Stuff that isn't G-rated

[WillJ]

Do you think movies, music, television, etc. can influence a person such that it's best to keep away violence, sex, etc. away from youngin's and immature people? How strict should the prohibition of these things be?

As for my opinion, I think that nothing that you see or hear by a medium will ever make you want to go do something bad, but if you already have that thing in mind, and you see it somewhere (especially if it's being promoted somewhat or made to look glamorous) it can be the necessary final push. However, I do think sometimes people go overboard; for example, thinking that if their little kid sees some inappropriate thing on TV he's gonna go out and have a massive orgy of sex and violence. But it's not like it doesn't affect people at all.

Edit: Also, I'm talking about what happens normally. I'm sure that there was once a perfectly good little boy who saw some violence on TV and went crazy and shot a bunch of people, but don't let something like that be what your vote depends on (unless that somehow happens quite often).

 

[Mopheo]

I think that a kid who had never seen violence would be much less likely to hurt somone. However, an extra violent something here or there is not going to make any difference.

 

[DvR]

I voted "[medium] can push bad people over the edge" in nearly all categories..
The only one I also voted for what happens to good people is Television in general.. Television is a very strong medium, I think if you feed good people with enough violent material they will be influenced in a bad way..

Some time ago I was watching Bowling for Columbine, it brought up the issue that as the murder rate in the US had gone down by 20% (IIRC) the media coverage of it had raised by 600%..

When watching the news and seeing nothing but killing, I think people will get influenced sooner or later.. I'm not saying people will grab their guns and start blasting around like maniacs, but I do think people will get more fear, which is a bad thing IMO..

 

[Shadylookin]

well actually i tink G-rated stuff would push me over the edge. 30 minutes of barney or teletubies(do that have this crap anymore i pray not) would make me wanna go on a homicidal rampage.

I think things that influence you to be bad like TV you acctually were already influenced to do it, and it just pushed you over the edge which you were doomed to anyway

 

[andrewgprv]

I pretty much voted all of the above, art in any form should always affect it's viewer, but for bad or for GOOD too. All these things mentioned above can influnece people for the better just as easily depending on the work itself or ones interpretation of it. Most often then not art is nothing but a reflection of society a statement about ourselves, trying to censor the dark side of art is like trying to pretend their isn't a dark side of human kind. And as we all should have learned by now repression is not an effective means of dealing with our problems. Acknowlegment is the first step.

That being said........Ban Censorship!

 

[Turner]

All I know is, I've been playing Grand Theft Auto for two or three weeks now. I get the urge to jack a cop car whenever I see one, and I think seriously about running the red lights. Damage to my car? I'll just get a different one.

I was watching a movie with my wife the other day, and I saw a cop car pull up to the building. I'm thinking "Okay, lure them out then steal the car." That's exactly what the character did. . . .

So, yes, the media definately has an impact on my view of the world.

I need to disconnect my tv and just play civ all day. . .

 

[Pongui]

If we are products of our environments, then of course we should use some discretion in what environments - real or simulated - we enter.

Personally, I make conscious efforts to take charge of what my self sees and learns.

 

[Plexus]

A bottlecap could influence a person in a bad way. Just shove it into their eye.

 

[Colonel Kraken]

Originally posted by Sean Lindstrom
If we are products of our environments, then of course we should use some discretion in what environments - real or simulated - we enter.

Personally, I make conscious efforts to take charge of what my self sees and learns.

An enlightened view. You are ignorant if you think that visual media does not influence you. Visual media STRONGLY influences peoples views, habbits, and perceptions. There is absolutely no denying that. I guarantee that stripping your life of most of the filth that permeates television and the movie screen and filling it with more possitive endeavors will greatly impact your life.

Think about it.

--CK

 

[Stapel]

Originally posted by WillJ
.....that it's best to keep away violence, sex, etc. away from youngin's and immature people?

: Maybe we should keep away people that put the words sex and violence behind each other, from youngin's and immature people.....

Why are these two always in one sentence? They are different!

 

[Benderino]

Sometimes in books or on the internet it teaches people how to make bombs (crazy people), so that can't be for any benevolent use.

 

[Ayatollah So]

Originally posted by andrewgprv
I pretty much voted all of the above, art in any form should always affect it's viewer, but for bad or for GOOD too.

Great minds think alike.

By the way, has anyone else noticed that the percentage calculations are screwy? They should add up to more than 100%, because each person is allowed to vote for more than one.

 

[Turner]

Actually, I get 100.03, so it is just above 100%. But the calc is done by taking all the votes and dividing the number of votes for that particular selection from all the votes.

 

[ferenginar]

I like G-rated cheese.

 

[Gothmog]

While the media does have a small to medium influence on people, real life has an overwhelmingly larger influence. A kid who has lived with violence, say in an abusive home or having friends/family involved in gang violence, is much more influenced by those real life events. Similarly, someone who has been abused, or even exploited, sexually; someone who has grown up with drug addicted/drunk parents; someone who has been emotionally abused or even neglected.

Now people who fit these descriptions may in fact be drawn to media that displays a view of life that they know first hand, but I think that is more likely to be therapeutic than anything else.

We are influenced by our environment, but as far as emotional response there is no comparison to the real and the simulated… at least with present technologies. Similarly, popular culture can influence people – but primarily through their peer group. People that they know and identify with. Of course if they have no other influences than media, then they have other problems too.

 

[floppa21]

Rationally, I would like to say people are not influenced by television or movies...

People are mindless sheep. People watch American Idol. They consider it 'one of the best shows on tv'... Then they go buy the winner's cd at Target. People also buy all the Nike they can. So yes, television affects how people act. It affects how they talk, walk, what they eat, what they drink, what they wear, what they drive, what they THINK. THINK. Or not.

I would not call it a matter of maturity. Or IQ. How about a matter of non-herd mentality?

 

[Cecasander]

People who are leaded by some kind of media are moronic slaves.

 

[Colonel Kraken]

Originally posted by Cecasander
People who are leaded by some kind of media are moronic slaves.

Mmm hmm. And people who believe they cannot be influenced by media are fooling themselves.

 

[Sims2789]

im sick of the sensoring of movies on TV. parents should take more responsibility in what there kids watch.

 

[Turner]

Originally posted by sims2789
im sick of the sensoring of movies on TV. parents should take more responsibility in what there kids watch.

This would include making sure that the kids understand what is being said/done in the movie/on the TV. I take my kids to a lot of movies other parents wouldn't, and I make sure that they understand what's going on with the movie.

We also watch a lot of animal planet and discovery channel, so I like to think they get a rounded viewing.