Tune out the violence

If we shutdown every newspaper, tv and radio station, movie theatre, the internet, blogs,etc. would the world become any less violent. I doubt it but the doomsayers would have you believe so. Keep in mind that billions have access to the world but the acts of violence are committed by a miniscule part of that group. I doubt whether Robert Pickton played many video games.

Tune out the violence
January 19, 2007

Without leaving their bedrooms, many children can go on video-game crime sprees, watch graphic television murders, download music glorifying violence against women and see real-life brutality on popular video-sharing websites.

But for many people, the more violence they see, the less they notice.

"We no longer get outraged because we've seen it all," says University of Western Ontario education professor Peter Jaffe, who is part of a coalition of Ontario teachers, police, academics and parents that has sounded the alarm about the dangers of violence in the media.

The group believes there is "clear and compelling" evidence that exposure to such violence causes children long-term harm, and can fuel aggressive attitudes, values and behaviour.

That's why it wants governments to take steps to combat such violence.

Specifically, it wants age-based restrictions on recorded music sales similar to those on movies and video games, no violent radio or TV shows before 9 p.m., and protection for women under Criminal Code provisions outlawing the public incitement of hatred.

Their concerns are well-founded.

Just ask any parent who has tried to shield their children from the ceaseless casual violence that permeates music, television and video games.

But more laws are not the answer.

Mainstream media already keep the most explicit violence off the air when children are most likely to be watching. And technology means more children are getting their TV, music and other entertainment from the Internet, which is almost impossible to regulate.

So, what is the solution?

As imperfect as it might seem, the solution lies with all of us.

With parents, who should monitor more closely their kids' media consumption and know when to say no.

With schools, which should make media literacy and critical thinking a bigger part of the curriculum.

And with all media consumers, who should stop watching mindlessly, get outraged and demand better.