Force For Good, A Harmful Influence, Or Both Essay, Research Paper
Do you think that television is a
force for good, a harmful influence, or both ? What would you do to reduce
its potential to harm ? young people in particular. Television is a source for top
entertainment adored by all ages but the programs are influencing the eyes of
the viewers both in a good and bad way. Violence, sex and bad language is
currently shown at earlier and earlier times, leaving especially children
prone to mature viewing. With the television the most watched
object in the country, it is not a surprise that nearly everyone has one in
their homes. Due to such expectations from the high attendance, each channel
must broadcast whatever will make them the most money. This normally includes
exciting and "saucy" scenes. TV nowadays is a huge icon to children as
this influences them more than anything. They enjoy programs such as
"Power Rangers" which teach them to fight whenever in trouble. The
acting seems so realistic to the children that they imitate it, causing
violence. But Parents are unaware that children
react to TV in such a way. Most encourage watching the television but are
shocked to find their son or daughter swearing. Surely this is inevidable.
Often the elders don?t even know if their child is watching the box at
certain times such as if a TV is in their bedroom or Mum and Dad are late
home from work. TV also encourages rebellion against Parents from such shows
as "Roseanne". This threatened the discipline in the child?s life
as they begin to ignore not just their parents but everyone, resulting in bad
language, scruffy clothes, aggressiveness and sexual precociousness. Ten years ago television would have never
shown "The Jerry Springer Show" but in this day and age companies
would do anything to gain viewers, even if it is morally corrupt. It teaches
them to have no feelings or to know right from wrong. Nowadays, it is difficult to predict the
maturity of the children as there is such a wide range. So in order to be
safe, and not sorry, the broadcasters must expect the viewers to be younger
than they really are. This could eventually reduce any adult material in any
program. Also depending on the maturity of the children, one could react to
adult material in a bette
get away from our boring lives. Don?t we stare at the television, hours on
end, to watch the Warrior Princess beat the evil dragon and gain the love of
the Prince. We don?t want to see normal everyday events.Although there is a lack of educational
programs, that doesn?t mean the people aren?t learning anything. The wide
range of sport broadcasted encourages watchers to participate in hobbies.
Other shows help youths to deal with social problems from unlikely scenes in
Eastenders about drugs, sex and everyday problems. It is a moral tutor,
guiding us through live. With all the magical and graphic shows on
television people surely must be expanding their imagination and creativity.
In the later future these ideas will build the next generation for the
better. Why are the broadcasters being blamed for
what is on television when it is the parents fault to let their children
watch it. Thousands of complains a day are sent towards broadcasters,
claiming the youngsters have "picked off by television." Surely
some of the parents are finding a scapegoat for their mistakes and others
afraid to find out what they could learn. The reason why parents are so
negative about the TV is that in their youth there was no such pleasures or
if so not to such a high quality. Although all the advantages of the
television is important, children watch far to much of it when they should be
doing more constructive work. So therefore there must be discipline from the
parents in order to reduce watching hours. This involves mainly the off switch
but other solutions could be used. Parents need to spend more hours with
their children trying to help them develop their mind. A great way to do this
is in literature, which is another source of entertainment. Also there should
only be a maximum of two TV in each families house. Both in neutral areas
e.g. The sitting-room and the kitchen. All these ideas from television alter the
behaviour of the young in the long and short run but we all could not live
without a television in our everyday lives. It teaches us the basics, Sesame
Street, and other knowledge?s, Countdown. We may all like it for its homour
or seriousness. But nevertheless adult material will always be shown on this
box of never ending stories.