by Kirk W. Johnson

Created on: May 15, 2008

I have frequently argued that cultural values are determined by the individual, sort of along the lines of "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." I've argued that violent video games don't create Columbine, and thus, Family Guy and Simpsons, both cartoons that I admit to watching, don't undermine cultural values. That being said, I must say that I am rethinking that stance.

While I still feel that these cartoons don't necessarily undermine values on their own, they do add to a general heaping of garbage that does. One can apply Rudy Giuliani's "Broken Window" postulate to this argument. Suppose there is a building with a broken window. The first day it is just one. If it's not repaired in a week or two, suddenly a second appears. If those are left go for another week or two, people think the building is abandoned and no one cares so within six weeks all the windows are smashed out. However, if that single window is repaired quickly, say within a day or two, you will find no further damage done to that building. Anyone who regularly walks an urban street knows the truth of this postulate.

To follow along with the question, by allowing the Simpsons to push the envelope of good taste and morality without protest, networks have broken their first window. Soon we see Family Guy and South Park appear and there's your second and third broken window. Eventually, television is flooded with similar vulgar and questionable programs and, yes, now we have lowered our cultural norm.

This is true with sex on television and in the movies (compare kisses when you were children to the bumping, grinding, and nudity now prevalent in movies), violence in video games, and any other gradually creeping change in social norms. The first occurrence that goes unchallenged leaves the door open for change, either good or bad. The second occurrence widens the door, and from then on, the horse is out of the barn.

The answer is not to return to the days of network censors. Instead it is to return to the days of societal morality. As parents, leaders, clergy, and people we need to begin to stop watching, stop supporting sponsors, stop buying the games, and stop going to the movies. We don't need organized groups that call for boycotts and regulations, we need to decide where we want to draw the lines as individuals, and stick to them! We need to say enough is enough and stop making these things profitable. It may mean a lifestyle change, but that is better than merely watching the shows because "there's nothing else on." Nothing says we have to watch tv.

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