Violence, Sex and Profanity… who cares?
Today’s technology almost always features gratuitous violence, sex and profanity because that is what sells. That is certainly not new information. Are you aware of just how much is out there, and to what degree, and most importantly, to what effect? Fathers have the right, and the obligation, to decide what comes into their house. The violence of many movies and video games, the sexual content of movies, TV shows and music videos, and the profanity of music are abundant. If parents allow any of these things into the house, you lose your right to get upset at the kids for swearing, violent behaviour and teenage pregnancy. Many parents prefer to turn a blind eye, that way they are not condoning the material. By not condemning, however, you are condoning. Will it make you unpopular with the kids? Yeah, probably. But father first, friend second.
TV and the Internet
Simply stated, there is no reason your child should have either one in his or her bedroom. It is a parent’s responsibility to monitor what their children are doing on the internet or what they are watching on television. You child can have privacy in his or her room, but why do they need privacy on the internet? Everybody knows what the ‘net is capable of, but many adults are unaware of what teenagers do with webcams. That kind of interaction is not curbed through parental control programs on your computer—and webcams are very easy to hide as many are smaller than your fist. The internet can be one of the best inventions of our era, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. You don’t have to get rid of it—just know what is going on .
Video Games
Remember when video games were Pong, Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Donkey Kong? Well, now they are Grand Theft Auto, Doom, Mortal Combat and Resident Evil. I like to think that parents who actually purchase these games for their children have no idea what the games actually entail. These games all give points for killing and dismemberment, or rape, many give you points for murdering civilians and one even allows you to pick up a prostitute, have sex with her, and then kill her so you can get your money back. Go online and type “Violent Video Games” into your search engine and have a look at what your kids are “playing”. While playing games with sex and extreme violence doesn’t mean your child will become a desensitized murderer, there is a very strong correlation between these games and a child’s aggression and lack of compassion for other living things. Children who play such games are significantly more likely to commit crimes at some point in their life. Parents owe it to their children to not allow violent video games into the house. It proves you care about them.
Music
This is potentially the most contentious form of media because most kids listen to hours upon hours of music each day. In fact, students in school often get angry when asked not to listen to their music during class! A lot of the popular music today is about sex and violence. It is cool to dress as a thug or gangster, because that is what many of the biggest music stars are. Get some of your child’s CD covers and read some of the lyrics. If you are OK with profanity, sexuality and violence pulsing in your kid’s head much of the day, then don’t bother. I think most of us are not OK with it, though. Nor should we be.
So Who Cares?
I sure hope all parents care. I also hope fathers care enough to be a filter for their children. It is a very difficult thing to be a kid right now. “Everybody else is watching it/playing it/listening to it” (pick one). Fathers need to let their children know that they are not everybody else—they are your kids. Many parents have said that the kids “will do it anyway”, so why make them hate you? Because you are a father first...a friend second.
Today’s technology almost always features gratuitous violence, sex and profanity because that is what sells. That is certainly not new information. Are you aware of just how much is out there, and to what degree, and most importantly, to what effect? Fathers have the right, and the obligation, to decide what comes into their house. The violence of many movies and video games, the sexual content of movies, TV shows and music videos, and the profanity of music are abundant. If parents allow any of these things into the house, you lose your right to get upset at the kids for swearing, violent behaviour and teenage pregnancy. Many parents prefer to turn a blind eye, that way they are not condoning the material. By not condemning, however, you are condoning. Will it make you unpopular with the kids? Yeah, probably. But father first, friend second.
TV and the Internet
Simply stated, there is no reason your child should have either one in his or her bedroom. It is a parent’s responsibility to monitor what their children are doing on the internet or what they are watching on television. You child can have privacy in his or her room, but why do they need privacy on the internet? Everybody knows what the ‘net is capable of, but many adults are unaware of what teenagers do with webcams. That kind of interaction is not curbed through parental control programs on your computer—and webcams are very easy to hide as many are smaller than your fist. The internet can be one of the best inventions of our era, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. You don’t have to get rid of it—just know what is going on .
Video Games
Remember when video games were Pong, Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Donkey Kong? Well, now they are Grand Theft Auto, Doom, Mortal Combat and Resident Evil. I like to think that parents who actually purchase these games for their children have no idea what the games actually entail. These games all give points for killing and dismemberment, or rape, many give you points for murdering civilians and one even allows you to pick up a prostitute, have sex with her, and then kill her so you can get your money back. Go online and type “Violent Video Games” into your search engine and have a look at what your kids are “playing”. While playing games with sex and extreme violence doesn’t mean your child will become a desensitized murderer, there is a very strong correlation between these games and a child’s aggression and lack of compassion for other living things. Children who play such games are significantly more likely to commit crimes at some point in their life. Parents owe it to their children to not allow violent video games into the house. It proves you care about them.
Music
This is potentially the most contentious form of media because most kids listen to hours upon hours of music each day. In fact, students in school often get angry when asked not to listen to their music during class! A lot of the popular music today is about sex and violence. It is cool to dress as a thug or gangster, because that is what many of the biggest music stars are. Get some of your child’s CD covers and read some of the lyrics. If you are OK with profanity, sexuality and violence pulsing in your kid’s head much of the day, then don’t bother. I think most of us are not OK with it, though. Nor should we be.
So Who Cares?
I sure hope all parents care. I also hope fathers care enough to be a filter for their children. It is a very difficult thing to be a kid right now. “Everybody else is watching it/playing it/listening to it” (pick one). Fathers need to let their children know that they are not everybody else—they are your kids. Many parents have said that the kids “will do it anyway”, so why make them hate you? Because you are a father first...a friend second.