I think this is so mean. He's so young!

See here.

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06-12-06, 04:59 PM
Sherasi
That was totally wrong! Sheesh!

06-12-06, 06:14 PM
Sarai
That is very mean! I'll bet a mean older sibling was behind that one.

I have a confession to make, though. When my stepdaughter, who I love very much, got an email address for the first time, I would try to send her an email every few days so she would have something to open (she was only about 9 or 10 at the time). Once I found a game on Yahoo that I thought looked like fun. I played it for a few minutes and thought it was cute, so I sent it to her. She opened it at our house and started to play, and it ended in one of those scary, screaming faces, too. It still makes me angry - it started out like a very nice game for a kid, and really seemed directed at kids. Mad She reacted in much the same way as that kid - and I did, too! It was really scary! I was so angry that the game didn't state that it wasn't for kids, and mad at myself for not realizing that a game that looked so innocent could end like that. Frown I gave her a big hug and an apology, because I really didn't know and I certainly didn't mean to send her something scary. I really wanted go kick the behind of whoever posted that game without a warning for parents!

It was an important lesson for me in being careful with the internet.

06-12-06, 07:28 PM
MrsS
Seems like a high tech version of a Jack in the Box, a toy I always found very frightening.

06-12-06, 07:33 PM
Sarai
Except that a jack-in-the-box doesn't cause an adult to scream and practically fall over from fear. The screaming face that comes up is terrifying.

06-12-06, 09:27 PM
MrsS
Oh, Absolutely agreed, Sarai! My comment was not at all intended to minimize the "Scare Value" of the horrid face popping out of an innocent looking screen, merely making the comparison.

07-03-06, 09:14 PM
gerry
This is child abuse in every way. Especially so since it was published on the web and labeled by someone as the 'funniest video ever'. Yeah, real funny, just like the tv show of the same name that shows people nearly getting killed while America laughs. I guess I've lost my sense of humor.

07-03-06, 09:49 PM
DvdGStwrt
But seriously now - it was funny - maybe not for the kid at the time. I bet if you put that kid in a room with an unknowing kid playing the "game" and he sees the reaction of that kid when the scary face comes up he will laugh, hoot and have a great old time.

But then please note I am a guy - guys have wicked sense of humor and find things funny that you woman folk just don't get or see as funny.

Mind it was Mom who always warned of getting your eye poked out - Dad on the other hand....

07-03-06, 10:41 PM
jusork

quote:
Originally posted by gerry:
This is child abuse in every way. Especially so since it was published on the web and labeled by someone as the 'funniest video ever'. Yeah, real funny, just like the tv show of the same name that shows people nearly getting killed while America laughs. I guess I've lost my sense of humor.



It is possible for something to be funny and not very nice at the same time. And although the joke is old, that reaction is priceless. America's Funniest Home Videos is quite lame most of the time though. Who even watches that?

07-04-06, 09:01 AM
frankvan
I have to agree with gerry. Perhaps we have lost our sense of humor, but I'm more inclined to think that we, as a nation, are in danger of becoming insensitized to the discomfort of others. The proliferation of so-called reality entertainement in which the fear, embarrassment, or humiliation of others is the source of entertainment value, causes me concern. Does humor have to be adulterated with elements of sadism?

I have to agree that sometimes things are funny but not terribly nice, but I think it behooves us to question ourselves as to the degree to which we are able to tolerate the joke at someone else's expense. Wink


07-04-06, 12:47 PM
gerry
Amen to that, Frank.

Let's put it another way: Who amongst us would play that same prank on our child, grandchild, niece, nephew...or any child for that matter, being of the same age, more or less, and all the while videotaping the blessed event, with perhaps the intent to send it to AFV for profit? None, I would guess. This kid's going to have nightmares for another 10 years. But at least he's learned never to trust an adult, which they tell me is a good thing.

07-04-06, 02:48 PM
jusork
You make an good point, Frank. I think becoming insensitized is an understandable concern. How insensitized are we, I'm not sure. Maybe a little, to guess. I know I still feel the pain or discomfort of others when I watch such things. That doesn't mean I don't also realize that I'm glad I'm not him or her. So I don't think we look beyond their fear, embarrassment, or humiliation. I'm not sure if that means we probably aren't becoming insensitized. What do you think?

And to answer your question, humor definitely doesn't have to be humiliating to be funny. Smart and clever are still humor's most effective and funniest methods.

I wouldn't normally expect a child to get that freaked out actually. Most get one huge fright and it's gone. I'd only do it to my child if I knew they wouldn't get that worked up.

07-06-06, 11:07 AM
Sarai
I still maintain that an adult didn't do this. I'm so certain that it was an older brother or sister that I'd be willing to put money on it. This just has teenager humor written all over it.

Child abuse? I don't know. Big brothers and sisters have tormented their younger siblings for eons. But it isn't nice, that's for sure!

07-15-06, 09:23 PM
gerry

quote:
Originally posted by jusork:
I wouldn't normally expect a child to get that freaked out actually. Most get one huge fright and it's gone. I'd only do it to my child if I knew they wouldn't get that worked up.

Any child under 13 would get VERY freaked out and worked up by such a prank. Please do not ever assume that your child can handle such cruelty.

Sarai: Maybe the prankster was Big Bro(especially if it was one of those 'myspace' posts), but maybe not. The billing says, "...Dad plays prank".

07-15-06, 11:46 PM
jusork
Any child? Maybe you don't think much about the strengths that kids can have. Do you think any kid who watches that would have nightmares for ten years as you mentioned above?

07-16-06, 08:11 AM
frankvan
Any child ? No. Some children, Yes. I think it is dangerous to make assumptions about children and situations we are familiar with, and apply them to every case. I think Sarai may be right that it sounds like a big brother thing, but I have two brothers who are nineteen years apart in age, and in similar instances it could very well be child abuse. Most cases of child abuse, cruelty, etc. are hard for most people to imagine. If my six year old great grandson plays mean tricks on his three year old sister, she retaliates adequately and we don't worry.

07-16-06, 02:11 PM
jusork
I certainly wouldn't assume something is true in every case. That was the point I was getting at above actually. And I wouldn't pretend to know whether a kid would get scared or not either.

07-16-06, 10:03 PM
gerry
That screaming demonic face jumping at you unexpectedly is terrifying to an adult; to a 6 year old....yes, ANY 6 year old... it is devastating. I suppose anyone is free to try it out on their big and tough child, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin... but in Grampy's humble opinion, it will be a big and cruel mistake. Rather than getting a laugh at a child's expense, why not try watching a Marx Brothers rerun instead? Now THAT was comedy!
07-16-06, 10:37 PM
jusork
6 years old is young. I doubt that kid was 6 years old.

How about some Charlie Chaplin?

10-09-06, 01:33 PM
dodgecity
HA HA HA he he that was very funny
Big Grin Big Grin Big Grin Big Grin

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