Here, at HorrorSerum, we’ve been providing you with guides to help promote and maintain a safe consumption of horror. Because, yes, we do care about that and will continue to enforce it within our capabilities.
Besides what is already explicit or implied on many of our posts and pages (e.g. our Terms of Service and Disclaimer), we’ll directly tackle the topic of what makes a moral & ethical, or otherwise responsible, consumption of horror on this article that comes in the form of another guide. And with it, try to at least cover the fundamentals.
I do not enjoy preaching. But if you have become or are about to become a regular visitor to this site, this is relevant to you. The site will continue to be filled with horror of different kinds, to varying degrees, and it will remain your responsibility to be mature in its use.
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| The Reckoning (2020) |
While there are people of the opinion that consuming horror is immoral and unethical in itself, we disagree. There are even people of the opinion that you cannot both be spiritual and enjoy horror and, again, we disagree (as explained in our "Horror & Spirituality" article). However, there are indeed a few things to watch out for to not be fully consumed by the darkness that you consume. In other words, there are ways to stay sane and humane amidst it.
1. Moderate and Balance your Consumption.
We have a constant reminder to the side of our homepage, where you browse for content, but let’s be extra clear. You should be cautious not to indulge in excessive amounts of horror. If horror is all that you feed yourself, your worldview and attitude will gravely suffer. At best, you’ll have distorted thinking and, at worst, suffer from mental disorders. Intrusive and overwhelming thoughts and feelings may plague you. Nightmares or unpleasant dreams may abound, too. Check to see what your threshold of horror is and abstain from going overboard. Furthermore, notice when you are in a fragile and vulnerable state in which horror would be harmful to you. Avoid it when that is the case. Even the most hardcore horror fans find themselves there at times and must take a break from anything that could trigger damaging consequences to their psyche. Go for a walk (literally and metaphorically), take in the lighter and brighter sides of life.
Make horror something that you can face, not something that takes a hold of you.
| Read “Symptoms of Watching Too Much Horror” for more information.
2. Exercise Discernment and Conscientiousness.
Something I don’t get tired of advising. Being confused and apathetic does no good. Not to you, not to others. I know this well because I’ve been there. And trust me, it won’t make you great. If anything, it’ll leave you at the mercy of forces outside of your control. Engaging in contemplation paired with judgment when consuming horror (or any piece of media, for that matter) can lead you to be able to discern what is true and what is false, as well as what is right and what is wrong. Nobody is born knowing these things. You won’t have all the answers from the start. But practicing being both critical and appreciative of the works that you consume will put you in a position to learn more of what is what. Moreover, being diligent about it may ensure that it will serve rather than hinder your clarity and will.
Make horror something that prompts you to evaluate, not something that overrides or dictates your beliefs.
| Read “Go Woke, Go Broke?” for more information.
3. Apply Lessons Learned Constructively.
Not to gloat about it - the last we need right now is a wave of people acting self-righteous because they happen to watch horror. Yet, if you wish to take it a step further, you can also draw and apply lessons gained through the consumption of horror. Nevertheless, not without honoring measure #1 and measure #2 first. This measure, call it measure #3, will require a significant amount of wisdom. Many works, to be frank, have little to offer in this regard. And most works, quite justifiably, will not hold your hand and guide you through this. The horror genre does not exist solely for the purpose of educating. Certain authors and directors will attempt to deliver important messages through it but, ultimately, it is entertainment. It is there to engage you and take you on a thrilling ride. And even if it’s filled with nuggets of wisdom, it will depend on you how much you take out of it and appropriately recontextualize for real circumstances and situations.
Make horror an opportunity to learn to be and do better, not something that corrupts and deranges you.
| Read “The Suit of Swords in The Tarot” for more information.
What are you doing with horror?