My Comments

ELSIE

Hay Elsie,

I 100% support you on this issue! I think it's so degrading to little girls, parents should just let them be children! Although it's entertaining to watch little characters like Honeybooboo, you just can't help but think how this is going to affect her when she grows up. Along with many other little girls. I also agree it is indeed another form of child pornography. Watching the videos made me disgusted that parents would make there little girls do such outrageous, over the top things. To me the Mother's are teaching the young girls that beauty is everything, adding to there insecurities they may have currently or late on in life.
Anyways I can go on but I wont, lol. By far my fav blog atm!

Thanks :)
p.s. that gogo juice, shocking!

NICK

Hay Nick,

I was a bit hesitant to read your blog because the issue sounds boring lol. But it was very informative and made me realize that this is a serious issue! Although I could'nt view two of the videos due to bad internet connection, you provide ALOT of info about it, which was helpful for me to understand. In the end I agree with your stance on this issue. Great Blog !

:)

PATRICK

Hay Patrick,

great topic! I'm doing something similar, so I know where your coming from. The blog was nice and short, straight to the point with great examples such as the Movie Directors and the game Grand Theft Auto. I myself enjoy playing video games and watching violent movies but hardly engage in that stuff, which is good I guess. Great Blog

:)

DAVIDDA

Hay Davidda,

very informative blog. Like that you provide statistics and analysis. Also the video of the two guys from the band Duran Duran, there point of view on the issue. It makes sense because it's money going out of there pockets. If I was to be honest, I download music illegally just because it's free. But reading this blog has made me think twice about it . I really should visit the itunes store more often!

Great Blog!
:)

SHELBY

Hey Shelby,

a few weeks ago you asked me if I was for or against animal cruelty (I still stand by my answer and reason). Your blog just further affirmed for me that some people can be cruel and animal testing is a big NO NO. It doesn't matter what purpose these animals are being 'tested' for, the fact remains these animals are hurt in the process. I always think what if the roles were reversed?

Thanks :)

Reference List

Goebel, J. (n.d.). Media and Violence Study. Retrieved from       

          http://www.ppu.org.uk/education/media_violence_survey-c.html.

Nauert PhD, R. (2006). Video Games Desensitize to Real Violence. Retrieved from

      http://psychcentral.com/news/2006/07/28/video-games-desensitize-to-real-violence/137.html

Hansen, A. (2012). Desensitization through Media Violence. Retrieved from

          http://www.clipperonline.info/node/2384.

Wiley, P. (2011). Does Media Violence Promote Violent Behaviour?. Retrieved from

          http://philipwiley.com/tag/arguments-on-media-violence.

Thompson, M. (2009). Keeping Violent Media Away from Boys could be a Bad Idea. Retrieved from 
         http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2009/02/keeping-violent-media-away-from-kids-could-be-a-b  
         ad-idea/.

Just My Opinion

One of the reasons I agree with this is because I've seen it myself. My little brother he loves playing violent games. He can go hours tapping those buttons, we actually have to restrict him from playing so much! But what's new right? He actually becomes angry and aggressive. Being the older sister I am I do egg him on a bit but it's just so shocking to see how much he's changed over a short period of time. Thankfully his aggression doesn't last long and he mellows down. Then there's me. I believe there was a time when people were shocked to see horrific scenes such as people ripping each others heads off but not anymore because of desensitization. Over the weekend I watched the last Twilight movie and found I loved the fact that they were fighting and killing each other, it added to the suspense and drama of the film. Now that I think about it, it's disgusting that I have fallen under the curse of this wretched desensitization to violence through media coverage. However I can safely say that I will not be going out on a killing spree, too bad I cant say the same for others.

Some may say it helps that we are being desensitized, that violence in media is another form of art it's an expression, it's harmless. What a load of  crap I say. The fact is desensitization to violence through media coverage exist and I believe it's the cause to most of the crime in our world today.

Experiment says its legit!

The Research I gathered, all show examples of tests done on different people, typically young adults or children. The article Video Games Desensitize to Real World show Scientists focusing on Video Games and it's affect on young adults. What they already know is 'Video-games can alter physiological responses typically aroused by real violence' and 'increases aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, physiological arousal and aggressive behaviours, decreasing helpful behaviours'. They also know 85% of video games were violent, engaging the players in serious violent actions. First they asked the individuals what were the 4 most violent vid. games and what were the 4 non-violent vid. games. This was to give the Scientists an idea of what the individuals perceived as violent and non-violent. They then tested the individuals through heart rate and skin response measurements, while they played the vid. games. In conclusion those who were 'new' to vid. games, showed an increase in heart rate and skin response whereas those who already played vid. games showed no change in heart rate and skin response. Proving the Scientist theory that these games are always improving in a way that is fun and individuals eventually become physiologically 'numb' to the violence. Although some may disagree that engaging in these violent games could actually be beneficial.

This also applies to other sources in the media, with the same affect on individuals. I have come up with my own conclusion based on research. For desensitisation to occur, there is engagement and interaction between the viewer and the source. It only takes three senses to engage and interact: sight, sound and touch.  

Please take the time to watch the video below. Caution, intense amount of violence.

 

 The following article Can Media Violence Desensitize You? has some interesting statistics and examples that support my stance on the issue.  The article Desensitize due to Media also has interesting statistics focusing more on children.

Can we Avoid it?

We are living in the age of technology. With the latest iPhones and Tablets, its hard to keep up! Creating a huge range of easy access to media violence:

• Access through the internet: with so many websites and social networks its easy to come across blogs, video clips and images showing violence.
•  Favourite television show's, such as Revenge or the Walking Dead.
•  Talk shows such as Jeremy Kyle. According to the article Media and Violence Study, television is the most powerful source of information and entertainment besides face-to-face interaction.
• The latest Movies, such as the newest Iron Man 3. The New-Zealand Herald papers, with headlines such as 'BOSTON BOMBING'.
•  The latest Call of Duty video game or World of War-craft Computer game. Music video clips such as 'I love the way you lie' performed by Rihanna and Eminem. Lyrics and sound can also encourage violence.
•  Magazines, Comics and Books. Notice the examples I used are obviously violent but quite popular as well. 

However there are media sources that encourage violence in subtle ways. For example, that reality show you all love watching, secretly or not 'Keeping up with the Kardashians'. They argue a lot, verbally abuse each other, that is violence in the slightest.

Anyone can be Desensitized

Everyone with access to violent media can be desensitized to violence. The article Desensitization through Media Violence states that over time the more people are exposed to media violence, the more desensitized they become. Another article  Impact of Media Violence Tips looks at teens and kids easily desensitized by media violence, because they are always surrounded by  media. The same article gives helpful tips on how Parents can limit the amount of violence there children take in and also teach them. This can also apply to everyone else. This article also states desensitization can affect a person in a very short amount of time!

Desensitization to violence through Media

Desensitization is derived from the word 'desensitize', to make something less sensitive than it actually is. Violence feeds off Media, the two work together. Based on research I have done, this blog will tell you why I think there is desensitization to violence through Media Coverage.

My 10 Links

1. http://psychcentral.com/news/2006/07/28/video-games-desensitize-to-real-violence/137.html
2. http://www.ppu.org.uk/education/media_violence_survey-c.html
3. http://www.clipperonline.info/node/2384
4. http://philipwiley.com/tag/arguments-on-media-violence
5. http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2009/02/keeping-violent-media-away-from-kids-could-be-a-bad-idea/
6. http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/impact-media-violence-tips
7. http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/can-media-violence-desensitize-you
8. http://sitemaker.umich.edu/brad.bushman/files/ba09.pdf
9. http://childrensmedia2day.wordpress.com/
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19172659