Are TV Shows A Bad Influence?

[Lost_Wanderer]

Ken Nordine:
youtube.com/watch?v=HIrCizE_678&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I think Ken’s got it right… Instead of being influenced by so much, perhaps we should be influencing – as opposed to being the ‘influencees’.

IOW, I want to become a TV… In a sense.

Ironically, every guru blog I’ve read that spoke of the power behind influence seem to have a consensus agreement that you’ll need more than profit motive to realize such power.

 

[exoflare]

Family Guy may be many problematic things, but it is not “mindless.”

Those idea manatees really deserve an Emmy.

“Ya think theeaat’s beeaaad?!…Remember the time I…”

 

[Bill_Martin]

It is only an influence (good or bad) if you let it be one.

 

[JustaServant]

It is only an influence (good or bad) if you let it be one.

To us yes, but what about young minds easily influenced? Or the mentally unstable?
I understand the shooter in Sandy Hill was addicted to violent video games.

 

[meltzerboy]

To us yes, but what about young minds easily influenced? Or the mentally unstable?
I understand the shooter in Sandy Hill was addicted to violent video games.

Of course, violent video games and television shows may serve as a trigger that activates an already disturbed mind. More likely, the negative influence of this kind of television is more subtle in that it gradually desensitizes many of us in milder ways, such as with regard to expressions of courtesy and manners as well as acts of compassion.

 

[Cat]

What concerns me is the level of violence, sick, shock value violence that is shown today.
Back in the 1970s Kojak and SWAT were considered the most violent shows on TV at that time. The outcry was incredible, we had “family hour” as a result.
I have three years of Kojak now on DVD, and it amazes me how tame it looks compared to what we see today. Good example: There is an episode from the second season about a girl who is raped off camera by two guys. One of the guys ends up dead and she flees. When the cops come someone says to Kojak “we know the rape happened over here…” and that was the end of of it. We didn’t really NEED to know how they knew that.
Today? They would not only show the rape, they would do a close-up of the area where the rape occured and show you in minute detail HOW the cops knew it happened there.
Why? Except for shock value, what is the point except to titilate?
Violent video games, movies and TV.
And we wonder why mass shootings happen.

The point?

We’ve had at least three medical technologists from my hospital lab take up the extra training to become forensic specialists. They got interested in it because of these graphic television shows. Scientists like details.

If you are a good forensic scientist, you will be able to know the grisly details because these are important to your job. So I don’t think this is just “titillation.”

If you work with children or teenagers nowadays, you will always find at least one of them in the group who plans to become a forensic pathologist or some kind of forensics expert. They get interested in it because of the CSI shows.

I think it’s sad that we need this kind of work done, but I think the television shows have done a tremendous job in influencing teenagers and even adults to get interested in careers in this very emotionally-draining and vital career.

BTW, RIP to Jack Klugman. A lot of people remember him for The Odd Couple, but for ME and many many thousands of medical technologists, he is Quincy! This wonderful television show created massive interest in clinical laboratory science, and all of us can truly thank Quincy that we have enough med techs to do the work today! A lot of med techs are med techs because of that show. In a few years, over 50% of med techs will reach retirement age–this is kind of scary, and I hope another Quincy show comes along on television!

 

[JustaServant]

Of course, violent video games and television shows may serve as a trigger that activates an already disturbed mind. More likely, the negative influence of this kind of television is more subtle in that

it gradually desensitizes many of us in milder ways, such as with regard to expressions of courtesy and manners as well as acts of compassion

Great point.
And that desensitizing creates a kind of “new normal” in which violence is looked upon in a unrealistic way. It removes the pain and suffering of violence and turns it into a “fun” experience. Compassion slowly disappears as our barbaric nature is stroked.
This was brought up during the ‘Batman’ shooting. Our culture is becoming more violent and decadent.
The Romans had thier gladiators, we have our movies and TV.
Both led to the same place.

 

[TEPO]

This is like asking if food is a bad influence.

Yes, it can be, when we eat too much, and when we do not consume a balanced diet.

It’s not true that all television is trash or bad or immoral or mindless. People who say that are always the ones who don’t watch television, so how would they know?

There is MUCH on television that is good. Yes, there really is.

Yes, we can watch too much television, and yes, we can watch a very unbalanced “diet” of really bad television shows that, IMO, will drag down our moral compass and make our brains turn to jelly.

But we can also monitor the amount of television we watch, and we can choose to watch uplifting or thought-provoking or useful shows.

.

You make some really good points here, and I have to agree that there are some television shows that I enjoy also. I like the nature shows on National Geographic, and shows where people travel around the world trying different kinds of foods… But these are typically shows made out of passion and love for food and nature. They’re not primarily profit-based.

Mtv is primarily profit based, unlilke what it was originally created to be. Today it is geared specifically towards a certain ‘target’ audience, and does whatever it can to capture and control its viewers, as far as the law will allow it.

I see our culture’s acceptance of Mtv and similar networks as a leadership flaw. As the pope has recently addressed, unregulated Capitalism is directly related to a selfish and individualisitic mindset… This is exactly what we’re witnessing on alot of tv shows where the common good and the reality of influence are neglected and redirected toward the selfish goals of profit and greed… This mindset is unconsciously carried over into and from the very content of the programs. its very much ‘fluid’, and effects our whole society from top to bottom, and then back around again. Its like the snowball effect.

I think the public should take a stand against some of the worst networks! We need to send a clear message to them all that we’re concerned about what theyre ‘feeding’ us, and that we DO care. We should start by protesting MTV in my opinion, and explain to the world exactly why were doing it, because it’s a profit-first capitalist corporation, that has lost its original meaning which was to be a Music station. (at least change the name).

Our duty as Catholics is to work together against evil in this world, by spreading the truth. We can’t simply accept evil influences and remain tolerant because influences directly affect salvation.

 

[garn9173]

Are TV Shows A Bad Influence?

IMO, only if you let it.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

The Romans had thier gladiators, we have our movies and TV.
Both led to the same place.

I think we need to look at violence in the proper context. What made gladiator battles so inhumane was that it was free-for-all murder. You take that away and all you have is an intense fighting competition.

We can’t even compare this to nutbars going on shooting sprees. That in itself, if fictionalized, becomes its own mentally unstable archetype.

 

[chris62]

I think the public should take a stand against some of the worst networks! We need to send a clear message to them all that we’re concerned about what theyre ‘feeding’ us, and that we DO care. We should start by protesting MTV in my opinion, and explain to the world exactly why were doing it, because it’s a profit-first capitalist corporation, that has lost its original meaning which was to be a Music station. (at least change the name).

Our duty as Catholics is to work together against evil in this world, by spreading the truth. We can’t simply accept evil influences and remain tolerant because influences directly affect salvation.

I agree.
If Catholics stopped watching the “offensive”, TV and movies, then the money would stop rolling in and things would change.
I don’t think Catholics know the power they have to change things for the better if we all worked as one (or close to it)
Perhaps a group on this forum advising prople not to watch certain shows would help start to make such an impact.
And we could also boycott products with offensive commercials.
We can make a difference.

 

[jc4751]

My take on TV is this – what exactly is watching it going to do for you as a person and a Christian? There’s little on it that builds the faith, at the best of times. Better to go read or play music, do some art, something, if you need to be entertained.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

My take on TV is this – what exactly is watching it going to do for you as a person and a Christian? There’s little on it that builds the faith, at the best of times. Better to go read or play music, do some art, something, if you need to be entertained.

And television is not art at times? I hate to break it to you but I used to believe Dahl’s Oompa Loompa song about Reading VS TV.

In essence, it’s the most false dichotomy I have ever fallen for. In essence, they’re both the same. Whether it is reading or watching, there is a story being told.

As one who loves stories, I have come to regard medium as second priority.

 

[Cat]

My take on TV is this – what exactly is watching it going to do for you as a person and a Christian? There’s little on it that builds the faith, at the best of times. Better to go read or play music, do some art, something, if you need to be entertained.

I agree with Lost Wanderer that television shows can be art. Watch an episode of The Unit or Last Resort sometime. Or The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

There is “pop art,” too, and there are shows that become “pop art” and remain popular for pretty much ever. E.g., a lot of the early comedies like *I Love Lucy *and The D ick van D y k e show. And how about The Simpsons?

IMO, Dark Shadows was a wonderful show that encouraged so many children and teenagers, including ME, to use my imagination. To this day, people like Johnny Depp, Stephen King, and others (like ME) attribute their creativity to Dark Shadows.

1. So that’s one good influence of television–it can really encourage creativity.
2. Another good influence is opening up the world. Someone mentioned travel shows. But even in the primetime shows, we are able to travel all over the U.S. and the world and into outer space and into the past and the future–this is really wonderful! It encourages us to see way outside of our little lives.
3. Sports and other shows are a unifying factor. The other night during the Packers game, I was visiting a friend who is quite poor, and in her “poor” neighborhood, almost every set was tuned into the Packers game. And if I had been in a “rich” neighborhood," almost every set would have been tuned to that same game. Rich or poor, black or white, young or old, male or female–it doesn’t matter when the favorite teams are playing.
4. It keeps us informed. Yes, that’s important, especially in times of National crisis or tragedy. It’s also important for many of us to at least have some clue about popular trends and fads.
5. It can inspire us to take up a difficult task and do it. I’m thinking of Biggest Loser, but shows like the HGTV shows, or the shows about de-cluttering, or the gardening shows, or the fishing shows, or American Idol–all of these can inspire us to do something!
6. TV is incredibly relaxing. Watching TV can put you asleep, and for many of us, that’s important.

These are just a few ideas about good things that TV can do for us.

 

[TEPO]

Ever since my wife started watching ‘reality TV’, she’s become a different person… . She likes shows like Mob Wives, Cops, Repo, Teen Mom, Jersey Shore, etc.

…Anymore her language and perspective on life has become a bit fowl. We hardly have anything in common anymore, as I work long hours and don’t like those kinds of things. When I asked her to stop watching those shows she got mad.

…now if I were to even mention the fact that television has influenced her in a negative way she would throw a temper tantrum -as if I’m trying to control her. She’s hooked.

 

[Geist]

People still watch TV?

Learn something new everyday.

 

[Sarcelle]

What concerns me is the level of violence, sick, shock value violence that is shown today.
Back in the 1970s Kojak and SWAT were considered the most violent shows on TV at that time. The outcry was incredible, we had “family hour” as a result.
I have three years of Kojak now on DVD, and it amazes me how tame it looks compared to what we see today. Good example: There is an episode from the second season about a girl who is raped off camera by two guys. One of the guys ends up dead and she flees. When the cops come someone says to Kojak “we know the rape happened over here…” and that was the end of of it. We didn’t really NEED to know how they knew that.
Today? They would not only show the rape, they would do a close-up of the area where the rape occured and show you in minute detail HOW the cops knew it happened there.
Why? Except for shock value, what is the point except to titilate?
Violent video games, movies and TV.
And we wonder why mass shootings happen.

Yes, we are living in an age of hyper-stimulus. We have become jaded and immune to violence and what it takes to get us to sit up and take notice are ever escalating levels of violence and aggression.

This does not just apply to violence but to sex as well. What passes as ordinary today will have scandalized people yesterday.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Yes, we are living in an age of hyper-stimulus. We have become jaded and immune to violence and what it takes to get us to sit up and take notice are ever escalating levels of violence and aggression.

This does not just apply to violence but to sex as well. What passes as ordinary today will have scandalized people yesterday.

Methinks it goes both ways. We don’t exactly hold public executions and put people in stocks now do we?

 

[Cat]

People still watch TV?

Learn something new everyday.

Oh, come now. Of course they do.

And many of us enjoy television very much.