The Mean World Syndrome - Teaser - Available on DVD

[crobinhilton]

What you seem to be missing, Eceoes, is that parents can't compete with the media. You believe that parents can compete with a billion dollar industry that has the ability to infiltrate the lives of children? Children learn by observation, and guess what, they aren't watching their parents. I'm not suggesting that people become violent by watching television. However, they do have to negotiate what they see. I'm sure that you believe some things that are false because you watch television.

[Neofcon]

@crobinhilton This is what all gamers should read everytime "video game violence" crops up. I swear to god.

[Deno14567]

Interesting how its a boy who watches this, but the clips show both men and women shooting and stabing.

[Eceoes]

You can also say that the media displays a "mean world" through the eyes of the western world. Ok, but a fully mature mind can tell the difference between what is really right and wrong. People are not stupid.

As for kids, again thats why there are ratting systems, and PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. Its up to the parent to shape the child's mind, not the media.

[Eceoes]

George Gerbner croaked off a few years ago but tragically his bullshit still seems to spread.

The idea of Mean World Syndrome is bullshit and all hype.

For starters this world is not all milk and honey.

The Media, let alone Media violence has ZERO effect on a child's mentality. Children grow up to be violent but the REAL environment around themselves, not unreal events showed on TV.

[WitlessSod]

This is patent nonsense. I clearly remember emulating episodes of TV and film violence as a kid. Not only that, but if TV had zero effect on a child's mentality, then much of advertising and other forms of indoctrination would be utterly pointless.

And no one said this world is all milk and honey. But to opt to portray one aspect of the world at the expense of others does create a distorted view of it.

[Eceoes]

Ok so you imitated a few scenes as a kid. That's normal, that's what KIDS do. If its anything that bad, then your PARENTS are responsible for the behavior because they have to watch over THEIR OWN KIDS.

This is also why there are ratting systems. Self regulation in the media DOES WORK. It just requires consumer responsibility.

As for advertisements, the Media Education Foundation will shove the idea down your throat that advertisements change the way people act and feel.

[Eceoes]

Again that is false and mostly all hype. Advertisements are not evil messages that tell people to be violent and bulimic.

Advertisements for the most part are harmless and just help promote business.

You can say how the media protrays only one side of the world, mainly through the eyes of the western world. But again it doesn't impact a mature mind.

[Clariccy]

@Eceoes It impacts m a n y minds ....

[mikesbodypolitic]

im not sure where i stand on this debate, Im a lover of liberty, (certianly adults should be able to watch whatever they please) and i think violence is inherent to being human, which makes me not all that excited about sheltering adolescents from it, perhaps the under 10 crowd.

[Myschly]

I'd have to say that they could've taken some better examples. I mean. In Battlestar Galactica the Cylons (Robots) have nuked the 12 planets people lived on, hunting down the remaining few. Heroes Hiro stabbed Sylar, to prevent a nuclear explosion in Manhattan, and Lost, well, Jack's just beating up a guy who's killed, kidnapped, and terrorized the people who are trying to get off the island.

I agree with the message of the movie, and I look forward to seeing it, but better examples please.

[edwardcookiecutter]

Violence isn't part of my life either, unless you count when I was beat up by the kids in class who's parents let em watch violent stuff.

[MrCalhoun]

Is this only about violence in TV or rather about the fact that TV series suggest that there is something definable mean in this world?

[ElectricMayhem87]

Looks really cool.

[pantheon777]

Violence is not part of MY real life.

[hijodechago]

lucky you

[Zatki]

I definitely agree that children shouldnt be exposed to so much violence, but we as adults know that the real world is just as violent if not more so. Why should we deny cruel truths and live in some fairy tale where no one dies or fights? Violence is a part of our real lives.

[edwardcookiecutter]

it shouldn't be, and maybe there is some correlation between the violence existing as a part of the 'harsh reality' of this world and our indiscriminate exposure of violence towards children in their formative years.

[BrachioInGen]

I like the idea... questioning these things... but you can't just toss everything into a category and blame it on that. BSG was much more than senseless violence for example. It had a much LARGER MORAL tale to weave not to mention the Cylons didn't actually die at that point in the series. What that scene ACTUALLY showed was what would happen in a world where death wasn't an issue... where "killing" someone was only useful to the extent of getting them out of the way for a moment.

[edwardcookiecutter]

Oh no doubt violence can be part of an artistic metaphor, nothing in life is without turbulence or disruption. I agree, but the fact is that most media displaying violence now is not of a creative or expressive nature, its just a bunch of overused, vilifying and misogynistic violence.

Hollywood abuses violence.

[BrachioInGen]

agreed... just don't throw Battlestar Galactica into this mix because that's not at all what it was about and it's being a little bit dishonest to throw such a well done show into the mix. I view it like an Aesop fable or Grim fairy tale. Yes, it's a bit graphic and strong... but it's "real life" and people die.

[edwardcookiecutter]

I wasn't replying to your BSG comment, I've never watched that or many other movies, until my mum lets me i guess... It sounds pretty good though.

[TousVous]

Looks interesting.

[bayboyvision]

Great Video!