While searching on Netflix something to watching, I stumbled upon Squid Game.
photo: wikipedia.comI did not watch it. And to be honest – I don't want to. I don't like these types of series or films.
What drew my attention, actually what got me thinking, was not the show itself, but the buzz around it and the popularity it has achieved
How did it become so popular? Why are millions of individuals glued to their screens, watching a show where individuals are killed in children's games?
I don't get it.
And I'm not saying this because I think I'm morally superior to everyone else – that would be hypocritical. I mean, I also enjoy a good action film, a war film, or even a horror film.
Those can have anything – explosions, shootouts, killings.
But somehow, I think it's different. There is killing generally due to conflict, a fight for justice, or in the interest of survival.
The interest lies in the story, not in the killing.
Dirty Harry tracks maniacs down with his .44 Magnum.
Freddy's a psycho killing people in dreams because he was killed himself. And so on.
But in Squid Game killing is itself the objective.
photo: netflixBlood – just because the audience "loves to be shocked."
So I ask myself – have we really sunk this low as a species?
Is this the new standard? To view people killing each other for money, in scenes that don't even try to justify the violence, but actually glorify it?
I'd love to know – what is it about people that they need to watch such killing?
What does that say about us?
I am wondering – when such material has "become mainstream", what does this say about our values?
Are we getting desensitized to violence?
Someone will say, "It's just fiction", "It's not real", "You just don't get dark humour". yada yada yada.
But what if it's no longer fiction?
What if something similar actually happens in real life?
When Fight Club came out – yes, it was fiction – but then children in garages started real-life fight clubs, beating each other for real.
And people were horrified.
Is it that we then grab our phone to capture video of one's torment, and only perhaps help them afterwards – if it is not already too late?
So what if Squid Game does become real one day?
Will we be shocked or amused?
Will we let material like this shape our minds so that we no longer challenge it?
What if material of this kind is shaping our minds?
What if it's redefining what we consider "normal"?
We once all wanted to be Dirty Harry, Superman, or Batman – fighting for what is right, against injustice.
What happend to us, to mankind.
Will we ever be at the point where we want to be game masters, where we see people dying for entertainment?
Maybe it's time to ask ourselves why we look at it like that without thinking.
Is this reason why we becomeWill we ever get that far?
Killers, bullies, sociopaths.
Because on TV that's "cool" to watch?
That's why I'm not watching Squid Game.
Not because I'm superior, or smarter – saying that would be hypocritical –
But because I just don't like where we're going as a culture.
I don't like the fact that we've become people who will film someone's pain rather than help them.
Who think it's okay to bully the weak because that make us stronger.
I genuinely would love to hear your thoughts – especially from those who have watched Squid Game –
I'm Not to judgeing nobody, But just want to understand.
