A number of readers talked with me about my recent article about media violence. Their comments were encouraging. It seems that many of you share my concern about the programs on TV, the movies, and other media. I am frustrated by writers who advance a rhetoric which outlines what is wrong with something and yet do not provide the reader with solutions. Therefore, I have some suggestions for healthy TV and movie selections.
First: Limit exposure to media in general. Ice cream is great, but we should not eat it at every meal. Some TV programming is fine if it is carefully chosen, even if it has no other purpose but to entertain. In my opinion, if your television is on, on the average, more than three hours each day, it is too much.
Second: Select programs purposefully. What does the show teach? What morals (or lack of) are conveyed by the program? Are these the morals you wish your family to embrace? I suggest that we resist the temptation to turn the TV on and THEN decide what to watch by scanning channels. In my opinion, this is like starting your car, pulling out of the drive way and then deciding where you want to go. Use a printed television guide to make deliberate and purposeful choices before the television is ever turned on.
Third: Use programming to bring your family together, not to separate. I strongly recommend that individuals not have TV's in their own rooms. One television in a central living area will make TV a tool to bring your family together. Watching a program as a family and then having the opportunity to discuss the program helps children learn, interpret, and understand what they are watching in the context of your families moral context.
Fourth: Media violence and aggression is not all bad. Like most things to which we expose ourselves and our families, the age of the viewer is an important factor. The evening news is quite violent. I do not allow my children to watch some parts of the news. However, as they get older, it will be important for them to begin to learn more about the world and a news program can be an effective teaching tool if we watch together and discuss the issues presented.
Fifth: Pay attention to movie ratings and reviews. Every week the Atlanta Journal/Constitution publishes the Leisure section. Reviews of all films are printed there. At the end of the review is a brief disclosure concerning violence, sexual situations, language, and nudity. This extra information will assist you in decision making for your family. Again, be deliberate in your selections. Don't just send your kids to a given movie because "everybody says it's great."
In conclusion, I suppose the overall rule is that we need to work at being parents. Like all things that are worthwhile, this takes effort. If my suggestions become habit in your home, they will be easier to implement and they will also teach your children disciplined behavior. I am interested in your comments concerning specific programs that you like for your family and why. In a letter (to my office directly or in care of The Citizen) or e-mail (rnuk20a@prodigy.com), send me your favorite family program(s), the age child you have, and why you like the program. I would like to address your comments in a future article.
