This week, Gulf News readers had some great debates on our Facebook page. They were asked whether they think children become violent from the use of violent video games or from watching horror and gory television shows and movies. We wanted to hear how much readers believe media can influence children to use violent behaviour. We asked our readers to weigh in on the matter and received an overwhelming response.

Depends on character

I strongly believe that children or people are violent irrespective of media and entertainment (‘Reader discussion: Children and people are violent irrespective of the influence of media and entertainment’, Gulf News, June 19). A person comes across many situations in a day, which actually contribute to his behaviour. Violent films or video games influence a person up to a certain point, but can’t be the reason behind a person behaving badly.

There are reasons like stress at work and school or eating habits. In fact, it is my opinion that violent video games will help people release stress. I think if a person feels comfortable in hitting an imaginary character on television, it is absolutely fine.

To sum it up, I think violent games and media can be taken in any way depending on the type of person we are. Many other factors play a crucial role in a person’s violent character.

From Mr Shlok Misra

UAE

Childhood antics

I don’t think that violent forms of media are the only effect on children becoming violent. Even if a child is not exposed to media, they have violent traits in them. I think there is an attitude in some people that makes them behave the way they do. I think a lot of violence by children is because there are a lot of children that are arrogant and tend to show off.

From Ms Mala Anil

Dubai

Only one factor

There is always a factor that initiates or influences violent behaviour. Media and entertainment is one of them but it is by far not the only one.

From Mr Ali Hussain

Sharjah

Not from media

People turn to violence either because of their mental instability or circumstances and upbringing.

From Mr Sumoj Gopinath Kurup

UAE

Absent parents

Violence starts at home. It has nothing to do with media. Parents teach ignorance and hatred, whether they mean to or not. If parents are absent, whoever is filling in will be the ones influencing.

From Mr Mike Gelbman

UAE

Media is to blame

Media definitely plays a very important role in the grooming of children. Violent video games can create violent behaviour in children. I am sure most will agree that today’s children are extremely smart because of the exposure to media.

I feel that the channels viewed without parental guidance is responsible for killing that innocence in children. Children playing with violent games and ferocious looking toys do bring rage and anger to the surface in their behaviours. I am even perplexed to see skull figures on teenager’s t-shirts.

I recall during my teenage, most of us were wearing friendly cartoon based shirts.

From Ms Priti Mackinnon

UAE

Prolonged exposure

My take is that we do have an innate and dormant tendency for violence. The challenge has always been how to tame the animal within us. Fear of law, fear of God and the seeds of ethics, morality and righteousness sown into our conscience at an early age, all play an important role. Even so every generation has had its own dose of violent people.

Without ignoring other factors like abuse, violence and oppression within and outside home, violent content in media is pivotal in nurturing aggressive behaviour. Entertainment today is embedded with more violent elements.

Prolonged exposure to violent video games makes children more aggressive and forces parents to resort to ‘detox’ sessions. Monitoring and filtering the content they access are measures we could take but the all pervasive media presents a difficult task in dealing with the issue.

At the risk of sounding paranoid, I would say that it is a matter of grave concern that we may be bringing up a generation that is apathetic to the plight of others and is callously neutral to scenes of crime and violence. If so, one of the major reasons would be the exposure to rampant violence through various media.

From Ms Priya M. Nair

UAE

Why are young people violent?

Many blame external social factors, including media and entertainment. However, you also have factors that are much more immediate, like the environment within the home, the relationshop that parents share with each other, the kind of parenting being implemented, along with exposure to probable abuse. So, it is not easy to pinpoint one key issue. It is more of a collective influence. But, the home, according to me plays the biggest role in moulding a child’s personality.

From Ms Anna Matthew

Abu Dhabi

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