Beheadings: How did you feel?

[Togakure]

This is probably an old, tired subject. I almost never watch news, nor do I read it often.

My friend just showed me two internet-based clips of beheadings in Iraq: one of a Korean, and one of someone by the name of Berg. They were performed after a speech by hooded executioners, with a large dagger-like object, not a sword. They were not instantaneous deaths--not by a long shot.

Have any of you seen these clips? If so, how did you feel after watching them? Can anyone give me some background information about these killings--perpetrators, victims, circumstances, etc.?

I am not a squeamish man, but after watching the Berg killing, my stomach did wiggle a bit. My mind was numbed by a combination of disgust and rage. I'm glad I watched them; seeing them provided insight into the degree of hate that some possess over there and what they are capable of. I will not watch them a second time though.

[Byzantine Prince]

A lot of friends of mine have seen them and they tell about it as if they accomplished something by seeing them. It's pathetic but I cannot be rude. I just nod and say, 'yeah'.

Frankly I don't think the beheadings were necessarily hate inspired. There is no need for hate to do brutal acts like that. You would be wrong to acuse those men of hate.

I haven't seen them and I don't care to. I find people that do have something to prove.

[Togakure]

A lot of friends of mine have seen them and they tell about it as if they accomplished something by seeing them. It's pathetic but I cannot be rude. I just nod and say, 'yeah'.

Frankly I don't think the beheadings were necessarily hate inspired. There is no need for hate to do brutal acts like that. You would be wrong to acuse those men of hate.

I haven't seen them and I don't care to. I find people that do have something to prove.
A little context: I was reading a book. My friend was browsing, and we're both in the living room. He said, "Man, these beheading clips are pretty intense." That got my attention. I said, "what beheading clips?" He motioned me to come over and watch. I did. He went to bed, and I popped in here and composed my post.

Do you mean by your first paragraph that these clips are difficult to find on the 'net or something? I wouldn't know.

As far as assuming hate being at the root of these acts goes: I may be ""wrong" in your eyes, and maybe in the eyes of a multitude of others, but that means nothing to me. But I do agree with the gist of what you've said regarding the beheadings not necessarily being hate-inspired.

Um ... nothing to prove here. I'm afraid I don't follow your ... logic, BP.

[Byzantine Prince]

Sorry m8 they are very popular around here. ~:eek:

The clips are not hard to find, but you need to be a little sick in order to want to watch them for the sake of the carnage.

I know you ahve nothing to prove, I was speaking about people i know.

About you not caring what I think is wrong, I was just saying it's wrong in reality, don't tear my head out for that. LALALALA!

[Weebeast]

My first beheading was the Czech Rebel cutting a russian soldier's throat with a commando knife. He was not as calm or submitted as Berg (he seemed like it). I don't what'd his family/wife think. He's pretty young; about mid 20's. The guy was groaning and stuff. I don't mind gore but I can't watch their expressions and stuff. They just make me wanna cry. I haven't seen anything since nor planned to see anything.

[Togakure]

... but you need to be a little sick in order to want to watch them for the sake of the carnage. ...
Indeed. There are a whole lotta sick folks out there, based on the popularity of the "Faces of Death" videos, and the like. These clips would have been good candidates for that series.

I couldn't help wondering what Berg was thinking as they read their speech, and whether he knew he was about to die, and how he was about to die. Judging from his composure beforehand and lack thereof as it was done, I think not. I found myself imagining what it would be like to have been in his position. The whole experience ... "sharpened" my emotions in regard to what is happening over there.

[scooter_the_shooter]

Saw A little bit then left the room. They made me want to enlist even more, I will when I turn 17.(they won't let you leave until you are 18 though). The thing that effected me most was the pictures of his head after they cut it off.


Ot If people are wondering how I was able to get in the nra and all that at my age. I am not in I payed to have an adult go in my place, and they give me all the mail, same thing with guns (don't worry its legal as long as it for recreation)

[Adrian II]

Have any of you seen these clips?I have seen two and that was quite enough. Your brain (or gut) disconnects at some stage and you watch the proceedings as if from a distance. I guess it is a survival reflex or something. On the subject of hatred, I think there are people who will kill whenever they are put in the position to do so, no matter for what cause. Every regime will find hangmen and torturers regardless of ideology or religion. Think Jeffrey Dahmer in uniform, or in a jellaba. The same type of killers operated in the former Yugoslavia and they also made videos of their acts, though I wouldn't be able to find a link so many years after that war.

Also, I think that in a closed, hierarchically structured environment with no moral checks on a person's behaviour, many people are capable of such cruelty. Remember The dirty dozen? Just a movie, but a darn good one. Those guys could have been in the SS instead of the U.S. Army, if it had not been for their place of birth and for the officer (the Lee Marvin character) who directed their vicious energy in the right direction. As it happened, they liberated a concentration camp. Some of them could have been on the opposite side...

[Louis VI the Fat]

I haven't seen them. I know the details about it from what I've read, and to actually go and watch them would be suspiciously close to watching snuff movies. I'm not into that.

(And yes, TO, I am aware of your context. I'm not criticizing you, I've stumbled upon video's of executions and cutting of of hands too).

[Sjakihata]

I simply refuse to watch stuff like that. Not really my kind of thing.

[Togakure]

I have seen two and that was quite enough. Your brain (or gut) disconnects at some stage and you watch the proceedings as if from a distance. ... .
Yes. This description coincides with my own reactions. It was afterwards that empathic thoughts kicked in for me. You make good points, as usual.

Thanks (to all) for taking the time to offer your points of view. It is interesting to read about how different people deal with such realities.

[Soulforged]

My first beheading ...
Hey mom!! Look I've just watched my first beheading.
Congrats son, you're a man now...~:joker:
Seriously I've just watched one. An american was beheaded by Al Quaeda. The video spreaded fast through the net, later the people didn't knew if all this was false or true. That was the first and the last...It's just sick. Some of my friends were all happy about seeing it, but as you people know this is just an standard reaction to gain popularity, to demonstrate manhood, to be sarcastic or just simple ignorance. Now to really have that loaded upon your hard-disk, that's another thing. If more people start to watch them, wether it's for curiosity or because they really like it, then it will be the next step on global comercial transferences, soon there will be more beheadinds, just for the sake of selling. I can say without any doubt, that they're the sickest thing I've ever heard about.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I have not watched them, and I have no desire to do so. It's a sick man who goes out of his way to watch others die.

True. I haven't watched them and niether do I want to, but sometimes it is good to be educated in the world.

People having to endure that shows you an other reason why we need to pull out, or step it up...

I have mixed feelings about the video...:hide:

[Leet Eriksson]

They did broadcast the beheadings here, but not the actual beheading taking place, just the speech before the beheading.

This totally hurts muslims more than anyone else. Its not like we don't have a bad rap going on already, but it just gets worse.

[Dâriûsh]

I have not seen them, nor do I have any interest in doing so. It is disgusting.


Anyone who actively looks up and watches these recordings is doing the perpetrators a favour.

[Weebeast]

Hey mom!! Look I've just watched my first beheading.

You don't need to be a dick. I came in here nicely just to respond to the topic and it turned out that I've seen more than one (thanks to stuff that's going on). It is something that's unusual for someone to witness in their life time. When did I say I was happy seeing that? If I loved 'reality' gore so much I'd be posting somewhere, not here. The fact of the matter is you've seen it too. That's normal; nature of human is to be curious. If you read my entire post then you can tell I responded almost just like you did. I don't think wanting to see something unsual has anything to do with proving anything. Taking shots at noob like me over internet, in the other hand......

Congratulations. You're a man now, son.

[aw89]

EDIT: ^^^^^ I'll bet you he was joking (Not a good one however)


Also, I think that in a closed, hierarchically structured environment with no moral checks on a person's behaviour, many people are capable of such cruelty. Remember The dirty dozen? Just a movie, but a darn good one. Those guys could have been in the SS instead of the U.S. Army, if it had not been for their place of birth and for the officer (the Lee Marvin character) who directed their vicious energy in the right direction. As it happened, they liberated a concentration camp. Some of them could have been on the opposite side...

Those, are psychopaths, the only 2 % that fire at the enemy to kill them without training. (With training the us has something like 80 and 90 %) They have no fealing of remorse, they could kill you and watch you die completely collected. There was some man who killed tons of people and shot (In different places to see how fast they died and the like) them from 3 feet just watching them die.

I can't claim I have seen a move of a beheading, but once 1 year ago or something a member of a clan i was member of a short while before said to me on msn, "Lol, look at this!", and send me a video. What's this? The tag is fine, no virus. download. A women in a white room, real close up. She starts screaming for her life and a gun comes into view. Boom. In the beginning I didn't know what the hell was going on and suddenly this woman's brain is all over the wall. nice. (He was deleted and ignored soon thereafter)

[Soulforged]

You don't need to be a dick. I came in here nicely just to respond to the topic and it turned out that I've seen more than one (thanks to stuff that's going on).
Congratulations. You're a man now, son.I clearly erased your name for the quote, also putted this face ~:joker: at the end, that means that I'm doing it as a joke, and also that it has nothing to do with you, but with the statement alone. Sorry if I offended you.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Brutal, but the beheaders are probably enjoying they're 72 Virginians now.

[bmolsson]

Beheading is a very old tradition and deterent for anyone that oppose a totalitarian force. Has very little to do with religion.
The use of beheading by muslim terrorists are of course to intimidate and scare the watcher. Look what happens to you if you don't obey...

For me the beheading as such is not more cruel than blow up people at a market or shoot somebody. Even though it has a value of humiliation of the victim, which is not something we accept in a modern society. It's just barbaric.......

[Divinus Arma]

I did n't read anybody's comments.

How did I feel?

This is muslim extermeist specific. No surprise.

I hate muslim extermists and I am glad it is my duty to kill them befiore they kill Americans.

Muslim moderates, on the other hand, are my equals. They are a fine and noble people with dignity who deserve our respect.~:cheers:

[Arcanum]

Its not muslim extremist specific, check the facts. Beheadings are barbaric, but for those who want something on large scale in political matters it is useful. It has a shock effect and an intimidating effect on politicians aswell as 'normal people'. The population will press the government a lot after such videos as they dont want it to happen again.
Edit: And, as a matter of fact, it seeds even more counter-hate.

His name was Nick Berg by the way, I didn't watch the whole video, just parts of it.

Ive had so many discussions about that topic, and it always ended up in the americans admitting their extreme patriotic and militaristic views and talking about themselves like they were some uber race, more worth if an american was killed than anyone else.

But you see, in the end its all the same. In the end youre dead, whether killed by a bomb, beheaded, shot or whatever perverted way you can die else.



Such a sad world...

[Fragony]

Pretty horrible video's, but it always pleases to see someone enjoying their job. Damn necrophiles, first *chop*chop*chop* then *flop*flop*flop*

perverts.

[Major Robert Dump]

It's real life. Don't seek the stuff out, but I don't cover my eyes and run from the room either. I've seen some really gory stuff in real life and this is just like that

What shocks a lot of people I'm sure is how it is nothing like beheadings/cut throats in "the movies". People are so media brainwashed that you get debates of fake-not fake all the time on the most obvious real clips, like the guy who shot himself in the police interrogation room, and its because people are stupid and watch too much tv

sometimes i wonder how many people on the 9/11 planes stood there frozen in fear after seeing the hijackers kill one or two of the passengers in a similar manner....it was nothing like they had ever seen before, and the sound of it alone is enough to make people vomit. witnessing these sorts of acts make a lot of people freeze in their shoes, which is why the insurgents perform these acts on the streets and make videos to release to scared civilians.

I can't argue that its good for people to watch these, but I also can't argue that its bad for people to watch them either, because it is real and so unlike any of the garble the media feed us.

[Soulforged]

I can't argue that its good for people to watch these, but I also can't argue that its bad for people to watch them either, because it is real and so unlike any of the garble the media feed us.
So you're proposing to leave horror movies and go look for one of this on the net?

[Togakure]

It's real life. Don't seek the stuff out, but I don't cover my eyes and run from the room either. I've seen some really gory stuff in real life and this is just like that

What shocks a lot of people I'm sure is how it is nothing like beheadings/cut throats in "the movies". People are so media brainwashed that you get debates of fake-not fake all the time on the most obvious real clips, like the guy who shot himself in the police interrogation room, and its because people are stupid and watch too much tv

sometimes i wonder how many people on the 9/11 planes stood there frozen in fear after seeing the hijackers kill one or two of the passengers in a similar manner....it was nothing like they had ever seen before, and the sound of it alone is enough to make people vomit. witnessing these sorts of acts make a lot of people freeze in their shoes, which is why the insurgents perform these acts on the streets and make videos to release to scared civilians.

I can't argue that its good for people to watch these, but I also can't argue that its bad for people to watch them either, because it is real and so unlike any of the garble the media feed us.
Indeed.

"witnessing these sorts of acts make a lot of people freeze in their shoes ..." - Yep. Just thinking about it has caused several in this thread to speak out strongly about how they refuse to view such things, and some have also judged others harshly who do. I am curious to observe how well they'd hold up if faced with something of this level of intensity in real life. I see coping with such things as a form of self-training--never say never, etc..

[Togakure]

So you're proposing to leave horror movies and go look for one of this on the net?
Do you have trouble understanding English? No, he did not propose anything of the sort. You projected this ancillary notion onto his words.

I created this thread because I am curious to know how these videos made people feel. I am not interested in hearing how patrons here pass judgment on other patrons based on whether they think it's "right" or "wrong" to watch such videos. Please refrain from turning this thread into an argument. Express you point of view, and do NOT criticize other expressed points of view. If you want to argue, create your own thread.

[Soulforged]

Do you have trouble understanding English? No, he did not propose anything of the sort. You projected this ancillary notion onto his words.Oh really? (I love when some english speaker sais that, when I only have problems writing it, I understand it pretty well my friend):

I can't argue that its good for people to watch these, but I also can't argue that its bad for people to watch them either, because it is real and so unlike any of the garble the media feed us.Perhaps I misinterpreted that?

I created this thread because I am curious to know how these videos made people feel. I am not interested in hearing how patrons here pass judgment on other patrons based on whether they think it's "right" or "wrong" to watch such videos. Please refrain from turning this thread into an argument. Express you point of view, and do NOT criticize other expressed points of view. If you want to argue, create your own thread.Good for you. I'll not argue anything. I certaily didn't wanted to pass judgement, I was curious of his position, you putted words on my mouth. But don't worry I'll not judge anybody...Have a good day.~:wave:

[Togakure]

...Have a good day.~:wave:
You too :flowers: .

[Ser Clegane]

I have to admit my curiosity made me watch one of these videos quite a while ago.

My feelings?

Very mixed.

It is quite horrible to realize of what atrocities people are actually capable of. Of course we hear of such things all the time - but this usually seems very far away. Having to actually see it makes you realize how far people can fall from humanity and that these butchers hace nothing to do with some kind of noble freedom fighters - these videos are a proof that while some of them might have had some understandable motives at some point, these motives have now been devoured and fully replaced by cruel hatred.

Having seen such a video once, I have no desire of seeing such a thing ever again - it is not the "gore" that is so frightening, but the painful fear and terror of the victims that is so strong that it creeps into your own heart and soul if you have to watch it. The thought of people who loved the person who has been to brutally murdered watched this kind of video is terrifying...

I do not want so see such a thing ever again ... I wish such a thing would never happen again.
Alas, humans can turn into beasts to easily ... and this is very scary indeed (and makes me grateful that I have the privilege to live in a society were I do not have to live in the ever-present fear that something like that might happen to a beloved one or myself)

[Togakure]

Yes, yes indeed. You have articulated well what I was having trouble putting into words. Thanks.

[Quietus]

This is probably an old, tired subject. I almost never watch news, nor do I read it often.

My friend just showed me two internet-based clips of beheadings in Iraq: one of a Korean, and one of someone by the name of Berg. They were performed after a speech by hooded executioners, with a large dagger-like object, not a sword. They were not instantaneous deaths--not by a long shot.

Have any of you seen these clips? If so, how did you feel after watching them? Can anyone give me some background information about these killings--perpetrators, victims, circumstances, etc.?

I am not a squeamish man, but after watching the Berg killing, my stomach did wiggle a bit. My mind was numbed by a combination of disgust and rage. I'm glad I watched them; seeing them provided insight into the degree of hate that some possess over there and what they are capable of. I will not watch them a second time though. Haven't seen any of it. I already know they were beheaded and they are already dead, so watching it on video for some graphically-induced stimulation/feelings from someone being massacred is moot and pointless to me.

[Shaka_Khan]

I didn't watch any of it. Just hearing about it is enough to make me sick. :fainting:
What's really scary is that the terrorists can get away with it. This clearly shows that the Iraqi situation is messed up. Unfortunately, we act like it's not happening because there's not much we can do about it.
What bothers me is that these videos are on the internet, and some people are having fun with it. Imagine what the victims' families are going through, knowing that the videos are posted on the internet.

[Togakure]

As I see it, it's the lack of viewer respect that's shameful, not that the vids are on the 'net. I try and imagine if it were my brother, or mother, who was victimized. Having the videos on the 'net could be a good thing, if it brought the atrocity to the attention of the (outraged) masses and inspired propaganda and/or action against the perpetrators. But when it becomes an item of entertainment for those who have little respect or concern for anything that doesn't affect them directly ... .

[Geoffrey S]

I saw them a while ago; I didn't like it, but the videos do take away the feeling of distance, they bring home the fact that behind the numbers real people are murdered. They certainly put any thought out of my mind that such actions are justifiable in any way, showed what's behind the numbers. Frankly such a thing is sickening, as is the glee of people I know when they hear of another setback or attack in Iraq at the cost of coalition troops, as if it's some kind of vindication.

[GoreBag]

My first beheading was the Czech Rebel cutting a russian soldier's throat with a commando knife. He was not as calm or submitted as Berg (he seemed like it). I don't what'd his family/wife think. He's pretty young; about mid 20's. The guy was groaning and stuff. I don't mind gore but I can't watch their expressions and stuff. They just make me wanna cry. I haven't seen anything since nor planned to see anything.

Oh, I saw that one. I was a lot younger than I am now, and it was disguised as a porn clip. I got owned, I admit.

[Roark]

I think a couple of people here have over-simplified the reason/cause why someone would knowingly watch this stuff.

I've seen a couple of the clips that have been mentioned here, and I'll readily admit that it was morbid curiosity and a feeling of being "cloistered" in my daily life which motivated me to see them.

I mean, I've seen some horrible stuff, but almost all of it consists of accidents or acts of God, rather than directed violence.

To answer the original question, I felt profoundly saddened and horrified after seeing the videos. I generally look for the best in human beings in all situations, and I'm a guy who's very sensitive to the pain of others. Bad combo.

I have a really hard time being optimistic about the human race when my mind tries to reconcile the fact that we are the same species as the psychopaths and discompassionate fanatics we share this world with.

Anyway, I don't think I'm "sick". I'm glad that I saw some of the material, because I will never EVER forget it. It brought home some realities, and might induce me to be more compassionate to my fellow man in situations which I would otherwise not be as receptive...