# Fundamentalists: Masochists? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918 "2003-08-18T06:32:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/1 "2003-08-18T06:32:43Z")
I was looking at a Christian movie review site and I found a review of [Freddy vs. Jason](http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2003/freddyvsjason.html) written by a 19-year-old. Keep in mind this is written by a visitor to the site, not a regular reviewer. He said: > [@](#): > > Wow, where to begin? My friend and I got free tickets to see this show and went today. The whole movie is about killing, none of the jokes were funny at all but crude and offensive. All the teenagers in the film think only about sex. The whole occult theme scares me, and makes me wonder why those soul-less movie makers are intent on making demons “cool.” I emplore everyone to stay away from this movie and send a message to those who want to profit on this filth. I was so horrified that I cried, out in my car after the movie for everyone that had to watch such horror. Now, this raises a few questions. Is this person such an innocent Christian lamb that he has no idea that Freddy and Jason are slashers who kill people? Maybe, but I’m sure he’s not too innocent to know what the “R” rating means. And even if he had no idea what the movie was about when he went in, it should have been obvious after about 2 minutes when the first girl strips naked and is slaughtered. Yet, for some reason, he seems to have stayed for the entire movie! If it was so traumatic that it made him cry out in horror, WHY DIDN’T HE LEAVE? Consider another review from the same Web site for [The Devil’s Advocate](http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/pre2000/i-devilsadv.html): > [@](#): > > I went to see this movie with a Christian friend and was absolutely disgusted. The movie contains numerous sexual scenes and is very satanic in nature. We ended up walking out of the theater about one-half hour into the movie. Fellow Christians: stay away! Now, these folks actually did walk out of the movie before it was over. But consider this. The movie is called “The Devil’s Advocate” and is rated “R”. Why are these people surprised that the movie is “satanic in nature”? If the movie is about Satan, it kinda has to be, right? So why did these “good Christians” go there in the first place?! The only logical conclusion is that fundamentalists **enjoy being offended.** They deliberately seek out movies filled with violence, sex, and evil just so they can complain to their friends about how much violence, sex, and evil there was! Now, of course, it makes sense for the people who run movie review sites to see these movies, but I thought the point was to let their fellow fundamentalists know about all the bad stuff beforehand so they didn’t GO to offensive films. Despite this, **every single film** on that site has tons of viewer commentary by fundamentalists who apparently didn’t believe the reviewers and just had to see all this “filth” for themselves, then wrote reviews saying how immoral it is for anyone ELSE to watch it. That, of course, prompts dozens of other fundamentalists to say, “I totally agree. I saw that movie 5 times this week and it was worse every time!” In conclusion: If R-rated movies offend them, **why do they go to R-rated movies?** ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/2 "2003-08-18T06:37:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ricksummon \* > \*\*…In conclusion: If R-rated movies offend them, **why do they go to R-rated movies?** \*\* Probably the same reason that someone, who gets in a huff over fundie movie reviews, reads movie reviews at a fundie site. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/3 "2003-08-18T06:44:40Z")
I’m not offended at the reviews themselves. After all, if I go to a fundie review site, I **know** what I’ll see there. What I’m saying is that these folks go to these movies and act **surprised** , like they had **no idea** that an R-rated movie would contain sex and violence. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/4 "2003-08-18T06:47:36Z")
Hey! I happen to be a masochist and I refuse to have that good name besmirched but assocition with fundumentalist! They go to those movies because they enjoy disapproving of things. Which is, in fact a rather perverse pleasure, much as many of mine are…but, no, no no! I adamently refuse to believe i have anything in common with those perverts :). They go because they want their world view confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/5 "2003-08-18T07:57:39Z")
Here’s one of my favorite reviews! > [@](#): > > This movie was horrible. The whole plot was based around killing and promiscuity which the Bible says both are bad. Parents, don’t let your children see this movie. Parent, don’t see this movie either. No one should ever see this movie! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/6 "2003-08-18T08:17:39Z")
It seems to be a fundie philosophy; if you’re not getting oppressed in some way or another, you’re not a true believer. I found this line most interesting: > [@](#): > > I was so horrified that I cried, out in my car after the movie for everyone that **had** to watch such horror. I wasn’t aware people were being dragged to the theater and strapped into their seats. Still, going to a fundie review site and pulling stuff to get outraged about is like going to a grocery store to shoot a turkey. It’s too easy and there’s not much fun in it. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/7 "2003-08-18T10:17:17Z")
Those user reviews are amusing, to say the least. Dawn, age 43 had this to say: > [@](#): > > This was the worst, most offensive movie I have ever seen! Dawn has apparently not seen too many films that weren’t rated G, because the movie she’s referring to is the Jim Carrey comedy _Me, Myself, and Irene_. Regarding the same film, another user said: > [@](#): > > The language is one of the worst I’ve ever seen What? English? > [@](#): > > The trailer also shows a women opening her shirt, revealing her bra. If this is in the trailer, I don’t want to know what’s in the actual movie. > –Josh Johnson, age 19 You must be a hit with the girls at college, Josh. On \*Being John Malkovich: \* > [@](#): > > From a Christian viewpoint, I believe this movie was morally-warped. Do not – I repeat – do not bring children to this movie. Produced by “Propaganda Pictures”, it proposes very objectionable ideologies (i.e. gay agenda)… > [@](#): > > I’m not a prude and I realize that there is a “real” world out there and that we as Ambassadors for Christ have to adapt to certain things but is something like this necessary? I’m awaiting newspaper headlines talking of individual “Fight Clubs” that are developing in society. Kinda makes ya want to keep your kids under lock and key. > [@](#): > > Any positive review of this movie is a pure example of the destructive tolerance that pervades Christian culture today. > [@](#): > > Just kill the freakin guy and get it over with, but no, he must wait, and get involved with naked ladies and disgusting orgies. Sorry for posting so many quotes, but that site is a ripe field of unintentional hilarity waiting to be harvested. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/8 "2003-08-18T10:37:17Z")
This works both ways, you know. (Not that I am disagreeing with the premise that it is absurd for easily offended Christians to be so _shocked_ and _appalled_ when they sit through an entire R-rated movie and find _gasp!_ _sex and violence_ in them! Please.) Anyway, a few years ago there was a movie in the theatres about something Christian-related and I didn’t want to see it because it seemed pretty obvious (from the ads anyway) that it was going to express a religious point of view that I would personally find offensive. (I am a Christian, BTW.) Not that I was trashing the movie, or saying anything bad about it; I just didn’t want to sit through the damned thing. One of my friends (an atheist) _could not let this go._ “Why won’t you see it? It’s not that bad! Why are you judging it before you see it? I liked it! I didn’t see any reason why you’d be offended by it! Why won’t you see it and at least give it a chance? I don’t understand! Why won’t you see it?” Over and _over_ again he pestered me about seeing this damned movie. Give me a break! I didn’t want to see it because I didn’t want to come out of it bitching and complaining about it. I didn’t want to sit through the thing because I decided that the odds that it would offend my religious sensibilities were pretty high. So, I think with some people you are damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Had I saw the film and been “terribly offended by it,” I have a feeling that my friend would have argued with me about that too. You can’t win with some people. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/9 "2003-08-18T12:05:36Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by BayleDomon \* > \*\* I found this line most interesting:I wasn’t aware people were being dragged to the theater and strapped into their seats._\* Well, there’s Roger Ebert. Don’t you have any pity in your heart for Roger Ebert? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/10 "2003-08-18T12:24:27Z")
But Ebert’s a Catholic, so to the fundies he’s already in league with the Devil. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/11 "2003-08-18T12:53:49Z")
Considering how much sex and violence there is in the Bible, one wonders why the fundies get their panties in a wad over it in real and cinematic life. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/12 "2003-08-18T12:58:49Z")
I thought Ebert _was_ the Debil. [Waterboy] Look, Ma! The Debil. He’s on the TV, [/W] I miss Rex Reed. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/13 "2003-08-18T13:06:10Z")
Fundies go to R-rated movies for the same reason everyone else goes to R-rated movies, because they like the sex and violence and want to see it. Their reviews are written as they do because that’s the only sort of opinion they allow themselves to have. Instead of, “Did you check out the rack on the babe in that opening scene? Whatta beauty?” they have to say, “This is an example of the sick culture we live in today.” But it means pretty much the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/14 "2003-08-18T15:22:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\*Here’s one of my favorite reviews! \*\* Honestly, thats a great review! And it will make people WANT to see the movie. This guy must be majoring in advertizing! ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/15 "2003-08-18T16:53:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\*Sorry for posting so many quotes, but that site is a ripe field of unintentional hilarity waiting to be harvested. 🙂 \*\* I agree. I think it would make a good “Awful Link of the Day” at Something Awful. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/16 "2003-08-18T17:29:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Probably the same reason that someone, who gets in a huff over fundie movie reviews, reads movie reviews at a fundie site. \*\* If I go to a website I don’t like, it costs me a few pennies at most, depending on how long I stay there. If I go to a movie I don’t like, it costs me upwards of six dollars, regardless of whether I stay for the entire movie or not. Apples and oranges, as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/17 "2003-08-18T17:43:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Probably the same reason that someone, who gets in a huff over fundie movie reviews, reads movie reviews at a fundie site. \*\* If I go to a website I don’t like, it costs me a few pennies at most, depending on how long I stay there. If I go to a movie I don’t like, it costs me upwards of six dollars, regardless of whether I stay for the entire movie or not. Apples and oranges, as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalists-masochists/195918/18 "2003-08-18T18:20:46Z")
D’oh!