5 ms·

A few years ago, I was in a big box store and overheard a young (~10y/o) child and his mother picking out a new video game. The kid excitedly picked up a box an

A few years ago, I was in a big box store and overheard a young (~10y/o) child and his mother picking out a new video game. The kid excitedly picked up a box and asked his mom if he could get that one. She checked out the cover, then started reading the rating. "Rated 'mature' for sexual content? No way!" "Aw, man! Ok, how about this one?" "Rated 'mature' for extreme graphic violence? Well... ok."

sp332 14y ago
That's because violence is not relateable. When people see violence, they don't think, "Hey, I want to do that!" But when they see sex, they do.
- rimantas 14y ago
  Interesting theory. Alas, many cannot see the difference between sex and naked body.
- just2n 14y ago
  When I see images of awesome looking food, I think "Hey, I want to try that!" Same with pictures of people sky-diving, drinking, racing in fast cars, etc. All of these things can be pretty dangerous, in fact far more dangerous than having sex. Better start the bans!
  - sp332 14y ago
    In the USA, they put disclaimers on skydiving and racing cars. Stuff like "don't try this" or "at your own risk" or "these are professionals, this is dangerous" etc. Also tobacco and alcohol companies are prohibited from advertising to minors.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Lack of video games is hardly going to prevent a kid of that certain from realizing that the opposite seems a bit different all of a sudden. These bans are puritanical, not pragmatic.
schoper 14y ago
The woman was right. Depictions of sex have huge individual and cultural repercussions. Depictions of violence have little to no effect on all but the most borderline of individuals. Porn can really make your life worse. Violence on TV ain't going to.
- joshtynjala 14y ago
  This sounds more accurate to me: Depictions of sex have little to no effect on all but the most borderline of individuals. Depictions of violence have little to no effect on all but the most borderline of individuals.
  - schoper 14y ago
    This can be a lesson in learning not to trust your instincts then: http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-1464262.html http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-1464262.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_effects_of_pornography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_effects_of_pornography http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=106880 http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=106880
    - matwood 14y ago
      Interestingly enough maybe you should read your own links before drawing what you think are exact conclusions in your original post. From the wikipedia article: Pornography's effects on crime and domestic violence have been inconclusive. Some studies support the contention that the viewing of pornographic material may increase rates of sexual crimes whereas others either suggest no effect, or conclude the liberalization of porn in society may be associated with decreased rape and sexual violence rates. It loos like that, like violent video games, some people are simply predisposed to being effected from an external source. The hard thing is knowing whether the effected people would have presented the effects outside of any external influence. How's that for a lesson in learning?
      - schoper 14y ago
        I didn't say anything about crime. There are all sorts of things that make your life far worse without causing crime: fast food, credit card debt, laziness. Unsurprisingly, many of them are sexual; promiscuous sex and adultery can ruin your life and the lives of those around you even without STDs. In a nutshell, I didn't say "porn causes sex crimes," which would have been untrue and silly. I said that sexualized media has major detrimental life effects. And the links that I provided back that up. Keep your kids away from porn. It will hurt them in the long run. Violent video games aren't going to have any effect.

sp332 14y ago

That's because violence is not relateable. When people see violence, they don't think, "Hey, I want to do that!" But when they see sex, they do.

rimantas 14y ago
Interesting theory. Alas, many cannot see the difference between sex and naked body.
just2n 14y ago
When I see images of awesome looking food, I think "Hey, I want to try that!" Same with pictures of people sky-diving, drinking, racing in fast cars, etc. All of these things can be pretty dangerous, in fact far more dangerous than having sex. Better start the bans!
- sp332 14y ago
  In the USA, they put disclaimers on skydiving and racing cars. Stuff like "don't try this" or "at your own risk" or "these are professionals, this is dangerous" etc. Also tobacco and alcohol companies are prohibited from advertising to minors.
jlgreco 14y ago
Lack of video games is hardly going to prevent a kid of that certain from realizing that the opposite seems a bit different all of a sudden. These bans are puritanical, not pragmatic.

schoper 14y ago

The woman was right. Depictions of sex have huge individual and cultural repercussions. Depictions of violence have little to no effect on all but the most borderline of individuals. Porn can really make your life worse. Violence on TV ain't going to.

joshtynjala 14y ago
This sounds more accurate to me: Depictions of sex have little to no effect on all but the most borderline of individuals. Depictions of violence have little to no effect on all but the most borderline of individuals.
- schoper 14y ago
  This can be a lesson in learning not to trust your instincts then: http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-1464262.html http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-1464262.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_effects_of_pornography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_effects_of_pornography http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=106880 http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=106880
  - matwood 14y ago
    Interestingly enough maybe you should read your own links before drawing what you think are exact conclusions in your original post. From the wikipedia article: Pornography's effects on crime and domestic violence have been inconclusive. Some studies support the contention that the viewing of pornographic material may increase rates of sexual crimes whereas others either suggest no effect, or conclude the liberalization of porn in society may be associated with decreased rape and sexual violence rates. It loos like that, like violent video games, some people are simply predisposed to being effected from an external source. The hard thing is knowing whether the effected people would have presented the effects outside of any external influence. How's that for a lesson in learning?
    - schoper 14y ago
      I didn't say anything about crime. There are all sorts of things that make your life far worse without causing crime: fast food, credit card debt, laziness. Unsurprisingly, many of them are sexual; promiscuous sex and adultery can ruin your life and the lives of those around you even without STDs. In a nutshell, I didn't say "porn causes sex crimes," which would have been untrue and silly. I said that sexualized media has major detrimental life effects. And the links that I provided back that up. Keep your kids away from porn. It will hurt them in the long run. Violent video games aren't going to have any effect.