Do violence and drugs in entertainment media cause violent or delinquent behavior in minors?
Parents and environment cause violence and delinquency in minors. Entertainment is a part of a minor’s environment that is under parents’ direct control. I watched Apocalypse Now for the umpteenth time last week and, as it always does, it gave me a massive mood. It’s a powerful movie. There is no way in hell that I would allow my kids to watch this movie. I know that if they did, they would be affected by it. For me it takes a couple of hours to shake it off and then I get mini-episodes for the next several days. Usually bad dreams for a night or two also. I can’t imagine how bad this would be for a minor, someone who does not have the emotional experience to address their feelings nor the maturity to put things in context. If you claim that violent and conflictive exposure will have no affect on kids then you are the worst kind of simpleton. If you say that TV / Video Games / Whatever made your kids bad then you are the worst kind of parent. My kids watch Noggin and some shows on Nick
