« Wii no substitute for real exercise | Home | Because she said so, that’s why »
Just when you thought it was safe
By Christina Quick | January 7, 2008
“Are movies like Hannibal and the remake of Halloween, which serve up murder and mutilation as routine fare, actually making the nation safer?” That’s the question posed by an article appearing today on the New York Times’ Web site.
The story references a bizarre study by two professors at the University of California who claim violent movies may help society. Their contorted reasoning goes something like this: Horror movies attract the kind of people who might be out taking drugs and murdering people if they weren’t sitting in a theater munching popcorn. So if they’re distracted by two hours of on-screen slashing, at least that’s two hours they’re off the streets.
Huh? Are these guys serious? Are we really supposed to feel safer knowing the mentally unbalanced among us are feasting on a steady diet of gore?
What about the countless kids who watch these flicks? A few years ago, Dartmouth researchers found that 28 percent of children ages 10-14 had viewed some of the most violent movies on the market, including films depicting sadistic rape, sodomy, brutal or ritualistic murders and cannibalism. Should parents buy their kids theater tickets and breathe a sigh of relief that at least they’re not robbing a convenience store at the moment? I don’t think so.
Many legitimate studies have found that exposure to violent images in movies, television programs and video games can lead to bullying and other harmful behaviors. Even without the studies, common sense and any experience with youngsters — who constantly mimic what they see — reveal the truth. God’s Word also confirms that we need to be careful about what we watch (Psalm 101:3) and think about (Philippians 4:8).
Don’t let Hollywood do a hatchet job on your family. Skip the gory movies and do something that will bring you closer to one another and God.
For more about the media’s impact on kids, see the TPE article by Kirk Noonan.
Topics: In the news, Trends |
January 8th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Amen to this! I think too often parents relegate their responsibilities to schools, teachers, Sunday School, youth groups, or in this case — the world of “entertainment.” It’s the same dynamic as letting the television be your “babysitter.”
Parents, be aware of what your kids are viewing!
January 8th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I agree. Not only does what we watch influence our children but the adults as well. Look at the statistics - way too many professing Christians are addicted to pornography. A good rule of thumb is if it isn’t appropriate for your children to watch, it probably isn’t for you either.