Would You Witness A Murder, Given A Choice?

OphidiaPhile · Jan 12, 2009

I have witnessed a man die and I have no desire to do so again under any circumstances.

CreedIsChrist · Jan 12, 2009

stan1980 said:
If I'm honest, I might do, I'd find it pretty sick and disturbing to watch, but sometimes morbid curiosity takes over. The worst thing I've seen on the net were those beheading videos a couple of years ago, not pleasant, and it made you wonder how a human being could do something like that to another human, but I went ahead and watched it anyway, so if I reluctantly chose to watch that then who knows what else I might reluctantly agree to watch? If I did watch it though, it would be for reasons of morbid curiosity, pure and simple, not the rest of the baloney that jmverville came out with in post 8 (sorry jm!)

I agree, the beheading videos are just brutal. I don't think I will ever be the same after stupidly watching one. I wouldnt recommend it to the OP , even if he is curious.

ke1985 · Jan 12, 2009

nope, too gruesome, disturbing and just plain sad

Skaloop · Jan 12, 2009

lawtonfogle said:
I know it is just the 1AM talking, but this:
I'm interested in why you wouldn't want to watch a murder.

Just struck me as really funny. Something I would have never expected to hear a few years ago.

Yeah, now that you mention it, it is an odd question. I know in general why, but I was looking for specifics.

PantsMcFist · Jan 12, 2009

I voted no. I've watched a human being die helplessly before, I see no reason to do so again.

keith99 · Jan 12, 2009

Watching when there is nothing I can do?

Nope, I will never sit by and watch a murder. No Kitty Genovesses for me. Specially right now while I have backup (or is it shock troops) at home with me.

.Sabre. · Jan 12, 2009

No. I'd be too disturbed.

tcampen · Jan 12, 2009

I voted no. I really don't have that kind of morbid curiosity.

But if the question were, "Would you be a witness to a murder?", implying being able to ID the criminal in court, then the answer would be Yes.

Mling · Jan 12, 2009

I'm never a fan of the reasoning, "I can't bear to watch what another person has to experience." If they need to live it, I will try to have the respect to not turn away. That, and I would consider it a unique life experience.

I don't know whether to say that I have seen somebody die or not. I have seen a few vibrant people deteriorate into a coma, or to the degree of, I think, having nothing left to them but the knowledge that they would die, slowly and in pain. I have never seen the moment when soul departs body, though. At least, not in a human being.

GMRELIC · Jan 12, 2009

No, I would never want to witness a murder, I have witnessed the violent death of someone (not a murder, but a very graphic death) and I still have nightmares and it has been several yrs ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday and not a day goes by that it does not enter my mind. Can't see anyone ever wanting to see such a thing

ranmaonehalf · Jan 13, 2009

It might depend on who was being murdered. (perhaps a historical view)
But in general id say no. People die and are murdered all the time. Since i could do nothing about it and I dont get off on it I would have no desire to view one. If I had the ability to perhaps catch or prevent or give closer to someone then I likely would want to be a witness.

Arkanin · Jan 13, 2009

I don't think seeing a murder would be good for my well-being. People usually react badly to a murder, it's traumatic or worse yet it cheapens the value of life. Now if I had the opportunity to identify and remove the killer from society, that would be a completely different situation.

Like you said in the OP, broadening your experiences is a good thing, I completely agree. I constantly try to enjoy as many new things as possible... good things. Try skydiving. Or if you're not that adventurous, get some Thai food.

LightHorseman · Jan 13, 2009

jmverville said:
So, for some bizarre reason, you have a choice in this... Let's say that the ghost of Christmas future comes and gives you the option to see this...

There is going to be a murder. There is no hope of identifying the murderer... Really, there is no difference between you witnessing it and not witnessing it.

A man beats a person about and then strangles them to their death in an ally. It is a brutal, one-sided affair and the person dies struggling while the remorseless attacker goes about their work with almost a mechanic efficiency, takes their wallet, and leaves.

You have a pretty good view from a second floor window and the ghost of Christmas future promises you that you will not be noticed peeping out. He also insures you that even if you were to call the police at that very moment, there would be nothing that could be done. The ID is way too vague and the response time way too slow.

You will probably never witness another person being murdered in your entire life and this is your one opportunity to see such a thing with your own two eyes, in person.

Do you choose to view this?

Yes or no?

I am really stuck -- I believe that seeing strange and new things has a lot of inherent value, and I realize that this will probably never happen before me again; I might want to choose it.

But then you have to also consider the psychological issues behind watching someone murdered.

What a strange hypothetical!

Well, gladiatorial matches were widely enjoyed, so some people might enjoy watching the sort of thing you suggest.

Myself, I've killed 3 people and been present at the deaths of several others, both natural and violent. I have no real desire to see any more deaths.

Would You Witness A Murder, Given A Choice?

Would you witness a murder?

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