Is it right to blame television/film for misbehavior in children?

Do you think television and film are ever culpable in influencing misbehavior in children? If a kid emulates something dangerous he saw on TV, should the producers bare any responsibility?

Chris wrote:Do you think television and film are ever culpable in influencing misbehavior in children? If a kid emulates something dangerous he saw on TV, should the producers bare any responsibility?

In influencing? Yes. Those who made it being culpable or responsible? No. OzzY Osbourne being sued over teenage suicides was bullshit.

People praise TV when it has a positive influence on kids, it would be asinine to say that it can't do the opposite. They can definitely pick up the wrong things from TV, which is why there are parents, to put their feet down and straighten their kids out about what's acceptable and what isn't.

Alan Smithee wrote:

In influencing? Yes. Those who made it being culpable or responsible? No. OzzY Osbourne being sued over teenage suicides was bullshit.

The ultimate person responsible is this kid and sometimes the parents.

No, not really. Not unless each generation of kids are getting "stupider".

When I was a kid we had shows like 'The Three Stooges', and I don't ever remember children trying to poke each other's eyes. In the end, that responsibility falls on the parents.

Bluesmama wrote:No, not really. Not unless each generation of kids are getting "stupider".

When I was a kid we had shows like 'The Three Stooges', and I don't ever remember children trying to poke each other's eyes. In the end, that responsibility falls on the parents.

Although, mothers did speak up because they were worried their kids would poke each other in the eyes; which is why Moe went on to explain to the kids how the trick was done to show nobody really got hurt. And there were parents who asked psychiatrists if the 3 Stooges was damaging to the children; one psychiatrist replied it was not and that her kids all watched the Stooges.

Supernova wrote:


Although, mothers did speak up because they were worried their kids would poke each other in the eyes; which is why Moe went on to explain to the kids how the trick was done to show nobody really got hurt. And there were parents who asked psychiatrists if the 3 Stooges was damaging to the children; one psychiatrist replied it was not and that her kids all watched the Stooges.

Interesting. I don't remember all that concern at all, and my mom sure wasn't. About the only thing I "copied" was Curly's floor fit where he'd lie on his side and do circles (it worked well with my hyper-activeness).

Quite frankly ~ considering the paranoia of parents ~ I'm surprised that 'The Stooges' are still in syndication.

Bluesmama wrote:


Interesting. I don't remember all that concern at all, and my mom sure wasn't. About the only thing I "copied" was Curly's floor fit where he'd lie on his side and do circles (it worked well with my hyper-activeness).

Quite frankly ~ considering the paranoia of parents ~ I'm surprised that 'The Stooges' are still in syndication.

My brother and I used to do that spinning around too, I shall have to try it again someday. Incidentally, Moe explained once in later years, that Curly did that, and other things like chomping his teeth or hitting himself in the head, when he would forget his lines and he would drop on the floor, spin around and he'd be able to remember them again. Go figure.

I don't buy it really. Parents can simply not let their kids watch it.