Ban or Censor Video Games, Not Guns?

[PaulS1950]

Most of the "revolutionaries of the 60s are part of corporate America now.... That was one of the changes that didn't work. I just hope the present generation finds out the socialistic ideas they are living with now don't work before it is too late.
we have tried socialism before on this continent and it nearly killed the entire population. When the leaders of that colony made the decision that "if you didn't work, you didn't eat" the colony actually began to prosper.

 

[Foxfyre]

Most of the "revolutionaries of the 60s are part of corporate America now.... That was one of the changes that didn't work. I just hope the present generation finds out the socialistic ideas they are living with now don't work before it is too late.
we have tried socialism before on this continent and it nearly killed the entire population. When the leaders of that colony made the decision that "if you didn't work, you didn't eat" the colony actually began to prosper.

And that is the most difficult obstacle we have to get past. One component of society really believes that promotion of victimization and justification for helplessness, etc. is the compassionate route. Others, like you just suggested, are just as convinced that the tough love concept is the most compassionate because it produces far fewer unintended negative consequences.

Our current society that has been programmed to see itself as victims, to see the successful as the oppressive enemy and unworthy to have what they have, and to expect somebody else to raise them up out of whatever situation they find themselves in. I wonder how much that conditioning plays into the mindset of the one who goes off the deep end and tries to exalt himself through mass murder?

 

[Underhill]

Most of the "revolutionaries of the 60s are part of corporate America now.... That was one of the changes that didn't work. I just hope the present generation finds out the socialistic ideas they are living with now don't work before it is too late.
we have tried socialism before on this continent and it nearly killed the entire population. When the leaders of that colony made the decision that "if you didn't work, you didn't eat" the colony actually began to prosper.

And that is the most difficult obstacle we have to get past. One component of society really believes that promotion of victimization and justification for helplessness, etc. is the compassionate route. Others, like you just suggested, are just as convinced that the tough love concept is the most compassionate because it produces far fewer unintended negative consequences.

Our current society that has been programmed to see itself as victims, to see the successful as the oppressive enemy and unworthy to have what they have, and to expect somebody else to raise them up out of whatever situation they find themselves in. I wonder how much that conditioning plays into the mindset of the one who goes off the deep end and tries to exalt himself through mass murder?

I think you guys are exaggerating the problem.

Almost nobody in this country are actual socialist. All but the most liberal believe in capitalism to one degree or another and those extremist are few and far between. Strong safety nets are not socialism.

As our president said a few weeks ago. (paraphrased)

"safety nets allow people to take more economic risk in the hopes of prosperity"

I think there is a lot of truth to that.

 

[Foxfyre]

Most of the "revolutionaries of the 60s are part of corporate America now.... That was one of the changes that didn't work. I just hope the present generation finds out the socialistic ideas they are living with now don't work before it is too late.
we have tried socialism before on this continent and it nearly killed the entire population. When the leaders of that colony made the decision that "if you didn't work, you didn't eat" the colony actually began to prosper.

And that is the most difficult obstacle we have to get past. One component of society really believes that promotion of victimization and justification for helplessness, etc. is the compassionate route. Others, like you just suggested, are just as convinced that the tough love concept is the most compassionate because it produces far fewer unintended negative consequences.

Our current society that has been programmed to see itself as victims, to see the successful as the oppressive enemy and unworthy to have what they have, and to expect somebody else to raise them up out of whatever situation they find themselves in. I wonder how much that conditioning plays into the mindset of the one who goes off the deep end and tries to exalt himself through mass murder?

I think you guys are exaggerating the problem.

Almost nobody in this country are actual socialist. All but the most liberal believe in capitalism to one degree or another and those extremist are few and far between. Strong safety nets are not socialism.

As our president said a few weeks ago. (paraphrased)

"safety nets allow people to take more economic risk in the hopes of prosperity"

I think there is a lot of truth to that.

Opinion noted and worthy of consideration and discussion for sure, but perhaps not on this thread unless it can be tied to the OP.

What is your theory for the motivation of the typical person bent on mass assassination of random innocents?

 

[PaulS1950]

Foxfyre, you are trying to find a reason for an unreasonable act. Crazy people (tired of the PC thing) don't have reason - they are crazy. Their motive might be anything but it won't be reasonable to us. It wouldn't even sound like a motive to us. If someone sneaks up behind you and screams - you jump. You don't have a logical reason, you are reacting to a stimulus that is autonomic. Crazy people react to imaginary stimulii and wild swings in emotional and behavioral patterns that even they don't recognize.
BTW if someone sneaks up behind me and screams they are likely to pick themselves up off the ground because I don't jump - I turn around swinging. Lessons learned while going to high school in the 60s.

 

[rorynettles]

The murder movie
The murder investigation movie
The murderer chase sceen movie
The murder trial movie
The prison movie featuring the murderer
The cowboy and indians killing each other movie
The war movie where we get to see lots of different way to kill other humans

America needs to ban all these polititions who do not have the balls to ban Hollywood

A couple of poems to open your eyes America

"GENTLE HANDS"

I gently place these words in your hands,

My message to America put in a rhyme,
If there was ever a time to take action, now is the time,

You are free to publish with or without my name
Send it around the world it's all the same

It's not fame or fortune that I am seeking,
I just want all our babies for safe keeping,

I humbly place this poem in your hands,
It is time for Americans to take their stands,

It is time for America to open an eye,
Before anymore babies have to die,

I know some of you parents won't like these words,
Let's ban violence on TV, this country has enough nerds,

The whole country is hurting because of what has been done,
It is the violence on TV teaching our youth how to kill with a gun,

We bring it into our homes and our kids watch it every day,
It would all be banned if I had anything to say,

Each violent movie they watch has a lasting imprint on their brain,
If you don't think this is true than you must be insane,

Our youths hero's are killers, it's sick and it's sad but it's true,
It's not Arnolds or Sylvesters fault , the blame lies with me and you.

We have created whole generation of youth that entertains themselves by watching one man kill and the other one die,
If this country does not ban violence on TV and the Big Screen, many more tears will fill many more eye,

I hope my language is not too strong.
It is time to stop teaching our youth how easy it is to do wrong,


By, R M Nettles



A collective poem to the Parents and leaders in the United States of America and its citizens, from the souls of the 20 innocent children who lost their lives on your watch in Connecticut one December Day in 2012. This may be the place to start, if you are going to stop the violence.

“We the 20”


Don’t cry for us America, we chose to leave before our souls were corrupted too,
We were called home by God so that other souls would be taught the right things to do,
You see there is this thing you call the TV which we watched all the times,
It was beginning to have a horrible negative impact on our souls and our minds,
Our hero’s had become these violent killing machines they call super stars, and we all wanted to be like them,
Some of their names where, Arnold, Bruce, Sylvester, Tom and Will,
And our parents paid them well to show us all the ways there are to kill.
Every day, America’s families pay to invite them into their homes to teach our innocent children it’s ok to kill and do wrong,
The favorite weapon of choice,
Is the firearm of course
So, is it any wonder why after hundreds and thousands of lessons on how to kill,
Some of our youth do it so well
It is against the law for the TV to show us how to make love or even how to breast feed our young,
But it is ok to teach us how to use a gun to kill a man and even watch him die as he is hung,
Every day parents pay to teach our young minds how to watch people die,
We do it so well now, we don’t even cry,
We have named a few names of the rich and famous who have helped warp our brain,
It is America, as a collective group of parents and leaders who are to blame ,
It has little to do with the possessing of or the type of the gun,
It is the multimedia we watch, entertaining us, with all the wrong ways to use it to have fun,

By, R M Nettles

 

[Uncensored2008]

The murder movie
The murder investigation movie
The murderer chase sceen movie
The murder trial movie
The prison movie featuring the murderer
The cowboy and indians killing each other movie
The war movie where we get to see lots of different way to kill other humans

America needs to ban all these polititions who do not have the balls to ban Hollywood

A couple of poems to open your eyes America

"GENTLE HANDS"

I gently place these words in your hands,

My message to America put in a rhyme,
If there was ever a time to take action, now is the time,

You are free to publish with or without my name
Send it around the world it's all the same

It's not fame or fortune that I am seeking,
I just want all our babies for safe keeping,

I humbly place this poem in your hands,
It is time for Americans to take their stands,

It is time for America to open an eye,
Before anymore babies have to die,

I know some of you parents won't like these words,
Let's ban violence on TV, this country has enough nerds,

The whole country is hurting because of what has been done,
It is the violence on TV teaching our youth how to kill with a gun,

We bring it into our homes and our kids watch it every day,
It would all be banned if I had anything to say,

Each violent movie they watch has a lasting imprint on their brain,
If you don't think this is true than you must be insane,

Our youths hero's are killers, it's sick and it's sad but it's true,
It's not Arnolds or Sylvesters fault , the blame lies with me and you.

We have created whole generation of youth that entertains themselves by watching one man kill and the other one die,
If this country does not ban violence on TV and the Big Screen, many more tears will fill many more eye,

I hope my language is not too strong.
It is time to stop teaching our youth how easy it is to do wrong,


By, R M Nettles



A collective poem to the Parents and leaders in the United States of America and its citizens, from the souls of the 20 innocent children who lost their lives on your watch in Connecticut one December Day in 2012. This may be the place to start, if you are going to stop the violence.

“We the 20”


Don’t cry for us America, we chose to leave before our souls were corrupted too,
We were called home by God so that other souls would be taught the right things to do,
You see there is this thing you call the TV which we watched all the times,
It was beginning to have a horrible negative impact on our souls and our minds,
Our hero’s had become these violent killing machines they call super stars, and we all wanted to be like them,
Some of their names where, Arnold, Bruce, Sylvester, Tom and Will,
And our parents paid them well to show us all the ways there are to kill.
Every day, America’s families pay to invite them into their homes to teach our innocent children it’s ok to kill and do wrong,
The favorite weapon of choice,
Is the firearm of course
So, is it any wonder why after hundreds and thousands of lessons on how to kill,
Some of our youth do it so well
It is against the law for the TV to show us how to make love or even how to breast feed our young,
But it is ok to teach us how to use a gun to kill a man and even watch him die as he is hung,
Every day parents pay to teach our young minds how to watch people die,
We do it so well now, we don’t even cry,
We have named a few names of the rich and famous who have helped warp our brain,
It is America, as a collective group of parents and leaders who are to blame ,
It has little to do with the possessing of or the type of the gun,
It is the multimedia we watch, entertaining us, with all the wrong ways to use it to have fun,

By, R M Nettles

Is that Vogon poetry?

 

[Foxfyre]

At least one congressperson has called for legislation upgrading warnings on violent video games, etc. (I read that somewhere awhile back and am too lazy to hunt it up again right now, but will try to do so if anybody really cares.)

But after a local discussion on this topic, somebody sent me this article for consideration. Without any comment on its authority or competence, it is interesting:

The Effect of Television and Video Game Violence on Children

As seen in the experiment with the Bobo doll, young children often imitate viewed aggression because they associate people on television with being role models for adulthood. Children believe the action is justified because a “grownup” did it, and therefore understand it to be a part of “growing up” in today's society. Television violence's effect on children results in aggressive behavior for a number of other reasons, including the following:
•
Elevated levels of arousal — D. K. Osborn and R. C. Endsley's study published in the journal Child Development (1971) shows how children are more apt to become emotionally aroused while viewing violent programs by measuring the increase in their galvanic skin responses. The increase is notably higher when viewing violent behavior.

•
Excessive exposure leads to desensitizing people to violence — The shock of violent behavior subsides after repeated incidents of violence are experienced, thus stunting our ability to react appropriately and effectively to real-life situations and provide help when needed.

•
Mixed messages on settling conflicts — Children don't often recognize whether a situation is fictional or based in reality, so when they see the timeless struggle of good versus evil played out on television by their favorite cartoon characters, they also develop a positive image of how good triumphs over evil through violent means.

The potential impact of video game violence has become a hot topic among psychologists, educators and, parents. In one study by Craig Anderson and Karen Dill (2000), researchers found that participants who played a violent video game scored higher on a measurement of aggression than those who had played a nonviolent video game.

Some psychologists suggest that the influence of violent video games may even be more pronounced than television and movies since children are actually taking on the role of the aggressor during game play. In a 2005 report, the American Psychological Association concluded that, based upon their research, exposure to violent video games increases aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Aggressive Behavior - Psychology

 

[Circe]

The Effect of Television and Video Game Violence on Children

Some psychologists suggest that the influence of violent video games may even be more pronounced than television and movies since children are actually taking on the role of the aggressor during game play. In a 2005 report, the American Psychological Association concluded that, based upon their research, exposure to violent video games increases aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

I'm sure of it. There was a reason they didn't allow violent comics, movies, much of anything in the '50s --- this is what they were afraid of, what we have going on now.

I was thinking today about how everything runs downhill, absolutely everything including discussion forums, movies, schools, novels, movies, games, airplane travel --- everything runs downhill to the lowest common denominator as it all becomes democratized. And then coarsened and made violent and crude.

There is a terrible cost to the out-of-control democratization of society to a very low common denominator indeed. We see it in the news: anything based on how many people click something will inevitably focus on two-headed babies, atrocities to children, and the sex acts of singing stars, because that's what the lowest common denominator most like, and there are more of them than anyone else. Same deal with games. MOST people are turned on by violence, and in a world where everyone (American) is rich, most games will be very violent to appeal to most people and soak up their money.

 

[Uncensored2008]

I'm sure of it. There was a reason they didn't allow violent comics, movies, much of anything in the '50s --- this is what they were afraid of, what we have going on now.

I was thinking today about how everything runs downhill, absolutely everything including discussion forums, movies, schools, novels, movies, games, airplane travel --- everything runs downhill to the lowest common denominator as it all becomes democratized. And then coarsened and made violent and crude.

There is a terrible cost to the out-of-control democratization of society to a very low common denominator indeed. We see it in the news: anything based on how many people click something will inevitably focus on two-headed babies, atrocities to children, and the sex acts of singing stars, because that's what the lowest common denominator most like, and there are more of them than anyone else. Same deal with games. MOST people are turned on by violence, and in a world where everyone (American) is rich, most games will be very violent to appeal to most people and soak up their money.

So is your solution to silence the voice of the people and place our society into the hands of rulers who are not accountable to those who are ruled?

 

[Foxfyre]

I'm sure of it. There was a reason they didn't allow violent comics, movies, much of anything in the '50s --- this is what they were afraid of, what we have going on now.

I was thinking today about how everything runs downhill, absolutely everything including discussion forums, movies, schools, novels, movies, games, airplane travel --- everything runs downhill to the lowest common denominator as it all becomes democratized. And then coarsened and made violent and crude.

There is a terrible cost to the out-of-control democratization of society to a very low common denominator indeed. We see it in the news: anything based on how many people click something will inevitably focus on two-headed babies, atrocities to children, and the sex acts of singing stars, because that's what the lowest common denominator most like, and there are more of them than anyone else. Same deal with games. MOST people are turned on by violence, and in a world where everyone (American) is rich, most games will be very violent to appeal to most people and soak up their money.

So is your solution to silence the voice of the people and place our society into the hands of rulers who are not accountable to those who are ruled?

I don't think that is what Circe is saying though Uncensored. I haven't been seeing Circe's posts long enough to say that for sure, but I don't get the sense that he (she?) is a big government type. But I will let him/her define 'democratization' and ask for that definition before we make a misjudgment here/

I took it though that we did a lot better job of self regulation in that earlier generation. The movie industry pretty well regulated itself and municipalities did the rest by prohibiting/banning what they considered unacceptable or obscene content. It wasn't until the Warren Court that the federal government started getting involved and, in my opinion, that was a violation of the Founders' vision that we would be a people who govern ourselves.

So, depending on the definition he gives us, if he is kind enough to do so, I don't think it was democratization so much as still another case of big government interference that has obliterated Mayberry in favor of ever pushing the envelope for more gratuitious violence, sex, saliciousness, profanity, and all those things that do not improve us as a people. And I say that not as a prude who has anything against First Amendment rights in any shape or form. I just think the 'anything goes' attitudes of our modern society might not be good in every way for the kids.

 

[peach174]

I'm sure of it. There was a reason they didn't allow violent comics, movies, much of anything in the '50s --- this is what they were afraid of, what we have going on now.

I was thinking today about how everything runs downhill, absolutely everything including discussion forums, movies, schools, novels, movies, games, airplane travel --- everything runs downhill to the lowest common denominator as it all becomes democratized. And then coarsened and made violent and crude.

There is a terrible cost to the out-of-control democratization of society to a very low common denominator indeed. We see it in the news: anything based on how many people click something will inevitably focus on two-headed babies, atrocities to children, and the sex acts of singing stars, because that's what the lowest common denominator most like, and there are more of them than anyone else. Same deal with games. MOST people are turned on by violence, and in a world where everyone (American) is rich, most games will be very violent to appeal to most people and soak up their money.

So is your solution to silence the voice of the people and place our society into the hands of rulers who are not accountable to those who are ruled?

Circe is talking about ethics and morals.
Not exposing our children to violence and sex is ethics and it does not silence anyone.
The individual morals of this nation is going down the tubes.
It is not freedom to do what ever you want, say whatever you want,whenever you want to. Our society is breaking down because of these types of attitudes.
Ethics and morals structure the Society into being good and kind to each other. Respect for parents and teachers and other children. Respect for all life.
Sensationalizing our news, movies, video games,music and political legislation is taking us down the wrong path.
Doing what ever feels good, is not good at all and it is this freedom to do and say anything you wish, attitude that is turning us into a horrible society.
No Respect, no common sense and no individual accountability is ruining us.

 

[Uncensored2008]

I don't think that is what Circe is saying though Uncensored. I haven't been seeing Circe's posts long enough to say that for sure, but I don't get the sense that he (she?) is a big government type. But I will let him/her define 'democratization' and ask for that definition before we make a misjudgment here/

I took it though that we did a lot better job of self regulation in that earlier generation. The movie industry pretty well regulated itself and municipalities did the rest by prohibiting/banning what they considered unacceptable or obscene content. It wasn't until the Warren Court that the federal government started getting involved and, in my opinion, that was a violation of the Founders' vision that we would be a people who govern ourselves.

So, depending on the definition he gives us, if he is kind enough to do so, I don't think it was democratization so much as still another case of big government interference that has obliterated Mayberry in favor of ever pushing the envelope for more gratuitious violence, sex, saliciousness, profanity, and all those things that do not improve us as a people. And I say that not as a prude who has anything against First Amendment rights in any shape or form. I just think the 'anything goes' attitudes of our modern society might not be good in every way for the kids.

I don't know.

She went on quite the rant against democracy. Given the climate in Obama's America of the desire for and push toward dictatorship by the left, it warrants clarification.

Honestly, I don't think Mayberry ever existed. I remember the 60's as a more violent time, not less. I remember fights and murders as more common, though less hyped by the press.

 

[Uncensored2008]

Circe is talking about ethics and morals.
Not exposing our children to violence and sex is ethics and it does not silence anyone.

Doesn't the call to ban violent media silence expression by it's very nature?

The individual morals of this nation is going down the tubes.

Very true, and by design due to a concerted effort by the "counter-culture" to destroy any semblance of ethics or values in America.

It is not freedom to do what ever you want, say whatever you want,whenever you want to. Our society is breaking down because of these types of attitudes.

I don't agree.

The breakdown is because the consequence of exercising freedom have been removed. Because our laws are designed to stymy the natural consequence of anti-social behavior.

Ethics and morals structure the Society into being good and kind to each other. Respect for parents and teachers and other children. Respect for all life.

Yes, but I don't think it is video games that change this. Our contempt for human life revolves around the celebration of abortion and the promotion of "gangsta culture" as desirable.

Sensationalizing our news, movies, video games,music and political legislation is taking us down the wrong path.

I view it as a symptom, not the cause of the disintegration of society.

Doing what ever feels good, is not good at all and it is this freedom to do and say anything you wish, attitude that is turning us into a horrible society.
No Respect, no common sense and no individual accountability is ruining us.

I'm not disagreeing, but there is far more to this than TV and video games. What is it that has parents take their 7 year old to get a "thug life" tattoo? Why do we dress 6 year old girls up as prostitots?

 

[Foxfyre]

I don't think that is what Circe is saying though Uncensored. I haven't been seeing Circe's posts long enough to say that for sure, but I don't get the sense that he (she?) is a big government type. But I will let him/her define 'democratization' and ask for that definition before we make a misjudgment here/

I took it though that we did a lot better job of self regulation in that earlier generation. The movie industry pretty well regulated itself and municipalities did the rest by prohibiting/banning what they considered unacceptable or obscene content. It wasn't until the Warren Court that the federal government started getting involved and, in my opinion, that was a violation of the Founders' vision that we would be a people who govern ourselves.

So, depending on the definition he gives us, if he is kind enough to do so, I don't think it was democratization so much as still another case of big government interference that has obliterated Mayberry in favor of ever pushing the envelope for more gratuitious violence, sex, saliciousness, profanity, and all those things that do not improve us as a people. And I say that not as a prude who has anything against First Amendment rights in any shape or form. I just think the 'anything goes' attitudes of our modern society might not be good in every way for the kids.

I don't know.

She went on quite the rant against democracy. Given the climate in Obama's America of the desire for and push toward dictatorship by the left, it warrants clarification.

Honestly, I don't think Mayberry ever existed. I remember the 60's as a more violent time, not less. I remember fights and murders as more common, though less hyped by the press.

Mayberry did exist for me. I grew up in a town just like that. Our parents didn't worry about us being snatched by some pervert. We still shopped at the hobby shop run by the local pedophile and we knew to keep moving so he couldn't get close--the kids giggled about that a lot. We had the run of the neighborhood because everybody's parents parented everybody and the only rules for where we could go was that we had to be within earshot of Mom's voice after sundown.

We saluted the flag with 'under God' and all, sang Christian carols in the school Christmas program--plus a coupld of Hannukah ones for the Jewish kids--and political correctness never occurred to any of us because we were taught to treat all people, especially our elders, with respect. And Rhett Butler saying ""Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" to Scarlett O'Hara was quite ground breaking.

By my junior and senior years of highschool, we had moved to Santa Fe that was a really tough little town in those days. I was exposed to the 'gang' group warfare concept for the first time and you did have to become street smart and watch your back more and realize that some situations were dangerous. But the basic values weren't that much different than my former home town. And we still were perfectly safe at school with no extra security.

Nobody worried about some nut gunniing down anybody, much less a classroom full of school kids.

 

[Missourian]

Foxfyre, you are trying to find a reason for an unreasonable act. Crazy people (tired of the PC thing) don't have reason - they are crazy. Their motive might be anything but it won't be reasonable to us. It wouldn't even sound like a motive to us. If someone sneaks up behind you and screams - you jump. You don't have a logical reason, you are reacting to a stimulus that is autonomic. Crazy people react to imaginary stimulii and wild swings in emotional and behavioral patterns that even they don't recognize.
BTW if someone sneaks up behind me and screams they are likely to pick themselves up off the ground because I don't jump - I turn around swinging. Lessons learned while going to high school in the 60s.

Excellent post Paul, I must spread some reputation around...

It's also human nature to strive to find order in chaos...to find logic in the actions of others so we can 'Oh, here it is, a motivation' and we can put it in a box and study it, analyze it, formulate a solution, solve the problem, construct a defense.

It allows us to feel a measure of control...whether real or illusionary.

When the answer is impossible to divine, it shatters that sense the universe is ordered, and that all it's variables can be cataloged, examined and managed.

 

[Missourian]

The murder movie
The murder investigation movie
The murderer chase sceen movie
The murder trial movie
The prison movie featuring the murderer
The cowboy and indians killing each other movie
The war movie where we get to see lots of different way to kill other humans

America needs to ban all these polititions who do not have the balls to ban Hollywood

A couple of poems to open your eyes America

"GENTLE HANDS"

I gently place these words in your hands,

My message to America put in a rhyme,
If there was ever a time to take action, now is the time,

You are free to publish with or without my name
Send it around the world it's all the same

It's not fame or fortune that I am seeking,
I just want all our babies for safe keeping,

I humbly place this poem in your hands,
It is time for Americans to take their stands,

It is time for America to open an eye,
Before anymore babies have to die,

I know some of you parents won't like these words,
Let's ban violence on TV, this country has enough nerds,

The whole country is hurting because of what has been done,
It is the violence on TV teaching our youth how to kill with a gun,

We bring it into our homes and our kids watch it every day,
It would all be banned if I had anything to say,

Each violent movie they watch has a lasting imprint on their brain,
If you don't think this is true than you must be insane,

Our youths hero's are killers, it's sick and it's sad but it's true,
It's not Arnolds or Sylvesters fault , the blame lies with me and you.

We have created whole generation of youth that entertains themselves by watching one man kill and the other one die,
If this country does not ban violence on TV and the Big Screen, many more tears will fill many more eye,

I hope my language is not too strong.
It is time to stop teaching our youth how easy it is to do wrong,


By, R M Nettles



A collective poem to the Parents and leaders in the United States of America and its citizens, from the souls of the 20 innocent children who lost their lives on your watch in Connecticut one December Day in 2012. This may be the place to start, if you are going to stop the violence.

“We the 20”


Don’t cry for us America, we chose to leave before our souls were corrupted too,
We were called home by God so that other souls would be taught the right things to do,
You see there is this thing you call the TV which we watched all the times,
It was beginning to have a horrible negative impact on our souls and our minds,
Our hero’s had become these violent killing machines they call super stars, and we all wanted to be like them,
Some of their names where, Arnold, Bruce, Sylvester, Tom and Will,
And our parents paid them well to show us all the ways there are to kill.
Every day, America’s families pay to invite them into their homes to teach our innocent children it’s ok to kill and do wrong,
The favorite weapon of choice,
Is the firearm of course
So, is it any wonder why after hundreds and thousands of lessons on how to kill,
Some of our youth do it so well
It is against the law for the TV to show us how to make love or even how to breast feed our young,
But it is ok to teach us how to use a gun to kill a man and even watch him die as he is hung,
Every day parents pay to teach our young minds how to watch people die,
We do it so well now, we don’t even cry,
We have named a few names of the rich and famous who have helped warp our brain,
It is America, as a collective group of parents and leaders who are to blame ,
It has little to do with the possessing of or the type of the gun,
It is the multimedia we watch, entertaining us, with all the wrong ways to use it to have fun,

By, R M Nettles

Is that Vogon poetry?

+1 for a Hitchhiker allusion.

 

[Foxfyre]

Foxfyre, you are trying to find a reason for an unreasonable act. Crazy people (tired of the PC thing) don't have reason - they are crazy. Their motive might be anything but it won't be reasonable to us. It wouldn't even sound like a motive to us. If someone sneaks up behind you and screams - you jump. You don't have a logical reason, you are reacting to a stimulus that is autonomic. Crazy people react to imaginary stimulii and wild swings in emotional and behavioral patterns that even they don't recognize.
BTW if someone sneaks up behind me and screams they are likely to pick themselves up off the ground because I don't jump - I turn around swinging. Lessons learned while going to high school in the 60s.

Excellent post Paul, I must spread some reputation around...

It's also human nature to strive to find order in chaos...to find logic in the actions of others so we can 'Oh, here it is, a motivation' and we can put it in a box and study it, analyze it, formulate a solution, solve the problem, construct a defense.

It allows us to feel a measure of control...whether real or illusionary.

When the answer is impossible to devine, it shatters that sense the universe is ordered, and that all it's variables can be cataloged, examined and managed.

However, should we not take notice of changing patterns? Of destructive trends? Or do we allow the slow drip, drip, drip of a negative thing become common place and shrugged off as the way it is; the way it has always been?

Nobody drugged ADD kids when I was a kid. I probably had the syndrome as sitting quietly with my hands folded and paying attention in class was not my best thing. But whatever that was, I learned quite well, made reasonably good grades, and got a pretty decent education. So why is there so much more ADD and similar syndromes in kids now?

I had never heard of autism until the movie "Rainman" came out. I did know there were mentally challenged folks but certainly the number of kids diagnosed with Asperger's and Autism was extremely rare in the previous generation and seems to be so common now. Why is that?

You went to the Principal's office or detention for using certain words and behavior back then. No biggie. We could have a pen knife on a key chain or a jackknife in our pocket or a shotgun in the rack in our pickup trucks and nobody thought anything about it. Such could result in immediate expulsion or put a school into lockdown now. So what has changed?

Shouldn't we at least pay some attention to this?

 

[peach174]

Circe is talking about ethics and morals.
Not exposing our children to violence and sex is ethics and it does not silence anyone.

Doesn't the call to ban violent media silence expression by it's very nature?

The individual morals of this nation is going down the tubes.

Very true, and by design due to a concerted effort by the "counter-culture" to destroy any semblance of ethics or values in America.



I don't agree.

The breakdown is because the consequence of exercising freedom have been removed. Because our laws are designed to stymy the natural consequence of anti-social behavior.



Yes, but I don't think it is video games that change this. Our contempt for human life revolves around the celebration of abortion and the promotion of "gangsta culture" as desirable.

Sensationalizing our news, movies, video games,music and political legislation is taking us down the wrong path.

I view it as a symptom, not the cause of the disintegration of society.

Doing what ever feels good, is not good at all and it is this freedom to do and say anything you wish, attitude that is turning us into a horrible society.
No Respect, no common sense and no individual accountability is ruining us.

I'm not disagreeing, but there is far more to this than TV and video games. What is it that has parents take their 7 year old to get a "thug life" tattoo? Why do we dress 6 year old girls up as prostitots?

I was not talking just about TV and video games.
I am talking about the whole of society.
This is some of what I am talking about - Feel good.
It makes the parents feel good to have the tattoos,
It's Moms living out their fantasy of wanting to be a beauty queen or what ever they themselves could not do. Not thinking about the consequences of what they are doing to their children.
Banning violent videos games to children, until they become responsible adults is not silence.
Having TV shows in prime time that teach our children from right and wrong like they had in the 50's.
It helped to teach our children who did not have good parents back then.
We had enough Dad's and Moms back then who were drunkards and drug addicts. But the shows taught the children of dysfunctional homes how things should be.

 

[Foxfyre]

Circe is talking about ethics and morals.
Not exposing our children to violence and sex is ethics and it does not silence anyone.

Doesn't the call to ban violent media silence expression by it's very nature?



Very true, and by design due to a concerted effort by the "counter-culture" to destroy any semblance of ethics or values in America.



I don't agree.

The breakdown is because the consequence of exercising freedom have been removed. Because our laws are designed to stymy the natural consequence of anti-social behavior.



Yes, but I don't think it is video games that change this. Our contempt for human life revolves around the celebration of abortion and the promotion of "gangsta culture" as desirable.



I view it as a symptom, not the cause of the disintegration of society.

Doing what ever feels good, is not good at all and it is this freedom to do and say anything you wish, attitude that is turning us into a horrible society.
No Respect, no common sense and no individual accountability is ruining us.

I'm not disagreeing, but there is far more to this than TV and video games. What is it that has parents take their 7 year old to get a "thug life" tattoo? Why do we dress 6 year old girls up as prostitots?

I was not talking just about TV and video games.
I am talking about the whole of society.
This is some of what I am talking about - Feel good.
It makes the parents feel good to have the tattoos,
It's Moms living out their fantasy of wanting to be a beauty queen or what ever they themselves could not do. Not thinking about the consequences of what they are doing to their children.
Banning violent videos games to children, until they become responsible adults is not silence.
Having TV shows in prime time that teach our children from right and wrong like they had in the 50's.
It helped to teach our children who did not have good parents back then.
We had enough Dad's and Moms back then who were drunkards and drug addicts. But the shows taught the children of dysfunctional homes how things should be.

I honestly had not looked at it from that perspective, Peach, but you may be onto something. I was physically, emotionally, and verbally abused by my father and my mother, dealing with chronic alcoholism, was incapable of dealing with it and allowed it to happen. I should be the most dysfunctional, screwed up adult on the planet. (Okay, some think I am but that's a topic for another thread.)

But it was the social influences of my childhood that molded me and helped me reject the terrible role models of my parents. And that made me determined that my own kids would have it a lot better. All around me I saw normal people living normal lives and I emulated that rather than my parents. Today's children living with self absorbed, drugged out, workaholic, or sex obssessed parents don't have too many positive role models on television or in the movies or in their video games to emulate.