Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 289
>Date: Tue, Nov 9, 1999, 1:11 PM
>

>As all in life, there is a continuum from one extreme to another. I
>don't believe that seeing an occasional act of violence on TV will turn
>someone into an ax murderer, but what possible good can come from seeing
>hours of TV violence or reading lots of violent stories?


My husband loves "action flicks" and horror movies. Blood, gore,
decapitations -- bring 'em on. I don't know what possible good he gets from
them, but I know when it comes down to it, he remains a good man -- kind,
compassionate, not prone to violence.

Actually, I take it back -- I suspect what "good" comes from it in his case
is a chance to vent. Is it healthy? He appears healthy. He has made solid
and lasting relationships. Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck... is a
duck. Looks healthy, acts healthy... is healthy.

Now me, I hate horror movies and can only tolerate action movies by covering
my eyes during the violent scenes until Wally taps me on the shoulder and
says, "it's over". I don't appear to be less violent than he is. Not more
so, but not less.

I think it's easy to blame television, but I don't feel "desensitized" in
the least. I ache on those few occasions I witness real-life violence. So
does my husband, though it's fun for him to watch Mel Gibson get beat up by
the bad guys and win the day in the end.

Reality is reality, fantasy is fantasy, and when the twain meet, I look to
the character and health of the individual, not to the medium whether that's
television, radio, books, fireside songs or racial memory.

Pam

Don and Crys Meaker

On 9 Nov 99, at 17:47, Pam Hartley wrote:

> Actually, I take it back -- I suspect what "good" comes from it in his
> case is a chance to vent. Is it healthy? He appears healthy. He has made
> solid and lasting relationships. Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...
> is a duck. Looks healthy, acts healthy... is healthy.
>

Stephen King once said something to the effect that people loved
his stuff because they could read and experience things they
couldn't or wouldn't DARE do <G>.

2 cents (at 120% off this week only <G>)

Pax,
Crys