Consumption Junction
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Consumption Junction, established in 1999, is a web-based depository for all things random and bizarre. The site includes pictures, video, audio clips, and other forms of media. The content can vary from news clips of events like the September 11, 2001 attacks, to random videos of drunken silliness and violent stupidity to hardcore pornographic shorts. Because of this often controversial content, Consumption Junction is generally categorized as a shock site.
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[edit] History
Around 2000, Consumption Junction had a section dedicated to "death videos," or video clips that are purported to show people's deaths. In one infamous video, called "The unknown soldier", a foreign soldier is held down and his throat is slashed open. In the same video, an elderly man holds up a note describing his captors' demands; then he is shown on the ground, tied up and blindfolded. A man holding a machete then beheads the elderly man.
The webmaster of Consumption Junction has warned that these videos are incredibly gruesome and should not be viewed by young children. Most of the hatemail received by the site referred to these videos; angry parents would write to the webmaster, claiming that their children had seen the videos, and verbally assaulting him for posting them. The webmaster responded that it was not his fault that children were getting access to the contents of his website and that children need adult supervision when surfing the Internet. Later on most of these death videos were removed, but Consumption Junction continues to post occasional death videos. Angry e-mails increased following the addition of clips of U.S. soldiers and/or hostages being wounded or killed.
[edit] The site
On the main page, there is a disclaimer for new visitors who have never been to the site before. After entering the site, there is an editorial by a random member of Consumption Junction. Editorial Topics include politics, current events, sexual encounters, and explicit materials. Visitors can also submit their opinions in the "Fuck it Bucket", where they are encouraged to write a brief catchy phrase or motto.
There's a daily picture titled "CJ pimp of the day", a sarcastic remark referring to the individual in the picture. These images usually run the gamut from comical to bizarre. For instance, one of these images featured a man wearing a pink sash, with a pink tiara on his head. If the picture is particularly degrading and/or comical, it is promoted to "Pimp of the week."
Visitors who write negative comments about the site often get a personal response from one of the webmasters, and the correspondence is usually posted on the site. The webmaster includes the personal e-mail address of the visitor, inviting harassment of the complaining party by countless Consumption Junction users.
Howard Stern once mentioned the website during a radio broadcast.
[edit] Animal controversy
Consumption Junction has a history of backlash from visitors due to portrayals of animal cruelty. Visitors would see videos of extreme cruelty to animals, and would assume the webmasters were toying with their emotions by showing shocking animal deaths. Videos that involve some form of animal cruelty are now linked to Peta.org with the message, "If this vid pissed you off, then do something about it! Click here to donate to PETA!!"
On March 8, 2006, Consumption Junction posted a video of a kitten being violently stomped on by an Asian woman. Regarding this video, the webmaster wrote that he has witnessed many shocking images of various events, but the sight of an innocent kitten being impaled by high heels just made him cry. There have been more videos of the same woman stepping on other animals, such as a puppy and a white rabbit.
On May 3, 2006, one of the webmasters acknowledged an angry visitor who had e-mailed him about animal cruelty by posting the visitor's messages and his own responses. The argument began when the visitor, named Lisa, threatened to call the authorities to have the animal cruelty content removed. The webmaster felt that the link to Peta.org was adequate. Lisa also claimed that the webmaster's intentions were to glorify and make profit from the shows of animal cruelty. The webmaster finally ended the debate by responding to portions of the e-mail, claiming that by showing the deaths of animals, he is increasing awareness of these violent acts and giving visitors an opportunity to donate to Peta.org.
