Topic awaiting preservation: Decline and Fall of Western Civilisation Vol 8

So we have had:

Ultimate Fighting (although i believe they have tightened their rules to go mainstream)

Glutton Bowl

Jackass

and now we have BumFight where a couple of film makers have basically given homeless people a handful of loose change to fight each other, defecate in public, set their hair on fire and perform other degarding acts. It is one of the fastest selling independent videos (its sold 300,000 copies according to one report) but they are in legal trouble from some of the homeless people (although as they signed release forms and disclaimers they don't have much of a case):
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/03/1033538715422.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20020927-1122-bum-fightplea.html
http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/sand/news/stories/news-168676120020925-140933.html

So where next when our jaded tastes require more titilation? Fights to the death? I suspect dog and cock fighting (and other similar things) wouldn't be possible but as long as people sign all the legal stuff is there anything that could stop it?

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Emps, in all seriousness if there are no such things as "right and wrong", how am I supposed to judge BumFights in any different light than say having a cup of tea?

For some of my friends, what is legal is what is right. So does that mean BumFights is right if it is legal? I certainly don't think so, but I have to appeal to something other than the law to be able to make that call. On what basis are you judging it?

. . : slicePuzzle

Well, history has proven that where there is interest (re -money to be made) - somebody will do it.

Right or wrong?

Hmmm...Bugs has a good point...if you are offended by it (and it's 'legal'...) then just don't watch it...

As long as it is adults, consenting...well, whatever. I, personally, am not even remotely interested in such...

I saw that on CNN a couple of months ago. The did a piece with bumfights and the Bum Hunter, who is a guy who basically attacks the bum and does a whole Crocadile Hunter(restrains, shows their teeth) thing on them. They then pay them and get releases signed.

Its sad because the animals are better protected then humans(in the US at least). There's a lot of rules about you can do to an animal so I dont think dog or cock fights will make a come back here. A human being whose willing to sign their rights away for a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 is a different matter. What's next? Volunteer death sports? Bum Gladiators?

<evilTiki>I did find bumfights kinda funny and the site isn't badly designed</evilTiki>

Did that slip out?

I am a very...very.. bad person



-tiki, cell 478

[This message has been edited by tikigod (edited 10-04-2002).]

I'm not saying it is right or wrong (I watched Jackass and couldn't take my eyes off Glutton Bowl and although I think Bum Fight is a step too far I can also see myself going well I might watch a few minutes just to see what its all about and then end up watching the whole thing) but that in some way it degrades us all and that it could be indicative of an increasing decadance (like the last days of Rome). Unfortunately I'm as bad as the next man (who it appears is tikigod ).

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

It is very degrading and I think it definitely degrades us all... no matter how entertaining it is. And there is a part of me that loves that sort of thing. But the last time I watched JackAss I had to turn it off because that sinking feeling of disgust won out. Doesn't this prove that left to our own devices we are all flawed inside?

. . : slicePuzzle

Bugs: We are all flawed and perhaps in a way feeling disgusted and worried about the general erosion of our humanity (it must be long past the time when we can really claim that watching this kind of thing is ironic in a post-modern way) shows that in fact there might still be some hope for us all.

When we are slouched in our armchairs drolling as the latest low grade entertainmnet washes over us or bouncing up and down like trained seals while they pump more extreme titilating material then it is time to give up hope.

As long as we get our act together before the alien monitoring bases detect this kind of thing we should be OK.

Surely there must be a backlash around the corner?

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

I personally wouldn't want to be seeing bums setting themselves on fire. It seems like it's just beckoning to the lowest common denominator for a quick sale and a cheap laugh. Kinda like Jackass...

I have no words for the Glutton Bowl. Everyone and their momma saw it, I popped in a movie and didn't allow myself the pleasure of watching people trying to choke down shit for a studio audience. That's just disturbing... moreso than bums setting themselves on fire, me thinks.

I don't know what this adds to the topic, but it reminds me of last year's story about a kid who doused himself in gasoline and lit himself on fire because of something he saw on Jackass. The Jackass bit went like this: The host, dressed in a fire-retardant suit covered in steaks, laid on a grill while friends squirted lighter fluid on the fire.

The kid didn't have a grill, lighter fluid, steaks or a flame-retardant suit, so he figured pouring gas on his legs and setting them alight was just as good.

Of course, the kid and the parents blamed the show and not a complete lack of brains nor bad parenting.

We are doomed.


Offbeat, roadside Texas attractions. (A little Google bombing doesn't hurt.)

I agree with Webshaman - If you don't like it don't watch it.

And as long as money runs the world, there will always be people doing stupid things for money.

Look at the restaraunt Hooters.