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Add to FavoritesSeveral years ago, I worked my way through college as a law-enforcement officer. During those years there were many times we responded to incidents straight out of the movies. The most comical incident was when we found shoes hanging on all the power lines around town after the opening of the movie "Like Mike". The worst was when several kids were run over because they thought it would be fun to lay down in the middle of the highway, as a dare, to let trucks run over them. Though I do not remember the title, I do remember it was from a movie wherein a group of teenagers lay down in the middle of road so that as 18-wheelers went over them, they lay in between the wheels. Unfortunately, in real life, not all vehicles are as high off the ground as an 18-wheeler is. Unfortunately in real-life life, the kids involved in the incident found out too late. I also remember another incident where a little boy took a .22 pistol to school and shot his best friend. When he was questioned later, he could not understand why the little girl he had shot would not be in class tomorrow or ever gain. His response was that on television people don't die. (I have to assume he was meaning cartoons) A few months ago I spoke with a young lady who was soon to be married. Because of what she had seen on television she was afraid to share her husband's bed.
Although it can be said that these are excessive incidents which can be controlled if parents monitor what their children watch and make certain that their children understand the difference between reality and fantasy, the line between them isn't always easily understood. If one were to examine the dressing habits of young teenagers, a parallel could easily be seen with what is shown on their TV counterparts. This in and of itself is not bad, except that often those TV counterparts are engaging in habits that we as adults know to be dangerous, such as smoking or drinking or sexual intercourse (outside of marriage and at a young age where they are not emotionally mature enough to be responsible for a baby). If these youngsters are copying dressing styles, what are the chances that they will also be mimicking the behavior of those same persons? If you are unsure as to the validity of the points I have made just now, then watch for a moment your children's actions or the actions of children around you and then observe the television programs they view. You will see similarities.
While I do not believe that television is evil, I cannot pretend to ignore the impacts I see it having on the everyday lives of those around me. Perhaps it is because most people are visual learners meaning they learn by watching others. Perhaps it is because we, as people, are community based creatures and look for acceptance by other human beings. I have a television in my house, but it hardly ever gets turned on. More often, I am spending time with family members or friends. When I was younger this was not the case. It is only in the past year or two that I have left the TV off, and I have noticed an improvement in my relationships with other people. I have also noticed a change in my own attitude. Where once I was willing to fight over the smallest disrespect, I am now more apt to be patient and analyze the situation. Amongst my friends I have a few who, like me, do not watch television, and I have a few who continually watch television. I can see the difference between the two and it is the opinions of those who spend less time in front of the boob tube and more time enriching themselves that I find to be more valuable. The other group of friends tend to define their world by what they see on TV, whether real or not, and they do not even realize they do that.
Perhaps if Hollywood created more movies which promoted common sense over emotionalism, or perhaps if the movies of the day promoted those things that can be considered good, like honor, integrity, compassion, education, then television just might be a benefit to our society. As it stands, television often depicts its subject in a manner that is incorrect or twisted. Because of this, few people understand reality anymore because what they see on the television is incorrectly deemed to be reality.
Learn more about this author, Joeseph C. Byrnes.
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Remember these days in most instances, television is a media of choice. Most televisions must be hooked up to a paid service in order to get anything on the screen.
Years ago it was much simpler to get something to watch on your tv. A coat hanger and some wire could bring in at least two or three of the local channels. You were extremely limited to the programs you could watch.
Through the years technology has brought us to the point where it is common to have two hundred or more channels to watch at all hours of the day and night. Not much of the programming available on these channels could be considered quality television, but it is available.
Major corporations have thrown the television industry into their own hands, by most times charging riduculous prices for mostly junk programming. If you could select the exact channels you would like to watch and just receive those channels, it would not be such a problem. Instead, they sell you packages with all sorts of channels in them. Most of them are not what I would want my children to watch.
This brings us to the subject of parental controls. Your television service provider should include some type of equipment that allows you to ban certain channels from your children. Until they reach a certain age, you are in control of what your children do or do not watch in your household. It is up to you as a responsible parent to limit their watching of television to programs that supply some benefit or are positive programming.
If more parents would take action and stick together on this, the problem would not be so severe. There are way too many negative and harmful things on television. Many of these can have a negative impact on a child that can affect them for years. It is not the sex on television that is the problem. It is the violence, absurdity, and negative values that are causing the trouble in society today.
Somewhere amongst all of this junk there is indeed high quality television, but it takes some research to locate the channels. Children need a well rounded upbringing. There is nothing wrong with them watching some good programming. Something that entertains them and promotes positive qualities and inspiration can help them become enlightened adults.
There are some programs on PBS, science channels, and the History Channel that allow visual aid to present a topic in a way no book or class ever could. There is nothing wrong with enhancing certain subjects with a good television program.
Some movies, mentally challenging game shows and even cartoons can complete the necessary exposure for some children. It is also important for them to watch classic movies and television every once in a while as the entertainment industry is also a large part of history.
Many important books and musical scores were adapted for television. Many great and influential actors and actresses have presented the main characters in these roles as actual human beings instead of just something written on paper.
It is probable that many people are not going to have the experience to travel broadly either as children or adults. The magic of television can take you around the world without ever leaving your front row seat.
Celebrities and prestigious actors and world leaders are visually brought right to your house through your television. Nature and science programs provide wonders that are sometimes not visible to the naked eye. Many of the species presented on these programs are not even in zoos, they are so rare and television brings them to you.
Closely monitored television watching can enhance a child in many more ways than harm them. It gives both parents and children the opportunity to spend some good quality time together. Television can be a window to the world, with more dazzle and impact than any other media, if it is used properly.
Learn more about this author, Kathy H.
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