Video: “Baby cockfights”
posted at 2:45 pm on November 19, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Proving yet again that the ability to reproduce has almost nothing to do with the ability to parent, ABC News reports on a video uploaded to YouTube by a father egging his toddlers into fistfights. Take a look at the diaper-set cage match, and despair at the notion that it’s apparently a hot YouTube trend:
I have no trouble with raising boys to be boys, and encouraging physicality rather than attempting to blunt it. However, that’s not the issue here. Dad clearly was the only one enjoying this fight, so much so that he removed the older brother — who has more sense than his father — when he attempted to intervene between his two younger siblings. Only when blood started to flow did the father stop egging on the fight. That wasn’t enough to keep Dad from posting the spectacle onto YouTube, apparently thrilled to have produced such an entertaining clip.
The worst part? He’s not alone in thinking that. I guess the question is whether YouTube encourages people to behave like idiots, or whether it just enables the normal percentage of idiots to be more visible. I’m hoping it’s the latter.
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WTF?
Alden Pyle on November 19, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Who are these people?
DeathToMediaHacks on November 19, 2008 at 2:48 PM
That kid is gonna rule the playground.
lodge on November 19, 2008 at 2:48 PM
I don’t know why this needs to be shown at all.
BigD on November 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Paging Child Protective Services…
TheUnrepentantGeek on November 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
I’m shocked that this is an Ed post.
Y-not on November 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Adorable.
Wait, that’s not it. Disgusting. That’s the ticket.
If you’re starved for entertainment, a netflix subscription is under twenty bucks a month.
justfinethanks on November 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
there’s a special place in Hell for the “dad”…
hippie_chucker on November 19, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Well, on the bright side, he wasn’t breaking his baby’s spine, or cutting off his fingertips.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1946320.ece
What a sick world we live in.
Vashta.Nerada on November 19, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Will not watch….can not watch…
beththebaker on November 19, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Obarfa needs his future security force members trained from a young age for the rigors of ‘community organizing.’
Bishop on November 19, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Is someone trying to top the Austrian incest monster?
lodge on November 19, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Wasn’t this a Funny Or Die skit?
BohicaTwentyTwo on November 19, 2008 at 2:52 PM
YOU SHOULD NOT BE POSTING THIS !!
Sefton on November 19, 2008 at 2:52 PM
That dad needs to be bloodied a bit.
BadgerHawk on November 19, 2008 at 2:53 PM
That made me want to cry. that sweet big brother was trying to protect his little baby brother! Way to kill your kid’s conscience, dad. That older sibling saw injustice and you just, in essence, devalued his sweet heart. We need STRONG MEN who protect the weak and rescue them from harm, not indoctrinating them to beat other kids up.
I don’t have strong enough words for this child abuser.
Mommypundit on November 19, 2008 at 2:53 PM
No way–I am not touching any of that.
Why link to the video?
Count to 10 on November 19, 2008 at 2:53 PM
OK, This is some sick stuff! Will those kids be in Prison when they grow up? So much for a role model. No morals.
sheebe on November 19, 2008 at 2:54 PM
I hope this guy gets a really friendly cell mate.
abinitioadinfinitum on November 19, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Thank God. I thought this story was about Prop 8.
marklmail on November 19, 2008 at 2:55 PM
I’m not watching that video.
Send that father to Gitmo though.
OneGyT on November 19, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Check out Diane Sawyer around the 2:21 mark. She seems to be pretty happy about the story.
TugboatPhil on November 19, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Sick bastid, now we know why he’s the EX-husband. I hope he goes to jail and gets HIS azz kicked while other inmates gather around to watch.
Tony737 on November 19, 2008 at 2:57 PM
I bet on the kid without the shirt. Always bet on the person without a shirt on.
lorien1973 on November 19, 2008 at 2:58 PM
As former Marine I have to say that…. I didn’t watch it and won’t. This just isn’t the thing you do with kids, this ain’t Sparta, folks!That dad, however, I wouldn’t mind spending 5 minutes in a locked room with the b***ard.
MNDavenotPC on November 19, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Stuff like this (and I could not bring myself to click on it), reminds me of this quote from the movie Parenthood:
“You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, to drive a car – hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they’ll let any butt-reaming @$$hole be a father.”
Religious_Zealot on November 19, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Not surprising coming from a country that elected Obama.
angryed on November 19, 2008 at 2:59 PM
I’d rethink that. Children, including cute little girls, have no problems physically going at each other. One of the biggest complaints of parents is having to listen to and deal with the fighting between siblings.
Blake on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
These kids will probably grow up to despise their dad.
Rose on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
In Ed’s defense, he linked to a news report decrying the video, NOT the original YouTube video. While it does show clips of the YouTube upload, it’s clear that the reporter/news station does not think this is a good practice, and they include an interview with a child psychologist who agrees about how detrimental it is for a parent to encourage children’s fighting.
aero on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
At least they will be able to kick their dad’s a$$ when the time comes….
HornetSting on November 19, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I thought you were referring to the legal massacre in the womb…but, I see you were talking about the outgrowth of it all.
The Lord GOD holds this baby in His arms…this little guy suffered but, I believe, is safe now with the maker of his beautiful body. Evil is the product of our sin nature…rebellion against God. We are all sinful, though not all as extreme as this which God allows to happen so that all who are to come to Him in faith will be fulfilled. The cup of His wrath will soon be full. THERE IS A REASON WHY HE ALLOWS THIS…and it will inescapable.
If you are not on the side of truth, I urge you all to repent and be reconciled to God through His perfect son, Jesus. He is holy and we, all sinners, must have atonement by the sinless lamb of God. We must repent. Do not delay.
Mommypundit on November 19, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I’ll play contrarian here. Kids fight. Kids get picked on. Kids need to learn to defend themselves. In the first video I hear the Dad say ‘he hit you first’ or something to that effect. People say the parent should step in, and I can agree, but what happens when the dad isnt there and the aggressor isnt your jerk older brother?
Biggest problem I have with this was the fact that it’s youtubed for a gladiator style entertainment.
I wonder if this stems from 300.
Dash on November 19, 2008 at 3:03 PM
How does this man get custody? What about the mom who’s complaining? How bad must she be to lose custody? These people are idiots and have no business raising children.
Richard Romano on November 19, 2008 at 3:04 PM
I should note I just watched the news video with clips, not the whole youtube version.
Dash on November 19, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Vash.. this is horrible. I do not understand why people abuse children or torture them. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
upinak on November 19, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Did AP sign in as Ed?!?? What’s going on?
I’m not clicking the vid. I don’t need to see it to get upset and be outraged.
Where’s the Child Protective Services?
conservative pilgrim on November 19, 2008 at 3:05 PM
What’s the difference between this and “child pornography”? It’s violence, instead of sex, so that somehow makes it different? Sorry, I don’t think so.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on November 19, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Disgusting.
Torch on November 19, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Any jerk can sire a baby.
It takes a MAN to be a DAD.
This jerk is a waste of oxygen.
kingsjester on November 19, 2008 at 3:08 PM
This is child abuse. Please take the clip down immediately. The public humiliation of these children doesn’t need to be spread any further than it already has been.
patriette on November 19, 2008 at 3:09 PM
What? Kids aren’t toys. These adults don’t have their heads on straight. It’s one thing to let boys fight a problem out and quit another to encourage it.
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Again — Ed linked a NEWS REPORT about this, not the actual YouTube video, which has been taken down.
aero on November 19, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Fight? What fight?
I saw one toddler continuously pummeling another while being cheered on by the A-hole father. The other toddler never took a swing in defense, probably confused by the whole sick episode.
Let’s hope the “father”, and I use that term loosely, gets jailed and his visitation rights to his children are permanently revoked.
fogw on November 19, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Please, cut the bleeding heart nanny state nonsense. All this guy was doing, albeit perhaps in a misplaced way, was to teach his sons not to be the coddled pansies that we create from day 1, who grow up to be coddled pansies as adults. The kid that was getting slapped was encouraged to fight back and not take that kind of thing. That was the lesson. This was not entertainment. We have become such a wussified society that a little kid slapping another little kid horrifies us and we send in the state to make everything better.
keep the change on November 19, 2008 at 3:10 PM
I understand your point, but the dad encouraged it to the level of blood being drawn, which I believe goes beyond most people’s level of tolerance when we’re talking about 2-year-olds.
aero on November 19, 2008 at 3:13 PM
He did take one swing, but it was in retaliation, not defense.
Then why’d he post it on an entertainment site?
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Exactly. These aren’t boys. They’re toddlers. Surely the fight club training can begin when they’ve completely mastered the art of walking.
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 3:14 PM
It makes me want to be a vigilante.
Vashta.Nerada on November 19, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Lets start a group!
upinak on November 19, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Keep the change –
Get a grip on the nanny-state hyperbole. These kids are in diapers. They actually need nannys. If the father wants to teach them self-defense, he should enroll them in boxing lessons once they learn how to walk instead of encouraging — apparently so he can post on you tube — bullying and violence.
patriette on November 19, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Vashta…that was very heart wrenching. That poor child…happy for a few moments in pictures. I need to go home and hug and hold my boy tight…I don’t understand people like that.
StaticElectricityMan on November 19, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Is it going to be tough for you to get all the way down to the lower 48 for the secret meetings?
BadgerHawk on November 19, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Though I have nothing but kind thoughts for our most Northern state, the group probably needs someone in Alaska too.
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Bravo the older brother.
I’d like to meet dad one day.
pseudonominus on November 19, 2008 at 3:21 PM
I don’t see this as encouraging bullying. We don’t see the whole video so we don’t know the context but I see this as a dad going outside accepted norms to teach his sons important lessons about bullying but that unfortunately gets lost in all the hysteria.
keep the change on November 19, 2008 at 3:21 PM
You know if McCain’s dad would have done something like this maybe McCain would know what it means to fight.
unseen on November 19, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Really though, do you all have kids? I didnt find this to be brutal at all from the small clips I saw. Yeah the poor kid was crying but my 7 month old cries when I change his diaper. The other clip had kids with gigantic foam boxing gloves.
I dunno, I’m not saying he’s father of the year, but I can see the intent. You do need to teach your kid to defend him or herself. Is this the best way and should you youtube it? Probably not.
Dash on November 19, 2008 at 3:23 PM
The dad is a sick bastard, who deserves an ass-whoopin’ of his own.
manwithblackhat on November 19, 2008 at 3:23 PM
upinak’s outpost could be like Superman’s base at the north pole.
BadgerHawk on November 19, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Hmmm… maybe that kid’s father and I should have a “talk.” I don’t think he’d want to post the results on YouTube.
pugwriter on November 19, 2008 at 3:26 PM
I’ll play contrarian here. Kids fight. Kids get picked on. Kids need to learn to defend themselves. In the first video I hear the Dad say ‘he hit you first’ or something to that effect. People say the parent should step in, and I can agree, but what happens when the dad isnt there and the aggressor isnt your jerk older brother? – Dash
Yes, teaching your kids to defeand themselves is a good thing, you won’t always be there to save them and they must be able to handle any situation on their own. But this is not the way to do it. He was teaching them to be aggressive and offensive, not defensive. My 2 year old daughter already shows signs of being a natural at self-defense and soon I will put her in karate or judo school. We will teach her to defend herself but not to attack others. All children (esp. girls) need to know how to defend themselves because there are azzholes like this guy out there teaching his kids to be bullies, probably because HE was bullied as a kid.
Tony737 on November 19, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Cyber, my domestic shorthair feline concurs with your collie. So does said feline’s “staff” and assistant, Queen hornet.
HornetSting on November 19, 2008 at 3:27 PM
You see the dad move the older brother out the way even though the older brother was protecting the smallest one, the one that just got a beating even the dad acknowledges (in the video) that he didn’t deserve.
And seriously, these are babies who won’t even remember this. The dad isn’t teaching them anything.
Not when the kid is still in diapers.
The man was tortured for five years. I don’t like him personally or as a Republican, but let’s be serious here.
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 3:28 PM
My friends, “me too, me too”. To the Bat Cave.
HornetSting on November 19, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Fortress of Solitude? It could work.
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Oh, we’re meeting at upinak’s superman base? Better pack a coat.
HornetSting on November 19, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Screw that. Send him over to my place where he and I can have a *ahem* nice little chat.
*cracks knuckles*
Vic on November 19, 2008 at 3:35 PM
When I saw the headline, I was expecting a hilarious Onion video…this is disturbing.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 3:36 PM
For those of you arguing in favor of the father “teaching” his children to defend themselves…what point is being driven home by posting this on youtube??
StaticElectricityMan on November 19, 2008 at 3:37 PM
I got no problem with the boxing gloves, but the first clip seemed to carry it too far. When a couple of kids are playing with boxing gloves and enjoying it then I don’t see a problem.
DFCtomm on November 19, 2008 at 3:40 PM
The youtube is gratuitous. No need for it. No need to video tape it at all. I’m not sure if the father started this fight or if he simply instigated the younger child to defend himself. The fact that he has a camera and youtubes it suggests the father set the whole thing up, which I agree is wrong, but I dont know the details.
Dash on November 19, 2008 at 3:42 PM
The issue here other than traumatizing the all of children is that Dad was enjoying toddler age children being brutalized.
He wasn’t teaching them anything, he wanted to watch.
Speakup on November 19, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Ok, I’m just asking a question here.
Is the boy getting beat on the child of the outraged mother in the clip? I think the answer is yes.
Are the two boys brothers? I think the answer is yes.
Are the two boys half-brothers? I think the answer is yes.
Are we seeing here a “new” family beating up on the remains of the “old” family (children from marriage to the ex- in the video)?
There’s definately something sick going on, I’d like to know when the local DA is following up on this and presenting it to a grand jury.
Jason Coleman on November 19, 2008 at 3:49 PM
…with interest fueled by bloggers who call attention to it.
Please, spare us this stuff. BTW, I didn’t watch the clip. Why add to the popularity of this trash?
windbag on November 19, 2008 at 3:52 PM
I agree…the motive here is highly questionable. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt is good, but I don’t think its merited in this case. If there was no accompanying youtube video, I could understand that argument.
StaticElectricityMan on November 19, 2008 at 3:57 PM
I’m with you. I’m not strong enough to beat up a man, but I know anatomy well enough to make sure he doesn’t sire any more children.
DrMagnolias on November 19, 2008 at 4:00 PM
It’s a news clip, and it’s not as though it’s graphic.
Esthier on November 19, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Ya know, if you parse out the title of this thread a bit differently (by creating three words out of “Baby cockfights” instead of two), one could easily imagine a celebrity death match between Andrew Sullivan and… oh, never mind! There’s no way to turn this into a post suitable for HA. AoS maybe, but not HA.
Y-not on November 19, 2008 at 4:06 PM
I hope the cops are checking on dear ol’ Dad.
GarandFan on November 19, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Throw his ass in jail.
SoulGlo on November 19, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Yeah, then he;ll rule cell block D. Then the morgue.
JustTruth101 on November 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM
An older child had enough sense to try to break it up, and the father STOPPED HIM from stopping the fighting. What additional details do you need to know when something is wrong? Don’t you see how being PC allows evil to go unchecked?
JustTruth101 on November 19, 2008 at 4:23 PM
It’s time for the authorities to step in and jail this worthless POS and to put the kids in a good home.
TrickyDick on November 19, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Both my kids were Tae Kwon Doe Black Belts by junior high age. Now, their kids are taking it. That, or something similar, is the best way kids learn to take a punch or kick and defend themselves. With a good instructor, they also learn some things about respect, honor, and dignity. My son was only challenged once,..when he started to take off his shoes and socks, the bully decided he had other things to do.
a capella on November 19, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Dude…that is so depressing. I’m think it’s time to do a Grizzly Adams.
ronsfi on November 19, 2008 at 4:47 PM
I hope that redneck POS goes to jail.
LimeyGeek on November 19, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Thanks. You made my day :)
LimeyGeek on November 19, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Trailer trash redneck. This is as bad as the urban kid who gave pot to his toddler nephew.
csdeven on November 19, 2008 at 5:13 PM
lol
Job well done!
LimeyGeek on November 19, 2008 at 5:13 PM
I saw only the title and thought this had to do something Prop 8 in California..
DaveC on November 19, 2008 at 5:20 PM
meh.
I mean yeah they are todlers but at some age you’ve got to learn that simply wanting something to happen wont make it happen. Bad things happen, grow some salt.
I wonder how many kids were orphaned while this was bemoaning toddlers fighting. The majority of the videos they showed the kids were using boxing gloves for goodness sake. There are real problems in the world, don’t believe that this is anywhere near the top thousand worst things going on at any moment.
Micheal on November 19, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Dude, that was atrocious. I thought I was in for a funny clip of some sort.
RightWinged on November 19, 2008 at 5:30 PM
a capella..good post…our younger son is also a black belt in tae-kwon do and not only does it teach self-defense but also that the best line of defense is simply to avoid a confrontation. I am sure your boys are not only trained to use their hands, but to use weapons as well. Your story about the bully is hilarious, and my son has had an experience or two very similar in nature. Unfortunately, one of those instances required him to take his opponent down by force, ending the confrontation in less than 10 seconds. Funny thing is, it was a friend of his who had without thinking tried to put my son in a headlock in anger..I have never advocated his “showing off” his abilities or encouraged him to be a “tough guy” at school. In fact, by his demeanor, you would never know he has martial arts training..He knows thru his sensai and an understanding family (like yours) that confrontation is inevitable sometime in your life. NEVER start it, but be damned sure you finish it.
mldlalex on November 19, 2008 at 5:50 PM
This guy probably has one of those;
“My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student” bumper stickers on his car and thinks it is funny.
Done That on November 19, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Bet he voted for “O” Dumbo
Rick007 on November 19, 2008 at 6:37 PM
How to raise a sociopath. Chapter one.
Buy Danish on November 19, 2008 at 6:38 PM
I only wish one thing; that someone will recognize the babies in that video and kick the dad’s ass.
MsUnderestimated on November 19, 2008 at 6:57 PM
Actually those are pretty funny. No way does that compare to the atrocity in this video.
both kids will be traumatized by this. the one who was getting beat on, and the one who made his brother bleed. He sounded horrified when he saw the actual harm he had done. The father belongs in jail with Bubba.
Daemonocracy on November 19, 2008 at 7:23 PM
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