Violence in Movies

[dkwrtw]

I was just reading reviews for one of my personal favorite Horror Films and one person had this to say about it:


"I'm honestly convinced that this is the type of trash that causes mentally unstable and/or easily influenced people to go berserk and do all sorts of crazy stuff."


And it got me thinking, do any of you guys think there's any truth to that statement, can violence in movies/television/Video Games really be blamed for the actions of these maniacs? I personally think that we're all responsible for our own actions and that to blame the media or the parents or society or anything else for these actions is just an excuse to alleviate personal responsibility, I'm curious, what do you guys think about this?

 

[Kyle B]

There was a study conducted a while back which showed that kids who had just watched a violent movie were more likely to act violent.

Who knows, it may cause someone who is unable to distinguish RL from what they see on their TV to go berserk.

The actions of a few however, shouldn't hinder the right of others to watch what they want on TV.

 

[Springsteen]

I think this

it may cause someone who is unable to distinguish RL from what they see on their TV to go berserk.

is pretty much spot on. However I wouldn't say for one minute it can ever be justified if they go out and commit a terrible act, regardless of how much they watch a certain thing or play a certain game.

"Why did you kill him?"

"I saw this guy do it in a film and it looked cool"

"Oh alright then, case dismissed"

Just wouldn't happen see.

 

[dkwrtw]

I think that's a load of horse shit, those "studies" are done by biased assholes who are already of the opinion that violence in movies can cause violence in real life, they'd already made up their mind before this Study was ever done.

 

[The Man]

I was just reading reviews for one of my personal favorite Horror Films and one person had this to say about it:


"I'm honestly convinced that this is the type of trash that causes mentally unstable and/or easily influenced people to go berserk and do all sorts of crazy stuff."


And it got me thinking, do any of you guys think there's any truth to that statement, can violence in movies/television/Video Games really be blamed for the actions of these maniacs? I personally think that we're all responsible for our own actions and that to blame the media or the parents or society or anything else for these actions is just an excuse to alleviate personal responsibility, I'm curious, what do you guys think about this?

It comes down to the individual
Violence and entertainment have been around for centuries...before the introduction of TV it was very real by way of pit fights or feeding someone to a tiger.
Obviously the desire was there before the action..so in effect observation of such doesnt create such and can actually spawn many movements for an end to violence.
If we go back a couple generations it was cowboy and indian movies road runner cartoons.
The individual knows right from wrong...this isnt to say however that some deranged may not get a couple ideas from watching such media.

 

[dkwrtw]

these deranged individuals would be committing violent acts regardless, you can't blame what they're watching on TV.

 

[The Man]

I think that's a load of horse shit, those "studies" are done by biased assholes who are already of the opinion that violence in movies can cause violence in real life, they'd already made up their mind before this Study was ever done.

Bingo
They create a study to support their position

 

[The Man]

these deranged individuals would be committing violent acts regardless, you can't blame what they're watching on TV.

Thats my take as well

 

[dkwrtw]

Bingo
They create a study to support their position

yes, they are not more likely to be violent for having watched these movies, an already violent person may take inspiration from and emulate the violence in a movie, but if you were to take a perfectly normal child and show them a violent movie they will be no more violent after seeing it than they were before.

 

[The Man]

yes, they are not more likely to be violent for having watched these movies, an already violent person may take inspiration from and emulate the violence in a movie, but if you were to take a perfectly normal child and show them a violent movie they will be no more violent after seeing it than they were before.

Exactly.
How many people have we witnessed killed in the movies?..hundreds,but we dont act out the actions of our super hero....Same for Superman..how many have tried to fly after watching him?...a few I am sure but they had mental issues prior with superman not being the cause

 

[dkwrtw]

Yup, I honestly don't give a fuck if some weirdo went berserk, If I want to watch Coffin Joe carve off a girl's asscheek and feed it to her I ought to be able to!

 

[The Man]

Yup, I honestly don't give a fuck if some weirdo went berserk, If I want to watch Coffin Joe carve off a girl's asscheek and feed it to her I ought to be able to!

Not to mention some of the vampire movies have some pretty hot chicks in them....some violent movies only carry a violent theme and are second as to the real reason we watch them

 

[dkwrtw]

exactly, the actions of some psychotic asshole shouldn't ruin things for us.

 

[Guyzerr]

I remember when I saw the original version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre it made me get out my saw and hack up the first 10 people I disliked the most. I won't tell you what I did when I saw " The Terminator ". :eek

 

[darkangel]

I remember when I saw the original version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre it made me get out my saw and hack up the first 10 people I disliked the most. I won't tell you what I did when I saw " The Terminator ". :eek

I knew you were 2 stick dieseling for more than the reason you gave! :nod:

 

[Guyzerr]

I knew you were 2 stick dieseling for more than the reason you gave! :nod:

It was a hell of a pyre I'm tellin' ya.

 

[skyblue]

some while ago a saw a group of 10/11 year olds walking down the road singing 'bubbles' aka green street style.....so a movie can influence some

 

[Abcinthia]

I personally think if someone has to copy violence they see in movies, there must be underlying problems with them.

I like quite violent movies but I've never had an urge to go out and kill, attack or rape anyone.

 

[Abcinthia]

I think that's a load of horse shit, those "studies" are done by biased assholes who are already of the opinion that violence in movies can cause violence in real life, they'd already made up their mind before this Study was ever done.

We studied Agression in Psychology and briefly touched on agression in the media and it's effects on people, and what struck me as interesting was that American studies tended to point to violent movies causing people to act agressively, whilst UK research tended shows the opposite (agressive movies having little or no effect). I don't know if our text book and the documentry we watched to accompany it, was being deliberately biased in the research it selected but I did think it was odd that the research was so polarised.

And on top of that, some of them were pretty poor studies on both sides.

 

[Zorak]

I'll admit, I am constantly acting out every sick violent scenario I have ever seen on screen or could possibly ever imagine.

Just a few months ago I walked into a bar and shot a mans knee cap off, I hit a woman and tied her up. I then stole a horse and dragged her miles to the nearest church, wherein under a giant crucifix I burnt her alive and laughed maniacally.

It was about the only way I could make Red Dead Redemption for the playstation be any fun.