Do you think it is so wrong? Shouldn't we all be allowed to let off steam once in a while? Doesn't it show our 'human side'? Do we prefer our law enforcement officers to be always serious, distant... or threatening?
And which video do you prefer? The original or the cops'?
Does your decision about the balance between being human and being responsible change when the protagonists are not local policemen, but rather Israeli soldiers on active duty in Lebanon?
Personally, I believe that nowadays society has become a scenario of ‘socially correct’ conventions that limits uniqueness in character.
ReplyDeleteTo people with a sense of humour, the video regarding the Israeli soldiers performing an accurate choreography whilst being of duty is nothing more than a funny video. Those that people send to their friends and that are disseminated at an exponential speed. My approach to analyse if posting the video was positive rather than negative is based on the reaction of viewers, and what they would say if they were asked their opinion in a job interview.
In private, most people will find this video amusing and highly humorous. Conversely, during a job interview, if one was asked whether the video’s posting was suitable, most would severely criticize its publication using exactly the same cheesy arguments over and over again. So why do we do this? Why do we lie in relation to the different environments? The answer is found in social conventions: what we consider is correct in reference to the model of a society that discards individuality.
But why is society like this? I believe this model satisfies unitary-thinking and docility of the citizens, so the people in charge are able to design robots that will externally react to things in the same way. Because appearances are what matter, aren’t they?
After this dissertation and in direct reference to your question, Ian, I believe that posting videos like this and defending them publically is an excellent way of proving self-confidence and original thought.
So the next time you visit a well-known museum and see a painting you deeply dislike, don’t be afraid to say: “It sure is from a renowned painter, but I hate it”.
- Pepe Amich Manero
I in some aspects agree with Pepe’s comment as I also believe protocol is what limits people’s actions nowadays or what keep them from behaving in certain manners.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I invite you to think about the next. Aren’t we all humans? And what does “being human” mean? Personally I believe that no matter what our duties or tasks are, we all are susceptible of letting ourselves get carried away at some point by our sense of humour. So why when watching the local police officers or the Israeli soldiers we get a sense of their behaviour being incorrect? The answer is social conventions. The next step is asking ourselves, are they realistic? Or are they just a barrier used to hide that all human beings are essentially the same?
Despite soldiers being humans, we also have to be aware of their intention when posting the video. Acting out a parody or performing a coreography together can be amusing and distracting for them, but what repercussion might it have on other people? From my point of view and in disagree with Pepe, it is irresponsible to post such videos as it’s more likely to turn out worst hit than benefited.
To sum up, I feel that even such authorities can at certain times relax and enjoy themselves. However, that doesn’t mean that uploading those scenes to the social networks is appropriate. That leads us to think: was their purpose to provoke this kind of debate?
- Marina G.
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ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with what you’ve said: we live in a world full of social conventions. However, regarding the previous comments I would like to express my dissatisfaction with a few points. I don’t think that social conventions are neither “a barrier” nor do they “limit uniqueness in character” but rather I see them as a necessary part in society that tells us what is appropriate and what is not.
ReplyDeleteI will not deny that we all have a human side and that we can kick up one’s heels once in a while. However what I find totally unacceptable is that our law enforcement officers, people with such authority act out this parody…
Let me pose you this question: Wouldn’t we, as normal citizens, have been fined or punished if they caught us driving in such an irresponsible manner; not only irresponsible, but extremely dangerous? The answer is yes, indeed. Therefore, if police officers, the ones who in theory ensure the compliance with laws, do what they’ve done (blind driving inter alia); they should certainly receive a punishment.
Furthermore, I’d like you to think about this: Would YOU have done it? The answer is probably not. Why? Firstly, because of the risk it involves but also because you know it’s not a correct demeanour.
Regarding your opinion, Pepe, about posting this video on the internet, I would like to clarify certain points. First of all, it was actually one of the cop’s wife who posted the video on YouTube. So, do you think his wife posted it in order to show the personality and uniqueness of his husband?
Answering the question, I believe the Israeli soldier’s video shows the same irresponsibility than the previous video. It may seem what they are doing is not so serious (I must confess that deep down, I find it quite amusing), however this is because we don’t understand the context in which Israel soldiers are under. This is not the case in Spain, but in Israel the country is under the constant threat of Palestinian terrorists. Soldiers defend the country and have a vital role; hence they can’t act in such a reckless manner.
Continuing on, I believe that to find the balance between being human and irresponsible is extremely difficult and complex. I think the boundary lies on who acts the parody. Clearly if it is someone who has a certain authority, for example a soldier or a policeman (whilst they are on duty) then this type of demeanour is totally unacceptable. However if it is an ordinary person, for example the group who does the original video or the thousands of people who act out parodies everyday on YouTube, then it’s perfectly fine and laughable.