That's ok, I didn't take anything offensively.
I just am glad to hear people in agreement on this issue...the thing that is the coolest is that alot of the people on this board are really attracted to Halloween and scary movies, and things that alot of people find too be too "disturbing", so I think it is cool that Halloween lovers are really understanding what's going on in today's movies, and the effect it's having, and how negative the world has become.
Of course...there has always been murder and crazy people that do horrible crimes, but I know when I was my son's age ...I was not aware of stuff ...and when I was 18-21 years old, and lived with my girl friends...we weren't scared of walking anywhere....and I didn't feel like everyone had totally gone off the deep end.
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Larissa
- Master Reaper
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:34 pm
- What is the highest number?: 9
- Location: New Jersey
- Contact:
I may be something of a voice of dissent here, in that I loved the movie Saw (though yes, I think whoever came up with the concept has some serious issues & I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley!) and I don't have a problem with gore & violence. However, that opinion needs to be explained a little...
I don't have kids, but by doing the face painting, I do work with kids on a regular basis. I also, in the context of my day job, have done defense of juveniles accused of delinquency... and some adult criminal defense work, too.
I see some things that disturb me. I go to a birthday party as an entertainer, and while of course this is good for me, I all too often see that I'm there because the parents aren't interested in a kid's party. Now, don't get me wrong - there are times when the parents ARE really involved & just splurged on a face painter. But there are also parties I go to where they have me face painting, a petting zoo, a magician, and a zillion other entertainers there as what amounts to babysitters. The kids are all with us, while the parents & adults are off elsewhere having their own party, drinking alcohol & not paying one whit of attention to the kids. When I was a kid, my parties were pin the tail on the donkey & musical chairs. Pizza, cake, and opening presents. Doing crafts. And my parents RAN they party, they didn't just host it from afar.
So many people have kids who don't seem to be interested in raising them. And therein lies the biggest part of the problem. Parents don't know where their kids are, what they're doing, what their grades are like, who their friends are...
My door was always open unless I was getting dressed. There were no locks on my stuff. I never could've had drugs or weaponry without my parents finding out. My parents knew all my friends, and even when I was a teenager they always knew where I was, who I was with, and what time I'd be home. If I wanted to stay out longer than planned, I had to find a pay phone & call in to see if it was ok. My friends made fun of me, but I didn't care.
When I was too young (i.e. before high school), I wasn't seeing horror movies that weren't on a Sunday afternoon on channel 9.
By the time I got to high school, my personality was pretty much formed, and my sense of responsibility and self were intact. So horror movies, heavy metal music, violence & <deleted> on tv... none of it would affect me. I've been listening to Ozzy for years & never had the urge to kill puppies. I love blood & guts movies - I share something of Tarantino's twisted sense of humor in that I could actually hear him laughing while I was watching Kill Bill. But I abhor violence in reality.
As for video games, I'm from the centipede/pac man generation, so those are my faves... though you will occasionally find me shooting things at Dave & Busters. But that came later too.
There are several keys here: The first is age. The second is respect. Children need to be taught respect for others; their person and property. And respect for themselves as well. And the third is attention. Parents need to pay attention to their kids and be the first line of defense - teach them, watch them, protect them.
No, violence in movies, music, & video games isn't bad per se. But I do agree that it can desensitize young kids who don't yet grasp the difference between reality & fiction. Kids that young don't understand finality and repercussions and the nature of infinity. It doesn't need to be banned or censored. It needs to be tempered, however, with child-friendly alternate options... and parents need to keep an eye out & control what gets to their kids. That leaves Saw available for harmless, adult nutjobs like me. But keeps Shrek in the mix for the kiddies... and nutjobs like me.
I don't have kids, but by doing the face painting, I do work with kids on a regular basis. I also, in the context of my day job, have done defense of juveniles accused of delinquency... and some adult criminal defense work, too.
I see some things that disturb me. I go to a birthday party as an entertainer, and while of course this is good for me, I all too often see that I'm there because the parents aren't interested in a kid's party. Now, don't get me wrong - there are times when the parents ARE really involved & just splurged on a face painter. But there are also parties I go to where they have me face painting, a petting zoo, a magician, and a zillion other entertainers there as what amounts to babysitters. The kids are all with us, while the parents & adults are off elsewhere having their own party, drinking alcohol & not paying one whit of attention to the kids. When I was a kid, my parties were pin the tail on the donkey & musical chairs. Pizza, cake, and opening presents. Doing crafts. And my parents RAN they party, they didn't just host it from afar.
So many people have kids who don't seem to be interested in raising them. And therein lies the biggest part of the problem. Parents don't know where their kids are, what they're doing, what their grades are like, who their friends are...
My door was always open unless I was getting dressed. There were no locks on my stuff. I never could've had drugs or weaponry without my parents finding out. My parents knew all my friends, and even when I was a teenager they always knew where I was, who I was with, and what time I'd be home. If I wanted to stay out longer than planned, I had to find a pay phone & call in to see if it was ok. My friends made fun of me, but I didn't care.
When I was too young (i.e. before high school), I wasn't seeing horror movies that weren't on a Sunday afternoon on channel 9.
By the time I got to high school, my personality was pretty much formed, and my sense of responsibility and self were intact. So horror movies, heavy metal music, violence & <deleted> on tv... none of it would affect me. I've been listening to Ozzy for years & never had the urge to kill puppies. I love blood & guts movies - I share something of Tarantino's twisted sense of humor in that I could actually hear him laughing while I was watching Kill Bill. But I abhor violence in reality.
As for video games, I'm from the centipede/pac man generation, so those are my faves... though you will occasionally find me shooting things at Dave & Busters. But that came later too.
There are several keys here: The first is age. The second is respect. Children need to be taught respect for others; their person and property. And respect for themselves as well. And the third is attention. Parents need to pay attention to their kids and be the first line of defense - teach them, watch them, protect them.
No, violence in movies, music, & video games isn't bad per se. But I do agree that it can desensitize young kids who don't yet grasp the difference between reality & fiction. Kids that young don't understand finality and repercussions and the nature of infinity. It doesn't need to be banned or censored. It needs to be tempered, however, with child-friendly alternate options... and parents need to keep an eye out & control what gets to their kids. That leaves Saw available for harmless, adult nutjobs like me. But keeps Shrek in the mix for the kiddies... and nutjobs like me.
Act well your part; there all the honour lies.
~Anonymous
~Anonymous