American Morning
Tune in at 6am Eastern for all the news you need to start your day.
January 11th, 2010
01:00 PM ET
Study: Movies often show unsafe situations
A new study shows Hollywood's doing more to send the right message about safety to your kids. But they could be doing a whole lot better. Our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the report.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
RT @EarlyStart: Ten people, including a police officer, were killed Monday after a gunman opened fire in a grocery store in Boulder, Colora…
RT @calebsilver: On the @Investopedia Express podcast this week, my pal and former colleague, @ChristineRomans from @CNNBusiness and @CNN j…
This is amazing for us, Meredith! twitter.com/mbennettsmith/…
Derek Chauvin's trial is a chance for the justice system to prove it can actually work msnbc.com/opinion/derek-…
RT @ConstitutionCtr: #WomensHistoryMonth is a time to reflect on the women who have shaped America’s story.@RosenJeffreyey an@MSNBCBC's @Al…
RT @centralbanks_: The Exchange | Conversations for a Better Future One-on-one conversation with IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva and Micros…
In advertisements for the movie, all they show in tv are the bright lights and pretty colors. the kids, and perhaps the parents too, have no idea what the movie is really about until they get into the theater. And then it's too late.
If the issue driving the content is money (and it obviously is the most significant factor as it is in any business) then we the consumers are to blame for the depraved content of movies and we can only turn to socialism to help save us from ourselves. It is ironic how a problem that is supposedly the spawn of liberalism has very conservative roots...
Remember folks, it's about money and money only, nothing else. Look around.
The media has enormous influence. Look what Hitler achieves through his propaganda. And of course, movies (TV shows, music, etc) need to be mindful of the message they disseminate, but also the viewers (parrents in particular ) needs to be more discriminating. The guidance and positive influence of parents, schoools & religious organizations is no longer there.
Just saw "Avetetar". It was visually thrilling, but quite violent. Next to me sat a father with (by his size size and speech) what appeared to be a three-year-old boy. In the crowded theater there were numerous other children who appeared to be five-year-olds and under. Am I wrong in thinking that such a film should not be viewed by such young children? Why don't parents understand this? I'm saddened and fearful for what the effects will be on such young minds.
It's a pity that so many people think that our government should be responsible for our childrens' lives and education. We have really become a lazy, Socialist society. Maybe, if you aren't willing to raise your children the way you think they should be raised, the Government should just take them from birth and raise them in creches, where they all get a complete education completely controlled by that same government. Maybe then our society will truly become what so may extremists seem to think we are.
Get a life, people! YOU, the PARENT are responsible for your child. If that child gets killed crossing the railroad tracks, don't blame the train, blame yourself for not teaching him why he shouldn't do it. If that child steals from another child, blame yourself for not explaining to him why it's wrong to steal. If that child kills another person, blame yourself for not teaching responsibility and accountability. You, the Parent, are responsible for your child's actions. You, the Parent, are Accountable for any damage caused by your child.
Not Hollywood.
Not the Government.
Wait. Who said we were supposed to model our behaviors on what we see in the movies in the first place?
Kids see that their friends watch tv and they see what there friends do. So why hide them from the world? Yes, i do agree on the fact that kids shouldnt watch tv all day. I was raised to where when i came home it was homework first, then play outside for an hour, then shower, then eat, then we could watch tv for a little, and then bed. As i grew up that all changed. My parents worked more, but i didnt watch tv all the time still. I played my sports, iwent to sleep fairly early, and I got good grades.
I guess if you raise you're kids right when they're young, they're gunna adapt to those habits and they will learn to do all those things on their own. Lets not learn to blame other things for what our children do now parent. Let kids be kids and actually let them watch tv and dont hide them from the world because that's when they'll start hiding things from you and just do things behind your back. Far as im conserned i would like to know what my kids do.
No, i do not have children yet, but i do know how kids work because i still consider myself one. Me and my mom have a close bond and i told her everything. She raised me right and she gave me a lot of trust, but when i messed up she would limit the trust.
I guess it really all depends on your parenting, but in my opinion I think parent are becoming way to strict on there children!
Well, Mr Whopooped,
You are reading this so I know that at least YOU care. thanks so much!
Yes, my life is a movie. Movies allow for teachable moments. We watch and instantly make life altering decisions without being aware. I remember watching Sugar Hill starring Wesley Snipes. Afterwards I decided I would do everything to keep me and my siblings out of the street life.
Why is it Hollywood's responsibility to set good examples to young people? They are in the part of the business sector that provides entertainment to people who are mature enough to enjoy their products and respect that it is entertainment. Its it fantasy, it is not reality. Video games are a prime example of how mass hysteria can provoke people to go on a witch hunt, blaming something that isn't at the heart of the issue. If you want someone to blame, walk into your bathroom, face the sink, turn the light on, and take a look at who is staring you in the face.
I am not married, I do not have kids, but, I am smart enough to read into the heart of the issue. Both movies and video games have content descriptors that clearly state, X movie is approved for patrons older than 17, or X game is fine for children over 13. Its not thermonuclear fission, (if that even exists, I don't know, I didn't major in physics in college, I'm an English major).
Bottom line, please, if you have kids, watch out for them. For a society that won't let little Tommy walk across the street by himself, we sure do care when his lackluster parents let him go an see Saw V.
I agree with Apu. We lead our own lives as members of our own personal societies. Who's to say what the right thing is to do without someone else disagreeing. However I do think parental guidance is important so their children don't grow up thinking violence is the answer- no one wants to raise a criminal.
Why would anyone care what any of you think about movies? Seriously people, just because you have an opinion in no way indicates that anyone else needs, or wants, to hear it.
Like Kevin and others have said–kids see more smokers in real life than in the movies. You cannot even show someone having a smoke on a network TV show anymore.
When I see grandparents smoking around their infant grandchildren, I know that the kid is going to think smoking is OK even before that kid ever sees someone smoking in a movie.
People drink in movies all the time, too. I don't see too many comments about that here. I guess it depends on what a person PERSONALLY believes is "moral" or not.
Never, never expect Hollywood doing something right for Kids. They just wanna earn money. Box office is their only attention and only precious.
It is always so funny to talk about whether hollywood send right message to the kids. They only wanna to send the whatever message to seduce kid buy the ticket
We have 2 kids and we have decided that they should NOT watch commercial TV. PERIOD. Yes, there, are some good shows out there, but you have to sift through so much CRAP to find it... and even when we do find it, we have to endure the commercials which are even worse than the shows! We prefer to spend our energy and our time raising our children: reading to them, playing board games and sports with them, visiting with relatives, etc. If this sounds like it's hard and a lot of work, YOU'RE RIGHT. But, guess what? Our kids don't swear, don't have super-sized guts and the corresponding super-sized 'wish list" of meaningless toys, and they know the difference between right and wrong. Kids are sponges, they soak up everything, include the unspoken message that sitting in front of the TV for hours on end is OK. No, America, it's not. We have bred generational laziness and irresponsibility into our culture and we are already paying a heavy price for it. Don't try to change the world–but fix your own family. Start tonight by turning off the TV and talking with your kids.
It is not Hollywood fault that our kids are stupid, self-centered, entitlement hungry little jerks- Hollywood takes 1/10 of that slice of pie, the remaining heaping helping is on the plates of Americas parents. You can't just enjoy making them and not realize that the little monsters need guidance, preferably from a mature adult, in order to make clear, informed and rational decisions that result in the betterment of their situation and possible others around them, dare I even say society as well.
I think that movies can set bad and good examples, but it all depends on how we look at it. I am young myself and i was raised around responsible adults and what not, but in all reality children are going to do what they want to do because they're not always gunna have someone around tyo hoold thier hand. Some cartoon movies dont set great examples, but come on America; LAUGH!! Show your children in person what is good and what isnt by not smoking and drinking and all. Instead of saying that movies are sooo bad because they're not!
The reality is children see many more people smoking in real life than they do in the movies. Quit trying to look for scapegoats. You'll be glad you did.
The smoking by characters in movies does impact the impressionable who emulate their current celebrity. Setting bad examples, whatever it may be, has a definite impact on teenagers.
I do vote with my wallet and my remote control.
If you don't like what Hollywood is producing, vote with your wallet. Don't patronize them. When their mega-expensive features flop, they'll stop making them and start looking for what will sell. As long as they keep putting butts in the seats, they have no motivation to do anything other than what they are doing. Likewise with the television networks. You control the On-Off button and the channel changer. Not them. Believe me when I say they pay attention to the rating reports they get from Nielsen and others. The number of viewers for a given show determines, to a great extent how much they can charge their advertisers. Big drops in rating points will send the producers scrambling for a replacement. Perhaps one more to your liking. But, as long as you and your neighbors keep tuning in, you can expect same ol', same ol.'
This discussion has me thinking about the scene in the second Matrix movie where Neo is jumping around on top of a semi going at a high rate of speed while fighting one of the bad guys. I'm thinking the scene would have lost some of its effect if Neo was wearing a safety harness, and had a couple of spotters on hand.
Seriously why is this even being discussed? Last time I checked its US who set the example. If you're expecting movies to teach your kid anything then you deserve to have a moron for a child.
it all depends upon individual perception ; some movies might display good examples for young children to emaculate while others might be not suitable for some specific audience . Discretion is compulsory .
movies are for entertainment, for us to lose ourselves in a different world or situation for a couple of hours...who cares what kind of examples movies set...what about the examples that young parents nowadays set...as each generation has become more and more saturated with ingrates and degenerates, there are more idiot parents out there setting bad examples for their kids and their kids friends...i'm only 26, but i already feel that old-man-worry for the future when i look around
Only a few movies could be listed as sitting a 'good' example, though movies are more for entertainment then morality. Most movies rarely go into depth about their characters moral standings, or how a person should lead their lives. And modern movie titles seem to have digressed farther, barely being close to reality. Maybe that is why children should be taught far earlier about fantasy and reality. It would be better if they didn't think life was like the movies.
Thing is, the WHOLE WORLD is influencing everyone all the time. It's called LIFE. And try as you may, you cannot hide from it. Close your eyes to it if you want, but it still knows you are there. So, you have a choice, you can lie to yourself and deny that the world exists, or you can accept it as it is and learn to deal with it.
Even if you could kill all of television and movies and every other media source, you and your children would still be exposed to the world and all it's messed-upness.
Remember, before we had television we had a couple world wide wars. It was legal to act with prejudice against minorities. Women were shunned for getting a job of their own. etc, etc.
Movies are for fun, their are not supose to be used as an example of anything since they are not real; in fact the best movies are those in which the bad guys win and not the classic good guys as always. Only stupid people take life lessons from movies and it does not matter if the movie has an actual good moral saying it is still just a movie.
Hollywood is to blame. The schools are to blame. The police are to blame. The government, TV, radio, PlayStation, Coke, and Taco Bell!!!! Look in the mirror, folks.
Of course they can. Not anymore than video games though. Actually, it seems that video games set more bad examples than movies. Sure, at times you hear about someone doing something they saw in a movie. But I think I've heard more about that kind of thing from video games. At least most of us know movies are not real and the fantasy of what's shown wears off sooner. But a video game puts right in the middle of it all giving the strong feeling of involvement because you are controlling the action and usually playing over and over so it may seem more real, therefore more plausible to imitate.
Parents need to talk to and teach their children about right and wrong. Stop blaming the movies, video games, music, etc... It's bad parenting that is the problem.
Guess what Tom?!! I don't have kids, and I'm not even slightly responsible for yours. If I want to watch movies that are violent that's my right. You are 100% responsible for raising your own children, just as my parents did for me. Would I let a little kid watch South Park? Of course not!! Guess what else...I'm a woman so no comments about immature guys.
Those who claim that movies and TV are "just entertainment" and that "raising kids is totally the parents' responsibility" are naive, and probably don't have kids of their own. Movies, TV, and video games have a huge influence on young people. And a high percentage of what Hollywood produces teaches kids that violence is cool, weapons are cool, having sex with as many people as you can is cool, and that people who follow social norms are boring and uncool. Wake up and smell the coffee, people. The entertainment industry's only moral is "if it makes money, it's good."
It is not the responsibility of movies or movie makers to "send the right messages," they are in business solely to entertain. And it really is an impossible task to even determine what the "right" messages are because everyone has a different idea of what "right" is.
Like the old saying goes, "You can't please all the people all the time."
There are plenty of movies in every genre. So, it is easy enough to find movies that appeal to you and your sensibilities.
I think what is really at the heart of this is an attempt by some to tell others what they can and cannot watch. And it's done by attempting to tell movie makers what they can and cannot make. That is plain censorship. It is wrong to do so. It is certainly un-American, that is if America is really about Freedom.
Parents, stop placing the blame on Hollywood & movies for what you are not doing at home. If their are no shows on televison that you want your child to watch, how about reading to them or just taking them outside for quality time. The television is not a baby sitter, it is entertainment for the masses people. Enough already
America has it's collective head up it's own backside. Movies are for entertainment, not education. If the recent generations hadn't let their kids get raised by the TV this wouldn't be an issue. I teach every one of my 4 kids that you DO NOT learn things from TV. TV and movies are NOT real and are not intended for teaching.
It is about time parents wise up and complain LOUDLY to Hollywood about the terrible shows for children and young adults. Think of the shows like Little House on the Prarie and Leave it to beaver, etc. Yes, they are outdated and a little much in some ways but they do show respect and manners. WE NEED TO SHOW RESPECT in movies and tv shows more, not lying, cheating, and killing. Parents wake up
Hollywood has a very obvious agenda that is to promote liberal views. The most blatent and obvious is the "its OK to be gay content. Also there is the " most normal people smoke " " and perhaps the worst is the " Military are just a bunch of red necks that just want to blow things up. I try to avoid the movies and when it is a TV show (like law and order SVU) I just change the channel.
Movies are entertainment... thats it. It is not the responsibility of the world to raise your children.. Its YOURS.
Don't blame the movies, you as parents should take blame for the types of messages your children are receiving. Karen I like that you are willing to shut off a movie if you feel it is inappropriate for your children. This is a freedom we have as Americans. As for movies that are violent, horrific, deeply sensitive, or just down right wrong, these are not to blame. They are one persons expression of ideas in which they feel should be displayed for others to experience and/or learn from. If we are to ban movies based on being bad examples then we must ban many politicians, bankers, and correspondents from the public view also as they have caused many more issues than movies such as Fight Club, Die Hard, and South Park.
The overall idea is that parents must learn to take responsibility for their own children and family members. They must stand up and say "this is my child and he/she will be a product of MY environment." This is something to be proud of, not complaining that the boy next door allowed my son to watch American Psycho and now all he wants to do is be sexually aggressive with women. Be an adult and take credit for both the good and the bad, and live your life teaching your children to be one step better than you are.
*Just cause it's cartoon doesn't mean your children should watch it.
*Fighting around your children is just as bad as them watching a violent movie, if not worse.
*Many movies have good lessons if you are willing to watch with the child and talk about what they learned.
*When you use comments like "he doesn't know what that means" just remember that he will try to find out.
"Hollywood doing more to send the right message".......how refreshing it is to read that Hollywood acknowleges their influence on society by what they do. I believe we all would agree that we are a product of our environment to a certain degree, and unless there are medical issues, we can learn new behavior as adults, hopefully mature behavior that would be a good example. But Hollywood has not grown up the dollar has influenced them beyond control......instead of being satisfied in making the upper crust style of living and holding themselves accountable for influencing society for what they do.....they really don't care.....they are seeking more zero's on their return. It's sad, they are well educated people with the opportunity to do good as well as make a lot of money.....but they sold their standards and values. Hollywood, in almost all cases, cannot look themselves in the mirror and say they are trying to make a better world for their children and grand children......you are not just a little pregnant you either are or your are not. If you are seeking a healthy screenplay contact me......doubt that will happen.
Movies are violent like what we see on the news everyday. Tired of blowing up buildings, car chases, same thing we see everyday. And always the same actors. What ever happened to real story lines?
Why should I go to a movie and see what is on the news. Small children see this violence on TV, so what do you expect from your children? To many guns killing people and children think that's OK.
I've got to where I turn off the TV and don't go to the movies..most movies are fake digital crap!
I'm so very tired of most of the movies these days. As parents we have stopped many movies, and pulled them out of the DVD player because they are so un-fit for our children. Its very shocking what Hollywood thinks is funny, or try to make the rest of the world think we all should act this way.
we have to use our heads. our children and grandkids copy what we do...if we use safety equipment so will they...if we go cliff diving so will they. we need to teach them safety,as we teach them how to play. TV and movies are for entertainment.... let's keep it in prespective...