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Kipnis,Yuliya Professor Thomas English 114A: Progression 1 September 26, 2013 Violence Ever since Violence came out into the media as an encouragement that it is normal human behavior, many parents became worried that if their children became exposed to it too much, it will have a very bad effect on them, in which case I would say that is very good parenting. Whether it is through video games, comic books, cartoons, movies, etc., many parents believe that too much of something is never good. Gerard Jones, author of the article, Violent Media Is Good for Kids, disagrees with my views and encourages children to be exposed to violence because it will actually be a good thing for them in terms of building character. However, I am going to argue that studies have shown that children exposed to violence more than others, such as video games, have been proven to be more aggressive and violent themselves in other aspects of life and relationships with others as a result. According to The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance study done by Gentile, Lynch, Linder and Walsh, it is a proven fact that video games have more of a negative effect on adolescents rather than a positive one. One of the greatest points on violent video games having a negative result on children and young adults, is the fact proven in the study, Students who play more violent video games are more likely to have been involved in

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Physical fights and get into arguments with teachers more frequently. (Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh (2004, p.18). That proven fact of violent games having such a negative effect is a reason I believe that exposure to too much of something violent, video games, is wrong, especially for children. Children have to build themselves up as a character, grow up and learn who they are as a person, find themselves and lead a life where they do not hurt others. Video games will not enhance that positive outlook on life, but instead effect in a bad way. Gerard Jones argues that our fear of youth violence isnt well founded on reality, and that fear can do more harm than reality. (Violent Media is Good For Kids, p. 375). I disagree with that statement and see it as wrong to portray fear as a reason to encourage kids to play video games. I strongly disagree with his statement because of him stating that youth violence isnt when in fact it is well founded on reality. If statistics in studies show that it is proven fact in which childrens behavior reality wise, was affected in their lives involving school, the way they aggressively communicate with other, whether through physical fighting or verbal abuse, then I do not see how is point is validated to be a reason that violence is good for kids. I believe that the reason violence isnt good for kids is because it is like a lesson to a vulnerable mind that something is okay when it really is not. When was there a valid reason to go and shoot someone in REALITY? According to some video games, they portray that that is the answer to solve the problem, and move up to the next level. A childs mind is evolving over the years, learning, processing information, and being taught right from wrong. If in media, mostly violence is portrayed as the result of answers, why are people surprised when they go out in reality, and solve their problems the same way? For example the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting that occurred a year ago, where a man shot children and his own mother who

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was a teacher there, is demonstrating how a mans actions may have been a result of how he had been exposed to violence and saw it as an answer. Although it is not a proven fact what the reason of his actions were, the way I see it is such violence doesnt just come out of nowhere. A person doesnt do something unless once taught or shown it is possible. I blame violence in media as a result for real life similar tragedies as shown in media. For example the movie: Batman, violence is the main content, in which a character called the Joker, kills, murders, and does the most violent things to people that do not have anything to do with it, in other words innocent people get hurt by a violent character. When a man named James Holmes, went into a movie premier at a movie theatre in Colorado, dressed up as the Joker, and shot innocent people, in which case I automatically point out once again that Violence exposed in Media of any sort, has a very negative effect on children, young adults, and humans over all. If you think about it, how that movie had such an effect on a man whose historic educational background was actually in the medical field, then I believe that you too will agree how violent media does not have a good effect but rather influences the minds of many to do horrible mistakes in life. When studies have shown that in comparison to those not exposed to violent media as much as those who are, the difference is the negative and positive behavior as an outcome, how can one argue that there is a positive outcome regardless of what is proven when compared? I believe everyone is different and no matter what will interpret something differently than the other person because of how we as individuals think and see things in our own way. The statement I love you can be interpreted in so many different ways by different people. For example one might interpret it as the person saying it making the point of emphasizing that HE/SHE loves you. Another might emphasize the you and take it as being most important to

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understand that you are the one who is loves. Point is that everyone interprets reasons on peoples actions based on their own understandings. So the person to argue with my view that violence does indeed have a good effect on children, and people overall, is a person who understand it way differently than I do, based on their own lifestyle, experiences, and understandings behind peoples actions. I take the mans shooting in the movie theatre, as an action reflected on the exposure of such violent media. In my opinion, if that man was never exposed to that and given the idea that it is alright to create an identity (the joker) and shoot innocent people for no apparent reason, then the man wouldnt have done that particular tragic event in history. I am not saying that he wouldnt have done other bad things in life, and only that movie had such an effect on him, but I am saying that indeed that movie was way far from being a good influence on him, even though he was no longer a child. I dont agree that violent media is specifically good for kids because it will help them in anyway, I believe there is other positive things out there in this world to help the child reach the goal of building a stronger character, rather than violence. I am not saying people, especially children, should not have any exposure to violence. I just do not agree that is specifically good for them and will have positive effects. I believe that is really rare actually to have a positive affect when the mind is so young and innocent without yet developing as much logic and common sense as an experienced wise adult. I believe that there should be a balance in life; too much of a good thing is actually now no longer going to be a good thing for the individual. That is why exposure to violence should be kept under that balance so that it does not have as much as a negative effect as studies shown that it does to those that made it into their daily life norms.

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Unrealistic cartoons such as Tom & Jerry do portray violence, but in unrealistic ways, where the cat can get burned so many times, but never actually die. A child knows after being exposed to fire, that it hot and you should not touch it if you dont want to get burned. Tom & Jerry show unrealistic violence in which the outcome is actually the unrealistic part, for example falling from extreme heights and not dying. Death was never the outcome in this cartoon, which is why I call it unrealistic. It is just for comedy purposes, not to portray it to real life in fact the use of animals not people and real life situations is a better way to portray violence. No mouse lives in walls with a bed and can carry a gun and shoot and hurt an animal much bigger than him. That is fantasy, in which children understand because it was far different than reality. Parents are worried about the violence that is actually realistic. A good parent will not allow their children to be too exposed to violent media, because of the negative proven outcomes that can deeply affect the child. Violence is not good for anyone, because it has to do with hurting others, and affects the understanding of peace that is vital between human relationships. When being shown violence at an early age, it is highly likely they will interpret the meaning in the wrong way and it have more of a negative effect on them rather than a positive one. It is not for no apparent reason, that there are so many studies to prove that violent media especially video games, have such a bad negative effect on them rather than a good one.

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Works Cited Gerard Jones. "Violent Media Is Good for Kids." Reading Pop Culture: A Portable Anthology / Jeff Ousborne. Gentile, D. A., Lynch, P., Linder, J. & Walsh, D. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 5-22.