A Lesson in Violence

[Mr. Dictator]

That word. What does it mean? Does it mean what you think it means?

Is it merely physical? Is it emotional as well? Can one be violent towards someone's property? Is taxation violence, as money is property? Are laws violent, since they limit your actions? Is there an acceptable level of violence that individuals or institutions may use? Should violence be shown on television? Would you bring violence home to meet your mother?

Lets discuss: Violence.

Yes, OP is a little vague, but I prefer it that way for a subject like this. Discussion, I believe will congeal from the primordial ooze of one liners and straw men.

Just please, lets not be violent towards each other.

 

[innonimatu]

Too.. many... questions!

I think physical violence and emotional violence are very different things, and it is unfortunate that the same word is applied to both. As for violence against property or any other thing, the very notion of it is ridiculous: again, the same word is being used for something very different.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Is it emotional as well? Can one be violent towards someone's property?

Yes. And yes, if it is done to cause damage to a person — moral damage or damage to him as an individual in a society.

Are laws violent, since they limit your actions?

Yes, and no for the second part. They are violent, in a broad sense, because they are enforced and guaranteed through strength and punishment.

Is there an acceptable level of violence that individuals or institutions may use?

Acceptable by whom? Any society or state is based on violence, and the only one who could judge that is an individual who judges relative to him ignoring any social realities or public opinion, because otherwise some violence leaks out from judgement as something basic, given, which is considered non-violent by socio-public bias.

Should violence be shown on television?

Yes. And it is. Though, realistic or "live" violence sometimes is better to show than phoney politically corrected hollywoodish one.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Too.. many... questions!

I think physical violence and emotional violence are very different things, and it is unfortunate that the same word is applied to both. As for violence against property or any other thing, the very notion of it is ridiculous: again, the same word is being used for something very different.

"Violence" itself is the act of inflicting physical harm. Otherwise it's a metaphor, and metaphors are an integral part of human language and necessary to describe emotions and mental processes: "rage is burning", "wounded by unrequited love", "he inflicted emotional violence on her", etc.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

When I think of violence, I think of something physical, I posted earlier today on another thread that "views that advocate violence should not be respected" here is what I mean by this:
I oppose violence in all circumstances except when it will stop others from committing it.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

When I think of violence, I think of something physical, I posted earlier today on another thread that "views that advocate violence should not be respected" here is what I mean by this:
I oppose violence in all circumstances except when it will stop others from committing it.

So you oppose the concept of Just War?

 

[Tani Coyote]

Violence is aggression towards someone without their consent.

Physical violence should most definitely be illegal.

Emotional violence... eh, I'm a bit iffy about it. Simply because, say, a racial slur will provoke anger in some individuals, sorrow in others, and a "like I care what you think" from a third. Though I do think being able to run to the police because someone made you cry is going a bit too far. Now, repeatedly doing so should fall under harassment, of course.

TV should show anything it wants. Let the market decide. Get the government out of all media.

 

[Glassfan]

I'm of the "...sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," school. Some feel that there can be verbal or emotional "violence", but if the victim is provoked into actual physical retaliatory violence, he/she is the one the cops carry off...

 

[Tani Coyote]

Some feel that there can be verbal or emotional "violence", but if the victim is provoked into actual physical retaliatory violence, he/she is the one the cops carry off...

...which I must admit I am supportive of.

As a past victim of bullying, I find it hilarious that people act like being called a dirty name or being insulted is the end of the world, and either lapse into depression or rage.

Society as a whole really could use emotional strengthening; that people take offense at such simple things makes us all seem rather weak, if you ask me.

So someone calls someone else fat, stupid, ugly, etc. Who cares. If anything, it should motivate you to prove you're better than them in some way. Then YOU will have the last laugh!