Martial Artist Opinions Needed!

[David McCullough]

Hello, My name is David McCullough. I am an instructor at a Martial Arts School in Grants, New Mexico. I am writing you today because I need your help. I have been asked to testify on behalf of the fighting arts on the issue of unnecessary violence and the effects that it has on children and other people.

Let me give you a background on how this came to be. New Mexico is one of the last states that allow cockfighting. Many people are out to change this. I have been asked to testify what happens when people are exposed to unnecessary violence such as cock fighting.

I believe that when people are exposed to unnecessary violence they become more violent. This is due to them becoming desensitized to violence and that nothing shocks them. In addition, I believe that they become addicted to the adrenaline from watching these fights.

I do want to clarify one thing before I go on. Unnecessary violence is participating in the killing of animals forthe joy of watching something die. Necessary violence is learning, training and fighting to protect you and others. Then you see superficial violence on television. This I do not believe has much of an effect on people.

I am asking Martial Artist what their opinion is on this subject. This is for several reasons. One I would like to see if my opinion is backed by the professional fighting community. Another I would like to be able to go in and testify that the fighting community is of the same thought that I am. Last, I would like to use the quotes of other professional fighters when I testify. Please respond to this email. All I ask is for you to let me know if you agree or disagree. If you have time, would you please tell me your thoughts on the subject?

Thank You,

David McCullough

Email to david@7cities.net

[Tony10]

Er, never mind. I don't want to spoil something so finely crafted.

My apologies.

[Edited by Tony10 on 11-09-2000 at 04:05 PM]

[Mickey Finn]

Trolling for Mr. Manco, Mr. Joe Manco…..

[John Bennett]

Originally posted by David McCullough
I believe that when people are exposed to unnecessary violence they become more violent.

If this is the case, watching or participating in fighting sports (boxing, Olympic TKD, Judo, etc.) causes more violence and desensitizes both the participants and spectators to violence.

Many people would argue that matial arts training IS unnecessary violence.

You must follow your logic to its reasonable conclusion without making exceptions for something you personally happen to participate in (martial arts).

Unless you can find some good studies conducted in an objective scientific manner that agree with you, you really don't have any facts to back your case that one type of violence is less harmful than another.


Instead, you should go for the animal cruelty angle.

Cockfighting is different than human fighting because the animals are forced into a staged fighting situation. When human stage fighting contests, the participants do so of their own free will.

[Tony10]

All right I wasn't going to spoil it, but the only question that remains is:

For Manco or BY Manco?

[Mickey Finn]

Hmmmm….BY….. That’s a wrinkle I hadn’t thought of Tony.

[duchman]

tttt

[Tony10]

Sh*t. Now we just ruined it...

[fascistfury]

i believe that watching violence on TV does have a desensitizing effect on people, esp young children.

for once, i agree w/ john bennet...if you're intent is to protect NHB or martial arts,then i would definitely spend my entire effort on distancing MA from cockfighting.

if your intent i to solely prove that TV violence does not have adverse effects on peole, then i am afraid that you are fighting a losing battle. i spent this entire summer in criminal justice classes, and almost all of the reports that i have read support the notion that TV violence promotes violence. later!

[Tony10]

or... maybe not...

[rockinronnie]

David - What did you say the name of your MA school was? And where are you testifying?

You say you're going to use the recommendations from the MA community (on the basis of if they agree or disagree with you), but what if all disagree with your theory?

Personally, I disagree....

but I do agree that this is the act of a troll.

Anyone wanna come clean before someone figures it out, or, rather...."before the TROLLee becomes reTROLLED by the TROLLER"? (?)

Ronnie.

_________________________________
A straight arm's still a broken arm - Master JPF

One question:

In cockfighting, are the birds fought to the death?

If so, that's one distinction you could make right there.

Also, are the birds forced to fight, or, as Pit Dog describes his dogs, do they exult in the fighting?

That would make a difference to me.

[Pintufa]

[quote]Originally posted by fascistfury
i believe that watching violence on TV does have a desensitizing effect on people, esp young children.


if your intent i to solely prove that TV violence does not have adverse effects on peole, then i am afraid that you are fighting a losing battle. i spent this entire summer in criminal justice classes, and almost all of the reports that i have read support the notion that TV violence promotes violence. later! [/QUOTE

Correct, but with TV you have the power of the remote to change the channel everytime something violent comes on and you don't want your kids to see it. Well what if I'm not there to change the channel, you say; that's easy you set a block on those certain channels. Those violent video games that people say will make kids violent, DON'T BUY THEM. Yes it's as simple as that.

No one's forcing you to watch. You have your own free will.

[Tony10]

LMFAO Pintufa at your "signature." Hilarious.

[Ryu (non-working password]

You know, I have heard that "just use the off switch" argument all the time, but I have to say that the argument implies that everyone is of moral equality, and despite how this might make some people mad, that is not the case.
Many parents don't care, and they do not have the moral sense to "turn off the TV". So their kids may end up being effected because of it.

Ryu