This is a paper i had to write. I believe some of the things, but i had to present one side. I really just want to get others opinions.
Media, tv, video games, movies, radio, CD players, computers, etc. , takes up a huge part in the day and life of kids and adults. Media shows up in many different forms. New forms of media are being created everyday. Media shows many different types of people, all over the globe, many different lifestyles, and outlets they wouldn’t otherwise experience. Media can be used in many different ways such as to entertain, inform, and relieve stress. The visual aspects of media, tv, movies, video games can show a variety of subjects: sports, cartoons, soap operas, dramas, game shows, reality tv, etc. Many of the visual aspects of the media provide an insight to violence and violent lifestyles. Video games allow you to perform the action virtually, punishment free. Some songs, have lyrics speaking of or encouraging violence. Some people believe that media violence affects children causing them to become violent and perform violent acts.
People who believe media violence cause children to become violent are wrong. They say that crime rates have increased and are increasing as result of increase in media violence, mostly video games. People, who believe media violence affects kids, say that since video games have been created crime rates have increased. Also, stated is that because of media violence empathy for life has decreased. Some people for the statement claim that the video game Doom caused the two kids to start the Columbine incident. Others claim that video games are such perfect simulations of shooting that a kid can accurately shoot a gun just from playing video games. Also claimed is that video games are demoralizing the youth. These are good points but can easily be countered.
Media violence doesn’t cause children or adults to commit violent acts. People see lots of things on tv and may want to mimic them. People know the difference between right and wrong. The knowledge of punishment will prevent the mimicry of certain actions. If a person is solely influenced by the media, the fear of punishment would prevent such actions. Just because a person sees something on tv doesn’t mean that he or she will do it. When a NASCAR car race comes on tv do the viewers go jump in their car and go racing in the streets? No. How many people watch a show or movie about or including drug dealing decide to become drug dealers? They don’t because media can’t give you the real experience and real situational information. How many cases of homicide with a chainsaw occurred after the Texas chainsaw massacre movie came out?
Doom, the video games, caused the columbine incident. These kids were already trouble makers. How did they get the guns, from video games? The two boys were already in a gang. Video games must have told them to do that. In order to perform the shooting the boys had to plan, something else video games didn’t teach them. There have also been other school shootings. Were all of the shooters influenced through media?
It is said that crime rates have increased due to increased use and portrayal of violence in the media. Crime rates have increase but, not because of media violence. Crime has usually increased every year since at least 1960. As the population increased so, has crime rates. The percent of crimes committed for the population was 1.8 in 1960. In 2005, the percent was 3.9. Since 1991 crime rates has steadily been decreasing. The crime rates follow a trend. From 1960 - 1981 crime rates were on the rise. In 1981, crime rates began to steadily decrease until 1991. Crime rates were already on the rise before video games. Since they have been created there have been 2 crime rate decreases. So, with tv, video games, movies how can the crime rates decline. Obviously, it is because the increase in usage and portrayal of violence in the visual aspects of media doesn’t directly cause and aren’t the immediate threats to our society. Every year people say we’re getting closer to the end of the earth and the youth are getting more and more corrupt. It’s not the media’s fault. If criminals in jail were asked if they were influenced or got their ideas from the media, how many of them would say yes?
Video games are taking away good morals and empathy for life. The military uses them for training. Video games in the military are mostly beneficial. They lower the cost from using real guns and machinery. Also, video games used for training are not the same used for fun in homes. Their controllers are gun shaped and it’s being used to increase reaction time. This training may save their life and another’s. Why do soldiers also have to get field experience? Well, video games don’t provide all the necessary needs and training for battle. Just because a person can shoot a gun on a screen doesn’t mean they can pull the trigger for real. Name some morals lost from playing video games or watching violence. Media violence hasn’t deteriorated empathy for life. Many people aren’t saddened or affected by something until they can relate or it has happened to them or someone they know.
Many people view media violence and commit violent acts daily how come many more people don’t commit violent crimes. Almost everyone in the United Sates will view violence through the media daily. Yet, only about 4 percent commit crimes. Violence is not solely cause by media violence or even directly for 96 percent of Americans. That’s a pretty high percent of failure. 96 percent is pretty significant. There were over 296 million people in the united Sates in 2005. 3.8 percent of Americans committed crimes and .5 percent of the people committed violent crimes. Are you going to blame the media for non violent crimes too? Media violence does not cause people to become violent and commit violent crimes.
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