01/13/2005 Archived Entry: "Wave of Destruction"

Just downloaded and watched a bunch of tsunami videos. I don't have any tv to watch so this was the first time I saw this thing in action. After watching them, it's easy to understand how a lot of people were caught in the water. When the wave's out in the water, it doesn't look intimidating at all, there's nothing to contrast its size to; many people were just standing gawking and not realizing the danger they were in. Not until the waves splash down do you get an idea of how much force and volume they exert. Even the cameramen who're on third and fourth floors and see the waves tearing down trees and washing away cars comment about the crazyness of it but still stand there until the waters surprisingly manage to reach them and they start to panic, there were a few such moments that actually got laughs from me.

Whenever I'm about to watch disturbing things like this, I always go in thinking that I may not be able to handle it but that's never the case. I was eating lunch while watching people carrying away washed up carcasses and it didn't really phase me. I think it surprises me how desensitized I've become to blood and gore and death; I've watched episodes of Trauma where they open up chest cavities and show you pulsing lungs without flinching. Where does this desensitisation come from? I'm not totally sure but I think anime has a hand in it, particularly Neon Genesis: Evangelion.

Replies: 4 comments

Someone write a comment here. Please?

Posted by Rayne @ 01/17/2005 04:16 PM EST

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Posted by Anonymous @ 01/17/2005 08:57 PM EST

I don't think anime has anything to do with me being desensitised. I'm not sure where I got it from. I would guess in part becuase of my Dad and the fact that I wanted to be in the same profession as him.
*warning, long post ahead*

My step brother and step sister don't understand how I can react the way I do to so called gruesome situations. Like the other day, I drove Chantel (step sister) to her basketball practice. On the way there, we saw two ambulances parked outside an apartment building with their lights on and a fire truck a little ahead of them. Didn't really think too much of it. They were still there when I went back home. When I went back 2 hours later to pick her up, there was now only an unmarked white van and a cop car. No lights. Behind the van, on the road, just sitting there, was a No. 9 stretcher. I thought that was odd. We generally don't leave these out like that. (They'll get cold, they may be stolen etc.) I got Chantel and as we were driving I was telling her about the van etc. We were both puzzlued as to the reason. As we were talking about it we got to the scene and we got our answer. Two guys were bringing out a full body bag. Now, I've never actually seen this happen in real life. I laughed and said "Well that explains it! Doesn't matter if it gets cold!" It didn't bother me in the least. Chantel on the other hand, plastered herself on the far side of the vehicle, started hyperventilating and looked like she was going to throw up. I too always think I may not be able to handle a situation but so far (knock on wood) I haven't had it happen.

Long enough post for you Thai? ;)

Posted by Andrea @ 01/18/2005 03:14 AM EST

Yeah, that's pretty long =P

I've seen a dead person once, it was my gramma. I'm not sure if I can deal with this kind of stuff in real life...but maybe.

Posted by Rayne @ 01/21/2005 12:39 PM EST