Broadcast media is the most widespread, effective, accessible means of conveying information in the world today. With 98% of American homes having a television set, and 2/3 of those homes receiving cable, TV and movies are the most pervasive means of corruption yet known to our society. So readily available, one does not even have to leave his/her home to be affected by it. Even a child, not yet able to read, can access and be affected by broadcast media. The indecency and violence on television, coupled with the pornography, indecency, obscenity, and violence in movies, have a staggering effect on the moral state of our society. In return, the collective moral state of our society, and what is deemed acceptable by the majority, allows television and movies to contain such abhorrent and vulgar materials. The result is a downward spiral of entertainment feeding off of a dwindling moral state while at the same time promoting its degeneration.
HOW MUCH IS DUE TO BROADCAST MEDIA?
The broadcast media, through television and movies, is guilty of promoting an immoral society. Everyone who watches television and movies are effected and influenced by what is seen in them. Children learn that those ways are acceptable. Eventually after so much exposure, which causes desensitization to immoral ways, adults who at first tolerate them begin to accept them as well. Studies on both children and adults have shown them to have more violent tendencies after being exposed to violence in movies and on TV. As for indecenc…
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… can succeed in regaining, rebuilding it’s collapsing moral state.
Works Cited
Hundt, Reed. “Television, Kids, Indecency, Violence, and the Public Interest” Speech given at Duke University School of Law. 9 Feb, 1996.
http://www.netreach.net/~kaufman/Hundt.FCC.kids.html
Kaufman, Ron. “How Television Images Affect Children” http://www.netreach.net/~kaufman/children.html
Marks, Alexandra. “Washington Turns Up the Debate on T.V. Violence.” Christian Science Monitor. 14 July, 1995.
Weinraub, Bernard. “Los Angeles Bishop Asks for Film Guidelines.” The New York Times. 1 Oct. 1992.
(Web Pages without author, cited by number)
1. “Freedom of Expression” http://www.aclu.org/library/pbp14.html
2. “Definitions of Pornography, Obscenity, and Indecency” http://pw2.netcom.com/~mimnyc/obscporn.html
The Negative Effects of Violent Video Games
Throughout history many things in general have been improved upon. Four major improvement areas are: warfare, medicine, education of society, and technology. All of these improvements have brought with them positive effects. Warfare has allowed oppressed people to rule themselves; medicine has saved countless lives with vaccines and treatment programs; education of societies has allowed people to make their dreams come true; and, advancements in technology have made the previous three possible. With these positive effects also come negative effects, which are seen on a grand scale. Advancement in warfare has caused numerous deaths, medicine has advanced to the point where ethical questions arise because of cloning and stem cell research, the education of society in addition with the advancement in technology have allowed these negative advancements to be achieved.
This being said, it can be proven that advancements come with positive and negative effects. The video games of twenty-five years ago have evolved into something different and in some cases something dark. Research has shown in many cases that video games have negative effects such as: increased aggressive behavior, desensitization, and poor physical heath on adolescents. Many researches also think part of the problem arises because adolescents do not receive enough parental supervision with these games. After discussing these negative effects it will be obvious that more vigilance and regulations are warranted.
Sherri Benzie has work with children from age five to age eighteen. She is the current head of security for a national retail chain. She has her BA in Psychology, a minor in ethics, and her Masters Degree in Social Work. …
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…ashington, D.C. Retrieved: 16 August 2004
Pope, Alan T. and Edward H. Bogart. “Extended Attention Span Training System: Video Game Neurotherapy for Attention Deficit Disorder”, Child Study Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, pg 39-50. Retrieved: 16 August 2004,
Vandwater, Elizabeth A, Mi-suk Shim, and Allison G. Caplovitz. “Linking Obestity and Activity Level with Children’s Television and Video Game Use”, Journal of Adolescence, February 2004; vol. 27, Iss. 1 pgs 71-85, Retrieved: 16 August 2004,
Vastag, Brian. “Does Video Game Violence Sow Aggression? Studies Probe Effects of Virtual Violence on Children”, JAMA, Chicago: April 2201. Vol. 291, Iss. 15; pg. 1822. Retrieved: 16 August 2004