This and my next post (on reality TV) focuses on the relationship between television/movies/music and our culture. I will be asking you the question, "Does what we watch influence our thoughts, actions or viewpoints?" Before you answer, I want to share a few stories with you.
Caution: This first story is very disturbing. Teachers please watch ahead of time to decide if this is appropriate for your students and something you want to tackle in class.
In late September, 2012, a 17 year-old-boy watched the horror film remake Halloween. He became intrigued by the ease at which, the main character in the movie, was able to kill without remorse. He watched the movie over and over again. Afterward, he openly wondered if he could kill someone and have a similar reaction. In a 4-page written confession, he wrote, "I just sat in the living room thinking about how I was going to kill my family." On October 3, 2012, he stole a gun from his Grandpa and killed his mom and his little sister. For further details, click on the following link:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/25/16692073-teens-confession-horror-film-inspired-murder-of-mom-sister?lite
Author's Perspective: For years I have asked teachers and parents the following question, "Why are the ethics of Americans declining?" One of the many reasons that we discuss is the media. To some extent, what we spend our time doing (TV, video games, Internet, texting, movies, music) has to alter the way we view reality. Studies in the 1970's document that children exposed to aggressive acts were much more likely to be violent than children exposed to calm acts.
http://psychology.about.com/od/classicpsychologystudies/a/bobo-doll-experiment.htm (article)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHdovKHDNU (video)
Current studies on the effects of violent video games basically demonstrates the same thing - those exposed to violent video games had a spike in violent behavior.
http://www.soc.iastate.edu/sapp/videogames1.pdf (very long research article)
These studies should not be a shocker to anyone. As parents we monitor what our kids watch on TV and routinely say, "No...It's not appropriate." Why? Because we did not like our oldest daughter's behavior toward her younger siblings after watching shows like Spoungebob or Ben10 that involve fighting and meanness. For us, the effect was obvious.
Back to Our Story: I realize that millions have watched the movie Halloween and have not gone on to injure or kill anyone. However, for this seemingly normal adolescent boy, it changed his life and the life of his family. By the way, after killing his mother and sister, he wrote, "I know now though that I'm done with killing. It's the most dreadful and terrifying thing I will ever experience. And what happened last night will haunt me forever."
I am just asking you to be conscious of the media and technology that you consume. It's the old adage, "You are what you eat."
Your Turn
1) Do you find this story as sad and disturbing as I do?
2) Do you believe that what we watch/listen to/spend our time on can affect our perceptions of reality? Our Behavior? Our ethics? Can you think of any examples?
3) Should we do anything as a society to limit the violence that is available on TV, video games or at the movies the way they do in Europe or is that a violation of our freedoms?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
New Year's Resolutions...Good Idea or Waste of Time?
At the beginning of each year, roughly 45% of Americans make new year's resolutions. Most of these resolutions pertain to health (lose weight), happiness (enjoy life more) or a new skill (learn a new language). Most are sincere when they make them, but only 8% of Americans are successful at changing their new resolutions into reality. Another 38% of Americans swear off the notion of making New Year's Resolutions. For further information, check out:
http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
A Little Inspiration: Check out the following link to see how one person set life 127 life goals when he was 15, and has spent a lifetime achieving them. www.johngoddard.info/life_list.htm
Author's Perspective: This seems like a no-brainer. A new year's resolution is nothing more than a stated or written goal. It is good to set goals, but if you don't follow through on them, it is just a waste of time. It's kind of like the goal I would set at the beginning of each semester "not to procrastinate anymore" after pulling too many all-nighters the prior semester. Without changing behavior, that goal will never materialize.
To turn a goal into reality is relatively simple:
1. Write it down and put it in a visible place.
2. Make it public so others can reinforce your efforts.
3. Write down small, specific steps needed to attain that goal.
4. Work hard to accomplish those small steps and cross them off the list.
I used to be part of the 38% who swore off resolutions. I thought it was silly to pick one time of year to make goals. It was the same rationale I had for sending flowers on Valentine's Day (why send flowers on a prescribed date when I can do it any day of the year). I changed my mind a few years ago when I decided to teach my girls to set goals for themselves. Somehow the logic of the new year made sense.
My New Year's Resolutions: 1) memorize the 44 presidents of the United States and teach them to my 7 year old, 2) learn to play the guitar and 3) live a simpler lifestyle. Learning the presidents is easy enough - break open the book of president's at the breakfast table and review them. Set a small goal to learn three a week and set a major goal to recite them all by Memorial Day. Likewise, the goals for learning to play the guitar are pretty straight forward. Find a person who gives lessons and schedule the lessons. Set aside time to practice each week. The last resolution is more difficult. This one requires me to define what a "simpler lifestyle" means, discuss it at length with my wife and make big and small changes. Believe me, listing them here would bore you to death.
Your Turn:
1) What is your opinion about setting new year's resolutions? Why do you believe that?
2) Write down what your resolutions are for this year? Write down the steps to achieve them? This is essentially your assignment for week 2 anyway.
3) Why do you think only 8% achieve their resolutions?
http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
A Little Inspiration: Check out the following link to see how one person set life 127 life goals when he was 15, and has spent a lifetime achieving them. www.johngoddard.info/life_list.htm
Author's Perspective: This seems like a no-brainer. A new year's resolution is nothing more than a stated or written goal. It is good to set goals, but if you don't follow through on them, it is just a waste of time. It's kind of like the goal I would set at the beginning of each semester "not to procrastinate anymore" after pulling too many all-nighters the prior semester. Without changing behavior, that goal will never materialize.
To turn a goal into reality is relatively simple:
1. Write it down and put it in a visible place.
2. Make it public so others can reinforce your efforts.
3. Write down small, specific steps needed to attain that goal.
4. Work hard to accomplish those small steps and cross them off the list.
I used to be part of the 38% who swore off resolutions. I thought it was silly to pick one time of year to make goals. It was the same rationale I had for sending flowers on Valentine's Day (why send flowers on a prescribed date when I can do it any day of the year). I changed my mind a few years ago when I decided to teach my girls to set goals for themselves. Somehow the logic of the new year made sense.
My New Year's Resolutions: 1) memorize the 44 presidents of the United States and teach them to my 7 year old, 2) learn to play the guitar and 3) live a simpler lifestyle. Learning the presidents is easy enough - break open the book of president's at the breakfast table and review them. Set a small goal to learn three a week and set a major goal to recite them all by Memorial Day. Likewise, the goals for learning to play the guitar are pretty straight forward. Find a person who gives lessons and schedule the lessons. Set aside time to practice each week. The last resolution is more difficult. This one requires me to define what a "simpler lifestyle" means, discuss it at length with my wife and make big and small changes. Believe me, listing them here would bore you to death.
Your Turn:
1) What is your opinion about setting new year's resolutions? Why do you believe that?
2) Write down what your resolutions are for this year? Write down the steps to achieve them? This is essentially your assignment for week 2 anyway.
3) Why do you think only 8% achieve their resolutions?
Monday, January 14, 2013
Lance Armstrong Deserves No Credit for Coming Clean
Sometime this week, Oprah Winfrey will interview Lance Armstrong and he is expected to guardedly admit that he used performance enhancing drugs during his tenure of winning 7 Tour de France titles. This confession will contradict his denials over the past decade to the contrary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juVzHD7NEgk (before interview)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biIvT_r-DQg (part 1 of interview - watch first 5 minutes)
Author's Perspective: Lance Armstrong has a team of advisors, publicists & lawyers who, for the past month, have been debating about whether or not Lance should come clean about using performance enhancing drugs (a.k.a. cheating). That's all I need to hear. When someone needs to weigh their options and understand the consequences of being honest, they lose all credibility with me. This is called situational ethics, and in my opinion, the truth should not depend on the circumstances. It should not be calculated and weighed by a group of advisors.
When Armstrong is crying (something his advisors are probably debating right now) to Oprah this week about how he couldn't deal with the guilt, I will not be watching or listening because I know that he is a phony. Lance Armstrong's decision to come clean was a calculated decision made in the best interest of Lance Armstrong.
Moral of the Story: Do the right thing, play by the rules and be honest. If and when you screw up, admit it and move on. If Armstrong had lived by this code, he would not be in this situation. He might have still won a Tour de France or two or he would have finished runner up several times. He would have been known as the guy who overcame cancer and gave it everything he had. His reputation would have been intact. Now, he is simply known as a cheater and a fraud.
Your Turn:
1) Do you think I am being too harsh on Lance? What is your response to his "coming clean?"
2) It is tempting to lie or cheat in order to gain favor, finances or fame. Do you think it is worth it to do so? Have you ever done so (I have)?
3) Would you rather have a solid reputation based on character or fame based on false pretenses?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juVzHD7NEgk (before interview)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biIvT_r-DQg (part 1 of interview - watch first 5 minutes)
Author's Perspective: Lance Armstrong has a team of advisors, publicists & lawyers who, for the past month, have been debating about whether or not Lance should come clean about using performance enhancing drugs (a.k.a. cheating). That's all I need to hear. When someone needs to weigh their options and understand the consequences of being honest, they lose all credibility with me. This is called situational ethics, and in my opinion, the truth should not depend on the circumstances. It should not be calculated and weighed by a group of advisors.
When Armstrong is crying (something his advisors are probably debating right now) to Oprah this week about how he couldn't deal with the guilt, I will not be watching or listening because I know that he is a phony. Lance Armstrong's decision to come clean was a calculated decision made in the best interest of Lance Armstrong.
Moral of the Story: Do the right thing, play by the rules and be honest. If and when you screw up, admit it and move on. If Armstrong had lived by this code, he would not be in this situation. He might have still won a Tour de France or two or he would have finished runner up several times. He would have been known as the guy who overcame cancer and gave it everything he had. His reputation would have been intact. Now, he is simply known as a cheater and a fraud.
Your Turn:
1) Do you think I am being too harsh on Lance? What is your response to his "coming clean?"
2) It is tempting to lie or cheat in order to gain favor, finances or fame. Do you think it is worth it to do so? Have you ever done so (I have)?
3) Would you rather have a solid reputation based on character or fame based on false pretenses?
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Finding My Voice About Sandy Hook
On December 14, 2012, a man broke into his mother's locked gun case and proceeded to kill his mother in her sleep. Fully loaded with guns and bullets, he forced his way through a security system at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He subsequently killed 26 people, including 20 first graders. He then turned the gun on himself.
Author's Perspective: To be honest, for the past several weeks I could not find my voice on this issue and had no idea what to write about. The sadness... the senselessness... the devastation... the heartbreak... It was too overwhelming... too difficult to face.
I have a Ph.D. in this psychology stuff and I can't begin to understand this kind of madness. The questions of why will never be answered and each question leads me down a different dead end path.
1) Should we ban assault riffles and have stricter gun laws in this country? Would this have mattered?
2) Should we provide armed guards at every school in America?
3) Should we take better care of our mentally ill in America?
4) Should we eliminate the coverage of this murderer in hopes of dissuading future psychos who want infamy for going out in a blaze of unglory?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vhdWElfNqQ (a special tribute to the victims)
Those questions are for you and others to contemplate. My thoughts and my voice are reserved for the victims. These innocent victims who should have spent Christmas with their families. My heart aches for the poor families of the survivors who are unable to spend 2013 and every other year with their departed loved-ones. I shake my head at the power that one person can have over the lives of so many. It all makes me so very sad and brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it, as it should.
I have known too many people who have been devastated by similar, but not as well-known shooting disasters. Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand. My wish for 2013 is that we have a cultural shift emphasizing and celebrating the importance of every human life.
Author's Perspective: To be honest, for the past several weeks I could not find my voice on this issue and had no idea what to write about. The sadness... the senselessness... the devastation... the heartbreak... It was too overwhelming... too difficult to face.
I have a Ph.D. in this psychology stuff and I can't begin to understand this kind of madness. The questions of why will never be answered and each question leads me down a different dead end path.
1) Should we ban assault riffles and have stricter gun laws in this country? Would this have mattered?
2) Should we provide armed guards at every school in America?
3) Should we take better care of our mentally ill in America?
4) Should we eliminate the coverage of this murderer in hopes of dissuading future psychos who want infamy for going out in a blaze of unglory?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vhdWElfNqQ (a special tribute to the victims)
Those questions are for you and others to contemplate. My thoughts and my voice are reserved for the victims. These innocent victims who should have spent Christmas with their families. My heart aches for the poor families of the survivors who are unable to spend 2013 and every other year with their departed loved-ones. I shake my head at the power that one person can have over the lives of so many. It all makes me so very sad and brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it, as it should.
I have known too many people who have been devastated by similar, but not as well-known shooting disasters. Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand. My wish for 2013 is that we have a cultural shift emphasizing and celebrating the importance of every human life.
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