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Violence on TV Essay

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Violence on TV

For a long time now the debate has been, and continues to be, as to whether or not violence on television makes children more violent. As with all contentious issues there are both proponents and detractors. This argument has been resurrected in the wake of school shootings, most notably Columbine and Erfurt, Germany; and acts of random violence by teenagers, the murders of two Dartmouth professors. Parents, teachers, pediatricians, child psychiatrists, and FCC Chairmen William Kennard and former Vice President Al Gore say violent TV programming contribute in large part to in violence in young people today. However, broadcasters and major cable TV providers like Cox Communication say that it is the parent’s fault for …show more content…

Some 2,500 years ago the same essential questions were asked about drama acted by live actors in theatrical presentations.

Let’s take a look at the “tale of the tape” of individuals who are involved in this argument. The persons against media violence: parent, teachers, pediatricians, and child psychiatrists have a logos advantage over the persons who say media violence is not a problem: major TV network and cable providers; because of the large amount of statically data that backs up their claim that violence influences violent behavior. The major TV network and cable providers also have statistical data that backs up their claim, but unlike those who are against them their statistical data is often conducted in-house which leaves many wondering about the accuracy of the data. Major TV network and cable providers often use the First Amendment to make up what they lack in statistical data. The parent, teachers, pediatricians, and child psychiatrists support each other where as major TV network and cable providers often pass the blame onto each other as if they were playing a game of hot potato, which once again leaves one wondering about the credibility of their claim that violence on TV is not that big of a problem and there are measures in place to protect children. Parent, teachers, pediatricians, and child psychiatrists also have a pathos advantage over major TV network

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