Violence video games/movies/tv series

**5ft Diva** · #1 04-30-2007, 10:40 PM

Today I have noticed a correlation between having a short temper and watching shows w/ some violence in them or even more, tv shows that alluded to violence. I decided to do a little digging to find out if I was up in the night and I didn't have to dig too far because what I did find was sufficient for me. I just thought I'd put on here a couple of things on here that I found while searching for an answer. The first one is a response to how violence affects the brain, the second has more to do w/ appropriate tv exposure and alternatives to tv. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has found that they have a short temper when they watch things that have some violence in them or even allude to violent acts.

I didn't think this applied to me, simply because I've never considered myself as someone to watch violent movies or tv series but I have found that what's violent for one person is not what's violent for another. I don't tolerate violence very well and have found that I'm very sensitive to any form of it. Anyway, just wondering what your thoughts were. I feel kind of silly just finding this out about myself. It seems like something I should've known, I guess I've just never put much thought into it.

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Erudite · #2 05-01-2007, 08:32 AM

Very interesting! When I was in college I remember reading other papers on this subject, but its scary how game makers keep coming out with new, more violent games despite research. It tells your their goal is not exactly altruistic.

I also remember having a religion professor share with us the experience of watching his own children playing something that was somewhat violent. He said he had the distinct impression that Satan was attempting to train the next generation to be able to kill by pushing a button. That was in the late 80s when the USSR was still a vague threat and I remember thinking that nuclear war was what he was talking about. But as violence in the world has escalated, but on a smaller scale, you have to wonder if it wasn't on the small homefront as well as on a global scale that Satan would be thinking about such training. When Satan only gets 1 in a million to kill without much thought, he scares a whole nation and his training program then might be worth it.

Oh...can't we all just get along? I guess what we need to do is teach our kids these things. I'm glad you're thinking about these things 5D, because you help us all to think about them. I was recently told that a family (on the other end of our ward so I've never met them) was moving because, among other reasons, their children had been called "******s" at school. How sad is that? Children are learning that from their parents somehow. It makes what we do and say so much more important to know that our children will be taking something of what they see and hear around the house to school with them.

I guess surrounding our kids with positive and uplifting experiences throughout their lives is part of what will make for a better world, doncha think?

Mamallama · #3 05-01-2007, 09:26 AM

Thanks for the thoughts 5D and ER. Very interesting. I haven’t looked up the links yet, but for me I really dislike watching violent TV programs or movies. I cover my eyes anytime anything violent comes across the screen. I do think that watching violent behavior can cause children to act more aggressively as I’ve seen it in my own kids. I had to ban my boys from watching certain TV programs when they were little, because they would fight so much after watching the TV show. It would start off as “play fighting” as they were copying the TV characters, but then they would end up in a real fight.

Thoughts do lead to actions. Playing these kind of violent video games over and over can’t be a healthy thing.

Just a thought I’ve had from time to time is this. I spend a lot of time trying to make sure that we aren’t watching anything of a sexual nature. But how many times has the whole family viewed someone being killed? Murder is the greatest of all sins, and yet going along with ER’s line of thinking, Satan has desensitized us so much as a society to think it’s ok to watch killing over and over again in the movies, and has formed games making it "ok" to actually act out the explicit murdering of others on a TV or computer screen by pushing buttons. I would never let my kids play video games where they push buttons causing the characters to commit adultery, but for some reason as a society we worry less about the kids pushing buttons to kill or to watch the viewing of people being killed on TV. Hmmm something is wrong with this picture isn’t it????

I agree ER.....as you said, we need to focus more on providing more positive and uplifting experiences for ourselves and our children, and that's what will make this world a better place.

Erudite · #4 05-01-2007, 09:37 AM

Wow ML...what a truth you've expressed there!! Isn't it interesting that our society does not punish for adultery and fornication, but we'd never (knock on wood) push buttons to make them occur in games...they're considered "ok", and yet murderers (in some states) can have their lives taken from them for committing such crimes...and you can push buttons to make them occur. How has our society gotten so very backward??

I suppose (I don't know much about violent games) that it's all in the name of "war" or "self-defense", but I highly doubt there is a "diplomacy" button to push in these games, but diplomacy is what our kids need to learn the most!

**5ft Diva** · #5 05-01-2007, 12:27 PM

Very insightful. I went to bed last night and realized that the news was one of the sources of violence. Every new story had a murder, killing, bombing, or whatever. I couldn't believe it. It was like we were being inundated by it through a "neutral" source. This is why I don't watch the news. I happened to be watching it that night because I wanted to see a special report they were showing, I guess next time I'll just look it up on the internet.

ML, I was struck by what you said about what we allow ourselves to see on movies and video games. I had never thought of it like that. Thank you for your insight.

I totally agree with you as well, Erudite, that we need give our children opportunities for positive and uplitifing experiences. It's so simple and yet, so brilliant.

***Big_Sissy*** · #6 05-02-2007, 12:38 AM

Great thread! Wow, you all amaze me so often it's not funny. Thank you for sharing your expertise/experience.

teeny · #7 05-09-2007, 02:00 PM

You know, all of this is very interesting to me because I have had a personal experience with it that makes me HATE video games. When I was a kid I remember that my two older brothers had been playing video games for a couple of hours. I can't remember what they were playing, but I went in the room and said that I wanted to play too, and that they had been playing forever so it was my turn. I probably bugged them about it for a minute or so, and suddenly one of my brothers jumped up and started coming toward me and I can still remember the look of rage on his face, so I ran and he chased me. I ran into my bedroom where he caught up to me, and literally shoved me into the wall, where there is still an indention from my head to this day! I had problems with this particular brother anyway, but I KNOW that that video game had something to do with his rage. So, I pretty much don't like anything to do with video games. Well, I guess that's not completely true. I don't mind racing games, and sports and stuff like that but anything to do with violence, I absolutely abhorre (how do ya spell that?). Anyway, I guess I just don't like video games at all, because even though I think sports, and racing and things of that nature are harmless, I know that just owning an x-box or such just opens up the temptation to play the violent ones. My hubby actually has an x-box that his brother gave him (his brothers are both VERY into it) but he hardly ever plays it, like I think he hasn't even played it for probably a year! But, I still worry about my kids growing up and wanting to play it, and I know the games are just going to get worse and worse. I guess that's something that is just going to have to have rules involved with it, like what kind of games exactly are allowable.

***Big_Sissy*** · #8 05-09-2007, 03:41 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your brother... brothers can be real jerks.. I know I am one

I agree, you really have to monitor what they watch/play. Our rule is that I have to play the game first before my children are allowed to play it. If I don't approve of it, they don't get to play it.

teeny · #9 05-09-2007, 04:10 PM

It's alright, we're long past that relationship now. We fought bad as kids though! I couldn't wait for him to leave on his mission! That sounds terrible doesn't it? But, when he got back things had changed and we've pretty much gotten along ever since.
That's smart to monitor it before they play it. I'll have to remember that for when my kids start getting interested. Another thing I'm worried about is my kids going over to other people's houses that don't care what they're playing. I guess I'll just have to teach them at home, and hope that they take it with them when they go out the door.

Mamallama · #10 05-09-2007, 11:16 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience Teeny. How awful that must have been for you. Definately supports the importance of monitering more closely what our children are viewing and playing. I agree that it's a huge worry sending them to other people's houses without knowing what standards are set in the household. While living in Michigan, when I wasn't sure what the standards were in a friend's household, on a couple of occasions I spoke with the parents without my kids knowing, and explained to them what we did and didn't allow in our household---It was awkward and it took getting up a lot of my nerve to have these conversations, but it was worth it. They knew where I stood, and respected my wishes when my kids were in their home----at least I think they did

----guess you never know for sure, and like you said, we have to teach our kids a standard, discuss why it's important to live by this, practice and role play what to do if you're at someone else's house and they want to play or watch something that to you is inappropriate. And then as a parent we at some point have to let go and pray that our children will have the courage to do what is right and that they will be safe wherever they might be.

I'm rambling again.....better call it a night.
Thanks again Teeny for sharing this experience!