by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Every time I see someone share another fighting video online, all I can think is why? Why is it entertaining to watch people hurt each other? It’s one thing to stick up for someone who is standing up for their rights or yours. It’s quite another to get entertainment value out of people beating each other up.

Why is it Entertainment to Hurt People?

Perhaps I’m different. But my goal has always been to spread love, not hate. Being entertained by people hurting each other only teaches more and more people that it’s okay to solve their problems with violence – and even that it’s fun. How sad is it that this is acceptable by so many people?

Not only is there boxing and other sports where people get paid to beat each other up, but there are more and more people sharing street fights as well. Oftentimes, it is kids in these videos and adults enjoying watching them. At least the subjects of the boxing (and other professional sports) get paid for it and are willing participants.

The street fights sadden me the most because it’s usually people who are actually fighting and intentionally hurting each other. Be it in self defense, arguments, or other reasons, why do people feel it is okay to not only expose these peoples’ business, but to get entertainment from it? Why is this considered “cool” or fun?

When is Fighting Okay?

The only “fights” that I feel should be spread are those where people are standing up for someone’s rights. For instance, talk about the people who have made a difference in our country, such as Martin Luther King, Jr and Malala Yousafzai. Talk about everyday people who go out of their way to help others in need or to stand up and fight for someone’s rights. Talk about the people who die or get injured fighting to protect their countries.

That’s the type of fighting that is noteworthy. It’s not a compliment or an attractive trait to beat someone up for no reason or for frivolous reasons. It’s one thing to defend yourself when attacked when you have no other choice. It’s quite another to hurt someone without cause or due to frivolous reasons – or to view and share such acts as entertainment.

I’m not a perfect person by any means (I know I make mistakes – plenty of them), but I do try to perpetuate love in all situations, while also standing up and “fighting” when it’s warranted.

How I Fought For What Was Right

For instance, one day, the city bus I was riding broke down and I had one of my kids and two others (who had just run a 5K marathon) along for the ride. The children indicated they needed to use the restroom and the bus driver wasn’t going to let us (or anyone else) get off the bus. He was also extremely rude about it, after hearing the kids’ needs. The kids were full of water and Gatorade, since they had just run a race that was over 3 miles long. My mama bear instinct kicked in at that point.

I simply walked up to the front of the bus with the kids in tow and said to the driver “My kids need to pee. I’m getting off,” and we did. That’s an example of fighting for what’s right. It also led to a few others sticking up for themselves and either getting off to go seek another form of transportation or doing whatever else they needed to do.

The wait was going to be about an hour for the next bus and then the kids would have also had to wait the ride on that bus before using the restroom, had I taken the driver’s instructions. I did what I knew was the right thing to do for the kids. That’s an example of fighting that is warranted.

Am I a hero? I doubt it. Many other parents do exactly what I did on a regular basis. I’m not telling our story for recognition. I don’t care whether anyone spreads our little bus ride story or not. What I do hope is that people read this and think twice before getting entertainment out of people hurting each other.

Fight for what’s right, not for entertainment.


*Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

**I originally published this on Bubblews.com (no longer published there).