agarimoo t1_jadg09f wrote on February 28, 2023 at 5:20 PM

If you don’t have a problem with movies that start with what you describe as a sympathetic character that, through difficult circumstances, turns into a cunt, think about the circumstances that turned all those characters you dislike into cunts. Maybe that will help you understand them and not want to torture them.

Charlie Babbit in Rain Man was an orphan raised by a very dismissive father (whose description fits the one of a narcissist) separated from his brother without even being told about it. Of course he was going to turn into a selfish person, that’s what he learned! He learned that the world is a hard place and he can count on no one but himself. You could ask yourself why do you hate him so much when he’s just a regular dude unlike the other murderous characters you listed.

I mean, do you realise you’re asking this character to show compassion while you’re showing none towards him and want him “to be ripped apart limb by limb”?

KellyKellogs OP t1_jaevsnt wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:53 PM

For Charlie Babbit:

It was several days of being a vile human being to his brother without any compassion. He didn't just treat his brother like an animal, he spent most of the film berating and bullying him too. I can imagine someone doing that for a moment, maybe even a day, but to look your brother in the eyes and refuse to see his humanity for days on end, that is an irredeemable character flaw.

It was also the language used. If someone used that kind of language to insult to a non-disabled person, I'd tell them to stfu. If someone talked to a disabled person like that, you don't wanna know what people would do to them where I'm from. To use that kind of language is inexcusable and an indicator about his character, not his emotions.

Watching someone treat a disabled person like shit for 1.5 hours and even after their moment of connection was deeply upsetting. I used hyperbole, I don't want to torture him, but I do want to beat him up.

For the suggestion, thanks. If a character is presented as a cunt at the beginning I'll pause the film and try and find a way to connect with them.