Prof. Scruton comments on virtual suicide
Arlington, VA Nov 25, 2008 The recent suicide of a young man who chose to webcast his death live, is the subject of British Academy Fellow and IPS Research Prof. Roger Scruton's commentary:
Human beings have a desire to witness suffering, by way of celebrating their own temporary freedom from it - - hence the appeal of the Roman games and public executions.
But they also feel guilty when they do this, since they know that they are being tempted. They are being prompted to want what they see: to want another's suffering, even another's death, simply to gratify their own sadistic desires.
Hence, in normal circumstances, shame will prevent them from going far in this direction, and turn their thoughts towards another goal - -towards helping the other, rather than relishing his pain.
The internet abolishes shame in this context as in so many others.
Viewing the world from behind a screen, the internet addict can relish every kind of narcissistic, sadistic and hateful feeling without cost.
Nobody sees him; nobody knows what he is doing; nobody judges - - so he believes.
And this is what we have seen in the recent case of a boy who killed himself in full view of thousands. The fascinated spectators could enjoy a cost-free sadistic spree, and -- when the dreadful event was over -- turn their vicarious lives in another direction, as though nothing had happened.
This is but one instance of the enormous moral cost of screen addiction; as we shall increasingly see, the result of the internet will be a widespread hardening of the human heart, and a replacement of true relationships between people with their cyber-substitutes.
Only concerted action now can control this menace; and it is important that all decent people turn their attention to the question of how it might be done.