• If I have to drive past another billboard depicting violence or have to watch a video trailer of some outlaw posing with twin guns drawn and pointed at people and/or law enforcement, I’m just going to scream. It’s on TV, the radio, and pretty much every venue of media advertisement. I can’t seem to get away from it.  Everywhere I turn there’s some tough guy mafia-like character, depicting the high life of cars, money, women, and of course out-of-control violence. Inevitably it is attention grabbing and my kids will strike a pose to mimic these gangsters or even worse, will spew some crazy talk with cursing and poor grammar.  Of course, that’s when I have to slap them back into reality (not physically, though). I know it’s what sells but I just hate the way violence is glorified.

    Inevitably it is attention grabbing and my kids will strike a pose to mimic these gangsters…

    We can all agree that it’s irresponsible for industries to taint our children’s minds for the sake of financial gain. Whatever happened to entertainment that doesn’t promote racism, criminal actions or evil? I realize there little I can do to change the public’s appetite for violence. It seems like no one wants to watch a show about regular life and normal interactions. Let’s face it – Dysfunction sells! In order to minimize the impact on my children and to save my sanity, I make it a point to talk about the absurdity and reality of what is being displayed. Ultimately, if I don’t say something, my ignoring it or joking about it sends the message to my children that I either agree with it or it doesn’t really bother me. When the contrary is true!

    The “real outcome” is the part of the movie or advertisement that they don’t usually get to see

    Most of this stuff starts off scaring young children.  Billboards and previews should be G-rated because everyone can see them.  Watching it leaves them with disquiet, and unanswered questions with only the fictional violent fantasy giving them answers. That’s where you come in as a parent, to educate them about what they are seeing.  The “real outcome” is the part of the movie or advertisement that they don’t usually get to see. And it’s up to you to fill them in. I encourage my kids to ask questions about what they see. That way, they don’t take the fictional perspective at face value or leave it up to their imaginations to fill in the gaps. Answering their questions and normalizing it for them helps ease their minds.  It is important for them to know what the real world outcomes are– the true-life consequences of violence.  So, if they see sensationalized violent acts of shooting, car crashes, illegal weapons or abusive sex scenes as they are older, I try to bring closure for them and fill in the realistic end of the story. This provides them with an understanding of cause and effect and a reality check of what is right or wrong. Of course, I would prefer to shield them from these forms of media and entertainment, but realizing that, as they get older (and as the advertisements get more bold) they will be exposed, I think trying to help them keep it in perspective is the best I can hope to do.