Poll About Violence In Media!!! >:)

**emerging** · April 11th, 2009, 09:34 PM

Do you enjoy violence on tv, movies, animation, video games etc. and more importantly WHY?

Mostly interested in people who do find a pleasurable aspect in experiencing the violence in media and and their take on why they personally might be drawn towards it.

THANKS GUYS AND GALS!!! this will be really helpful to see different takes and opinions and patterns in pples' responses to this social question.

**waranghira** · April 11th, 2009, 11:31 PM

ok, where's the place to vote?

**Craig D** · April 12th, 2009, 01:50 AM

JonathanS
Weren't you voluntarily staying away from CA?

**chriskot** · April 12th, 2009, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by JonathanS

That said, I'd rather deport every single Muslim from the US and Israel than part with my copy of GTA 4. We should be angry at Islam, not at Namco, Kanomi or Warner Bros.

Technically, we probably shouldn't really be angry at anybody, seeing as how anger is usually what leads to violence in the first place. Also, Islam itself is no more inherently harmful than any other religion. Extremism is, and you don't have to be Muslim to be an extremist. Either way, this seems sort of off-topic to me since nobody ever implied that we should be angry at violent media in the first place.

I enjoy violence in media when it's done right, and I can think of three main reasons why:
1) It can be immersive, and get the blood pumping and adrenaline flowing like few other things can. To me, this applies more to video games, because I am partially in control and I am given a reason to want to win, without any certainty of my success.
2) When it's stylish, it's just fun to watch. No matter how emotionally detached from the characters I may be, something like a well-choreographed fight in a kung fu movie can still be fun to watch just because of how it flows. Almost like some sort of dance.
3) Stress relief. Worked up over something? Few things cool you off better then taking out your fury (or just watching it being taken out) on a bunch of fictional characters.

**Craig D** · April 12th, 2009, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by JonathanS

That said, I'd rather deport every single Muslim from the US and Israel than part with my copy of GTA 4. We should be angry at Islam, not at Namco, Kanomi or Warner Bros.

Fine, I'll stay on the topic of violence and hatred. I know you are obviously full of those things.
As you are perfectly aware the vast majority of Muslims are not involved with or in favour of violence. Same as not all Christians or whoever are all perfectly peace loving and non-violent. Statements such as yours though do increase levels of hatred on both sides, those increasing levels of hatred lead to further violence.
You're not part of the solution Jonathan, you're part of the problem and I wish that if you want to preach hatred against identifiable groups that you do so away from the lovely CA.org.

**MiniGoth** · April 12th, 2009, 03:08 AM

There were no video games when Vlad Tepes was alive. Nor emperor Nero, the Crusades, the Inquisition...

As for violence in media, it's most interesting for me when it is a real action with real consequences.

**Black Spot** · April 12th, 2009, 03:12 AM

Comic book violence I have no problem with and I include Gears of War in that category. It’s not much different from playing Goodies and Baddies in the playground. The more sadistic violence is not okay because it requires too much psychological thought from the player. Also I dislike bad language as I consider it lazy.

**OmenSpirits** · April 12th, 2009, 03:48 AM

I write/wrote crime fiction.

That answers that.

(I also wrote action, adventures, mystery, noir, comedy, drama, non-fiction, love stories) but that's besides the topic.

**rossipoo** · April 12th, 2009, 03:56 AM

Gosh, everytime i see some sort of fantasy violence anywhere, im so drawn to it! Like i see some mage glow with her staff casting spells, ITS SO ORGASMIC (to me) , Freaking archers shooting arrows pew pew pew, just makes me happy! ahhaah Idk why, seeing violence like lord of the rings as well, freaking pleasurable,

**Keeviin** · April 12th, 2009, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by JonathanS

I'm not a racist. But [...]

Hehe that's one not-so well placed 'but'.

On topic:

News media: Not enjoyable, rather interesting - it's (more or less) our non-fiction source for violence after all. Sadly they are mostly not objective, take sides and depict violence as if part of some big world drama/tragedy. How this affects people we see above.

comical violence/shock humor: (from Itchy&Scratchy to Superjail) Mostly very enjoyable, especially because it presents violence in a completely different context and offers a different perspective.

horror/torture pornos: (From Texas chainsaw massacre to Saw IV and the passion) I don't get it. Repetitive and disgusting. Can someone explain it to me?

glorification/aesthetic depiction: (from Bruce Lee to Kill Bill) Can be completely awesome. Shows important/positive aspects of violence. After all, a humans "dignity" once solely referred to how many people a warrior would kill in battle - it's not that easy to get rid of history.

**squidmonk3j** · April 12th, 2009, 10:00 AM

("violence in the media" is a though-terminating cliché, and should be observed as such.)

I need to watch things die
From a good safe distance
Vicariously, I
Live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same so
Why can't we just admit it

**Max Challie** · April 12th, 2009, 11:11 AM

squidmonk3j, DAMN IT!! I was going to post that!!

**Costau D** · April 12th, 2009, 12:21 PM

On topic: In my opinion it's not the violence itself that is the problem. It's the glorification of why the violence is done, and makes it look intriguing. How many kids growing up do you think, think guns are cool. The games are fun, but its about what it is portraying. I had a friend who wanted to do a break in once just because he thought it would be cool, and a movie we were watching glorified actions like this. Made it look exciting. It would be just the same as creating a business mogul game where instead of learning to be a lawful business man, the game is about how to abuse the system and step on people to get you filthy rich. There's nothing wrong with wanting to protect yourself in life and to learn how to fight. But, to make it look fun, and like something you want to happen because it's thrilling is another problem.

**emerging** · April 12th, 2009, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by CosmoChimp

On topic: In my opinion it's not the violence itself that is the problem. It's the glorification of why the violence is done, and makes it look intriguing. How many kids growing up do you think, think guns are cool. The games are fun, but its about what it is portraying. I had a friend who wanted to do a break in once just because he thought it would be cool, and a movie we were watching glorified actions like this. Made it look exciting. It would be just the same as creating a business mogul game where instead of learning to be a lawful business man, the game is about how to abuse the system and step on people to get you filthy rich. There's nothing wrong with wanting to protect yourself in life and to learn how to fight. But, to make it look fun, and like something you want to happen because it's thrilling is another problem.

This actually brings up a thought. So far we've been mostly responding to this issue with personal approach. What if we put ourselves in other people's shoes. Like lets say if you are a father or a mother of a child who is exposed to the violence in media. Do you think you would treat this issue in a different way then? Or how about people who are past generations who might not have been exposed to as much violence on tv as we have. What are your thoughts on that?