by Kelly Williams

Created on: September 16, 2008

All televisions have an on/off switch, if what you are seeing offends, unsettles or disturbes you in any way, use it!
As you can probably tell, this is a discussion that makes me want to scream. The amount of people complaining about the violent and disturbing content of television shows and movies today is phenomenal and it drives me crazy personally. My simple but radical answer is this; if you don like it then get up and turn it off! I don't know what part of this people have difficulty grasping, most people are quite intellegent and I have put it as plainly as I possibly could.

First of all, everyone is different and what one person percieves to be graphically violent, could be another person's idea of restrained and perfectly fine viewing.
For example, the old Western movies my Dad likes to watch on a Sunday afternoon. To me and obviously to my Dad they are perfectly fine, nothing at all unsettling about them and not likely to cause many nightmares. But these men ride around on horse-back shooting almost everyone who gets in their way, is that not classed as violence anymore? I am not being silly about this, honestly I am not and I do understand that not everyone is comfortable with blood and guts, dead bodies and murderers on their television sets while they are eating their dinner. What I don't understand is why these people prefer to watch the offending show or movie and then complain to anyone who will listen that it is not the kind of thing they want to see. Why do tey not just turn the television off or change channel until they find something they are happy to watch?

I understand even less the people that claim television is too violent for their children, I am a mother myself soI know that there are television shows specially designed for a young audience and for family viewing in general so stick to them when your child is around, the more adult orientated violent shows are usually on after a young child's bedtime anyway. If you believe tht something is too violent to be viewed by your child or teen then turn it off, do not let them watch it.
My point is yes, television can be very violent but were blessed with the freedom to think, speak and act as we wish. If you do not personally want to watch it then turn it off, that is your right. What is not your right is to dictate to the rest of the world what they can and cannot watch. Turn off the television and stop complainig.

Learn more about this author, Kelly Williams.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.