Yes, Dr.
Maris, I respect your position, and it is shared by the ancient Greeks, who had their fake violence (e.g. Oedipus poking his eyes out) happen “off stage”. That is, in fact where we get the term obscene. As a people, we have been desensitized and have narrowed the field of what is considered obscene.
Not so many years ago, “snuff movies” were hard to find, generally available only in the dirty section of the sleaziest video rental parlours. I remember when some mid-level official in Pennsylvania called a news conference and pulled a gun to kill himself, the cameraman thoughtfully turned away, out of respect for the audience, and even for the suicidal man and his family. Now, YouTube is littered with videos of people getting killed, and not just “Hindenberg” type films where you don’t see the bodies.
It is not necessarily unmanly to want to keep blood and guts and inhumane suffering (even when only part of a story) off screen. An argument can be made that it is more civilized.
You are consistent. I do not draw the line in the same place, but I respect your moral sensibilities.