Drudge Retort: Red Meat for Yellow Dogs
Thursday, March 18, 2010

A French documentary put a new twist on the classic Milgram experiment, which showed that ordinary people will torture a stranger at the command of an authority figure. In the documentary, reality TV contestants applied what they believed were real electric shocks to a game show contestant answering questions, "with the voltage increasing by increments from 80 to 460 volts with each incorrect response." Sixty four out of 80 people "carried on with the game until it became something akin to a torture session," reports France24.

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It proves people are sick at the core the excuse of authority is simply a way of consoling the conscious and justifying what you really want to do anyway.

FTA: The startling outcome was that 80% of interrogators carried on with the game until it became a torture session. One might be tempted to assume that these people are crazy, sadistic, or particularly cowardly. But the psychological conclusion, at once both simple and unimaginable, is that they were simply following orders: they hated making Jean-Paul suffer, expressed their desire to stop the game, but, apart from 16 participants, never managed to resist authority.

Fascinating, albeit deeply chilling stuff.

Good eye, Yav.

One doubt
One voice
One war
One truth
One dream

We do what we're told

Told to do

Milgram's 37

~Peter Gabriel.

/Yes, obligatory.

Be Well.

Bread and Circuses, indeed.

Probably not unlike what Nancy's doing to certain Congressmen this week (speaking of Bread & Circuses).

"The interrogators are not dominated by a hierarchical stucture, but rather by the grip of TV's power," Jean-Lon Beauvois, a researcher in social psychology, explained.

In other words, they don't dare contradict the demands of the TV host an iconic role in which they place their trust before whom they find themselves alone. "An individual faced with a power greater than him becomes the most obedient being imaginable", Beauvois observed.

Wow. T.V.? Has that effect in France? Must be even worse over here. At least I imagine Americans are more T.V. oriented than the French.

Doesn't surprise me a bit---when you don't have an absolute value system then anything goes---U.S is currently gripped by a relative value system seen in many ways---why we will ultimately disintegrate.

I wonder about the demographics of the people involved. Were they educated or not? High or low IQ? Conservative or liberal? Wealthy or poorer? Did some of them actually enjoy inflicting pain (a la Cheney)?

You can torture the French with a cross look or marching with boots on. Who cares?

Doesn't surprise me a bit---when you don't have an absolute value system then anything goes---U.S is currently gripped by a relative value system seen in many ways---why we will ultimately disintegrate.

#5 | Posted by matsop at 2010-03-18 07:47 PM | Reply | Flag: here is a guy who's brain is already disintegrating!

Sounds like a Democrat. Just mindlessly following orders of Madame Pelosi...

At least I imagine Americans are more T.V. oriented than the French.

#4 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE

we are all just humans (yes the french are human too!) and as the experiment shows are subject to peer pressures.

Allowing torture in any form is wrong. This experiment shows what can happen to normal humans. They will torture if they think it is an acceptable and "normal" practice to their peers.

I see it here all the time. somehow regular humans on the DR (debatable) have convinced themselves that torture is ok and that it even works.

When given an order by an authority figure not enough will question that order.

When given an order by an authority figure not enough will question that order.

#10 | Posted by donnerboy

No shit. Look at the Majorities in the House and Senate in our Socialist Country.

re: Just mindlessly following orders of Madame Pelosi...

#9 | Posted by daprof at 2010-03-18 08:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

Just out of curiosity, what's the "Madame" bullshit about?

Wisgod-
I thought you were all for torture.

It is my impression that most likely the sheeplike torturers were rightwingers. Who else so blindly bows to authority without question? Who else places so much weight on the faceless voice of The Man? Who else is so willing turn over their civil liberties and freedoms to the government? (Not to many rightwingers in the ACLU.)

Wisgod-
I thought you were all for torture.

#13 | Posted by BetelG

When did I say that? When Daniel Pearl was beheaded or one of the others that I watched on the Internet?

Wisgod-
That reminds me what it was. Whenever our torture of prisoners comes up, you defend it by saying something like that, as if the behavior of monsters should lead us to compromise our ethics and humanity.

Whenever our torture of prisoners comes up, you defend it by saying something like that, as if the behavior of monsters should lead us to compromise our ethics and humanity.

#16 | Posted by BetelG

Yeah, dunking a person in water or playing Metallica makes us Monsters. Tough payback, isn't it? Tell it to the Widow Pearl.

"It is my impression that most likely the sheeplike torturers were rightwingers. Who else so blindly bows to authority without question?"
#14 | Posted by moder8

Here in Chicago we had around 200K people chanting OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA in Grant park one night. When he came out to speak tears ran down their faces. It was quite a spectacle.

Myself I was sitting at home and had a 45ACP locked and loaded in case the party got too out of hand.

The danger is you don't realize that this crosses all political bounds. Which of course makes you one of the sheep.

The guy desperately clutching his loaded 45ACP in the dark accuses someone else of being a fear driven sheep? Wow.

Myself I was sitting at home and had a 45ACP locked and loaded in case the party got too out of hand.

That speaks volumes about you.

People Will Torture on Reality TV

Personally I'd torture anyone* who even thinks for a moment that more goverment is the cure for anything

*includes ALL who voted for 0bama

That speaks volumes about you.

#20 | Posted by BetelG

And the Volume would be louder if anyone fucked with him.

Yeah, dunking a person in water or playing Metallica makes us Monsters. Tough payback, isn't it? Tell it to the Widow Pearl.

#17 | Posted by wisgod at 2010-03-18 08:26 PM | Reply | Flag:

Exactly like that. That's what made me realize that your definition of torture will always depend on who does it.

It also reminds me why I spend less and less time on debating morally relativistic morons such as you.

It also reminds me why I spend less and less time on debating morally relativistic morons such as you.

#23 | Posted by BetelG

That's rich. I've watch you skeedaddle everytime you act like a pompus ass. Got your shoes on?

Allowing torture in any form is wrong.

#10 | Posted by donnerboy

How about not posting then.

BetelG: Why would anyone try to argue with a consistently obnoxious and insulting poster like Wis. He is so virulently rightwing that there is no way he will ever acknowledge anything positive accomplished by those he disagrees with. Makes it a waste of time to engage him on any level. Also, it is my belief that it was people with his mindset who guarded the Concentration Camps a bit more than sixty five years ago.

Also, it is my belief that it was people with his mindset who guarded the Concentration Camps a bit more than sixty five years ago.

#26 | Posted by moder8

Nobody care what you believe when you make asinine comments like that, Pubic Defender.

Moder8-
I haven't posted much lately and just forgot how insipid some of the posters here are.

Truth stings you, huh? LOL. Insults and obnoxious put-downs are all you got. I can't recall you ever stating a well thought out position. What a joke.

The guy desperately clutching his loaded 45ACP in the dark accuses someone else of being a fear driven sheep? Wow.

#19 | Posted by moder8

Spoken from some pussy that would most likely not step foot in my neighborhood where 6 people have been shot in the alley 100 feet from where I am sitting. You really do live in your own little world. I'll bet it is a suburb too.

Truth stings you, huh?
Posted by moder8

Truth? Let us know when you learn the difference between truth and opinion, Thelma Lou.

Ever been alone in a small room with an enfuriated mass murderer or schizo gang member and had to reason with him? I have. In fact, as a public defender I would wager I have been unarmed with more unshackled dangerous, angry (and even psychotic) people than you can imagine. And yet, I still don't own a gun. And frankly, I don't even lock my doors most nights. So who is the real pussy, Mr.INeedMyGunOrThey'llGetMe?

Any Guards Moder8, or just more of your "look at me" bullshit, Drama Queen?

Ever been alone in a small room with an enfuriated mass murderer or schizo gang member and had to reason with him?

All in custody. Wow you are a bad mother fucker!

I imagine that they had a million ways to get free after they broke your fucking neck.

I'll tell you this about 3 weeks ago I had some drug addict piece of shit try to break into my home. After exactly 2 911 calls and no response I walked out the back door and told him if he didn't leave in 15 seconds I was going to "solve the problem".

Would you like to hear more, cause I could go on all night Mr. Public Defender.

That suburb comment must have hit home eh?

By the way they didn't fuck with you because you were defending them from assaulting someone like me shit bag.

"And frankly, I don't even lock my doors most nights."
#32 | Posted by moder8

Really man you have to tell me where you live. I am in need a good laugh.

They shoot horses, don't they?

Sadly, it is usually pathetic people like you who end up being killed or maimed by the people I represent. Even though you are probably a complete asshole, you almost certainly don't deserve the type of violence brought down on you.

Really the best defense is making friends with the neighbors and if you all work together your part of the neighborhood will become safe.

Loaded guns aside. I think there are two in the 40 households in our little patch of paradise. We don't talk about it much so it could be more.

MATS 25
LMAO.

JM

Once again a parallel to The Running Man movie. Aren't elites brilliant?

Previous parallel: Calls for shock bracelets on airlines because 'potentially somebody could get out of control'.

If this show is such a hit, shock bracelets are almost already a notch below taboo.

If they could have real torture of real politicians it would be the highest rated show ever.

Previous parallel: Calls for shock bracelets on airlines because 'potentially somebody could get out of control'.

Thanks for that reminder of Department of Homeland Security in 2005.

MATS 25
LMAO.

JM

#39 | Posted by dockj

Thanks JM---every once in awhile one of these gentlemen gets a little obnoxious and my evil sarcastic side comes out.

How you been?

Sadly, it is usually pathetic people like you who end up being killed or maimed by the people I represent. Even though you are probably a complete asshole, you almost certainly don't deserve the type of violence brought down on you.

#37 | Posted by moder8

Nice avoidance to the question of what fantasy land you live in counselor. You care so much about the public however somehow I am the "pathetic" one for wanting to protect myself and my family from the parasites that you defend. How many child molesters have you gotten off maggot? I know, I know you are just doing your job and even child molesters deserve to get another opportunity to go out and attack some child again. Try not to think about it too much though, I wouldn't what you to punish yourself for your crimes against humanity.

Dirk: You and Liz Cheney would make a beautiful couple. LOL

Dirk has a point. Anyone accused of a crime is guilty. Dirk is a child molester and terrorist, and thus is not entitled to a defense.

Dirk-
Can you prove that you are not a child molester or a terrorist to my satisfaction?

#18 | POSTED BY DIRK
"Myself I was sitting at home and had a 45ACP locked and loaded"

Dirk, nobody cares what you nickname your dirk.

I would have done this in a heart beat. Not becasue I like to hurt people but because I know damn well that there are 2 things you will NEVER see on network TV: REAL Murder/Death/Killing by a individual, the other is the REAL honest to god intense physical tourture of a human being by another. The sponsors would though a shit fit and it would never air

*Throw not "though"

...in our Socialist Country.
#11 | Posted by wisgod at 2010-03-18 08:10 PM | Reply | Flag: DRAMA QUEEN

Dirk, nobody cares what you nickname your dirk.

#48 | Posted by TheTom at 2010-03-19 02:03 AM

You might not what to post at 2:03 AM. The drugs were obviously kicking in by then.

Dirk has a point. Anyone accused of a crime is guilty. Dirk is a child molester and terrorist, and thus is not entitled to a defense.

#46 | Posted by BetelG

This was my point? Wow you aren't too sharp are you.

Alternate headline:

People get tortured by watching Reality TV

People do what they are conditioned to do. Dirk is a perfect example. The creative concept of putting one foot in front of the other was never considered. Instead, thanks to the Rambo mentality that TV created, he decides the best course of action is to get the biggest automatic weapon he can afford and spend his days behind his own locked cell door in anticipation of the day his gun will rescue him from the toilet bowl of humanity he chooses to live in.

Wisgod on the other hand takes on the attitude that it is his righteous nature that allows him to moralize torture so that other good men (not himself) can keep violence and injustice from invading his own little corner of hell.

Matsop, ever the politician, will always ride the fence on every controversial issue until he figures out which way the wind blows, and then offer an opinion irregardless of whether it is right or wrong.

In the end it all comes down to the fact that people do and think what they want to do and think and no amount of reason will ever change that.

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