# What can you not bear to watch, no matter how much you like the show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594 "2008-09-21T23:07:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/41 "2008-09-22T19:37:02Z")
> [@Joey\_Tightlips](#): > > I just wanted to chime in that nobody who posted in this thread should ever watch the Korean movie Oldboy. This one has a scene with my biggest “can’t watch” phobia: violence done to the tongue. I can handle other violent scenes (even eyeball or fingernail stuff). I have no idea why tongue-violence specifically disturbs me so much. I love the Happy Tree Friends (bizarre cartoons involving graphic bloody violence done to super cutsey cartoon characters). Of all the horrifying things that happen in that show, the one I couldn’t watch without looking away was about an ant-eater who stuck his tongue down an anthill, and the ants started doing all kinds of painful things to his tongue. Yeurg. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/42 "2008-09-22T19:39:51Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Seconded. I saw it, and all I can say is that at least the worst scenes for me were telegraphed from a mile away, so I had plenty of time to hide my eyes. > > Stunning movie, though- so good, but I just can’t recommend it to most people… Oh, absolutely, I think it’s great (definitely _unforgettable_), but I don’t know ANYONE who I could recommend it to. So you really knew to look away when… …he started chewing on the live squid? For me, that was the most cringe-worthy part of a movie that was credits to credits shock and awe. The worst part is knowing there wasn’t a second of CGI in that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/43 "2008-09-22T19:49:40Z")
Rape scenes and wedding scenes are unwatchable for me. Treacly sentiment and love scenes in general are tough for me. I don’t mind seeing children get killed. I hate most child actors, so I wish it would happen more often. The problem for me is that movies rarely (and television never) put children in danger with any chance at all that they won’t be rescued. It’s just manipulative nonsense that they never have the guts to pull the trigger on. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/44 "2008-09-22T20:06:48Z")
I can’t watch “pretty” sex scenes. You know the ones; popular in the 80s. All hands gently stroking cheeks and deep delicious sighs and red satin sheets. Makes me cringe. I always find an excuse to be out of the room during the “confession” scene in romantic comedies. Where the guy has to stand up in front of the big crowd of people and admit that he’s a big, fat liar. _The Ringer_, with Johnny Knoxville, was THE WORST EVER. I can deal with cruelty to pets in movies/books, but it always makes me nervous and scared. I have to cuddle the cats immediately afterward, to assure myself that the violence didn’t happen to them. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/45 "2008-09-22T20:19:21Z")
Ditto the humiliation “comedy”. We watched ‘Meet the Parents’ with dh’s family, and I cringed through the whole thing while they all laughed their heads off. Torturing animals, or animals being hurt by humans at all. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/46 "2008-09-22T20:31:06Z")
_Buffy_ ep. “The Body”. Nope, can’t do that one again-just too painful to watch. Ditto that one where Buffy “slips” into an alternate universe in an asylum, but for completely different reasons-the primary one being the final scene and how it is just a big “FU” to the fans. Canon-wise this ep. never existed AFAIAC. The “Muppet” ep of _Angel_ I shall not ever watch again either, because that is one of the few times in my life that my willing suspension of disbelief not only was completely shattered, but also cut up into a million pieces, burned to a crisp, with the ashes scattered to the remotest areas of the 7 continents. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/47 "2008-09-22T20:34:28Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > > [@Ataraxy](#): > > > > I can usually handle gore and blood, but if they show a yellow or green or pussy infection or something like that and it makes me sick. > > Y’know, I know it’s spelled right, but this line still made me :eek:! “Pussy” is a small kitten or cat, unless being used as obscene slang for female genitals. It is NOT an adjective indicating pus in any form. Some words which should be used are \*purulent \*or _suppurating_, or alternatively, just say, “a wound leaking pus.” ---
**Author:** ![Mumio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@Mumio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumio)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/48 "2008-09-22T20:57:21Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > “ **Pussy** ” is a small kitten or cat, unless being used as obscene slang for female genitals. It is NOT an adjective indicating pus in any form. > > Some words which should be used are \*purulent \*or _suppurating_, or alternatively, just say, “a wound leaking pus.” It’s enough to make you loose your mind, yes?? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mumio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@Mumio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumio)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/49 "2008-09-22T21:06:05Z")
I can’t watch things involving drowning, enormous tidal waves, etc… massive amounts of water antics. My ears get a terrible rushing sound when a scene is coming on, almost to the point of being painful. Can not tolerate pets being hurt or mistreated in any way. I also like animals better than many people. A lot of the stuff the Jackass guys have put themselves and each other through :eek: :eek: Certain types of death scenes. Violent death scenes don’t bother me. I tend to stay away from anything that provokes extreme sadness and tears. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/50 "2008-09-22T21:06:48Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > “Pussy” is a small kitten or cat, unless being used as obscene slang for female genitals. It is NOT an adjective indicating pus in any form. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) Unabridged (v 1.1) pus·sy2 –adjective, -si·er, -si·est. Medicine/Medical. puslike. American Heritage Dictionary - pus·sy 2 adj. pus·si·er, pus·si·est Containing or resembling pus. American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary - pussy pus·sy (pŭs’ē) adj. pus··si·er, pus··si·est Containing or resembling pus. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/51 "2008-09-22T21:38:32Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Rape scenes and wedding scenes are unwatchable for me. Treacly sentiment and love scenes in general are tough for me. > > I don’t mind seeing children get killed. I hate most child actors, so I wish it would happen more often. The problem for me is that movies rarely (and television never) put children in danger with any chance at all that they won’t be rescued. It’s just manipulative nonsense that they never have the guts to pull the trigger on. Yep. Your will is definitely too cynical for the ring. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/52 "2008-09-23T01:04:40Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) Unabridged (v 1.1) > pus·sy2 > –adjective, -si·er, -si·est. Medicine/Medical. puslike. > American Heritage Dictionary - > pus·sy 2 > adj. pus·si·er, pus·si·est > Containing or resembling pus. > > American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary - > pussy pus·sy (pŭs’ē) > adj. pus··si·er, pus··si·est > Containing or resembling pus. I challenge all of these dictionaries to provide a champion which I will then duel to the death. I refuse to accept this. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/53 "2008-09-23T01:27:54Z")
Most of mine have been covered, so I’ll add one that I haven’t seen mentioned yet. Probably b/c it’s kinda odd and I’m singularly weird: Scenes with people brushing their teeth. I can’t watch it. Sharing the bathroom with my wife while she’s brushing her teeth: no problem. Watching a TV or Movie character walk around chewing on a toothbrush, or spitting out foamy toothpaste: diving for the remote. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/54 "2008-09-23T01:37:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Yep. Your will is definitely too cynical for the ring. Only when it comes to movies. When it comes to real life, I won’t even read the RO stories involving children anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/55 "2008-09-23T01:40:24Z")
Here’s something that bugs me to see in movies/TV, and I wonder if it bugs anyone else. For some reason, I always hate to see a room get torn up. Whether it’s a fight or a tantrum or whatever, it always irks me to see shelves getting knocked over, dishes broken, etc. I always just think what a pain in the ass it would be to clean that up. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/56 "2008-09-23T02:19:01Z")
[this scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ypVEXtb5s) would probably drive you downright insane, then. “WHERE’S THE FUCKING PHONE?!” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/57 "2008-09-23T15:33:10Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Only when it comes to movies. When it comes to real life, I won’t even read the RO stories involving children anymore. No one gets my comic book references anymore. Okay, I’ll go back to quoting the Decameron. You guys have brought this on yourself. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/58 "2008-09-23T16:53:26Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Torture or any other sadistic brutality. Not violence per se, but sadistic violence. > I love 24 but I fast-forward through any torture scenes. Agreed. I don’t watch that show but I understand the feeling. It’s also very hard for me to see depictions of anyone with Alzheimer’s, since my dad passed away from it a couple of years ago. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/59 "2008-09-23T17:16:21Z")
Hmm. I seem to be about the only one who mentioned specific episodes (which is what I assumed the thread was about based on the title), but instead people here are delving into generalities instead. So may I be so bold as to suggest that we get some specific examples of episodes which you can’t bear to watch, for whatever reasons, which contain those elements which you find abhorrent? Or should I start a new thread? ---
**Author:** ![frog\_princess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6bbea6/32.png) [@frog\_princess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frog_princess)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594/60 "2008-09-23T18:13:04Z")
Burns. I can’t stand to see anyone suffering with burns. My daughter spent over 2 weeks in ICU with 3rd degree burns. It has been 14 years, but i can’t see that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-not-bear-to-watch-no-matter-how-much-you-like-the-show/464594.md?page=4)