I am sure that most people here have heard of/seen the Star Wars kid video. It's a well known internet phenomenon featuring an overweight Star Wars fan engaging in an imaginary lightsaber dual. The video is immensely poplular, however the video is in fact an example of bullying. The video was placed on online by some "friends'" of his (I won't give his name, but if you look you'll probably find it) who thought it would made a good practical joke. It soon went out of control.
So, do you think it's immoral. Though not AS/NT interaction per say it does raise question that apply to us.
I didn't know it was other people who put it online just to him look bad... I figured he did it himself for some reason, sort of like the Numa Numa Guy.
It made me uncomfortable watching, even though I felt a sort of amusement in that I can imagine myself doing something like that at his age (I used to know the Miicheal Jackson "Thriller" dance) - but also sad because I knew MOST people would be laughing AT him.
There is immoral and there is bad judgement.
That video isn't immoral in and of itself, and putting it online is either people being cruel and mean or using really bad judgement. Who knows...
If the kid didn't care though, and is laughing as well, then it doesn't matter either way.
Now, what about those who watch it and pass it on... I don't think watching it makes you immoral or not, and finding it funny doesn't either - it all depends on your attitude towards the kid while watching it... which is something only the individual really knows, unless someone posts or says something evil about the kid...
Passing it along might be immoral...
hmm....i found it extremly uncomfortable to watch,and,unless it was posted by hisself,and i think i read somewhere that it was not,then it was extremely immoral.
i was shown it at school,and there was a huge group clustered around a single monitor,and i think i was the only one not rofl'ing my waffle...i was asking them 'whats funny?oi!whats funny?'
I have only ever seen it when it was shown on the national news for some reason. Unless the kid involved has given his consent for it's showing then it is immoral, although it has probably made him quite famous.
I think it's hilarious. Especially the 'remixes' people made of it. I never thought of it as 'immoral', I don't think it's that serious. I'd hardly call it bullying, yes he's being made fun of but there's no way you can know if this is actual bullying or they just made fun of him for once.
I agree with Logical Paradox. This is part of a huge and dreadful trend in "comedy" -- thge idea that it's funny to victimize people. The perpetraitors think it's okay to be cruel because "it's funny" -- and they believe that the victim "deserves it." They believe as long as they get a laugh out of it, who cares if someone is humiliated?
This is the same philosophy as the social ridiculing and bullying that goes on at school or work -- anyplace there are people willing to trash other people for their own amusement.