Full Version: TV- Bad for America?
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i say tv is bad for america it has caused many of our children to be more violent, as they copy of the actors off tv, tv is a cause of violence in america, i say that television is bad for america, and our children. 
what do you think?
i say tv is bad for america it has caused many of our children to be more violent, as they copy of the actors off tv, tv is a cause of violence in america, i say that television is bad for america, and our children. what do you think?
This is an important topic. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers the following summary of studies, and offers advice on how to deal with the problem.
Children and TV Violence
The bottom line, of course, is that parents and guardians need to place appropriate restrictions on television viewing of children, to be aware of what they are watching, and to discuss issues of violence. Let's face it; television is not going to go away, unless it is replaced by another medium which will have the same problems. I don't think we want to place too many government restrictions on the content of various media. This doesn't seem to work very well, and adults should not be restricted to the same content as children. A rating system seems reasonable, and technology that blocks certain channels or programs may be helpful. In the end, however, the person taking care of the child holds the responsibility.
Children and TV Violence
The bottom line, of course, is that parents and guardians need to place appropriate restrictions on television viewing of children, to be aware of what they are watching, and to discuss issues of violence. Let's face it; television is not going to go away, unless it is replaced by another medium which will have the same problems. I don't think we want to place too many government restrictions on the content of various media. This doesn't seem to work very well, and adults should not be restricted to the same content as children. A rating system seems reasonable, and technology that blocks certain channels or programs may be helpful. In the end, however, the person taking care of the child holds the responsibility.
I think that the TV violence and children connection is a little off. It doesn't make all kids violent, but it does to some with certain psychological problems and/or kids with problems at school or at home
For example, the Columbine killers: One of them was on an anti-depressent an was constatantly tormented at school (along with the other one). The violence on TV just made their hatred for their schoolmates worse, thus triggering the urge to kill them.
But, it wouldn't effect an honor student who has tons of friends and is liked.
For example, the Columbine killers: One of them was on an anti-depressent an was constatantly tormented at school (along with the other one). The violence on TV just made their hatred for their schoolmates worse, thus triggering the urge to kill them.
But, it wouldn't effect an honor student who has tons of friends and is liked.
"Television" is abit broad. You have the basic networks, C-SPAN, the Playboy Channel, the History Channel, a slew of news networks, the weather channel, QVC, the Cartoon Network etc. Everything from pornography to movies to sitcoms to reality tv to educational television to shopping networks to news, and wide scope in each category. I think what someone watches is largely a reflection on who they are.
That being said, the question is about violence, tv, and children. I'm with Victoria Silverwolf in thinking the responsibility to little kids rests with parents, and that we need to make it easier for parents to control the content their children have access to. I'm still a little hesitant to accept a strong linkage betwen violent tv and kids, as there's a great deal of questions about selection bias, etc. A kid that watches a ton of violent tv is already not hanging out with friends, not getting exercise, and fascinated with violence, which suggests underlying problems. If less than an extensive amount is required, then our society- and other, more tranquil ones- would be much more violent. I do believe, as suggested in the link, that it gives bad kids ideas, but there's no reason a bad seed can't skim his ideas from a book or elsewhere.
To the larger question: I don't think tv is bad for America. I didn't hear many people decrying the printed word when McVeigh used The Turner Diaries as inspiration for his act of domestic terrorism. However misguided their interpretation, most modern acts of religious violence are based on text somewhere. Violent people will find violent inspiration somewhere. To put a special burden on T.V. is to regard not just the content, but the medium itself.
The more "interactive" nature of tv has both benefits and downsides. It requires less imagination, it allows vivid and disturbing images, and it arguably encourages the glib and superficial. But the medium also allows us to see things far a way with our own eyes, and as events happen, or what they looked like when they did. It brings theater into everyone's homes. It may be sad that more people have probably seen Hamlet in their living room than in a playhouse, but at least they may have seen it.
As for the content, 1.) people can choose to change the channel, and 2.) it's all in print somewhere. Hamlet's a bloodbath. So is most news or history. I think it gets a bad rep b/c it's considered both sophisticated and wholesome to be anti-TV. However, those people can pry C-SPAN, the History Channel, the Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, the Food Network, etc., from my cold, dead hands.
That being said, the question is about violence, tv, and children. I'm with Victoria Silverwolf in thinking the responsibility to little kids rests with parents, and that we need to make it easier for parents to control the content their children have access to. I'm still a little hesitant to accept a strong linkage betwen violent tv and kids, as there's a great deal of questions about selection bias, etc. A kid that watches a ton of violent tv is already not hanging out with friends, not getting exercise, and fascinated with violence, which suggests underlying problems. If less than an extensive amount is required, then our society- and other, more tranquil ones- would be much more violent. I do believe, as suggested in the link, that it gives bad kids ideas, but there's no reason a bad seed can't skim his ideas from a book or elsewhere.
To the larger question: I don't think tv is bad for America. I didn't hear many people decrying the printed word when McVeigh used The Turner Diaries as inspiration for his act of domestic terrorism. However misguided their interpretation, most modern acts of religious violence are based on text somewhere. Violent people will find violent inspiration somewhere. To put a special burden on T.V. is to regard not just the content, but the medium itself.
The more "interactive" nature of tv has both benefits and downsides. It requires less imagination, it allows vivid and disturbing images, and it arguably encourages the glib and superficial. But the medium also allows us to see things far a way with our own eyes, and as events happen, or what they looked like when they did. It brings theater into everyone's homes. It may be sad that more people have probably seen Hamlet in their living room than in a playhouse, but at least they may have seen it.
As for the content, 1.) people can choose to change the channel, and 2.) it's all in print somewhere. Hamlet's a bloodbath. So is most news or history. I think it gets a bad rep b/c it's considered both sophisticated and wholesome to be anti-TV. However, those people can pry C-SPAN, the History Channel, the Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, the Food Network, etc., from my cold, dead hands.
QUOTE(TxPoOlPrInCeSs @ Oct 12 2003, 06:38 PM)
tv is bad for america it has caused many of our children to be more violent, as they copy of the actors off tv, tv is a cause of violence in america, i say that television is bad for america, and our children. what do you think?
what do you think?I wouldn't say that TV, necessarily, is the cause of violence in children.
It may give violent children "ideas" on how to carry out violence..
IT definitely contributes to other problems with kids, though..
Such as:
overweight children
kids who do not want to get involved in sports
apathetic kids
introverted kids
Parents that I know rely on TV to some degree, just to keep their
kids occupied.
There are shows available that can be entertaining and educational:
Sesame Street is a good example.
But, that won't work for older kids.
TV is a numbing device for the masses.....
The worst thing is that television is a way we take portions of our lives away from ourselves. We live vicariously through the screen when we could spend more time with each other doing things around the house, attending a class, reading, throwing Frisbee to the dog, making love, working on an art project, practicing a musical instrument, trying out for a play, raking leaves, exercising, sewing, well--you get the picture.
Having said that, I'm just as guilty as the next person spending my time in front of the tube.
Having said that, I'm just as guilty as the next person spending my time in front of the tube.
The harmful effects of television are insidious. It acts as a surrogate friend, parent, teacher. Companies pour billions into advertisement for their products through this medium, yet the general public refuses to see the parallel between the influence of television on behaviors and perceptions, and advertisement. If touting a product for 30 seconds is worth several million dollars to a company (during a time when people are on their guards because it’s a commercial and are often taking bathroom breaks) how much more influential an hour-long show, which requires the willing suspension of disbelief, must be.
I don’t believe in terribly strict guidelines for television, but I do believe in offering parents a reasonable ability to filter out the garbage. Unfortunately, it’s almost all garbage, and the only way to really avoid it is to virtually eliminate the television. I would as soon have my children watch the playboy channel as a daytime soap or talkshow. Probably sooner…I would say playboy is the more wholesome and honest of the three choices.
My solution is to pretty much allow my children only PBS Kids and Disney as options. We don’t watch much television in our house, but I keep it tuned to Disney in case my 21 month old presses the 'on' button.
I don’t believe in terribly strict guidelines for television, but I do believe in offering parents a reasonable ability to filter out the garbage. Unfortunately, it’s almost all garbage, and the only way to really avoid it is to virtually eliminate the television. I would as soon have my children watch the playboy channel as a daytime soap or talkshow. Probably sooner…I would say playboy is the more wholesome and honest of the three choices.
My solution is to pretty much allow my children only PBS Kids and Disney as options. We don’t watch much television in our house, but I keep it tuned to Disney in case my 21 month old presses the 'on' button.
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