This is part of a conversation from the supporter content article “What the fuck are you going to do?” about a video of a serious fight between women in a supermarket over a games console.
The question Sensigirl asked in the comments was:
“Do people video just because it’s something spectacular, or are they thinking “evidence,” I wonder? “
For some - partly but without plunging down a rabbit hole of “why?” questions this can partially be answered with “what?”
Specifically to this video – what do they gain from it?
None of them apart from the belligerent are directly threatened.
In short, there will be kudos on social media for posting this video. The original poster will get “likes”/ “followers” etc for delivering entertainment.
They may even be contacted by the media for permission to use it with possible financial gain. The media will name check them – more traffic to their account.
Are they thinking evidence? Perhaps, but maybe it could sometimes be that it's evidence for a compensation claim rather than any kind of justice.
And there are other types of currency to be gained, if the victim of a video is known to them in a negative way, the sharing of the footage can be weaponised as a public humiliation.
In the video in question, the person filming the video drops the camera down at one point when Red Jeans looks over – they clearly want to film but not be involved in any way, to spectate and record but not to go for help etc.
Some of the crowd can be seen smiling and posing for selfies with someone being beaten in the background.
That's just one video though.
It doesn't mean that if you're out in public and get “dropped while you shop” for blocking someone's ability to express themselves through the divine right of retail that you will be filmed.
That isn't all people...but it does represent the true mindset and motivation of some.
Violence, hate even death become entertainment and attainment.
I read recently about an 18 year old who was stabbed to death in Twickenham on a playing field in front of many witnesses by a gang of young males.
It gathered a couple of press stories, not much.
Just another statistic to add to the record year for UK knife murder that will be 2021.
Some of those witnesses though, stood and filmed his murder and then, rather than give it to police as evidence, they shared it on social media.
A police officer was quoted as saying:
'The incident occurred in a playing field area and was witnessed by a number of people. Some of those people are believed to have filmed events as they unfolded; I ask that any videos are not shared via social media to avoid causing the young man's family any more distress at this already incredibly difficult time for them.”
A local student was also quoted:
'Things like this are not normal and should just not be happening.
I saw people posting about it on Snapchat saying 'someone has been stabbed outside Richmond College' and posting laughing emojis.”
Yikes, yes, that is horrifying.
The people in the “what the fuck…” video do seem to feel that things have taken an unexpected turn when stamping on faces starts to happen. It might be wishful thinking on my part, but I suppose it could be argued that they don’t understand the severity of what is happening until that point.