Violence in tv and film:Does it encourage violence in real life?

[Flannen]

That's not necessarily true, though. There's a marked difference in the way that violence is portrayed on the news than in entertainment, the news certainly doesn't tend to glorify or fetishize violence in the way that popular culture seems to.

No, but it exaggerates and is very prone to scaremongering.

The way I see it, children shouldn't be watching this sort of thing, simple as. It's not a computer game or a film's fault if a child under the designated certificate watches/plays it, it's down to the parents.

Which again, goes back to my point that the film and gaming industry is a scapegoat for other people's poor judgement.

 

[Mesektet Ra]

"Any pile of stunted growth unaware that entertainment is just that and nothing more, deserves to doom themselves to some dank cell, somewhere, for having been so stupid!! Movies, books, T.V., music - They're all just entertainment, not guidebooks for damning yourself!" - Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. [IRONY IRONY]

1] Word.
2] I agree with WA wholeheartedly. Parents have forgotten how to parent - and an offshoot of that, in order to overcompensate, are the assholes calling DCFS on people for spanking their damn kids when they run out in the street. It almost sickens me that I'm bringing a child into this world the way it is now - especially the American society, filled to the brim with morons who think they know how to raise your child better than you do. The battelcry of EVERYONE is 'FOR THE CHILDREN, FOR THE CHILDREN' which is utter bullshit. If parents where even half as competent as they used to be and stopped SCREWING AROUND like a sack full of morons people wouldn't be dealing with kids bringing guns to school and blowing everyone's heads off.

And if your kid doesn't know the difference between what's real and what's not, who's fault is that? YOURS. You're the one who f-cked up and didn't teach your kid something integral to living, so STOP TRYING TO BLAME EVERYONE ELSE. People are always looking for something or someone to blame when, in actuality, they don't bother to look at themselves because somewhere along the line people have become too f-cking stupid to do so. It's saddening and it pisses me off.

 

[white avenger]

There will always be good people and bad people. Always. The only thing that effectively controls crime, violence, and intimidation is respect, apprehension, or downright fear of the consequences of our actions. When a society puts more emphasis on total freedom than responsibility, and when there is more emphasis placed on the rights of the criminals than the well being of the victims, that society has lost track of reality. The Supreme Court recently ruled that citizens have thr "right" to protect our lives, the lives of our families, and our homes from illegal invasion (as opposed, I assume, to "legal" invasion). The very fact that we had to, in effect, wait for permission from the legal system to exercise that God given right, speaks volumes about the condition of society in general.

Wanta hear something really ironic? The courts ruled about 20 years ago, though of course it has never been very well publicized, that the police in particular, but the entire government in general, is obligated to protect "the community," but have NO LEGAL OBLIGATION to protect any individual citizen. Apparently some victim of a crime decided to sue their local constabulary for not doing the job that his taxes pay for.

 

[JCC]

"Any pile of stunted growth unaware that entertainment is just that and nothing more, deserves to doom themselves to some dank cell, somewhere, for having been so stupid!! Movies, books, T.V., music - They're all just entertainment, not guidebooks for damning yourself!" - Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. [IRONY IRONY]

1] Word.
2] I agree with WA wholeheartedly. Parents have forgotten how to parent - and an offshoot of that, in order to overcompensate, are the assholes calling DCFS on people for spanking their damn kids when they run out in the street. It almost sickens me that I'm bringing a child into this world the way it is now - especially the American society, filled to the brim with morons who think they know how to raise your child better than you do. The battelcry of EVERYONE is 'FOR THE CHILDREN, FOR THE CHILDREN' which is utter bullshit. If parents where even half as competent as they used to be and stopped SCREWING AROUND like a sack full of morons people wouldn't be dealing with kids bringing guns to school and blowing everyone's heads off.

And if your kid doesn't know the difference between what's real and what's not, who's fault is that? YOURS. You're the one who f-cked up and didn't teach your kid something integral to living, so STOP TRYING TO BLAME EVERYONE ELSE. People are always looking for something or someone to blame when, in actuality, they don't bother to look at themselves because somewhere along the line people have become too f-cking stupid to do so. It's saddening and it pisses me off.

Parents can never be entirely to blame for the way that their child turns out, particularly as regards reactions to society. A parent can't be there constantly deflecting the influence of every external stimulus that a child comes across.

 

[Mesektet Ra]

That's trufax, but I also believe that we are as much products of our home environments than we are products of society. Who is the main influence in a child's life from the beginning? Their parents. And I also believe that expecting a parent to try to curb any negative influence on a child's life is a] a completely unreasonable request and b] gives us whiny, spoiled, coddled children and teenagers. But we used to have a common middleground where the children weren't coddled but the parents were doing a better job of paying attention and loving their children as a general whole than we are today, and I just kinda wonder what happened to that.

 

[laianna]

I'm not sure exactly how relevant this is, but one thing that has always irritated me about Buffy and other shows is that in order to attract viewers, they put in a lot of "action" and violence. I don't see the need for that.

If Buffy is supposed to be a metaphor for everyday life, is it really necessary for her to solve all of her problems by beating someone up? I don't know where I stand on the extent people are influenced by violence in the media, but I do feel like a better role model might use logic and intelligence occasionally as opposed to fists. That's not to say I don't like Buffy, nor to say that I feel like her actions weren't justified under her unique circumstances, because I do, but at the same time, all the fighting sometimes gets to me.

Violence is everywhere, in some form or another, and people like the violently psychotic characters because of their violence. It's really all in the way people are presented, I think. If there aren't consequences in TV shows and movies for unneccessary violence, maybe people would consider their behavior cool or admirable. If people idolize characters (and we all know that there are some people out there who do) who act violently, it's only a small step from liking them to acting like them. Like stated by others, however, this behavior makes you wonder if there wasn't something wrong with them in the first place, especially if they're out there brandishing a stick and claiming to be Voldemort or something.

I don't know if that made any sense, but I hope it helps. 🙂

 

[Bluebird]

I've never believed that tv, movies or video games make people commit violent acts. I mean, I live in a city that has a higher murder rate per head of population than New York or London, and has been called the murder capital of Western Europe. Nice eh? 😛 People say that everyone in Glasgow knows someone directly or indirectly that's been murdered, and I have. So I've had experience with seeing violence around me, it's common. And no way would I blame tv or movies for that. Someone has to want to kill someone, or do that much damage to another human being. That has to be in your nature.

 

[Washburne]

I really should have read this whole thread before posting and I apologize for not having done that.

Does a lot of people use entertainment violence as a scape goat? You bet.
Do we as humans get affected by entertainment violence? You bet. The question is just how much. And that leads to what is probably my favourite saying. It has at least become something of a mantra for me on this board. People are different. And we get affected by most things in our surroundings so it's not only violence. But to say that it doesn't affect humans at all also feel pretty naive. Because we do as we get affected by parents, friends, relatives, neighbours and teachers. Or the invoroment for that matter.

Does it make people go out and beat the hell out of each other or even kill someone? My opinion is very rarely but I wouldn't rule out that it has happened in some cases. Even though I'm sure that no one that never ever showed or (and this is an important part) felt any tendencies to violent behavior before get enough influenced by a movie or game to go out and do such things. But it could also be the thing that pushes someone over the edge. The final drop have to come from somewhere. Humans are complicated. It's very rare if it ever happens just the one thing that makes people react the way they do.

This discussion isn't anything new. I remember the fear people had when the VCR got popular and how they had people on the news talking about what a bad influence it would be. And it had some. A classmate and his cousin got influenced by some movie they'd watched and decided to go and do what they've seen themselves. Which ended with a trip to the hospital after one of them had thrown a knife at the other and it landed right between his eyes. So he's lucky he can now see on both eyes. That was not meant as an example on how bad it is to watch movies. Just a memory that came up about being influenced by movies.

One bad affect that the easy access to vcr's/dvd's and computergames (and stuff like it) is that it's used as babysitters. So this have nothing to do with what kind of movies or games that are being used. What it leads to is that a lof of kids miss out on a lot of human contact. They don't know how to interact with other people. Might not sound so bad but since I see it a lot at work I can promise you that it happens a lot. And that to me is the real danger. Even if I on a personal level think young kids or even older ones gets exposed to way too much violence. I know why they're used as babysisters though and in a lot of ways I understand it. So from now on I could get into a discussion about having kids but it's better not to go into that.

Someone has to want to kill someone, or do that much damage to another human being. That has to be in your nature.

So then the question is if it's in the nature of scots in general or just the ones living in Glasgow and why it's in their nature to start with.

 

[Bluebird]

So then the question is if it's in the nature of scots in general or just the ones living in Glasgow and why it's in their nature to start with.

Glasgow has had a big gang culture for years and years, being passed down generations as long as I remember. You see old guys in their 70s, with gang tattoos and scars on their faces. And you have the whole Rangers and Celtic thing, with all the religious crap that goes along with that - a lot of killings over that too. It's just ingrained into Glasgow society so much, so I don't see it as an outside influence by tv or movies etc. The whole murdering people thing has been a problem long before tv or video games etc. But I'm looking at it from my point of view, from my city. I see it a lot, and I don't connect it at all. It's more of a specific problem I guess.

But I still believe that you have to have something in you, to be a violent person, to have it in you to kill someone. I know some violent people, believe me, and I see it as something they have no control over. It's a part of them, a part of their nature.

 

[Washburne]

Glasgow has had a big gang culture for years and years, being passed down generations as long as I remember. You see old guys in their 70s, with gang tattoos and scars on their faces. And you have the whole Rangers and Celtic thing, with all the religious crap that goes along with that - a lot of killings over that too. It's just ingrained into Glasgow society so much, so I don't see it as an outside influence by tv or movies etc. The whole murdering people thing has been a problem long before tv or video games etc. But I'm looking at it from my point of view, from my city. I see it a lot, and I don't connect it at all. It's more of a specific problem I guess.

I hope I didn't say that the violence that you were descibing came from tv. I just wondered where it came from if it's inside of people. Which I'm not saying is wrong. It just makes me curious.

So the religion thing is one part. But if it's in people does that mean that religious people are violent by nature? Or is it only used as an excuse? And if so where did the violent tendencies come from from the start?

Gangs? So help me out. If it's in your nature are you born with it or does it come from the way you're being raised together with the enviroment? Can violent people be helped to be less violent? If it's something you're born with you need meds right? And that shouldn't be that difficult to solve in Britain if there were a medication that could help with it. Or if it's stimulation from your surroundings that could be helped too right? Even if it takes a lot of work. The violence might be integrated into sociaty now but where did it come from (can we blame the english and their treatment of the scots?) and can it be helped? Or is Glasgow beyond help and it's just to accept that the city is like it is?


Personally I think Glasgow could do with a Jasmine. 😉 And I really hope you take that comment the right way.

 

[Bluebird]

I hope I didn't say that the violence that you were descibing came from tv. I just wondered where it came from if it's inside of people. Which I'm not saying is wrong. It just makes me curious.

So the religion thing is one part. But if it's in people does that mean that religious people are violent by nature? Or is it only used as an excuse? And if so where did the violent tendencies come from from the start?

Gangs? So help me out. If it's in your nature are you born with it or does it come from the way you're being raised together with the enviroment? Can violent people be helped to be less violent? If it's something you're born with you need meds right? And that shouldn't be that difficult to solve in Britain if there were a medication that could help with it. Or if it's stimulation from your surroundings that could be helped too right? Even if it takes a lot of work. The violence might be integrated into sociaty now but where did it come from (can we blame the english and their treatment of the scots?) and can it be helped? Or is Glasgow beyond help and it's just to accept that the city is like it is?

You have many questions. 😉 I'm just telling how it is here, I don't know the historical reasons why it evolved into the city it is. Maybe it was always this way. I know that your parents instill something of your values and morals into you, but to go so far, that extra step, to be extremely violent, capable of killing, I think that's a different thing. I think that's nature, not nurture.

Personally I think Glasgow could do with a Jasmine. 😉 And I really hope you take that comment the right way.

I get it. You're saying we need to have an evil higher power eat us up. 😛

 

[Tasha]

Lol Kay everyone knows that Glasweigans are all looney bins.
:: wacko2

except me. haha. k.o, including me
:devil2:

 

[Washburne]

You have many questions. 😉

I usually do. Don't mean that you personally should answer them. They're more to show my thoughts.

I get it. You're saying we need to have an evil higher power eat us up. 😛

Think about it. Sure, the not having a choice thing sounds bad but what is better, having people killing each other and a lot of people being miserable or everyone being happy but some gets eaten (hopefully less than gets killed)? Because even if they get eaten they're still happy up to that point. A lot of people would do and risk a lot for happyness you know.

I know the Jasmine arc isn't well loved but to me it raises a lot of interesting questions. But this isn't the thread to discuss the show Angel. But making references works fine right? 😉


edit: One last thing I forgot to say. I don't think it's only a case of wanting to kill someone. Sometimes desperation can work just as well for that to happen. It all comes down to what kind of killings/murder we're talking about. Take the gangs for example. I might be wrong but can't it be that people in a way is forced to kill so they don't get in trouble within their group. And I said I could be wrong. I'm tired and should be in bed.

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

Here's my professional opinion as a Psychology student (sw)

There is a correlation between TV watching habits and violence, but it is unclear what way it works, do inborn violent traits lead to the preference of violent media contents, or dies violent media lead to more violent behaviour?
This might look very gloomy now, but there's a few points that should be noted.
1. Violent media doesn't have to lead in violence. of course children are most susceptible to them, and a great deal to prevent violence can be done by parents by explaining what's happening on TV to the chilren, making clear that it is fiction and in real life nobody behaves like that, etc.
2. As much as TV or other media can have a negative influence, it can also have a positive one. Research suggests that TV can also train prosocial behaviour, so that's good.

Now, if I have time later on I might do some more reading on the topic, but these are the keypoints of what I remember from class 🙂

 

[Grey Ghost]

Another way to look at it is 'Does advertising have an effect on us and children?' The answer to that is 'yes', so it is possible that violence via the screen also has an effect.

 

[white avenger]

Another way to look at it is 'Does advertising have an effect on us and children?' The answer to that is 'yes', so it is possible that violence via the screen also has an effect.

Only to a certain extent. Good advertising might make me want a particular brand of jeans or a certain flavor of ice cream, but implanting the notion that I can go to a mall, slaughter a bunch of people, and somehow pass the blame on to Brand X Riot Shotgun Shells commercials on tv because they made killing look so easy is pushing it somewhat. If I have been raised and instilled with a set of values that tell me that murder is wrong, no amount of advertising will change those values.

 

[Revolver]

I only put in a joke answer before, so here's a better one:

Violence has been around as long as people have. Television and film have not. And if people say violence has increased since the invention of television, perhaps they aren't considering the many other things that have changed over the years. In the past, violent acts were far less likely to lead to arrests that could be used for some kind of statistic. People didn't always have the means to report that they'd been attacked back in, for instance, the frontier days. And certainly, information on violent crimes couldn't be gathered as accurately and efficiently on a national or international level in the past. And let's not forget about racism. Crimes against black people in the U.S. were often ignored altogether because of widespread racism in the past. And what about changing attitudes and conventions? Divorce has become more widely accepted, and more children grow up missing one of their parents. That means less supervision, even if you put pscyhological implications aside.

These are just a few thoughts I've had off the top of my head. To me, it's a little ridiculous to try to blame violence on television or movies, at least fictional ones. I could perhaps understand an argument that media coverage on violence and the notoriety gained by kids who shoot up schools affects socially isolated kids who just want to be remembered for something. But placing blame on fictional programs is just stupid, and an excuse people use due to their own shortcomings in observing the growing problems of others around them, or the responsibility of the person stupid enough to commit such acts. TV and film don't lead to widespread violence. Many other factors could be involved in any case you could mention, and to just say, "Oh it's because this kid watched Moe hitting Curly and Larry" is a cop out.

 

[JCC]

So you believe that works of fiction do not possess the ability to affect someone's values at all?

 

[Frketson]

To some extent i believe it does, but when people blame movies and games for someone commiting suicide or killing another person because it was in a movie or a game or something. Thats just plain stupid.

Normal people realise movies, games and music are entertainment. Its the crazy ones that take it to the next step.

 

[skooks]

I think that if seeing something violent on TV or in video games can influence you to repeat what you see, then you have to be a little unhinged in the first place. The kind of people that play Grand Theft Auto and get ideas are the kind of people that are going to do something silly at some point anyway.