Oct 28, 2023·edited Oct 28, 2023Liked by You Don't Need Maps
This was such a fascinating read. Thank you so much for sharing something so raw and personal. I've always been on the other side: Cover my eyes during news reports showing images, strongly dislike when people cheer during gorey scenes in movies, and generally avoid anyone remotely into this stuff. I built a lot of bias against people who are into it and found it very disturbing how seemingly normal people can become so obsessed with it. The dopamine theory is interesting but also upsetting since I have ADHD friends and now wonder about this aspect. I wonder how common that trend you depict really is (both the self-harm and video addiction).
I did have this one time as a kid where my neighbor would always come over and take over my computer to play Counter-Strike all day. So one day I left a giant bag of cheetohs (not sure why) and the PC on rotten (I left before I saw anything) and went downstairs where I heard him maniacally laugh for an hour like a cartoon villain having a psychotic break. He later joined the military where he probably blew someone's head off so he's fine. I think he was more bothered when I forced him to listen to Mates of State while playing tbh.
In any case, I really appreciate how you shed light on this taboo subject and provided a path to empathy for those that engage with it.
This was such a fascinating read. Thank you so much for sharing something so raw and personal. I've always been on the other side: Cover my eyes during news reports showing images, strongly dislike when people cheer during gorey scenes in movies, and generally avoid anyone remotely into this stuff. I built a lot of bias against people who are into it and found it very disturbing how seemingly normal people can become so obsessed with it. The dopamine theory is interesting but also upsetting since I have ADHD friends and now wonder about this aspect. I wonder how common that trend you depict really is (both the self-harm and video addiction).
I did have this one time as a kid where my neighbor would always come over and take over my computer to play Counter-Strike all day. So one day I left a giant bag of cheetohs (not sure why) and the PC on rotten (I left before I saw anything) and went downstairs where I heard him maniacally laugh for an hour like a cartoon villain having a psychotic break. He later joined the military where he probably blew someone's head off so he's fine. I think he was more bothered when I forced him to listen to Mates of State while playing tbh.
In any case, I really appreciate how you shed light on this taboo subject and provided a path to empathy for those that engage with it.
Really great read, thank you for this!