Thoughts on Violence and Recent Events
I reactivated my Facebook this week as an experimental attempt to see how I feel about it after my vacation. I have to admit that I am incredibly underwhelmed by it. I think I also had lousy timing with it, in light of the recent Connecticut school shooting. I have really mixed feelings about some of the posts that I see regarding it. I will begin by saying that I, just as much as anyone, view this as a horrific tragedy. It honestly makes me question humanity altogether. My heart is broken for the family of each child, educator, and even the family of the shooter.
Now, with that said, I have really mingled emotions about some of the attention placed on this terrible situation by the media and social networking. I had a long conversation with someone this week about the world we live in now and how it has changed from times past. There has been an obvious increase in violence around the world, including crazed shootings on innocent people. What the hell is going on? Why are acts like this happening more often? Are there more people suffering from mental illnesses? Is society being influenced by violent tv shows and video games? Are assault weapons too easy to obtain? So many questions run through my mind. Children growing up today live in a world of fear and violence that most adults didn't experience when they were young. These children were born into terrorism and random acts of violence that rarely happened when I was a child. When I was in elementary school we didn't have fancy security systems and procedures. It just wasn't necessary like it is now.
I've read a few theories people have shared on Facebook posts about this increase in violent acts. One person claimed that it falls on the parents of the shooters and terrorists. This post went on to say that these children never got "their ass beat" for misbehaving and consequently have no moral compass or sense of discipline as adults. My thoughts... So, this individual shot and killed 20 children because he wasn't spanked as a child? Okay. Another theory dealt with the media exposure the individual receives for committing such an act. This person believed these people were troubled for whatever reason and instead of dying a nobody they would prefer to leave this world infamous. My thoughts... The media and social networking, without a doubt, boosts these individuals to fame.
We're exposing young children to these crazed acts of violence at such tender ages. I know it's debatable whether it is healthier for a child to be told the whole truth and helped to understand it or whether it is better to protect them from such things altogether. I believe it is about a healthy balance. People have no discretion with children anymore. They are so hyper exposed to adult situations. Children don't come about violence and killing naturally. They learn it from violence (sometimes in the home) and most pervasively, from technology and entertainment. So, turn off the damn tv and take your child outside... Away from the breaking news (including photos and video footage) of 20 children being shot at school.
Furthermore, I dare to say that adults in general aren't programmed to deal with a lot of what happens in the world today. From the beginning of time, humans have functioned in communities and they lived to help and provide for their community. People were not connected to the people or occurrences on the other side of the planet. With technology and the internet we are so exposed to worldwide issues. Now, now... I'm not bashing technological advancements and being informed. I do, however, think sometimes it crosses a line. We no longer use technology as a tool or resource. It's a need. It's an obsession. And we see things that I'm not so sure I believe we are programmed to mentally handle. We see it so much that, as a society, we have began to become immune to it. For example, I feel like wars that flare up in the Congo and other such places don't even move us anymore. So, I mean, are we really doing any good by plastering our prayers and thoughts all over Facebook? Does that make a positive impact on the situation? I don't know.
I know this is all debatable and some may disagree with some of what I have said. I'm just talking, thinking out loud. I'm definitely not trying to be controversial in any way. Some days I have high hopes for humanity, while other days I shudder at the thought of where we're going.
Now, with that said, I have really mingled emotions about some of the attention placed on this terrible situation by the media and social networking. I had a long conversation with someone this week about the world we live in now and how it has changed from times past. There has been an obvious increase in violence around the world, including crazed shootings on innocent people. What the hell is going on? Why are acts like this happening more often? Are there more people suffering from mental illnesses? Is society being influenced by violent tv shows and video games? Are assault weapons too easy to obtain? So many questions run through my mind. Children growing up today live in a world of fear and violence that most adults didn't experience when they were young. These children were born into terrorism and random acts of violence that rarely happened when I was a child. When I was in elementary school we didn't have fancy security systems and procedures. It just wasn't necessary like it is now.
I've read a few theories people have shared on Facebook posts about this increase in violent acts. One person claimed that it falls on the parents of the shooters and terrorists. This post went on to say that these children never got "their ass beat" for misbehaving and consequently have no moral compass or sense of discipline as adults. My thoughts... So, this individual shot and killed 20 children because he wasn't spanked as a child? Okay. Another theory dealt with the media exposure the individual receives for committing such an act. This person believed these people were troubled for whatever reason and instead of dying a nobody they would prefer to leave this world infamous. My thoughts... The media and social networking, without a doubt, boosts these individuals to fame.
We're exposing young children to these crazed acts of violence at such tender ages. I know it's debatable whether it is healthier for a child to be told the whole truth and helped to understand it or whether it is better to protect them from such things altogether. I believe it is about a healthy balance. People have no discretion with children anymore. They are so hyper exposed to adult situations. Children don't come about violence and killing naturally. They learn it from violence (sometimes in the home) and most pervasively, from technology and entertainment. So, turn off the damn tv and take your child outside... Away from the breaking news (including photos and video footage) of 20 children being shot at school.
Furthermore, I dare to say that adults in general aren't programmed to deal with a lot of what happens in the world today. From the beginning of time, humans have functioned in communities and they lived to help and provide for their community. People were not connected to the people or occurrences on the other side of the planet. With technology and the internet we are so exposed to worldwide issues. Now, now... I'm not bashing technological advancements and being informed. I do, however, think sometimes it crosses a line. We no longer use technology as a tool or resource. It's a need. It's an obsession. And we see things that I'm not so sure I believe we are programmed to mentally handle. We see it so much that, as a society, we have began to become immune to it. For example, I feel like wars that flare up in the Congo and other such places don't even move us anymore. So, I mean, are we really doing any good by plastering our prayers and thoughts all over Facebook? Does that make a positive impact on the situation? I don't know.
I know this is all debatable and some may disagree with some of what I have said. I'm just talking, thinking out loud. I'm definitely not trying to be controversial in any way. Some days I have high hopes for humanity, while other days I shudder at the thought of where we're going.
"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm."
- Abraham Lincoln
Comments
Post a Comment