Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA16257 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 15 Apr 2002 23:01:45 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [194.117.133.84] User-Agent: Microsoft-Entourage/9.0.2509 Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 22:53:17 +0100 Subject: RE: media violence From: Steve Drew <srdrew_1@hotmail.com> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Message-ID: <B8E10940.BB%srdrew_1@hotmail.com> In-Reply-To: <200204151311.OAA15292@alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk> Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit X-OriginalArrivalTime: 15 Apr 2002 21:55:38.0929 (UTC) FILETIME=[479F2A10:01C1E4C8] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi All,
Here is my two penn'th worth.
To investigate the pro's and con's of the effects of violence in the media
on people is difficult if not impossible at the moment. After all we spend
the day subjected to a bombardment of media images. No one here would
disagree with that statement I presume? So any kind of isolationist expt is
not really feasible (if it is to be ethical!).
So lets look at anecdotal evidence. Fair enough, it does not satisfy
scientific criteria, but it could be all that is available till science
becomes more able to describe society.
Now, how many on this list dispute that ideas and advertising have an
effect on people?
How many parents in the West dread the the annual Xmas advertising for kids
toys etc. Never watched a film that doesn't make you laugh or cry? The
saddest film I ever saw was Highlander.
So we can laugh at the tv, be sad, be disgusted (A porno film on while your
kids are able to watch?), be happy, be transported to a fantasy dream world?
All of these can affect your emotional state except violence on tv?
May not be science but as far as I am concerned the boot is on the other
foot, unless of course we move to a system of drugs testing that assumes the
drugs are safe until proven different. Any one want to volunteer on that
basis?
I am not in favour of censorship of any kind btw. The responsibility lies
with the parents and the individual.
Saying unicorns don't exist 'cos you have not seen one is no more scientific
than me saying that I have but the photo's didn't turn out!
Advertising does influence people, including me. If advertising influences
others the same way as me then so too should tv in general, and I consider
that I have built up an immunity to it to some extent.
My thoughts on this are that tv and visual media do have some influence or
would people on the list explain why fans of star trek have constructed a
klingon language if the program had no influence. It is no good saying they
are ill btw, as that is still influence.
I think the effects of the media are real, but the level of influence could
be too difficult to measure at the moment, particularly as the effects are
going to differ from person to person according to there life history.
As I say, annecdotal, but counter arguments are most welcome. Abuse without
reason save for something else.
Regards
Steve
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 15 2002 - 23:12:50 BST