Violence in Today's Society
I was looking at a lesson plan on PBS about extreme violence in the Roman Empire. The difference between their violence was that a lot of it was perpetrated on live people where ours might be more virtual in nature such as in our video games. This certainly isn't specific to the United States alone. It's worrisome that our younger generation is participating in such violent and bloody behavior. It's just a game, right? What the Romans did was much worse. They would sit in the coliseum and watch lions and gladiators tear others apart limb from limb. We would consider that barbaric. But it's okay if it's only done with technology. It's not real.
We have had terrible violence filter down into our high schools. The Columbine incident was terribly shocking when it occurred. How could children so young go out and shoot their peers for fun? What is it about our society that has caused children to exhibit such violent behavior?
It seems we haven't learned very much from our ancestors. We still have war, mass murders, the death penalty, and callous disregard for others. You see it in the impatience of people driving in their automobiles. If you inadvertently do something to upset someone, at the least you will be yelled at and at the most you could be shot.
This is certainly a subject that has been studied throughout the ages. Still there seems to be no solution to this problem. Is it because we are genetically predisposed to violence as a species? Isn't that a horrible thought? It's part of our genetic makeup and there's nothing that can be done about it.
Is our society becoming more violent? If you look back at history it doesn't really look like we are, but we don't really seem to be improving either. Religion doesn't seem to be the answer. After all one of the Ten Commandments is, Thou Shalt Not Kill. Even in some religions it seems to be okay to kill if someone doesn't agree with you.
So when someone says to you that violence in children's video games isn't an issue, don't believe it. Teaching our children that violence is not a solution is the key. Guarding them from the bad things of the world for as long as possible is needed. Showing by example that anger can be controlled is important. Teaching them how to channel their anger is what needs to be done. At the very least let's teach our children the difference between what's right and wrong. Well that's my rant for this week. Maybe I really should stop watching the news. Ignorance is bliss.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/educators/lesson6.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-13-columbine-myths_N.htm
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2002/6/02.06.02.x.html
Published by Pat Bartels
Previously employed in the Human Resources field, Pat enjoys traveling and tweaking computers when she is not writing articles for Associated Content and Factoidz. She is fascinated with personal finance, th... View profile
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22 Comments
Post a CommentOur families and us are being fed daily a constant diet of violence and who are the providers - we are. Every time we pay our dish, direct tv or cable bill we are supporting shows like Spartacus, Prison Shows, Killer Kids, Biography which constantly glamorizes the lives of serial killers, mobsters, gangsters, biker gansters, etc. I can't believe that we are this dumb - do we not think that the constant influence of violance and bullying that is shown every day is not going to create a more violent society. We are paying the bill for what will surely lead to our downfall eventually. We are either part of the solution or part of the problem. And right now every time we support these programs or buy these violent video games we are part of the problem.
Exact same thing happened to me today except I never cut anyone off and these two run guys tried there hardest to run me off the road I have never been so tramatised in my life expecially because i could have had my toddler son in the back seat and could have gotten into a bad accident...... I dont understand people and where they find it ok to do that to someone.
VIOLENCEDEFENITION:ADESTRUCTIBLEACTTHATLEADSTOSOCIALCONFLICTWITHINOURSOCIETY.
I agree with your opinion, as a school counselor, unfortunatley I deal with violence in some form almost daily.
I think you're right, Pat. We have wall to wall news, which we didn't use to have. I think, here in the UK, we are becoming more uncaring, which leads to a lack of respect, and so trouble ensues.
I believe society is indeed more violent than ever! Think of all the violence we do not even hear about! Great read!
The violence today is horrible. My son almost got run off the road three times on purpose because he accidenty cut someone off. Even though he slowed down and apologized, the guy try to ram into the side of his car with his wife and little 5 year old daughter in it.
Very interesting food for thought. I believe that we are, in a way, genetically prone to violence. That's why anger and hurt feel like something we need to "let out". Though there are positive methods through which one can release anger (writing, screaming into a pillow), it seems can't resist acting out their pain in a more primitive manner. I think we aren't any more or less violent than the Romans, we just do things differently (as you pointed out with the video games). Great topic, Pat. :)
Very important topic. You've got people thinking! My own thoughts: Violence has NOT increased but been depersonalized by technology. The violent acts of today are less frequent but more massively destructive. Live each day to its fullest because just one crazy person might someday blow up the world.
The violent society you write about is sadly a regular occurence across here in the UK as well. Good reporting on this disturbing topic.