Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by a7 on January 12, 2010 at 6:25pm

I have allowed all my kids to play games, if the call of duty series of games IS DEEMED VIOLENCE, then i pleade guity, however i feel its just a more modern type of playing soldiers. If we had this when young, you bet we wouold be playing.

In regards to porn, I would still hope that jack does not know the word porn, we have never talked about this subject.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by a7 on January 12, 2010 at 6:45pm

laughs out loudish, what was the name of the film man.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by a7 on January 12, 2010 at 6:28pm

he watches all the simpsons, surley they would have to have had the word or subject matter at least once ?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mike maloney on March 24, 2010 at 2:41pm

Violence is more detrimental to children than sex.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on March 24, 2010 at 7:24pm

I think shitty, disconnected parenting is far worse than either of those things. I don't have kids, so how I would treat my own is sheer speculation. Naturally, I just assume that I'd be the perfect dad. Reasonable enough, right?

Sex, nudity, violence... and let's throw in drugs -- they all exist in popular culture, in (fine) art, in philosophy and in our real lives. I would want my hypothetical children to have a well-rounded exposure that helps form a healthy view of reality. I would want my children to have perspective so that, when they come face to face with certain things on their own, they make more healthy choices than unhealthy on average.

That's not to say I would be taking my pre-pubescent kids to go get drunk at strip clubs or anything (teach 'em some life lessons), but neither would I want to pull the ultra-protectionist 'everything is the product of the devil, so just stay in the nest and listen to daddy' routine. Hopefully, my children would choose artistic porn and violence when curiosity strikes.

Porn and pop culture violence aren't that big of a deal in my opinion, but I do think they have to keep a little bit of their taboo. I mean, trying to sneak a few things past your parents is part of growing up.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Graham E. Lau on April 19, 2010 at 2:57am

I think shitty, disconnected parenting is far worse than either of those things.

I completely agree! Parenting isn't just a game of finding some electronic device to distract your children so you can have fun. I hope to be as active as possible in my children's lives.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on March 25, 2010 at 12:10am

This argument is summed up pretty easily for me thanks to quotes from Ted Bundy.

"There's no question about it. The FBI's own study on serial homicide shows that the most common interest among serial killers is pornography. Well-meaning, decent people will condemn the behavior of a Ted Bundy, while they're walking past a magazine rack full of the very kinds of things that send young kids down the road to be Ted Bundys. But I'll tell you, there lots of other kids playing in streets around this country today who are going to be dead tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and month, because other young people are reading the kinds of things and seeing the kinds of things that are available in the media today."

"Listen, I'm no social scientist, and I haven't done a survey. I don't pretend that I know what John Q. Citizen thinks about this. But I've lived in prison for a long time now. And I've met a lot of men who were motivated to commit violence just like me. And without exception, without question, every one of them was deeply involved in pornography."

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pinko Commie on March 25, 2010 at 12:34am

I know when I'm trying to find reliable, objective information regarding the impact of media on the general population, a source I consider is Ted Bundy. Sociopaths KNOW society, let me tell you.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on March 25, 2010 at 9:39am

Yes lets ignore the opinions of the serial killers who are telling us what got them started down the path of being mass murderers.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on March 25, 2010 at 3:36pm

He doesn't really establish anything in the way of causation though. There's a difference between serial killers being drawn to pornography due to existing sexual issues and pornography having any causal effect on becoming a serial killer.

In terms of convicts in general, again, there is no causal relationship that can be readily determined from these comments. I don't doubt the veracity of his claims, but I also don't know how to interpret "deeply involved in pornography." That could be used to describe a lot of people both inside and outside of prison walls. I mean, pornography is pretty common in North American culture, especially amongst men. Violent crimes, substantially less so. I'm also not sure if this involvement in pornography refers to acts comited while incarcerated or prior to incarceration. If the former... well, I imagine that sexual frustration is pretty common in convicts.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on March 25, 2010 at 4:28pm

I will agree that pornography is not the cause of violence in these types of criminals since pornography is rampant in the lives of most men in the U.S. My point is that though it's not the underline cause, it is a variable in the equation. Yes these people do have mental and social problems before their crimes are committed, but it would be interesting to see how these individuals would have turned out without the influence that pornography has on the already sick mind.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on March 25, 2010 at 5:08pm

...it would be interesting to see how these individuals would have turned out without the influence that pornography has on the already sick mind.

I was wondering about that as I wrote my reply. If I'm not mistaken, most serial killers don't start out that violent; they gradually escalate through a process of exploration and experimentation. Porn can be an outlet for sexual curiosity and exploration, and much, if not most pornography doesn't really focus on the healthiest aspects of sex. If someone already has an abnormal psychological build -- perhaps as the result of biological factors and/ or exposure to physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect (etc.) -- then I'm curious as to how pornography plays into that person's development.

It's not really a subject I'm all that well versed in though. Maybe I'm talking out my ass.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 5
• Next ›
• Page