Rubber Necking

I have, I realize, a list of things I can’t watch in movies/TV. This is not to be confused with the list of things I won’t watch. The can’t list is very specifically tailored to my life experiences that have left me with certain aversions. Here is part of my list.

I can’t watch women being abused verbally or physically in any way, even a small way. This is because in another life I was one of those women. Having lived through it makes it impossible to experience “viscerally”.

I absolutely cannot watch anything where a dog dies. I think my personal count of much loved and sadly dead dogs is somewhere around 12. Now watching cats die is something I could do all day long because I hate cats. They are manipulative, cold hearted, creatures. (All comments refuting my hatred of cats will be deleted so don’t bother.)

Tonight I found out that I can’t watch a medical show whose storyline consists of someone getting a raging staph infection after a surgery and almost dying. Been there, lived that with Ev about 3 years ago. Do. Not. Need. To. Watch. It. As. “Entertainment.” Nope.

The end of Braveheart, where Mel Gibson is about to be, well, you know if you saw the movie. I have a really, really strong stomach but that scene sent me running. It’s one that I wish I hadn’t even witnessed the few seconds I did see.

Anything where people are trapped into small spaces. Even worse if they are trapped in a small space underwater. Being not fond of that type of thing, I avoid it also in a moving picture context.

What is on your list of thing’s you can’t watch?  In a couple days I’ll tell you about my list of things I won’t watch and why.

Comments

[Jenny]

I'm with you on the can't and don't lists. I can't handle war movies that are in any way accurate. NOw if these movies involve fighting aliens - I'm in love, but people - nope, not doing that.

[Serenity]

Crimes against women and children. I just read the Shack, and I could NOT get past the horrible tragedy enough to appreciate the insights. If something like this is in a movie - even one scene - I can't really appreciate any redemption that comes later.

[Harold Forbis]

Well, as you know, I can't watch anything involving IV needles - either on a deposit or withdrawal basis. Ahhh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-r-r-r-r-r-g-g-g-g-gh-h-h-h-h-hh-h-h-h-c-c-c-c-c--a-a-a-a-a-a-g-g-g-g. Sorry, I gagged just thinking about it.

The Braveheart final scene is forever etched in my gag reflex as well. The phrase "drawn and quartered" never evoked any particular image in my mind prior to seeing that film. Yeesh.

[Lori]

OOO! Jenny, I forgot to list war movies on the "Private Ryan" level. The opening scene of that movie made Harold & I almost walk out because it was SOOOOOO graphic. Seren, I agree with you also about violence canceling out anything good that might be gleaned from a story line.

[Molly]

I have all the aversions here. Terminally ill children, especially very small ones, just wreck me. When ER was still on I would have to turn the channel if it was anything about kids. I can't get over it for days and sometimes weeks.

The baby in the bathtub scene in A Beautiful Mind left me writhing for WEEKS!! (and for those of you who have never seen it, it turns out ok they just leave you waiting to find that out for an ETERNITY!!!)

And for sure Private Ryan, the scene with the knife on the stairs still makes me want to cry and gag all at the same time.

[Eleanor]

Can't watch children being taken advantage of or abused. Don't say the words "Slumdog Millionare" to me. Even August Rush, which I want to completely love because of the music . . . still disturbing to me that people really do that to kids.

[Coffee With Marty]

Seeing people in tight spaces just creeps me out!!! Claustophobic!