Hopefully parents won't rely on the media to raise their children. Right now, doing so inadvertently teaches kids that violence is an acceptable answer to many problems in life and that in order to be popular (if you're a girl) you pretty much need to dress like a slut or (if you're a guy) be an a***ole. Thankfully, most parents actually parent and don't let TV and the internet raise their kids.
Agreed. However: parenting is only made all that much harder by having the media present and promote the images and models described above. TV
as it is now (I.E. censored at least during earlier hours to provide 'family' content) presents a very persuasive picture of violence and sluttishness, among other things, as being
the norm. Now TRY to swim against that current as a parent: almost every thing you say is countered by the TV saying it is the way EVERYONE behaves or is expected to behave. No matter how obviously untrue it is, the images portrayed are attractive and difficult to refute IF you are already having an uphill battle persuading a youngster that behaving in a respectable manner is to their own best interest. And since lower standards are being called for here the solution to this is supposed to be the
parent policing the TV
more? That'll work.
That was a very well thought-out response, Newt.
I'm gonna add a few more bars to the song, if I may:
The media vs. the parents. The eternal battle for the hearts and minds of our kids.
Now TRY to swim against that current as a parent: almost every thing you say is countered by the TV saying it is the way EVERYONE behaves or is expected to behave.
The warnings on cable shows and movies: "adult content, adult humor, adult situations, ect" proves what you said above. Adults are expected to act that way in order to be "cool" or "funny." At least, for the sake of the movie,
and not real life.
And the real-life part is what the media tends to "forget" to remind us of.
The media promotes toilet humored, self self-serving slobs who'll do anything for a good time, or they're busy pitying Hollywood actors and sports figures that get away with a slap on the wrist whenever they screw up. OR the old "teen idol" thing.
What is this teaching our kids, that this is the real world? It may be for some,
but not for all. And that's where we as adults and parents have the duty to set the record straight, that this is NOT the real world.
But when you have the media and the fringe groups and the secular elements constantly running calculated interference and promoting the things they are, it's a virtual battle for the hearts and minds of our kids.
You are the parent, not the Media, not Congress, not Hollywood,
you. And for my money, if the groups I mentioned above don't like it, they can go, well, you know.
Parents rule!