All I’m saying is that I find the pointing and snickering to be unbecoming.
Whatever the kid’s motivations for taping himself were, I’m certain that he didn’t intend for it to be circulated on the web. How do you think he feels when he’s browsing and sees all the jokes and ridicule?
I’d say that most of us probably have reason to identify with this kid and can emphathize with him. We don’t need to be acting like the cheerleaders and the football starters.
I’m sorry I blew off the Robotech film festival. I didn’t get the cylon helmet in that eBay auction, either, so the whole day was pretty much a bust.
It seems to me that Penguin is of the “Laugh - it’s harmless - that was me in middle/high school” camp. Just asking, but is that really what you’re agreeing with, Exgineer?
Boy howdy, like I’ve never heard a better excuse than that to leave someone hanging. Sniff, Sniff.
I’d guess that right now, the kid feels pretty dorky. In ten years? Who knows? Besides, not all football players and cheerleaders are bad. My best friend in high school was a football player, and he let me hang out with him and drive him places and lend him money and played a version of punchbuggy in which I only got to hit him if the punch buggy was rainbow colored. Man I still remember the bruises.
This kid’s moves are sweet! When I was a sophomore in college, my RA walked in on my roommate and myself playing the Mortal Kombat soundtrack really loud and attempting to do Kung Fu. I still get shit about it whenever I see Dan.
This kid will shrug it off in a little bit. I thought it was awesome. I think I am going to try some Darth Maul moves myself here during my lunchbreak…
Emperor Penguin - honestly, which scenario do you think is more likely? That this kid is socially well-adjusted, accepted by his peers, liked and included? That this release is meant as a joke-among-friends? Or that somebody saw the perfect opportunity to humiliate the living crap out of the odd-ball? I accept that we don’t know the specifics, but I’d be comfortable laying down money that I’m right. Are you?
I can accept that there is some physical humor, and I can (as I mentioned to Rilchiam) see how some people could laugh without malice, perceiving in this kid’s fantasy-play an element of their own youth or whathaveyou. But - call it cynicism, call it realism, call it experience - I just can’t believe that most people laughing at this guy are similarly motivated. And the “with-not-at” explanation is so beautifully specious that any ridiculer will invoke it if pressed. Still, I think that it’s pretty clear when people are laughing at, and not with. “At” typically involves further ridicule, “with” involves commiseration.
Anyway, laugh at whatever the heck you want to. If those yuks are more rewarding than some basic empathy, I wouldn’t stop you even if I could. I’ve just noticed some things about some posters that I didn’t expect, that’s all.
But I really do think it’d be hysterical if this kid blew some shit up, if only for the inevitable “how could this happen?” threads/reports/discussions. This kid’s folly might be funny to some, but society’s folly is what I find a real knee-slapper.
[sub]. . . now, off to find some more windmills. . . come along, Sancho. . .[/sub]
Well, first off I do have to say, that for the most part, I agree with you. Why do you have to be so dang rational?
Odds are good that this kid falls into the whole “socially awkward” camp like so many of us did at the time. But that still doesn’t discount the other available options. Until we get more information, we’ll never really know.
I have to agree with your cynicism. I do think that many people laughing at him are doing so out of malice. I should clarify my position as well. While I found it funny, it wasn’t exactly side splitting. More of a chuckle. Was it at his expense? No, it wasn’t. As I have said, I was this kid. Will I e-mail out links to this video, or otherwise try to redistribute it? Again no, because as you say, there are a lot of pricks out there.
I think when all is said and done, it is really a tempest in a teapot :). Some will laugh, some won’t. Some will laugh in commiseration, some will laugh out of mean spiritedness. Nothing I can do or say will change that. Such is life.
It kind of sounds like you think it is justifiable if this kid kills someone???
Oh please… who on this board has not been made fun of at some point in their lives?? could we have all killed someone because of it?
here is the fact…
A chubby kid video-taped himself doing something no one should see him do!!!
I don’t think he was expecting an Academy Award for the shoot…
If he wants to run around like a jedi… fine… have a good time…
If he wants to film it… that is another story…
He knew that he would be made fun of if this tape was ever seen by anyone… that is the risk he took…
Everyone has done something that if other people knew about, they would be made fun of… but this kid taped it!!!
I feel no pitty for that… it was his choice…
That is why I laughed at it… it is kind of a … “I can’t believe anyone would tape themselves doing this” kind of thing…
