In virtually all American households, a television is present. Through this electronic device, the public receives different messages. The main use of the television is for entertainment purposes. The programs on television usually mirror and enhance the different aspects of American culture. People ranging from infants to elderly adults watch television, the subject matter that is appropriate for these different age groups varies. Yet, television is indiscriminate of age presenting any topic to whoever chooses to view it. The television of today contains various aspects of society and enhances it, creating an entertaining program. One of these aspects is violence. Young children learn through imitation; one venue by which they gain examples to imitate is television. Thus exposure to excessive television violence has negative effects on the young people who view it.
The American Psychological Association claims that if children watch two to four hours of television daily, they will have been witnesses to 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other acts of violence by the time they finish elementary school. After more than thirty years of extensive research, it has been proven that television violence is harmful to children’s health and welfare. It causes children to fear the world around them, become numb to the violence in the world, accept violence as a normal response to conflict, or act aggressively. When a child is watching television, then they are off the streets, but not necessarily safe from violence. According to TV Guide’s Center for Media and Public Affairs, a violent act appears on television every six minutes. This constant bombardment on America’s children is dang…
… middle of paper …
…casting networks. Parents should also play a key role in counteracting violence seen by children. Through the implementation of the V-chip, parental involvement, and possible broadcasting reform, America’s children can be protected from television violence.
Work Cited
Diamant, Anita. “Media Violence.” Parents October 1994: 40-5.
Dickson, Glen. “How’s it work?” Broadcasting
Cockroaches in the College Dorms
Cockroaches in the College Dorms
Our dorm is populated with more than 150 students from all parts of the country. However, humans alone do not make up most of the population of the dorm. Cockroaches live year round in the humble abodes of many college freshmen. Walking through the halls of the dorm, finding evidence of their residence is very easy. Most of the time, there are squashed ones in the halls and on the sidewalks leading to the dorm. Something must be done in order to keep the roaches from taking over completely the male dorms.
It is well known that Smith dorm is probably one of the most disgusting dorms on The college’s entire campus. This is partially aided by the fact that the students do not live alone. Their friendly neighbors, the roaches, contribute to the mess significantly. During the fall and spring, the roaches come out of their hiding places. They can be found scurrying around on the floor, or even chowing down on the chips in the corner. One can only imagine where they come from and what they are doing. Sometimes, it seems as though they may even live in the very beds on which people sleep. (After all, the beds have been there just as long as the walls have been standing.) The little bugs can come in all shapes and all sizes. Some of these bugs can be a brownish color, while others can be black and even green. They are easily distinguished by their shape and size, and are most common any place they can find a warm wet place with food (Arnett 145-6). There are about 4,000 different types of these pests throughout the world (Blattodea 1). According to a professor of entomology at West Virginia University, “The American roach is considerably larger than any of the others” (Peairs 477). The do…
… middle of paper …
…this pest. If these suggestions are not heeded to before the problem gets too out of control, the roach population will eventually drive the people out of their rooms. This can all be avoided by following just a few simple suggestions which are not difficult to do. Spending an extra five minutes a day cleaning can and will keep these bugs from becoming the cock of the walk in the dorms
.
Works Cited
Arnett, Ross H. American Insects A Handbook of the insects of America north of Mexico. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1975.
“Blattodea.” Gordon’s Entomological Home Page. 8 Dec. 1995. http://www.ex.ac.uk/`lramel/ blatodea.html ( 20 Mar. 1998).
“New Jersey Online.” http://www.nj.com/yncky/facts/facts2.html (20 Mar. 1998).
Peairs, Leonard Marion. Insect Pests of Farm, Garden, and Orchard. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1941.