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Watching People Die

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
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To celebrate their incursion into Israel and demonstrate their barbaric and horrific goals, Hamas posted several videos on the internet. They are proud of the people they have killed, of burning babies, shooting civilians, and raping women, along with other primitive and depraved acts.

I haven’t watched any of them.

When people were beheaded a few years ago, I didn’t watch those videos either.

I’ve been reflecting on my decision not to see these videos, and the very idea is abhorrent to me. A part of me wonders if I owe it to myself and those who have suffered to see some of these displays; I almost watched a Ben Shapiro video that apparently showed some of these scenes. I went as far as clicking on his video and left.

There is no doubt in my mind that these horrors have taken place. (It’s too bad that the pro-Palestinian protestors are not willing to look at this evidence put out by Hamas.) I try not to think about it because I think of the people I know and love who are in Israel and don’t want to imagine what they might go through.

I’ve always been a very curious person. So, I’m not really tempted to see the videos myself, but I would like to know why others are viewing them. I don’t say that from a position of judgment or condemnation, but rather from a mindset of bewilderment and confusion. Somehow, I think that knowing the reasons people are watching the Hamas videos will help me understand—something—about the events that are unfolding. Maybe not.

But I would appreciate knowing why you or others you know are choosing to watch, or not to watch, the videos. Do you find watching them enlightening? Helpful?

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Discussion (57)

  • Keith Lowery@keithlowery

    @SusanQuinn

    I have basically been willing to view photos and videos of the aftermath, but have been unwilling to view Hamas videos of events as they were taking place. I guess I'm trying to balance the desire to inform myself and defend against lies with a countervailing desire to avoid psychological harm. There is a growing body of evidence that content moderators who watch the kind of child and animal abuse videos being posted online end up with PTSD-like harm. I suspect those Hamas videos will have similar effects.

    So my own interest is in the truth and in countering lies -- I want to be knowledgeable about the existence of documentary evidence of Hamas' barbarity. But I don't want to watch them doing it.

    I don't offer my own choices as either an example of optimal prudence or as an approach for anyone else to follow. People's tolerance for these kind of traumatic images probably varies. So I'm not suggesting that anyone do as I do or that it's wrong to watch the Hamas videos. But you asked, so I'm just explaining my own approach.

    You raise a really good question.

  • Raxxalan@Raxxalan

    I watched them as a way of bearing witness to the horror. I debated whether or not I could or should and decided that it was all I could do. I would not recommend watching the videos. The fact that I have means I can no longer see the both sides argument that others are making. There are not two sides to this conflict.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoKeith Lowery

    Keith Lowery (View Comment):

    @SusanQuinn

    I have basically been willing to view photos and videos of the aftermath, but have been unwilling to view Hamas videos of events as they were taking place. I guess I’m trying to balance the desire to inform myself and defend against lies with a countervailing desire to avoid psychological harm. There is a growing body of evidence that content moderators who watch the kind of child and animal abuse videos being posted online end up with PTSD-like harm. I suspect those Hamas videos will have similar effects.

    So my own interest is in the truth and in countering lies — I want to be knowledgeable about the existence of documentary evidence of Hamas’ barbarity. But I don’t want to watch them doing it.

    I don’t offer my own choices as either an example of optimal prudence or as an approach for anyone else to follow. People’s tolerance for these kind of traumatic images probably varies. So I’m not suggesting that anyone do as I do or that it’s wrong to watch the Hamas videos. But you asked, so I’m just explaining my own approach.

    You raise a really good question.

    Thanks, Keith. I appreciate your candor and have no problem with your answer. I have unintentionally seen corpses on the ground, but not looked into their faces. It's hard enough to see the sobbing mothers.

  • GrannyDude@GrannyDude

    Susan, I think there is good reason to avoid seeing the videos and images to protect your own mental health if that means you can be a stronger, more resilient ally to those who suffer. I am inclined to think that the people who really need to see those videos are the ones sitting on the sidelines, protecting themselves not so much from psychological harm as from the responsibility to do something, even if that's only sticking up for Israel in conversation, or putting an Israeli flag on the mailbox.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoRaxxalan

    Raxxalan (View Comment):

    I watched them as a way of bearing witness to the horror. I debated whether or not I could or should and decided that it was all I could do. I would not recommend watching the videos. The fact that I have means I can no longer see the both sides argument that others are making. There are not two sides to this conflict.

    The need to "bear witness" runs strong in me. So not doing so also leads to angst. Thanks for sharing, Raxxalan.

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