An unlikely hero? A nod to one of my greatest personal idols.

[SirMetalhead]

I wanted to take a moment and talk about one of my childhood (super)heroes, which is one of the first things I remember being really into, who to this day, still have as much interest and fascination with.  That hero is...Godzilla.

 

Being an adult, and also being into self knowledge, I can now see why I loved/love Godzilla so much.  As a kid, I was shy, bullied at home and at school, felt small and weak, like I couldn't stand up for myself or say what's on my mind for fear of upsetting someone, getting into more escalated confrontation with other kids at school, or negative reactions from either the parents (primarily mom) or teachers.  I also did feel pretty alone, as I didn't have very many friends, nor did my parents or older sibling spend much time with me or relate.  So when I saw Godzilla, an unstoppable force of nature, not afraid of anyone or anything, can take on and beat any enemy, and could do whatever he wanted, you could say I wished I could be like Godzilla.  There were times where he fought bizarre monsters that weirded me out, were scary-looking, or were bigger/very strong, but when I saw Godzilla wasn't afraid and fought hard, it made me feel strong.  

 

There was one time I remember vividly when I was a kid on Halloween.  My Aunt had her haunted house set up in the living room, and hanging from the center of the room, was an animated prop witch that I was VERY afraid of (there is a reason for this, which is important, but I'll go more into this later if you're curious) .  But playing on TV in that same room was a Godzilla movie that I wanted to watch, so I endured sitting in the same room with that witch to see Godzilla kick ass.  Seeing this comforted me some, almost as if I needed to channel my inner Godzilla to not be afraid of the witch.

 

So, I'd have to say, I did/do have an emotional attachment to Godzilla.  The character is a symbol of strength for me, even now, when a lot of these feelings of helplessness, insignificance, and even anger, still persist, though in different forms.  I'm not sure if this is a bad, that I connect/ed with and consider/ed a city-destroying monster as a hero/symbol of strength, but I did want to share this.  I wasn't sure where to post, so I did it in misc.  

 

What do you all think?  Can anyone relate?

[Ed888]

I'm curious to your mention of the significance of the witch, can I ask the story on that?

 

I feel for you with the shy/introverted background however I was never really harassed by anyone from school asides a few ego-sensitive or lousey teachers.

[Will Torbald]

I wanted to take a moment and talk about one of my childhood (super)heroes, which is one of the first things I remember being really into, who to this day, still have as much interest and fascination with.  That hero is...Godzilla.

 

Being an adult, and also being into self knowledge, I can now see why I loved/love Godzilla so much.  As a kid, I was shy, bullied at home and at school, felt small and weak, like I couldn't stand up for myself or say what's on my mind for fear of upsetting someone, getting into more escalated confrontation with other kids at school, or negative reactions from either the parents (primarily mom) or teachers.  I also did feel pretty alone, as I didn't have very many friends, nor did my parents or older sibling spend much time with me or relate.  So when I saw Godzilla, an unstoppable force of nature, not afraid of anyone or anything, can take on and beat any enemy, and could do whatever he wanted, you could say I wished I could be like Godzilla.  There were times where he fought bizarre monsters that weirded me out, were scary-looking, or were bigger/very strong, but when I saw Godzilla wasn't afraid and fought hard, it made me feel strong.  

 

There was one time I remember vividly when I was a kid on Halloween.  My Aunt had her haunted house set up in the living room, and hanging from the center of the room, was an animated prop witch that I was VERY afraid of (there is a reason for this, which is important, but I'll go more into this later if you're curious) .  But playing on TV in that same room was a Godzilla movie that I wanted to watch, so I endured sitting in the same room with that witch to see Godzilla kick ass.  Seeing this comforted me some, almost as if I needed to channel my inner Godzilla to not be afraid of the witch.

 

So, I'd have to say, I did/do have an emotional attachment to Godzilla.  The character is a symbol of strength for me, even now, when a lot of these feelings of helplessness, insignificance, and even anger, still persist, though in different forms.  I'm not sure if this is a bad, that I connect/ed with and consider/ed a city-destroying monster as a hero/symbol of strength, but I did want to share this.  I wasn't sure where to post, so I did it in misc.  

 

What do you all think?  Can anyone relate?

 

I chuckled a bit when I read it was Godzilla, in a good way. I thought you were going to talk about some historical figure or something similar. There's an interesting psychology to be inferred from being inspired by a giant radioactive monster. For one, Godzilla is a rampaging monster with no inhibitions. I would ask if you allow yourself space and time to let off anything in your mind you want to burst without restraint? Godzilla has his beam he shoots from his mouth. Shouting, maybe? I used to do that when I was younger. Just have some time to just wail out anger at nothing in particular. Growing up my media inspirations were Power Rangers and videogames like Legend of Zelda which were more on the heroic side fighting monsters instead.

[SirMetalhead]

I'm curious to your mention of the significance of the witch, can I ask the story on that?

 

I feel for you with the shy/introverted background however I was never really harassed by anyone from school asides a few ego-sensitive or lousey teachers.

Yes.  So the story of the witch goes like this.  One day, my cousin and I were alone with my Aunt (we were quite little, I'd say I was late kinder/early elementary and my cousin is 2 years younger than me).  She wanted us to take a nap/stay with her on the bed, but we wanted to play with toys.  She told us the "bruja" (spanish for witch) would get us if we went to the other room to play, but I wanted to play, and my cousin followed my lead.  So we went to the room to grab our toys, but then, from behind the shelf near the doorway, I saw the hat of that ugly witch slowly poke up, and when I saw it's face I froze.  When it's eyes lit up green and made that awful wailing, my cousin and I were scared shitless.  Somehow we must've missed my Aunt controlling it when we ran out of the room.  The last thing I remember from that ordeal was us being very afraid curled up with my Aunt and her saying, "You see?  I told you!"  Since then, that witch has freaked me out, and I'd feel very nervous around it, like it was alive.   

 

I chuckled a bit when I read it was Godzilla, in a good way. I thought you were going to talk about some historical figure or something similar. There's an interesting psychology to be inferred from being inspired by a giant radioactive monster. For one, Godzilla is a rampaging monster with no inhibitions. I would ask if you allow yourself space and time to let off anything in your mind you want to burst without restraint? Godzilla has his beam he shoots from his mouth. Shouting, maybe? I used to do that when I was younger. Just have some time to just wail out anger at nothing in particular. Growing up my media inspirations were Power Rangers and videogames like Legend of Zelda which were more on the heroic side fighting monsters instead.

 

Yes, there is.  For me, it's crying or playing guitar, although they're pretty passive, in that they're not very physical.  I wish I could express my anger more physically, but that reminds me too much of my parents, and even if I could in a healthy way...my parents sure love to be loud, obnoxious, and downright immature when they throw shit fits, but if I do anything remotely similar or make the slightest audible thump, they'd sure notice that and go, "What was that!?" or similarly criticize my behavior.  I feel that I do have a lot of pent up anger, at certain people, at the world, etc. and you could say Godzilla is there to compensate for my feelings of helplessness.  

 

Oh, and yeah, Power Rangers were awesome!  My favorite was the Green Ranger!

[Will Torbald]

Yes, there is.  For me, it's crying or playing guitar, although they're pretty passive, in that they're not very physical.

 

The opposite of physical is verbal. I find that the best way of dealing with desires of physical angst is to verbalize them very specifically, to the subject of the anger (in my mind), and in a clear and cool headed way. Writing or just talking out loud as if the person was there is how I manage my anger. When you're in control that way, it's hard to feel helpless.