Here in the United State of American victims (U.S.A.v.) we have a cable channel once known as music television, now known as Empty-vee.

It used to play music videos, but now there is a television show entitled "Jackass." It's entertaining in a shock-value "holy shit, what a fucking idiot!" kind of a way. The host Johnny Knoxville does things that you wouldn't. Like set himself on fire, sit in a kiddy-pool full of shit or, inside a porta-potty while it gets tipped upside down, covering him with even more feces.

At least I hope you wouldn't do that.

Cause if you would, you're what I like to call a 'moron.' But here in the States, of course, there is no shortage of morons. In the past few months there have been many reports of people video taping stunts to get on the show, even when the show explicitly says it will not air what you send, and not to try the stunts in the first place.

It seems the main stunt being copied is 'setting yourself on fire.' The pattern is that some 14 year old with cable in his bedroom sees Knoxville setting himself on fire and decides "wow, that looks like fun!"

The next day the kid is out in his backyard, wrapping himself with paper towels soaked in gasoline. His friend has a lighter, then the afore-mentioned kid has third degree burns.

What happens next? Does the kid take responsibility for his own stupidity? Do the parents?

Nope.

This is the syndrome in America and possibly the world: No responsibility for your own actions.

The latest report is of some kids in a suburb trying this stunt:

Get in the honda civic, drive 30 miles an hour at your friend standing in the road, and right before you hit him he moves. Only your friend didn't move. He hit the car and flipped right over it. So when the cops come, what do you do?

Bring up the show "jackass." "I saw it on T.V.! It gave me the idea! I'm innocent mister officer, really..."

Shut the fuck up.

Fortunately the kid only suffered a broken leg and some internal injuries...looking at the footage of him flipping 10 feet in the air and landing on the pavement makes me think that this could have been much worse...or better depending on your darwinist view, weeding out the inferior, etc.

But what is the reaction to all this? Turn on the cable news and you see people outraged at a television show.

I believe they should be more outraged at the idiocy of someone who would copy what they see coming out of a box.

Man-oh-man what I wouldn't give to have enough money to move to Amsterdam.

But for now I'll stay in the U.S.A.v.

by stone

related links:
Columbine victims sue video games makers »
MTV Jackass »