Is That you In Your Avatar?-Tempting 20- Page 46

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:20am

It sounds like you celebrated more than most. And more appropriately as well.
To most this just a day off and a time to find a good bargain with the 4th of July sales.

My day was ok. We have this raging fire going on STILL in the Dismal Swamp, so fireworkes were cancelled and Ari had some asthma troubles.
Otherwise, we watched a movie and just relaxed.

[DG]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:23am

Wow - the Dismal Swamp - that's a name I haven't heard in a LONG time. I can't believe it's on fire!

Speaking of which, I think this fire season here is going to be off the charts - especially since it seems like 1/4 of the state is already ablaze

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:25am

Incidentally, my fave swamp name is Okefenokee.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:26am

That's a great name stagey.

I think this year is going to be crazy in terms of hurricanes too.

[DG]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:43am

True story: When I was 15, I did a little summer internship thing at the Dismal Swamp working with their snakes - they had an incredible collection of herpetoriums, with snakes from all over the world. Well, because of some issues at one point, I agreed to house an 18-foot King Cobra, which I kept in our attic for about 2 months. My parents didn't know.

It's things like that that made me realize that I could never have children. I would have killed me

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:45am

No argument from this corner.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:46am

!!!!!

Didn't they think it was odd when all the small animals in the neighborhood went missing?

[Robos89]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:49am

Hi!

[DG]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:58am

Hey, Robo.

Stagey - watch it

Taz - he was VERY well fed - and he was GORGEOUS!!! I spent HOURS with him, he was so intense. TRULY a king of his kind - or any other, for that matter. His hood was almost two feet across! I haven't thought about him in so long (probably because it was so long ago!)

[Robos89]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 1:59am

Just saw The Blair Witch Project... eh.

[nitsua]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:24am

For the first time?

I remember it freaked me out.

We just got back from Alameda. A friend of a friend had a BBQ and we were able to watch the fireworks from Oakland. It was really fun.

[Robos89]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:27am

Yeah, first time.

It freaked me out but I expected more.

[nitsua]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:30am

I haven't seen it in years.

I do remember the final scene gave me nightmares for weeks.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:34am

It freaked me out too.

I saw it in theaters and was like, eh. But then I got the dvd and watched at night, it was much more effective on my TV.

The final scene is truly disturbing.

I can't wait for you to see the end of The Mist rob.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:35am

The accompanying documentary CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH (which was shown on the Sci-Fi Channel prior to the movie's release) scared me more than the movie ever did.

Don't get me started on BOOK OF SHADOWS: BLAIR WITCH 2.

Updated On: 7/5/08 at 02:35 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:37am

Book Of Shadows is WAY underrated. It's a scary ass movie. It really creeped me out.

[Robos89]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:38am

I saw Curse Of The Blair Witch before watching the movie. IT was in the Special Features. I stopped it towards the beginning, it got too boring.

I loved the end... Poor Mike. Although, he was SOOO annoying.

The thing about The Mist is that, I hate movies about animals or weird creatures that kill people. I did, however, like Cloverfield!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:38am

That's 'cause you're a Pussy!

[DG]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:40am

Taz - I'm sure you'll have a response here.

What is it about the desire to feel fear? I just don't get why you would consciously place yourself in a position of feeling that emotion.

[Robos89]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:41am

I love scary movies...

It's fun to go there!

[DG]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:45am

It's 'fun' to feel 'fear'? I guess I just envision people standing around a stove going, "Wow, it hurts to touch that - let's do it again!"

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 2:55am

I guess it's akin to thrill seekers who enjoy bungee jumping or skydiving or scaling great heights. Fear produces an adrenaline rush or sorts.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 3:05am

It's not true fear DG. I know logically that it's just a movie.
The emotion of fear causes your endorphines to kick in, much like riding a roller coaster does.
A good scary movie is a safe way to get that rush. There have been a ton of psycholigical studies done on it. They all pretty much say what I just did.

Also, the stakes in horror movies are literally life and death. There is inherent tension and drama in that.



The history of horror mirrors what society is dealing with. Early horror which was influenced by German expressionism dealt with fear of the devil and hell. This was related to the early fear that the church instilled in people.
By the late 20s horror was more focused on what science could do. As medicine advanced, people were afraid of what it meant to their understanding of the human condition. Films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari dealt with that type of man made monster.
Then there was the whole Itallian/Giallo mocement which dealt with the occult. Horror movies that deal with the occult/ghosts tap into that part of us that is fascinated/curious about things that we don't understand. To some extent they validate the fact that there is a lot in the world that we don't understand or know. There is a sense of comfort in sharing these thoughts with others.

So ultimately, these fear inducing movies help us to deal with what is really scary in our world by bringing out our fears and making them relateable.

There is great catharisis in that.

Then there is the whole communal experience. being scared with a bunch of people (either in a theater with strangers, or at home with friends) makes it a more visceral experience. You can be scared, but you also know that there is safety in numbers.

Updated On: 7/5/08 at 03:05 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 3:08am

"They all pretty much say what I just did."

And you pretty much said what I just did albeit long-windedly.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/5/08 at 3:10am

I was writing my post and didn't see yours.