took a hit
what are you going to say now that's supposed to raise my level of fuks given past zero?

[Abaddon_ire]

'Tragedy is when I stub my toe.  Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole and die.' - Mel Brooks

Boru

Yes, how is that not sociopathic? Yet it seems to be the sentiment of most people...

You should look at Rugby. Injuries aplenty, but those are a consequence of chance, not intent.

[Anomalocaris]

When you think about the notion of taking enjoyment from watching other people get hurt, you think of a sociopath, right? You think of someone who isn't quite "normal," who doesn't have empathy and therefore isn't bothered by the pain of others... And even worse, actually likes seeing it. Thankfully, sociopaths only make up 4% of the population. Supposedly.

But I was having a conversation about it with someone the other day, and they made a good point. They pointed out that the "best parts" in watching contact sports like football, hockey, MMA, etc... are the big blows. They then said "is it really abnormal to enjoy watching others get hurt?"

This stumped me. While I personally don't take enjoymeny from watching that in sports, or even in movies where people are only getting pretend hurt, I must admit that MANY seemingly normal, non sociopathic people do. The popularity of MMA, by itself, is testimony to this... and how everyone cheers and gets excited when a football player gets a major blow, etc.
.
And then I thought about the Colloseum in Ancient Rome, and how popular that was - watching people get eaten alive by animals or forced to kill each other with primitive weapons. It was fun for people. Thanks to a Netflix doc, I learned a few weeks ago that 40% of internet porn being viewed depicts violence against women. 40%! And people jerk off to that. And then I thought about the popularity of the Saw movies and how sadistic they are.
.
What to make of this? I mean, if so many people enjoy watching others in pain in one form or another, is sociopathy even a thing?? How in the world is it so normal to enjoy watching other people's pain if we supposedly have empathy?
.
Clearly these people cant all be sociopaths. Thoughts?

I don't think whether one can derive certain enjoyment out of situations where others find uncomfortable, or experience some degree of injury defines whether one is a sociopath.

Sociopath as I understand it is someone who lacks any ability to internalize his society's basic precepts about what is right or wrong, and it unable to empathize with others regarding the perceived consequences to others of his own actions.

In our society there is a basic assumption that if someone knowingly get into a situation in which they may be injured in expectation of being rewarded, it is not wrong for others to derive enjoyment from the situation in which they've put themselves.

[brewer]

CL, I'd laugh my ass off if I saw you slip and fall in the shower. Short term, then, well, ........................

[Whateverist]

maybe empathy is only for those who don't need told not to kill

No, no.  It is needed especially by those who don't follow the dictates of a magic sky fairy.  Stone tablets are clunky and an offense to human dignity but if it will keep in check anti social inclinations, meh.

But empathy is good for you.  It makes people more tolerant and less churlish.

---

CL, I'd laugh my ass off if I saw you slip and fall in the shower. Short term, then, well, ........................

Come on, if you saw her in the shower you'd go lock yourself in your bedroom for awhile or else have a cardio event.