Violence in the media!

Why do you get entertained by violence?

The above statement is what this thread is all about!

For the people who watch Television, for those who read, for those who play video games and watch sports...

It is a known fact that violence is inevitable within a humans life, as we are after all just intelligent animals and it is in our genes to fight for survival.

However! The media is promoting violence for entertainment purposes, which is having a massive impact on the way we look at the world and how we live our lives!

It is impacting on what other areas of the world (Countries) think of each other...

It is promoting ideas into young peoples minds ( Relates to my previous thread: Raised By TV! )

It is the main cause for many violent crimes!

It is also the main cause for terrorism and wars!

You have to ask yourself when watching, reading or playing, why am I entertained by such images and actions!

Not me the only game i watch is football soccer and its non contact sport. I do not watch tv other than the odd game of footie, and football is mostly non contact today.

I think things like boxing and ufc should be banned.

So i know to never watch such animal behavior but you people love it, and you can keep it.

I understand the garbage they put on tv, is to condition people and give them cheap thrills. They have americanized tv all over the globe with just garbage.

Like the way ron paul who is a passive male, does not get promoted by the foxnews and msnbc, because they do not like american males to be passive, just butch thugs like norris.

[edit on 4/26/2010 by andy1033]

reply to post by andy1033


Thats what I meant about sports!

I guess you are an exception from the rest of us! Im guessing there is a few more people who aren't interested in violence for entertainment purposes!

In some ways it is educational though!

reply to post by Freq Of Nature


Violence in society is nothing new.
Think of the gladiators fighting til the death.
Instead of going to watch 2 guys fight to the death...now we have ufc which is alot less then what used to be in those old days.

I do think tv does shape our society in a negative way but violence has been a big part of our species from war to killing for food.

Violence in the media is just a reflection of our society if you ask me.
TV is a propaganda machine in my opinion.
Even without tv our species would still have violent tendancies.

Most definitely effects society. Do not tell me that things like jackass and bumfights, have no effect on people and younger people. i have not watched them, but i know what they are.

There are stories of how there are places that did not have crime, then tv came into the village and wham they have crimes.

The tv does hypnotize people, and the people on there laugh about it probably. I saw olbermann last week boasting that sales of a book that he read on screen went up, just shows you the effect it has, and he knows it is funny and they think it is funny they can get all people to follow them.

reply to post by Freq Of Nature


I just cannot stand violence in games either, i think todays games are too realistic and they made it like simulators, and do not tell me it does not condition you to lose any heart for your fellow person in this world.

Where to start...

First of all: Freedom of expression.
UFC and boxing are legitimate sports. Sports which involve a lot of stamina, skill and quick thinking. If people want to box or wrestle for a living then they should be allowed. Pursuit of happiness and all that.

Second of all: Violence in the media is most definitely NOT the 'main cause of violence'. That is the most outright ridiculous thing I have heard anyone make up. I don't even WANT you to provide 'proof' of this because there is 'proof' on the internet that the Earth is flat. Not only that, there are SO many people who actually AGREE with your, in my opinion, ridiculous train of thought.

Third of all: Video Games are to 'grown up' people what tag is to little children. Video Games do not 'de-humanize' you or make you a psychopathic murderer. Can violent images and actions warp an already twisted mind? Definitely. Does this mean that the video games are DIRECTLY responsible? No. What it means is that people who are psychotic to begin with will have psychotic tendencies.

Please close this topic. It serves no purpose. There is no conspiracy here.

Personally, I dislike violence. I mostly watch comedy, and I enjoy a nice slapstick joke here and there, but I can hardly watch horror, because If I see like a fingernail getting ripped off or something I can empathetically feel their pain for a split second. it doesnt hurt or anything, but I am able to relate the pain of the character to myself.

The only Violence I like is when Im playing "Skate 2", and big wrecks and bails are actually an objective of the game. its not nearly as satisfying as landing a cool trick from a seemingly impossible height, though. There is even a X-Box Live multiplayer game where the sole objective is to see who can rack up the most points by wrecking their board. the more broken bones you have, the higher the score.

----that being said I HATE watching real life skateboaders busting.

In the real world I try actively to keep violence away. I have never been in a fight, because I can usually talk my way out of it, and violence is pretty overrated in my book. people use it for some pretty stupid reasons. In fact, there is only ONE thing people can do to me to get me to beat the crap out of them and that would involve messing with my grandma.

I have a good friend who does MMA stuff in charlotte NC, and to me, thats more about technical moves and stuff. I like wrestling, once again for its technical merits.

Im just waiting for the ADL to write a report calling for the ban of Super Mario because of the disenfranchised turtles all over the world are tired of getting jumped on by would be Mario imitators, hahahahaha

Violence in games or tv do not cause violence.

Violence in society causes violence in games and tv.

Where there is a demand people will create a product. The question is, why or how did society become so violent.

Easy ! Fear will lead to more violence. More violence leads to a to society that gets hardened by it and will easier use violence in return or just for the sake of it.

"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate and hate leads to the dark side of the force".
. ~Yoda

Personaly, I don't see how people can be so blind to the truth.


[edit on 4/26/2010 by Sinter Klaas]

I have a few videos in mind that can change your views on that! Im still trying to find them!

It was basically al qaeda or a terrorist group saying that we are too focussed on soap operas and other forms of media to notice what is going on around them!

If anyone can post the videos that would be cool!

Think back to all those brutal stabbings thanks to kids getting ideas from video games, such as Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt and Call Of Duty!

Manhunt Banned!

The ones that don't reach the news are probably a bit worse!

I will work on trying to find the videos but I think that is enough to sway your view on the subject!

reply to post by andy1033

I think things like boxing and ufc should be banned.

I think you should be banned because I disagree with you.

So i know to never watch such animal behavior but you people love it, and you can keep it.

So we should utilize the violent monopoly of government power to make it so consenting adults cannot take part in a highly (self-imposed) controlled combat sport because it makes you uncomfortable? I would say that you do not understand MMA. Its not for everyone, but asking for the ban (use of the monopoly of violence) of it because you don't like it is far more violent than the sport itself.

AS FAR AS VIDEOGAMES, the causal link to violence is absurd. I didn't know Hillary Clinton was on ats.

The media is not the cause of violence. A lot of violence derives from the violent system of which we are forced to be a part. The State is violence. I would first look to that as a source before jumping to sport and hobbies.

On a personal level, I play first person shooters, watch MMA, and own a few firearms. These activities do not impose violence, and even the violence involved in sport (MMA) is controlled, and not forced on anyone. I also advocate peaceful solutions to complex social problems and find the institutionalized violence (the state itself) is morally reprehensible.

I have no problems with ideas of peace, just ones that ask for peace while at the same time excuse government violence as 'necessary for peace'.

reply to post by Freq Of Nature


A terrorist that learns from soap operas.

Boy is he gonna be surprised.

Seriously tho.
You're barking at the wrong tree here.

Example :
Last century there were Two world wars, a cold war, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Idi Amin, Stalin, Hitler, Churchill, Hutu's, Tutsi's, Terrorism, Yougoslavia, Bosnia, Afghanistan.

All of the above ( And more, but I don't feel like telling. ) caused the worst and most terrible crimes to man imaginable.

They didn't play Grand theft auto. Hell, most of them didn't even had a tv.

I'm telling you.
What you say is ridiculous. ( no offense )

reply to post by LususNaturae


With respect, i think your wrong. Boxing and ufc should be banned, why the feck do you people like seeing humans do that to each other.

Also video games do de-humanize, and today they are like simulators. They are not there to get you to kill, but to laugh at the fact others are being killed and tortured.

reply to post by Sinter Klaas


Most people could not fire a gun in ww1, thats a fact, they knew the consequences,and thats why today military trains with simulators, and games, just like you guys play.

Of course military scientists are telling the military how to dehumanise those people, but it does not effect you at all, as you are not like them, you are some sort of super humans aren't you that conditioning does not work on.

reply to post by andy1033


Boxing and UFC should be banned???
That is just ignorant.
So if I hate watching Star Trek then should that be banned as well??
If you don't like it then change the station like I do!!

I love watching a SPORT where people have to train to have skill.
Whats wrong with a good competition between 2 men??
I have boxed and did some violent sports before and it doesn't make you some monster,if anything it has given me better control over my emotions in key situations where bad things could have happened.

I see NOTHING wrong with wanting to watch 2 trained men see who has the better training.

This isn't the gladiator days where they fight to the death,in fact alot of these people have great respect for each other.

reply to post by andy1033


I never said conditioning doesn't work.

I say that violence on tv and in games do not cause violence.
Of course there are people who say it does. And people who did played and watched these games and then turned to violence.

I'll tell you that these individuals would have turned to violence anyway.
Stop pointing fingers and look for the true cause. People are responsible for their own actions.

Please educate me. Why on Earth would I buy something if I was not interested in the first place ?

Every time something gets illegal there is more crime. It will be more profitable and people end up committing crimes that would never have even been possible if a prohibition was not in place.

Look at me.
I've played all those games and watched all those violence movies and sports. I'm not violent. I will even save a fly that accidentally ends up in my drink.

Hé how about this: I'm not special. You are just wrong.( no offense )
Just like I said before. You're barking to the wrong tree here.

[edit on 4/26/2010 by Sinter Klaas]

reply to post by andy1033


With respect, I think you're getting a little violent here. Why are you mock-swearing at me? Are you that violent of a person?

MMA rarely ends in bloodshed. The ref usually stops it before it gets too bad. It IS entertaining. If you don't think it's entertaining then you don't have to watch it. It hasn't 'de-humanized' me at all. Actually, I care a lot about animals and people. I almost got into a fight once, but then I realized how stupid it was and it ended up with me on the ground with a bloody ear. I didn't even care afterwards.

Violent people are violent regardless of violent media influences. Sure, there are people who are off their rocker and the violent media just makes it that much worse, but to say that MMA should be banned is ridiculous.

Why would you want that, you oppressor of happiness?

reply to post by Sinter Klaas


No... I think you have misread what it is I am saying!

Forget it im not gonna waste my time here anymore!

Laters ATS!

reply to post by Sinter Klaas


There has always been wars since the dawn of time... However, violence against one own community (in the developed world) by gangs of teenagers, although not unheard of years ago, has hit epidemic proportions.

The problem is not that of media alone, but it does contribute... Breakdown in the family unit, softening of laws and punishments, poor schooling, along with the fact that violent media desensitises the young to graphic violence, all contribute to the mess we have now.

Anyone who says that TV/Video games have no effect on peoples behaviour is naive... Why do you think companies use this format to advertise products? Would they spend millions of dollars/pounds every year if it had no effect??

The effect is subtle, and it affects different people to different degrees, hence why you get people who shout "But i play GTA 3 every day and i don’t stab old ladies"

Video games do not make children run straight out of the house and go on a stabbing spree... But it does soften the psychological blow of real violent experiences. We are meant to be shocked by violence!!

Furthermore, exposure to violence, and porn, is like a drug... When exposed to these types of image it stimulates areas of the Brain and generates a temporary high... leaving the viewer/user wanting more after a few hours. There have been many research projects into this area and most of them draw the same conclusions... i cab provide links if people are interested...

I, sadly, am a video game junkie... but i still see it for what it is... I believe that you get two types of junkie... the one who recognises that there is a problem... and the one who does not!

Oh... as an interesting twist to this...

I went to school in London during the 80's... A very trendy "right on" school...

For politically correct reason (yes we even had it back then) they decided to ban competitive and contact sports... No Football, Rugby.. pretty much everything except dance

Violence in the school rocketed... all these teenage boys full of hormones and energy but no means of expending it just started fighting amongst themselves.

Sport IS a good thing... we cannot ignore the human instinct for young men (and women) to compete in physical trials.

You cannot compare playing rugby with your friends to playing Call of Duty online!!