Computers, TV and gaming are yet again being blamed for teenage violence, casual sex and the breakdown of pretty much everything from the nuclear family through to the international financial system.
The Daily Mail has been quick to report that teen pregnancies and mental illness can all be easily blamed on "computer games, the internet and television for 'the lurch to more and more violence which we know can breed violence and increase mental illness'."
Family break-up and selfish behaviour by adults in their "aggressive pursuit of personal success" is linked to "the effects of long hours spent watching television, on the internet and playing computer games."
The report claims that overexposure to violent images on TV and in computer games is largely to blame for the breakdown of caring, welfare-concerned family units well-equipped to nurture and bring successful and responsible children into adulthood.
From Shakespeare to the gogglebox
The report asks for a blanket ban on all advertising aimed at children under 12 and an end to booze and junk food ads before the 9pm watershed.
On television, it claims, "the violence is both physical and psychological, and violent argument appears as a standard response to disagreement. To be sure, there is plenty of violence in Shakespeare and in the cinema. But people used to go to the cinema once a week, whereas our children now watch television for an average of 17 hours a week."
Interestingly, in almost direct opposition to the Daily Mail's line on the Children's Society's report, the Advertising Standards Authority claimed that over 99 per cent of videogame advertising was responsible and properly scheduled or placed this week.
It really is difficult to take a 'stance' on an argument in which both sides seem to have been made up by a bunch of so-called journalists with apparently little or no understanding of how families work in today's Britain.
Whatever your personal or party politics may be, to appear to blame the breakdown of the nuclear family, the increases in violent crime, the problems of teen pregnancy or the personal tragedies that are brought on by problems with mental illness on excessive use of technologies and videogaming amongst adults is an incredibly simplistic and overly moralistic generalisation.
It is, to put it simply, utter poppycock.
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
Your comments (9) Click to add a new comment
louis058
February 5th
9. when bad things happen, people need things to blame, maybe games are affecting some people, but, i think its more that teenagers do these things cos either they're drunk, or they think what they're doing is cool, and anyway, most teenagers play games, so how can you blame this? im a teenager who plays games, and i know many other teenagers who play games, and none of us do these things. why? we've got many people, teachers, parents telling us these things are bad, showing us examples, the teachers give assemblies at school to show us these things are bad, and i know nobody who actually does these kinds of things. the people who say these things aren't looking outside the box, stop looking at the statistics and actually see for yourself! if you look, you'll see that there are actually very little teenagers doing these things!
i've seen many examples where the parent is to blame, either not spending enough time with their child, not teaching them to NOT do bad things, or even going as far as physically assaulting the child!
games really have nothing to do with this.
Alert a moderator
blackdragon1305
February 4th
8. @blu_rocket: Agreed.
People always turn to the government to fix their own problems, which in a way, is the governments responsibility. However, at what point do people lose a sense of responsibility for themselves? People need to stop trying to point fingers and lay blame, and maybe take some responsibility for the fact that you weren't the parent your kid needed. We all know parenting isn't easy, but you cant go around slapping everyone with the same set of rules. Kids need to be individually guided rather than mass controlled.
Alert a moderator
resist
February 4th
7. Children are not a right, they're a privilege.
If people are lucky enough to have children, they should behave responsibly and give proper guidance to their children. Which means they have to spend time with them.
The issues in this article, seem to have their basis in poor parenting.
Here's a hint - spend some time with your children and find out what they're playing, what they're doing and give them the feedback they need to make an informed decision.
Alert a moderator
kwis
February 4th
6. It is funny. All the science and media types somehow miss seeing how recent research about mirror neurons proves that !YES! -- viewing violence makes us more likely to be violent.
Too much money to be made to actually pay attention to the fact that we are harming ourselves? So the information just doesn't get out there so that people can inform themselves, shuck opinion and understand what is really in their own best interests.
(sigh)
Alert a moderator
elusif
February 3rd
5. i am a *** babby who cant handle my vidgames.
my hobbies are
A: going to the gym
B: shooting ******s
C: lighting ******s on fire
D: making bad posts
Alert a moderator
emceegrammar
February 3rd
4. Arrgh. "Gaming and technology" are multiple subjects modified by the same verb. Plural subject, plural noun.
"ARE gaming and technology damaging society" not "Is". At least maintain better than average grammar in your headlines, please.
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments