Violence In The Media
I intend to convince that violent video games and television programs are not to blame for violence.
Television and video game violence begets real violence, I intend to prove that this statement is not true. In doing that, I also intend to prove that a child’s relationship with his/her parents and his/her peers influence a child’s hostility towards others much more than a violent video game, or television program.
A Childs relationship with his/her parents is very influential.
In today’s society many households require that both parents work. When the parent comes home, all he/she wants to do is relax, and he is shocked by the mess from homework or after school snack left on the kitchen table. The parent immediately, and rightly so, calls for the child to clean the mess up. He/she has been through a tough and stressful day at work, and chances are the command will not be very kind. The parent retreating to a solemn place where one can put his or her thoughts together follows this. A few words are exchanged at the dinner table, and are concluded when the two parties retreat to their rooms and go to bed.
A day like this happens every once in a while to everybody, regardless of parent/child relationship beforehand. But when repeated over and over, it generates neglect. Depressed, the child turns to his peers for somebody to talk to, if he/she is not well received, the depression will be added upon. Then anger will arise, the child will begin to plot against his classmates. Continued parent neglect pulls the trigger.
Many news media reports are inaccurate and exaggerated.
Whenever an adolescent acts out violently, the News Media is quick to jump all over violent video games and television programs as the culprit, as was the case in Littleton, Colorado. The media was quick to point out that the two shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were avid fans of two very violent video games, Doom and Quake. In contradiction to the news reports, many members of Doom and Quake fan clubs scoffed at the inaccuracies “They said that they learned how to use pipe bombs and grenades from Doom … Doom doesn’t even use pipe bombs or grenades.” (Salon Technology 3) They also “Pointed out that they play these games, and don’t shoot their classmates.” (Salon Technology 3)
A Child’s relationship with his/her peers is also very influential
When an adolescent is made fun of by his peers of the same age group in a social environment such as school, where there is “nowhere to hide” from the rumors, the child becomes depressed. Some adolescents begin to question whether or not life is really worth it, and contemplate suicide; others get angry with the people that make their lives a living hell. The child begins to plot against them. He is neglected at home, and his classmates’ only purpose in life is to make his miserable, he thinks. This makes the child want to make these people care. A U.S. Department of Justice study of 1996 shows that 65% of school associated violent deaths were students, which further proves my hypothesis that a child’s relationship with his/her peers is far more influential than any violent video game in the world.
After the tragic killing in April 1999 in Littleton, Colorado. The news media was quick to pull the trigger on “Violent video games,” along with “Goth clothing, bisexuality, the internet and German Industrial Music.” (Salon Technology 1)
This reckless finger pointing must stop, everybody sees the symptoms, and few people dare realize the problem. In today’s American Society nobody wants to take responsibility for his or her own problems and actions. They would rather blame people like Marilyn Manson than admit that they work late hours, come home then go to bed without even a word to their children.
In conclusion, Violence in the media does not equal real violence; it’s the other way around. There are too many irresponsible parents out there that would rather come home and have a “cold one” than have any kind of conversation with their son or daughter. Then there are the parents that try their best to give their children space, and in doing so, give their child too much space. Remember, “If you are a parent it’s your responsibility to censor your home … if you are close to your children and pay attention to what’s going on in their lives - then you will know if they have homicidal tendencies.” (Murphy Micheals, Salon Technology 3)
Last, but not least, there are the parents that want to talk to their children and be a part of their lives, but work such late hours that by the time they get home at night the child is sound asleep in bed. This may sound like nothing much, but this effects the child deeply. Considering this, I do not place the blame on the parents --even though some really deserve it--, but on the American society itself. The same government that does everything it can to solve this problem is the same entity that causes it. |
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