More inanimate objects that clouded thought and emboldened criminals

[friendly_iconoclast]

Not guns- comic books. I knew I'd heard some of the recent arguments in the Gungeon before, and here they are...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduction_of_the_Innocent

Seduction of the Innocent


Seduction of the Innocent is a book by American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, published in 1954, that warned that comic books were a negative form of popular literature and a serious cause of juvenile delinquency. The book was a minor bestseller that created alarm in parents and galvanized them to campaign for censorship. At the same time, a U.S. Congressional inquiry was launched into the comic book industry. Subsequent to the publication of Seduction of the Innocent, the Comics Code Authority was voluntarily established by publishers to self-censor their titles.

Seduction of the Innocent cited overt or covert depictions of violence, sex, drug use, and other adult fare within "crime comics" — a term Wertham used to describe not only the popular gangster/murder-oriented titles of the time, but superhero and horror comics as well. The book asserted, largely based on undocumented anecdotes, that reading this material encouraged similar behavior in children.

Comics, especially the crime/horror titles pioneered by EC, were not lacking in gruesome images; Wertham reproduced these extensively, pointing out what he saw as recurring morbid themes such as "injury to the eye".<1> Many of his other conjectures, particularly about hidden sexual themes (e.g. images of female nudity concealed in drawings of muscles and tree bark, or Batman and Robin as gay partners), met with derision within the comics industry. (Wertham's claim that Wonder Woman had a bondage subtext was somewhat better documented, as her creator William Moulton Marston had admitted as much; however, Wertham also claimed Wonder Woman's strength and independence made her a lesbian. However, she is traditionally portrayed as a heterosexual and a virgin).<2> Wertham also claimed that Superman was un-American and was a fascist.

Wertham critiqued the commercial environment of comic book publishing and retailing, objecting to air rifles and knives advertised alongside violent stories. Wertham sympathized with retailers who didn't want to sell horror comics, yet were compelled to by their distributors' table d'hôte product line policies....

(emphasis added)


http://www.lostsoti.org/

[sharesunited]

1. Professor Harold Hill asked the parents of River City:

Is your son starting to memorize jokes from Captain Billy's Whiz Bang?

We've got trouble. Right here.

[old mark]

2. Several years ago, I began an experiment to determine if guns did in fact

cause trouble and violence. I placed a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver in a drawer in my home, and checked on it periodically. To date, it has done absolutely nothing. In fact our family income has increased, we had new windows installed, and traded in our car for a new one. So, I can state that, at least in this instance, the gun has not caused any trouble or violence at all, but has increased our income, added to the value of our home, as well as contributed to the greening of America, and helped the depressed economy by the value of one SUV.
Still, the gun remains in place, the experiment continues and who knows what evil may yet transpire.
Rec.
mark

[Katya Mullethov]

3. There is a long running experiment

You could call it a vigil , an experiment in the collective consciousness of the internet and the apparent spontaneity of assault weapon crimes . http://www.assaultweaponwatch.com/

[east texas lib]

6. Unbelievable!

It sits there emanating evil and malice. Can nothing defeat its unholy power? :scared:

[Katya Mullethov]

7. Time

Its been sitting there in that corner for 5 or 6 years .

[old mark]

8. Well, my experiment involves a S&W Model 1917 .45 ACP revolver made around

1919, and finally assembeled and sold to Brazil for service in their military. I bought it as a birthday present to myself for turning 60, and it has yet to "cause trouble" for me.

mark

[SteveM]

11. Don't they let it out; you know, to use the restroom? (nt)

[spin]

4. Those who oppose firearm ownership point out that guns are inherently evil...

and that they are designed for only one purpose, to kill.

It's possible that they fear the inherent evil in themselves and they fear that owning a firearm might cause them to lose control of their inner feelings.

Some people have a hard time understanding that other people aren't driven by the same demons.

[oneshooter]

5. Since they do not trust themselves with a firearm

They believe that nobody is to be trusted with one.
Since they believe themselves to be better than"those others".
They are elitists of the worse type.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[bertman]

9. I dispute the notion that guns are only made for one purpose, to kill. Sometimes it's

much better to wound the victim so he/she can suffer or be tortured or kept as a prisoner for ransom.




:evilgrin:


Also, it should be noted that the military claimed (back in the Vietnam era) that wounding a soldier tied up ten of his comrades in arms who were caring for him, getting him to safety, and treating him; whereas, killing the poor soul just accounted for one soldier out of action.

[Euromutt]

10. The more things change...

In the 1950s, it was comic books that were corrupting our youth and making them violent.
In the 1980s, it was role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, and Judas Priest.
In the 1990s, it was Marilyn Manson.
These days, it's video games.

And in the 18th century, they were saying exactly the same thing about novels that they are about video games now: that the youth spend their time sacked out on the couch, immersed in imaginary worlds and filling their heads with dangerous ideas, instead of getting out into the open air, etc.

[Hare K Beauregard]

12. The Civil War was caused by...

...the novels of Sir Walter Scott.

A lot of people don't know that.

[oneshooter]

13. And in the peacefully land of OZ

Apparently it is corkscrews that have an evil bond over mere mortals!

Man stabbed in the head with a corkscrew

Emergency authorities say a man has been stabbed with a corkscrew on Sydney's northern beaches overnight.

Police were called to a fight at Bardo Road in Newport around midnight.

Ambulance officers say the man was punched in the head with a corkscrew and has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Two people have been arrested over the incident.

Or possibly even their BOOTS have a evil influence!

Man allegedly stomped on woman's head

A man will appear in court today charged with intent to murder over an assault in Sydney's south overnight.

Police were called to a Mortdale home early this morning after reports of a fight between a 27-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman.

Police allege the 27-year-old threw the woman onto a concrete driveway and stomped on her head a number of times before throwing a large terracotta pot at her.

She is in a stable condition in St George Hospital, having sustained two fractured eye sockets and severe bruising and swelling to her head.

The man has been refused bail and charged with wound with intent to murder and inflict grievous bodily harm.

"inflict grievous bodily harm" is that the same as "assault"?

Next we will hear of permits required and restrictions on these dangerous items!

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas