Shouts fill the lunchroom; students stand on tables; security guards rush to the scene. A fight has three stages: The first stage contains the actions, words, or eye contact that start a fight. The second stage is the violence itself, the shortest stage. The final stage consists of six-hour discussions amongst bystanders. Violence has always been a part of humanity, directly or indirectly affecting our lives. And though Miss America beauty pageant winners wish only for “world peace”, they must know that will never occur for one single reason. Though fighting at school is certainly not encouraged, it creates such a stir among students because humans are addicted to violence.
After a fight, one witness might say, “That was awesome.” A second might respond, “Awesome? If you think that’s awesome, you’re sick.” So who is right?
Sports are one of the largest forms of entertainment available to mankind. Even the most unathletic people can be intrigued by sports because of the violence. Football games present grueling contact between players. Baseball games are interrupted by brawls between both teams in the center of the field. Most famous of all, hockey attracts some fans solely by allowing two players to engage in a one-on-one fist fight. No matter the sport, some type of violence occurs during the game, or at least has the potential to transpire. “When a football player flattens his opponent with a bone-crushing hit, the crowd leaps to its feet and roars approval. When hockey referees break up a fight, spectators often jeer. In the increasingly popular mixed martial arts competitions, bloodied and battered fighters can knee, elbow, and kick each other in the face… Violent sports, movies and games enjoy popularity and profitability because of the excitement and ‘forbidden fruit’ factor, say psychology experts,” reports Madison Parks of CNN. Observing an altercation on school grounds is just another chance for humans to taste that “forbidden fruit”.
Being enthralled with violence is not a sin, nor should it be dubbed immoral by peers. Instead, think of it as human nature. Ayush Midha spoke on multiple studies of violent video games when saying, “…the thriving presence of such lucrative forms of entertainment suggests that humans are not only naturally attracted to but also enjoy violent behavior.” Charles Johnston, M.D. also says, “the drama and titillation of violent scenarios serve to create a sense of excitement, potency and significance that is missing from most people’s daily lives.” That excitement one feels is normal, because it’s not present on a constant basis. Feelings of exhaustion are also typical after watching a fight; experiencing a fight can be therapeutic and eliminate aggression built up inside. Dr. Jeffery Kottler says, “[when] watching violence – a fight in a school, watching a violent movie, seeing a car accident, watching a football game – … normal people… actually experience a calmer response afterwards, it’s like they’re physically or emotionally drained or exhausted.”
The school rules are clear. If you see a fight, move away. But if what you see before you leave captivates you, don’t feel ashamed; it is in your nature to be drawn to violence. You are human.
