Teen Fight Clubs
No doubt you’ve seen-or at least heard of-the movie “Fight Club” starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. The movie is about a group of young, professional men who form a fight club, which allows them to let out their aggression and prove their manhood by beating each other up. Both the movie and the novel, by Chuck Palahniuk, have become cult favorites.
Now, it seems, teenagers have begun forming their own fight clubs. And the number of clubs is on the rise. An article in USA Today titled Illegal, violent teen fight clubs face police crackdown talks about the clubs. The article reveals some facts which should be frightening to parents, including severe injuries which happen in these fight clubs, and the revelation that these clubs spread across all areas and all socio-economic groups.
The article also offers tips to parents on keeping track of their teens and preventing them from joining in these types of clubs. This is an eye-opening, and disturbing, story for parents of teens. Apparently, both boys and girls participate in these clubs, with some participants being as young as 12. It shows, once more, the consequences that can occur, if parents are not involved in the lives of their teenagers.
teens, teenagers, parents, Fight Club, teen fight clubs
November 8th, 2006 at 9:06 am
It bothers me that there is following to this novel that thinks starting a “fight club? is the way to go. They completely missed the point of the book and movie.
What Fight Club shows is a break down of our modern culture and suggests that things can only be improved through drastic measures. But, the drastic measure is not to start beating the heck out of each other in some underground club.
It suggests that the answer might be to abandon all of the materialism and greed that has consumed our culture and revert back to days when everything was simple and things were only accomplished to meet the basic necessities for human survival. People will not accomplish a better society through such drastic measures, but instead will invoke a slow, proactive change in society by realizing what the problems are, and embarking on their own journeys of self-discovery.
My mother couldn’t stand the book or the movie—all she could see was the violence in it. That must be all the younger generation sees as well. But, the themes ran much deeper.
I’m writing this pre-coffee, so if it doesn’t make sense, I’m sorry!!
Nice article on the true urgency about the safety of our misguided teenagers….
November 8th, 2006 at 9:54 am
It makes good sense, Christina. I loved the movie as soon as I saw it, being a big fan of Edward Norton. But, like you, I am upset that these teens seem to miss the overall message.
And, it’s not only teens, but(according to some other articles I read) adult males are forming more of these clubs, too.
For teens, I tend to think that it’s a matter of belonging to a group, and having status.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
I think it is a great thing!
Get all the stupid teens together who think a fight club is a good idea and let them attempt to beat some sense into each other.
Thinning of the heard and all that.
November 8th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
‘I am Jack’s wasted life.’
That pretty much sums it up. They have nothing better in their lives (goals, faith, aspirations) that show them that what they are doing is purely self destrutive and pointless. How someone gets to this point I would never know.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:19 am
David and Keith,
I tend to lay this all at the feet of their parents. That is how teens get to this point. They do not have the guidance they need to realize that this is self-destructive, and to help them have those goals.
And I’m all for letting someone beat some sense into each other-the parents who allowed them to get to that point!
November 9th, 2006 at 10:44 am
It is definitely a self worth issue. I think that people who have a well defined sense of self (often booted by stern, but loving parental guidence.) don’t fall into these types of things.
Good Parenting is definitely key.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:38 am
wat up? man dis is wats happening
November 9th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Dis may be wats happening, but it ain’t good!
December 21st, 2006 at 3:56 pm
just test soft-a :))))
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I have already enjoy your website, and it is so nice and cool. I will visit your website again. Thank you.
May 1st, 2007 at 8:18 pm
December 27th, 2009 at 3:55 am
I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. It must be done at least halfway safely (some gloves, maybe mouth guards, etc.), but I don’t believe its a self worth issue or anything like that. Fighting is one of the oldest SPORTS known to man. Pankration was practiced in ancient greece. Wrestling came about, as did boxing, other martial arts and eventually MMA. Fighting for sport safely is actually physically and mentally rewarding. It’s not the activity that is being practiced, its the people performing it.