People worry if and how United States society is affected by the media. However, capitalism is the foundation of the United States ethical center. Having the ability to make money and "pursue happiness" is a core concept behind the Declaration of Independence. Everyone blames television without recognizing how often television helps people.
The other day someone complained about an ad that suggests having one night stands. They said, "What happens when you all die of AIDs?" Though already possessing a sense of right and wrong, they still want to blame television for people's actions.
Fact is bad things have always happened. Venice was almost flooded because of the aborted babies clogged the main canal. It would take a lot of time and unreported abortions to cause that much damage. It began before mass media was invented.
A popular belief is children are being influenced by television. Children are easily influenced, so it is a worthy argument. However, various inputs balance what they learn. Where the parents are in the situation? Ethics and morals are passed on through conversation. The television is nice, yet people make decisions based on what they wittiness in real life.
Some shows disturb me. Disney made several movies based on competition and the hero has to fight back to win. This is a standard method of writing fiction. Establishing a protagonist and antagonist with strong character traits is how to keep reader or viewer attention.
Watching a show about how a girl was finally accepted by her peers by being mean to them and apologizing is not a great message. Do the ends justify the means? I don't think so. In fact, this may cause long lasting problems and the child could end up being the school bully. Often people relate to clothing, not actions. A girl picking on me all the time is a girl picking on me all the time. I don't care if she braids her hair or wears plaid skirts.
Having a chance to build moral and ethical standpoints on issues provides a filter, so it is easier to address events ethically. Children have been known to go into sewers looking for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That is dangerous behavior, yet no one explained the concept of fiction to these children.
People should be responsible for their actions and stop blaming the television. Watching television with friends or family is a great time to review theories and ideas. The television doesn't have a problem, you do.
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