Emetephobia violence and bad TV

Emetephobia?

I wonder do the puke scenes upset you?

I have noticed since the 80's there has been a big increase in puke scenes put in movies and put on TV. On comedy central I have to be ready with the remote,it seems they have puke alot on there.Even Cartoon network does it,Puking has increased in horror and sci fi movies and TV shows too. Sadly the things that trigger me are in movies I like as a genre.
You'd think they wouldn't show violent sickness on Animal planet but they do,and it is upsetting.

I cope instead of censor because after all it's MY phobia.. I block the sound and shut my eyes and wait for my partner to give me the all clear signal.( If I could find a v-chip to cut puke scenes out I would do it for my own video collection.)
But it is a pain in the ass to be triggered because triggers come in all sorts of movies and shows you'd never suspect of it.

But it's annoying as anything to me this graphic trend..Because here I am enjoying a good movie and they add puke in it and there is no reason for it being so graphically shown other than shocking or gross out,it adds no more depth or humor to the story,it's there to gross out the audience.

In the movie Caddy shack there is a barf scene that Belushi I think does into a car sunroof ,they don't show it all,you hear what's happening for a second and you get the picture without the sickening details...It's all the funnier when the antagonist sits in it later on..with a squish.

It's ironic to me how these "family values" people go on and on about cuss words and boobs and whatever.
But they say nothing as intensely about the puke, the death, and rape and abuse portrayed on TV and movies.Yet they raise such a stink over consenting sex,an anti Christian POV or cussing. It's crazy to me.

Irony notwithstanding... I myself wish that I didn't get triggered every time I see a movie,that on the surface looks like a decent comedy..Movies I think would be OK , are not.. I see jokes or scenes about wife beatings,pedophilia, abuse,rape,puke,bloody gunshot deaths,torture and dead bodies rotting and crawling with maggots on Tv..somehow, I am supposed to be OK with all this... If I am not OK with it I am somehow labeled a censor and equated with people freaking out over the word shit,or Janet Jacksons wardrobe malfunction..
Sometimes I wish there was a market for movies or a TV channel where blatant depictions of spousal abuse,torture or rape scenes were just not there,where rotting bodies didn't get the zoom lens treatment,where people ripping each other apart and ejecting their stomach contents all over the place in livid detail was considered bad taste.

Because I know you can tell a story and have it be scary,and cool without using gruesome torture scenes making the viewer trigger,you can avoid showing dramatized torture to make a point in a story, you can allude to all kinds of scary awful stuff without showing it in living color,close up in slo-mo every writhing ultra violent minute of suffering.

Why has it come to this for our culture, why has art lost it's integrity in the market of shock,violence,rape and repulse?
What has become of letting the imagination fill in where the camera shuts off? Why do we gotta see it all. Ever wonder why our culture is so abusive? Could a factor be because on TV the radio movies,everywhere abuse is being brought up pushed into our living rooms and into our consciousness. There is no safe places to decompress from your issues being confronted.

What happened to enjoying a movie without having to find out it has five billion triggers in it?

I saw sin city,because to me it looked cool the way the colors and comic book like feel was done,I was prepared for what I thought it was,I expected it to be film nior, with violence,sex and all like a good gumshoe movie..

What I didn't expect was this pedophile character torturing people. That was trigger central.Yes the detective nails the pervert thankfully..
But If I was to walk out of Sin city,It would have been worse I could not stand walking out without closure on the issues Sin City brought up psychologically.I endured it to the end because I wanted to know the pedophile did not 'win'..Sin City had that closure.

However I wouldn't recommend that movie to anyone with an abuse history,even though it was very artistic and the characters and storyline both had depth and it was a good movie in general except for the triggers.

I saw house of 1,000 corpses.I didn't rent the movie myself but I saw it at a Friends house.This movie sucked,why? Because the violence had no closure. It was full of triggers..It was as if the perps got away and the victims had no chance. I was triggered worse by house of 1,000 corpses than Sin City..

I saw Starman..It was another rental at a Friends house.You'd think reading the DVD blurb a movie like that would be OK.I read the blurb after seeing house of 1,000 corpses because I didn't want to get burned again..

Starman was issue laden . I got triggered by that movie because of the themes brought up in it.lighthearted comedy my ass..The issues and the emotions this movie stirred up in me made me miserable after that movie. I felt suicidal after seeing Starman..cried my eyes out going home in the car.

You'd think a movie like Starman would be better than Sin City.

It seems all the movies coming out now no matter how carefully I look at the reviews to avoid triggers, got triggers in it...No matter if it's described as a lighthearted comedy or an animal planet documentary ...it ends up with something shown in detail that did not have to be there, upsetting me..Or it ends in a way that leaves me feeling bad..It's like nowadays movies and shows by default are often heavy ,issue laden, shocking,gruesome and full of abuse issues in the characters or relationships. They depict torture,child abuse ..This kind of stuff are centerpieces of movie plots now.

What in the hell is it about our culture that has made violent sickness,torture,child abuse,violent destruction,wife beating, rotting corpses of people,humiliation,rape,etc.. the standard fare of our entertainment? What made this so "entertaining"..?

However,I saw Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy recently.. It was not upsetting,even tho it had torture it was vogon poetry it was not triggering because it was so silly. It had a puke scene with yarn people barfing yarn when the improbability drive was engaged,I closed my ears because of my reaction to the sound which was minimal but .. but I still could laugh at it and didn't have to close my eyes.Hitchhikers didn't have to get all graphic, to make the point the improbability drive induces nausea..creativity took an otherwise upsetting scene and made it bearable if not bizarre and funny..Hitchikers guide I'd recommend to anyone.It was a movie made to be enjoyed.

Not enough movies these days are made to be just enjoyed .. No Movies more often than not are made to shock, offend ,confront"issues",trigger or gross out the viewers.

I wonder to myself when will this era of the confrontational issues in movies and TV get old?

I wish more movies were like Hitchhikers guide.

Any thoughts??

when car crashes are even more horrific than the ones today precisely because the camera cuts away and leaves it up to the imagination. You cry because it's so awful, not because it is offensive or the character's untimely end is exploited and you see the blood splatter across the screen like what I think you're talking about.

I don't agree with you on House of 1,000 Corpses for a few reasons. I think that movie was so over the top for a reason. I look at it like a vaccination. A really intense, purposeful shot of what ails you ("Fuck your Grandma, too!") to develop antibodies and resistance to the real plague. There should be a subtitle /sarcasm/ under every line. I'm just a big fan of Rob Zombie's music too, and the actor who plays Tiny is an old school friend of mine.

It's good what you said about "if you had walked out it would have been worse". I once had a friend compare the fact that I liked to watch TV shows until the credits to some kind of soul murder...a very intense, drug-fueled friendship we had. I guess I just wasn't paying enough attention to him in the dorm rooms. Rest his soul now, but believing what he said about my habit only made me so freaking neurotic. I don't believe that shit, now. I wonder if someone will try to convince me that I am cold and callous by saying this, but I believe if someone has created a righteous body of work (like the X-Files in the case with my friend), or if it is a book, a piece of music, a post on DU, or Sin City (like in your example above) there is no harm in waiting to hear the whole message. In fact, there are bound to be blessings at the end. Twists will be turned. New meanings will be revealed.

I believe that it is Society's habit of labeling something mentally ill; blaming and condemning it for "triggering" something personal within you; and otherwise, giving up before the fat lady sings, leabing before the miracle happens. This has as much to do with why we are still bothered by things, why trouble stays, why everything stays so fucked up.


Emetephobia? I know I've got that, ever since I was little. And now it's even worse this year. My question, though, is...and this is serious because I want to know...is there anybody out there who does not have a rational fear of throwing up? I don't mean those people who fetishize it, the binge drinkers (and perhaps the bulimic). I mean, how does someone just accept the act of vomiting. I can't stand to be around anyone who is puking and if I'm that guy, honestly, it's the end of the fucking world. Sorry.

Thanks for being supportive everyone. And to undergroundpanther, great post. Nice and long, and a juicy topic, to boot.

<I don't agree with you on House of 1,000 Corpses for a few reasons. I think that movie was so over the top for a reason. I look at it like a vaccination. A really intense, purposeful shot of what ails you ("Fuck your Grandma, too!") to develop antibodies and resistance to the real plague. There should be a subtitle /sarcasm/ under every line. I'm just a big fan of Rob Zombie's music too, and the actor who plays Tiny is an old school friend of mine.>
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I dunno if I see it as a vaccination against callousness.. To me it's not clear enough that that is what it is trying to do..because movies already get so close to what Rob was trying to do it's hard to tell them apart.Mel Gibson did it Robs way if you think about it with his 45 minute snuff film.If it wasn't for the rest off the bible story that people already have had drilled in their heads,the Passion would have been a very depressing movie all by itself.( I Didn't bother to see passion because a 45 minute religious snuff film was just not worth my time,and I really don't like that particular religion)
There was another movie that I think was trying to do something like 1,000 corpses that was called the Cook,the thief, his wife, her lover.It was an awful movie emotionally to watch(I do not recommend it for anyone with abuse issues or depression),but for me to tolerate it at all I had to see to the very end.I almost cut it off twice tho it was that bad...However It was very artistic the restaurant room would continually switch colors and the camera would pan round and round the dinner table during the restaurant scenes almost like a rotating platter of food and it set a really weird atmosphere that was kinda cool.It was a very violent abuse filled film too.But this one had a definite resolution(and an easy to avoid puke scene too at the end)and it had a feeling of righting the wrongs.

There are some "rules" to do good drama and music effectively that exist for psychological reasons.You learn about them if you take drama classes..Movies art etc. have to have movement or interest is lost,a beginning middle and end... and they have to a resolution to them as a closure, not just give the impression the pain goes on forever and there is nothing you can do to stop or escape from it.
This is what bothered me about 1,000 corpses.

And my favorite drama dude is Artaud.
http://www.antoninartaud.org/home.html

Take...
Nine inch nails,I used to like them alot.. but now I don't for the same reason there is no resolution in his music.Downward spiral went down and down and you never came back up. And it also sang about abuse in stark images.And I find Trent's use of first person lyrics is a dangerous thing to me psychologically because when you sing along, you are programming yourself negatively. I mean how many times do you have to say to I hate myself (with a snappy tune no less) before it sinks into you the wrong way? And believe me it does because the unconscious mind has no firewalls on what information it takes in,and what it hears it hears in a literal way.(that is why subliminal work and companies invest so much money into them) I find I have to use my conscious mind to protect my unconscious from, messages that hurt to keep my thread of sanity in a world on information overload and full of conflict such as ours..(this is the underlying thought that motivated me to write the thread)

I can appreciate the experimenting Rob is doing to see what you can do to undo the toxic minds all around us.But I think it's not working unless the goal is to get more people who are not callous to feel hopeless,and trapped by this world,oppressed and suicidal frankly I feel that way already.

Compare House of 1,000 corpses to Gwar.

http://www.gwar.net/

Gwar has some really awful lyrics,totally over the top. They wear these obnoxious costumes.and they are cheesy as hell itself. (BTW I kissed Odorous Orungous and he has minty fresh breath Bwahaha)But somehow house of 1,000 corpses and the cook the thief his wife,her lover was intolerable to me.Yes I watched both until the end ..And when it ended as it did ,It didn't feel like the end of a Gwar song to me.

I guess violence and hopelessness with no resolution could work that positive way on some people..but for me it just made me feel bad.Too much like how life really is .. oh and BTW I like Rob Zombie too.


As for emetephobia I know exactly how you feel. Funny thing I can cope if I do it, I Don't like it,I dread it the whole time I am sick,I try to regulate it and not do it,But I can cope If I do.Also I am careful to eat fresh food.I have a whole procedure I do so that it is less traumatic to me. What gets me upset the most is other people doing it. This is why I am disgusted with how puke is inserted into so many places in the media these days.I don't go to booze parties and if I do I leave early for this reason(also I don't drink either)...What I didn't know however Emetophobia is the 5th most common phobia..out of all the phobias out there..we are not alone..

http://www.emetophobia.org/

I love 'em both. I think if I continue on with this conversation you should know that I am a Christian, and that's probably why I see a light at the end of every tunnel. So, I hope you don't have some kind of pre-conceived notions about it and start attacking me because I'm preaching or something. I know I can't make up your mind for you about this.

I love NIN and Rob Zombie. I just don't worship them. I have abuse issues, too. I don't know who told you that you'd be "programming youself" by singing along to lyrics, but I'm sure that belief is more dangerous than anything Trent Reznor ever produced. I've definitely felt that way, but I see that the person who "programmed" that into me as the real abuser.

BTW, I have a personal story, too...about Trent Reznor. It's pretty lewd though, so I'll keep it to myself.

As far as Passion goes, it's a pretty standard story of the crucifixion of Christ, which is an inspiring story, if you ask me. A guy gets crucified, nails in his hands and spears in his side, and he dies, and then he rises again.

If Mel Gibson, or Trent Reznor, or Rob Zombie's works are "not working" (like you said), how did I get the message? Even if I am mentally ill, I'm still a member of humanity.

I've never seen "The Cook, the Thief, the Wife and his Lover". From your description, it's not high on my priority list, but I'm not opposed to watching it.

There are always bad times for watching intense movies (like the time my roommates rented "Shallow Grave" and "The Last Supper" the week of my worst breakdown ever), but nobody ever died from watching a movie to the end. Turning it off in the middle and making judgments and acting on those feelings? I've seen bad things happen to good people. As they say: Don't leave before the miracle happens. And if it doesn't come, throw your shoe at the TV and say, "What a piece of crap!" That always feels good to me.

I love 'em both. I think if I continue on with this conversation you should know that I am a Christian, and that's probably why I see a light at the end of every tunnel. So, I hope you don't have some kind of pre-conceived notions about it and start attacking me because I'm preaching or something. I know I can't make up your mind for you about this.

Nah I don't think you are preaching..yet *smirk*

I love NIN and Rob Zombie. I just don't worship them.

Neither did I.

I have abuse issues, too. I don't know who told you that you'd be "programming yourself" by singing along to lyrics, but I'm sure that belief is more dangerous than anything Trent Reznor ever produced.

I have the right to regulate what I expose myself to don't I? I have the right to complain about things that disturb me and discuss it don't I?. I wouldn't ever regulate what you see or hear.That's not my intention for having this discussion. I have my opinions and observations that some kinds of art or music is unhealthy.Disagree all you want,it will not change my mind and get me to watch certain movies or rationalize what I see as toxic to me as good for me.
And the Unconscious effects it's not just a belief it has proof.. Negative Self talk can actually effect people's states of mind. Why do we tap our toes to a happy tune? Why does sentimental love songs make people cry? Why does some music make us want to dance... because it effects our mood and emotions.

How the emotions are manipulated and triggered by music or movies in the negative is what I am speaking of here,how the emotions evoked by music can turn against the mental health of a listener.
Since you said you have an abuse history you must know about the old "tapes in your head" that go off when you get triggered.. Those tapes are all the shit talk abusers pounded into your ears long ago that wore down your hope.. I have seen negative self affirmations harming myself and It is in emotional abuse too.Even when it's music... Coincidence?

Just to be sure I wasn't bullshit I have done suggestion type experiments with others in benign ways,So I seen for myself that it DOES work on some people surprisingly well.
Hypnotic suggestion can remove phobias in some people,certain beats induce trance states.It's how the human brain works.

I've definitely felt that way, but I see that the person who "programmed" that into me as the real abuser.

And do you think Trents dumping is healthy for abused people to listen to?
I notice when an artist "dumps " his own toxic issues and negative self talk into your ears he is in effect treating you as if you were his therapist,listening to all of the things in him making him sick as if music was his therapeutic release and if you treat it like it's harmless music and it's music that is about hating yourself,depression,hurting yourself and it's basically therapy for Trent but re-trauma for you what is that?

BTW, I have a personal story, too...about Trent Reznor. It's pretty lewd though, so I'll keep it to myself.

I see you are admitting to bias.Don't let the friendships you have with these people blind you to what I am saying about this style of music..I am talking on a subtle level here.And it's not just your friends riding on this Angst trend.

As far as Passion goes, it's a pretty standard story of the crucifixion of Christ, which is an inspiring story, if you ask me. A guy gets crucified, nails in his hands and spears in his side, and he dies, and then he rises again.

And it's a 45 minute torture scene. It's basically a snuff film with a biblical side note.The bible does not go into gory blow by blow details of Christs death like Gibson did.Gibson incidentally belongs to a sect called Opus Dei,they mortify their flesh with a razor link chain around the thigh. Think medieval flagellation here. People say self mutilation is not healthy..so how is mutilating your leg because you feel like a sinful monster because god says so any different than an abused person cutting who is convinced they are a monster because a household tyrant parent said so? If this god that says he loves you while he you hates you for being a fallible human in an imperfect reality this god himself made..what kind of catch 22 is that? sounds like an abuser justifying a whipping by saying It's for your own good..It's gonna hurt me more than you..rrright,the abuser is not going to have any stripes when this is all done,

Do you think Gay people deserve eternal torture?
Do you think witches,heretics and non believers deserve it too?
Well the bible says these people deserve torment forever and your God says it.

If Mel Gibson, or Trent Reznor, or Rob Zombie's works are "not working" (like you said), how did I get the message? Even if I am mentally ill, I'm still a member of humanity.

I dunno. Some people get it, others don't, some get it halfway.
But can you tell me what sorts of positive good feelings or healthy social changes come from showing a pet dog rotting in slo-mo while you sing about hurting yourself today to see if you still feel? Sounds like cutting to me,I used to cut to feel again because I was so depersonalized and dissociated.
Trent has issues and I am not a therapist. Nor are most of his listeners.But some listeners have trauma issues and some cut to see if they still feel.

I've never seen "The Cook, the Thief, the Wife and his Lover". From your description, it's not high on my priority list, but I'm not opposed to watching it.

I don't think it would faze you in the least..

There are always bad times for watching intense movies (like the time my roommates rented "Shallow Grave" and "The Last Supper" the week of my worst breakdown ever), but nobody ever died from watching a movie to the end.

Umm I got pretty damn suicidal after seeing Starman. If I was more vunerable..who knows.And yes people have been made damn upset obsessed and paranoid because of movies.One lady had a heart attack during the passion the film so upset her.

end of conversation