I know that this is a sensitive issue for people, so i will apologise in advance if i offend anyone. Can't see how, but anyway, disclaimer over.
Right, to be precise in any case, I'm not talking about the tragedy of Columbine High School - full details at this link: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/frameset.exclude.html
What i am going to talk about is 'bad' cinema... and 'bad' music... and 'bad' computer games... you get the general idea. As i mentioned briefly in my last blog on body modification, there has been a debate for many years on this 'chicken and egg' question - do entertainment products that depict violent or illegal behaviour promote this kind of behaviour in the user, or do the kind of people who commit these acts in reality enjoy this kind of thing (as opposed to the many, many people who don't ending up shooting up schools or taking drugs but do kinda like Pulp Fiction) because they are predisposed to those kinds of acts? This is obviously a microcosm of the 'nature Vs nurture' question that so baffles psychologists, but as I'm not really qualified to talking 'bout this kind of thing on that level, let's keep it simple.
The reason i think people make such a big deal over this (particularly the kind of people who do criticise violent media) is because they are looking for a moral hook for their distaste. Finding a film offensive in this day and age is usually greeted with a "turn it over, and stop whining", which i have to say is about the size of it - why should you tell me i can't watch this because you don't like it? However, the suggestion that say watching Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs or playing Fear is going to increase the chance that i might commit an act of random violence - well then there's suddenly a legitimate argument for the restriction of that kind of media.
The thing is... well, that's bol**cks isn't it? There are a huge number of people who use and enjoy this kind of media, and the vast, vast majority of them will never commit any act that is likely to cause the kind of harm to people that is depicted in violent films or games.
However, i am not going to make the claim that people who have psychological problems, whether related to violent behaviour or not, may be affected by this kind of media. It may be true that that minority of people are more likely to commit violent crime after viewing or using that kind of material - i don't know, and I'm not going to pretend that i do. It does seem to me however, and here is something applicable to all 'bad' behaviour, that the question of civil liberties comes into play. There will always be an argument between those who believe that infringements of civil liberties are acceptable if they make us safer, and those who believe that by taking away an individuals choices you are depriving them of the very thing that makes them human, and every argument in between.
So, violent or 'bad' media - is it actually bad? Maybe, sometimes to some people. But i think, as ever, the majority of criticism levelled against it is people looking for excuses for why, sometimes, human beings do inexcusable things. And you know what? I'm not sure there is rhyme nor reason.
However, i am not going to make the claim that people who have psychological problems, whether related to violent behaviour or not, may be affected by this kind of media. It may be true that that minority of people are more likely to commit violent crime after viewing or using that kind of material - i don't know, and I'm not going to pretend that i do. It does seem to me however, and here is something applicable to all 'bad' behaviour, that the question of civil liberties comes into play. There will always be an argument between those who believe that infringements of civil liberties are acceptable if they make us safer, and those who believe that by taking away an individuals choices you are depriving them of the very thing that makes them human, and every argument in between.
So, violent or 'bad' media - is it actually bad? Maybe, sometimes to some people. But i think, as ever, the majority of criticism levelled against it is people looking for excuses for why, sometimes, human beings do inexcusable things. And you know what? I'm not sure there is rhyme nor reason.
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