Laughing At Stupid People's Misfortunes

[JustinHesychast]

Is it wrong to laugh and have no sympathy for stupid people (with no mental disorders - just the ones that are idiots)? Like the people from Jackass or this guy (I removed the link. It was this guy who was trying to get a crocodile to close its mouth, and after hitting it many times decided to stick his arm in its mouth. The croc clamps down tight and goes into several death rolls).
(http://www.shoutwire.com/viewstory/33611/Asian_Crocodile_Hunter_Fool_)

[gzt]

Laughing at people who are doing it to provoke laughs is one thing, but I am very disturbed by things like the Darwin Awards, which are evil because they make light of the deaths of fellow human beings.

[JustinHesychast]

But on that link I gave you, he wasn't doing it to be funny. He was just an idiot. :P

[gzt]

Well, you've gotta ask: is it more like the Darwin Awards, or is it more like Jackass? One critical difference is that the Darwin Awards typically involve death and this guy survived, but that seems to be the only one.

[Protoevangel]

You know, I hate it when that happens. ;)

There's another video of a man sticking his head into the mouth of a croc. Thank Heaven that this croc didn't go into a death roll like the one you posted.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-582853663410203817

Man,

[Cyprian31]

I'm getting to where I try not to laugh at the stupidity of others. And death is never funny...unle3ss it's Kenny.

Peace.:cool:

[Greg the byzantine]

That would fill up your quota of points on my Sunday School discipline chart :P. Some kid got all three penalty marks today and so was given the punishement (He had to copy word for word our reading on St. Gerasimos) and started crying (I felt really horrible). One kid decided to laugh at him, so he got punished as well. You shall not laugh at other people's misfortune, I don't care whether they bring it on themsleves or not.

[PrincessMommy]

One kid decided to laugh at him, so he got punished as well. You shall not laugh at other people misfortune, I don't care whether they bring it on themsleves or not.

I agree - that wasn't funny. :crosseo:

[JustinHesychast]

I just find it hard to have sympathy for idiots.

[PrincessMommy]

I just find it hard to have sympathy for idiots.

First- this is obviously not your average joe off the street. Would you say that about the guy from Sigfred and Roy?

Secondly - Last night I made a pretty embarrasing faux pas in front of several people. I'm very glad they had sympathy on me.

[JustinHesychast]

First- this is obviously not your average joe off the street. Would you say that about the guy from Sigfred and Roy?

Secondly - Last night I made a pretty embarrasing faux pas in front of several people. I'm very glad they had sympathy on me.


I don't mean things like that. I'm talking about the real idiots The kind that stick their hand in an alligator's mouth. :P

[gzt]

You don't need much sympathy - only enough not to laugh and mock.

[icxn]

I don't mean things like that. I'm talking about the real idiots The kind that stick their hand in an alligator's mouth. :P
I find the kind that stick their tongue out of their mouth in every other post they make, much more idiotic.

;)

[JustinHesychast]

Oh, bah. :P It's a cute smiley. See? :P

Plus it has many uses. :P It can be used in many situations. :P

:P

[rusmeister]

Just make the distinction between laughing at a person or misfortune and laughing at the ridiculousness of a stupid act.
Many stupid acts will be funny and I will laugh, with no apology.
But to laugh at another's misfortune? That ain't Christian.

[ThePosterFormerlyKnownAs]

I used to have huge issues with this very thing. Then I started thinking about how all the righteous people could (though they never would) laugh at all the stupid, sinful things I do that will likely land me in hell. Strange how stupid things don't seem nearly as funny now.

Edited to add:

I work with the public so I do often have to sigh and shake my head at stupid things people do but I try not to mock them. When I do mock and laugh at people for things, I feel such conviction that I can't maintain the mockery for long at all then I feel aweful for hours.

[eoe]

I just find it hard to have sympathy for idiots.Who then will have sympathy for you?

I am also guilty of this from time to time but am coming to see it differently. Even the show "America's funniest home videos" bothers me now because people are laughing at others being hurt.

I have done my fair share of both stupid things and laughing and I do hope that if I were to get hurt doing something dumb that someone would have compassion on me. OF course I am the worst of hypocrites but I also hope that I would have compassion on someone else.

That video should not be linked here. IT is graphic and disturbing. Please take the link down.

[Michael the Iconographer]

But on that link I gave you, he wasn't doing it to be funny. He was just an idiot. :P

That is hardly a Christian attitude. Christ said let the person who has not sinned cast the first stone. Would you like us to laugh at you if you ever accidentally do something totally stupid that causes great harm to you and call you an idiot? I think not.

[JustinHesychast]

Link removed. I wouldn't have posted it if I found it graphic. To me graphic is movies like Saw. ;) But, link removied. :)

I can understand not laughing at people who run into doors (I have done so many times), and other stupid things. I'm mostly talking about complete idiots. The sort of people who decide to stick their hand into a crocodile's mouth...

I don't know. Not being an EO, I guess I just find it hard to see what the deal is at laughing at people who do something 100% idiotic....

Sorry. I'm trying.

[eoe]

Your sin is 100% idiotic. (so is mine...)

[Michael the Iconographer]

Link removed. I wouldn't have posted it if I found it graphic. To me graphic is movies like Saw. ;) But, link removied. :)

I can understand not laughing at people who run into doors (I have done so many times), and other stupid things. I'm mostly talking about complete idiots. The sort of people who decide to stick their hand into a crocodile's mouth...

I don't know. Not being an EO, I guess I just find it hard to see what the deal is at laughing at people who do something 100% idiotic....

Sorry. I'm trying.
Using the word idiotic to describe anothers actions is judgemental. It is saying "I am too good to do something like that." Their actions might be illogical, but to call them idiots is passing judgement that is not yours to give.

[kamikat]

I don't know. Not being an EO, I guess I just find it hard to see what the deal is at laughing at people who do something 100% idiotic....

Sorry. I'm trying.

It's not about being EO. It's about being Christian. Is this how we show our Christian love and compassion for our fellow man? I'm sure many of us have struggled with laughing at others, but it is something to fight, not something to indulge in.