Something Fun To Do On The Weekend
From CNN.com, the headline: Teen Burns Self With “Jackass”-Type Stunt
“A 15-year-old Washington state boy suffered serious burns when he set himself on fire trying to re-enact a stunt similar to those from MTV’s controversial show “Jackass,” though an MTV spokesperson noted the stunt the boy tried had never appeared on the show or in the recent movie based on the show.”
“The boy from the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Washington, soaked his shirt in rubbing alcohol late on Friday and ignited it while his friends stood by with a video camera shooting footage.”
I’m sure many people will cite this as another example of violence in the media and the succeptibility of our children to emulate what they see. And I’m sure people far more intelligent than myself will write brilliant editorials to this effect in the New York Times. But personally, the first thought that struck me upon reading the article wasn’t “That poor teenager—those bastards in Hollywood!” but “He soaked his shirt in RUBBING ALCOHOL and LIT HIMSELF ON FIRE?”
I mean—well, Jesus. That’s easily the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Anyone stupid enough to cover themselves in rubbing alcohol and spark up a match shouldn’t be worth a news story. If left to their own devices, they’d most likely find some way or another to off themselves—putting a plastic garbage bag over their heads and jumping headfirst off the roof or something. I mean, I’m sympathetic to the poor kid, but—come on! I loved the band Pearl Jam when I was sixteen. If Eddie Vedder came up to me at sixteen and said “You know, me and the guys in Pearl Jam think you’d be really cool if you’d douse yourself in gasoline and set yourself alight,” I know exactly what I would have done. I’d have started listening to Soundgarden.
I think the “Jackass” guys are somewhat culpable here. In doing horrific stunts and coming out unscathed, they’re certainly sending out the message that stunts like this aren’t as dangerous as you’d think. But that culpability only goes so far. And the day we as a society blame someone else when an idiot dunks his head in flammable liquid and sets himself on fire, and NOT the idiot himself, then I think we’ve lost touch with reality.
I just feel bad for the parents. If there’s a clearer sign your genetic material isn’t up to scratch, I’d like to hear it.