(no subject)

[textualdeviance]

I've gotten quite tired of seeing people get up, or shift uncomfortably, or even giggle during some of the most emotional moments in ROTK, and it just turns my stomach. Obviously part of it is the stupid people who can't handle watching two men express love for each other, but there's more than that going on, too.

When did it become acceptable to make fun of someone who is crying or in pain? Why do people do this? Why do people feel the need to shame others for expressing emotion, whatever emotion that might be? The only thing I can think is that it's a holdover from grade school, where if you don't join with the bullies, you get bullied yourself. Sympathizing with someone's pain leaves you open to be attacked yourself.

I read some comments on some MB's from guys who said they were afraid to cry at ROTK, even though they wanted to, because they were with their friends or girlfriend, and were afraid of what might be thought of them. One guy said he laughed instead of crying, so not to appear like a wuss and get shit from his friends.

That just breaks my heart. I think it shows far more courage, character and strength to show real emotion, damn whatever other people think, than to hide it or laugh it off. You're only showing how much of a pussy and a coward you really are when you attack other people for having feelings.

We should all be more hobbity. We should all enjoy love, and life, and experience everything as much as we can instead of hiding from it all out of fear. What a sad, sad life for someone to have where they cut themselves off from feeling because someone in their past-- or maybe even their present-- has been telling them that what they feel is wrong and bad and something to be ashamed of. *looks pointedly at asshole father in law*

Love is good, sex is good, crying is good. It's all good. It's all part of who we are as human beings. It's good to be emotionally connected to other people. It's good to care and be cared for. I dearly wish people would simply get rid of all emotional insincerity, and get in touch with the real feelings they have about things. I can't help but think we'd all be better off for it.

Comments

[sundaysunday.livejournal.com]

How about laughing whenever Legolas speaks?

[msallegro.livejournal.com]

Okay, that's acceptable. Laughing at Captain Obvious is one of the great pleasures of life. ;)

[kinkyhobbit.livejournal.com]

Well said, darlin. Laughing at other people's pain is something I've never understood, and it's gotten so bad in the last 10-15 years that it's now practically a form of entertainment. I'm sure psychologists would have a field day with the popularity and content of shows like "Funniest Home Videos", at least in this country where rules stating they would never show anyone deliberately doing anything dangerous and never show children or animals being injured have been cast aside in favour of getting more and more extreme footage.

I know it might sound crazy, but I really do think this one simple (in more ways than one) TV show is a barometer that tells us a great deal about the way societies are changing, becoming less accepting of honest emotional expression and certainly less compassionate and caring.

I believe we should be free to express all our emotions, positive and negative, without anyone holding grudges or thinking poorly of us for our honesty. As Michael Leunig says, "Set it free and it can be a road on which to travel".

AMEN!

[dumbassturtle.livejournal.com]

i am in total agreement.

my friend megan and i saw rotk with a guy friend of ours. i of course being the really sensitive person i am bawled alot but also cheeered on the good stuff and was just generally moved by the entire experience. megan cried alot too though not as much as i did, but the guy kinda kept patting me on the shoulder like he didn't know what to make of me. its wierd that one of my most sensitive guy friends still couldn't quiet get it or let himself really get it. i know i'm overly emotional but i'd rather be consumed by my emotions then to stuff them down and suffer being empty.

i also really hope that more people discover the really thrilling beauty of being human.

*gives you a big hobbity hug*

[moo58.livejournal.com]

I cried buckets when I first saw ROTK at The Gathering in Toronto. It felt really good, not just to cry, but to laugh, to cheer, to scream, altogether as one big 'family'.

Then I found out, in another theater, fans were actually laughing at other fans who were openly showing their emotions. Their reasoning was "well, you read the books, you KNEW that Frodo left the Shire" and the like. What a letdown.

I KNOW a lot of things. Doesn't make them any less sad (or funny, etc.). Saw ROTK a second time, at home. Everyone clapped at the end but NO ONE showed any emotions at all during the movie.

I was surprised...and a bit pleased...that my normally stoic daughter actually cried 3 times at Return of the King.

~Maggie St.

Totally agree!

[jennalvsbeatles.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you! I have the same thoughts! Every time I go see Return of the King or feel like I need to cry I let myself! I love seeing the boys have such an emotional bond, I think they are real men because they can love each other so much, I look up to people that don't have those insincerities. But I guess not everyone can be such men as them or as open minded as us. I always see people who live that sad life you were talking about and it takes the heart of me.