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Thursday, April 23, 2009

What is happening to the world today?

I never thought I would someday be expressing that same line “what is happening to the world today?” as it is a popular phrase among the old folks back then when I was a kid. And now I find myself saying that almost every night when I sit to watch the news. Last night I started on one of my tangents if you want to call it that. I was pointing out how screwed up things are now a days as compared to when we was growing up. Sure there were issues back then but wow things have gotten much worse in my opinion. And here are some of the things I blame for it. Back when I was growing up video games where fun...we had silly little characters bopping over the screen trying to save the princess, sure we had driving games and football games. And though the graphics are so much better now then they were back then its the fact that we NOW have video games that have people cussing, and stealing with guns and blood and gore. I as a mom do not see the reason for all of this. We survived on games like PAC Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger, asteroids why is it necessary our kids need all this violence in a game??? And that brings me to movies...I mean what was rated "R" when we were growing up is now what they consider "PG13" and we are seeing way more naked bodies and blood and gore now in the PG13 movies then we did in the R movies back then. I mean its every where if you pay attention..even commercials now a days have more of a woman's body exposed. Something as simple as a mom talking about her mini van now has her with cleavage galore showing...and why???? Does this have anything at all to do with the van's seating or extra storage space??? I don't think so!!!!! We even have cartoons that are over exposing the woman's cleavage...who in their right mind thought that was important???? Anymore the tv is over loaded with reality shows and most of them just generate some kind of immoral acts. Where has every ones morals gone???? I mean now a days even the mannequins at the store have nipples on them..I'm not lying look the next time you are out and about!!!! I still am not understanding how adding nipples to a plastic doll was going to make such a difference in how the shirt is going to look but apparently someone thought it was important!! I sometimes feel like I'm all alone in this world...still trying to teach my boys how to grow up to be a real man, to respect a woman, to be responsible, to take responsibility for their actions. To remember simple things like please and thank you!!!! I get told all the time that I have done a great job with my boys. And that is something I feel so very good about. I mean just last night the neighbor guy was telling me about the manners that my 10 year old has and that he and his wife keep hoping it will rub off on their two kids...I couldnt help but smile...REAL BIG!!!!! The way things are makes me so I don't even want to watch tv anymore. don't want to hear about another little innocent child missing , found dead, or molested. Don't want to hear about anymore school shootings, Don't want to hear about who is cheating on who and who's the next one getting a divorce. I mean honestly it starts getting depressing. And Ive said it before and I'm going to say it again. Its time that people start taking a good look at themselves. Do you play a part in the craziness of this world? Or are you doing your part in making sure that your family is raised with some family values??? Because when I look around I honestly don't see much of that anymore and it makes me sad, because I have kids that are still growing up and who one day will have kids of their own and I certainly don't want to see things getting any worse then they are now...I can't even imagine that!!!!


http://www.wowowow.com/files/imagecache/300x/2008_1114_shutterstock_holding_hands_child.jpg

11 comments:

RileyScott said...

Honestly Dena,

I feel where your coming from, I do, but I refuse to blame the media and video games. Granted, it is much more blatant and alot more to filter out then when I was a kids, but it all comes down to good parenting and bad parenting.

To support my theory, I offer myself, my friend Darque's kids, and your boys as examples. We were all exposed to the violence and evilness of this world, and we've all turned out/turning out ok. I mean Halo 3, a very violent video game is my favorite on Xbox, but just cause I like playing a violent video game, doesn't me that I'm a violent person. I'm a kind and loving husband.

People don't change cause they are exposed to some"thing", they change cause of some"one" else...a friend, a relative, even these stupid parents who are "friends first and parents second" thinks what they did or said was "cool". I heard curse words all the time when I was a kid, but I didn't dare say them. Kids say them cause there parents let them get away with it, and their friends think it's cool.

I don't think we should waste valuable time trying to censor the media. First, it's pointless, it doesn't work. Banning something to humans only makes it more desirable. That's why I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18, and pot should be legalized. I don't smoke or drink either. I think they are disgusting. But I believe that if pot were legal, and people could drink legally at college then it wouldn't be "cool" to do so. It would be "just normal", and I think that would.

More then the video games, I blame the broken homes of divorced parents vying for the children's affection over the other parent. Or the generation of latchkey kids that learn everything from their friends instead of their parents. Now, this is not a judgment on those situations, but just the fact that we now have an entire generation of people raised without a "traditional family unit" if the divorce rate is anything to go by.

I think that greed, and complacency in one's responsibility to their partners and to children they sire have led to how society is now. The violence and sex is just a result of capitalism cause it sells to the lowest common denominator. Reality TV is just an evolution of the Jerry Springer system, except with more production value.



Wow, thats alot of rant right there...ok then I'm going to stop now.

Sally's World said...

manners, family values are the beginning of everything for me, manners are free as my mum still says, i would be mortified if my kids didn't show that...i agree with the games and violence, it is scary, but i have no doubt, you have instilled a sense of morals in your kids and they know its all games and not real....it is scary though adn i worry about how bad things can get...are we a society obsessed with violence in films, games, music...how much more graphic can it get...

i wish we could go back to simpler times with any things, but then is it all or nothing????

Unknown said...

I have to agree, there is so much more now out there than there was when I was a kid. I can't even watch the news if my kids are in the room because I don't want them hearing about murders and rapes and war. They are 7 and nearly 3 they deserve a little more time to be kids.

~Thought's By Dena~/ JDs Gift Shack said...

Riley, Im not in any way saying I blame these things for how society is...I agree in every way that it all comes down to the parents and how we raise our kids. BUT I do not feel that these things in any way HELP the way life is. Morals need to be taught but it sure would help alot if there wasnt so many IMMORAL things plastered everywhere we go. It would be nice to be able to watch a movie with my 10 year old and not worry about if a naked woman is going to come popping out (that usually has nothing to do with the story line), and as far as us as parents teaching things like have manners and dont cuss....they might think its cool to do it becuz all the other kids are doing it but it also doesnt help that on tv and in the movies everyone is doing it too...kind of makes them feel like maybe its them thats uncool. So just making a point that IF it wasnt everywhere it would certainly help in going back to having family values and not making your child feel he is the one that should be mocked because of it!!!! You do have VERY good points...and I always love it when you rant...so keep on ranting!!!!!

RileyScott said...

I understand that, I do. I guess I'm just a very logical person, and have seen so much psychological and physical evidence that it's impossible to go back to a "simpler" way of life. I entertain fantasies of winning the lottery before coming back to reality...and i gave up on the hope or belief that we could go back to "that time" a long time ago. It's not going to get better, in fact, I believe that things will get only worse going forward I'm sorry to say.

RileyScott said...

Oh, and thanks for the rant compliment, it's something i tend to do well. Yet, it's such an under appreciated skill.:)

Rachel Sue said...

I so know what you mean. I remember the first time I saw some serious nudity on TV. On TV! I couldn't believe it! And it just keeps getting worse and worse. I hate it. It is so hard keeping my kids innocent in a world that would have them grow up overnight. My kindergartner gets a lot of flak at school for not watching the cool TV shows that I don't think that she is old enough for. It just stinks.

P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Missy said...

I so agree! Everyday seems to produce something worse than the day before! I long for a simplier times, such as my childhood. Things I enjoyed as a child, my son will never know such simple pleasure! I am afraid for him and his generation!

bingham 5 said...

First off, thanks for stopping by my blog. Second, I am with you all the way on this, but I think of things I heard and saw in my teens and think, thank goodness I turned out okay.

Cozyflier said...

Dena, I agree with a lot of what you said and what Riley 'ranted' about!! Riley, I like your ranting!

Parenting is a BIG responsibility and many parents aren't taking it seriously.

Look at my school year - how are kids suppose to behave, and act 'proper' when the parents are:

A: Backstabbing other parents

B: Cheating the system and using their own power to serve their own agendas and ignore the goal of the group and not benefit the kids!

C: Spreading rumors


5th graders are fist fighting, texting each other with rumors, and being viscious!
I live in a decent neighborhood and our school was one of the top in the district.

I'm like you, I have 4 children who are mannerly, helpful, and can go anywhere in the world.

When bad language comes out of a movie that we are not familiar with we tell our kids, that is wrong, it is NOT how real people talk. It is not acceptable.

Anymore, I don't know what is going on in the world because the TV is on the Disney channel!!!! That is still fairly safe for them to watch!!

Sorry for being so long winded!

Lucy said...

I know I am late in the debate and you all have such great points!

The one I do disagree with is the idea that there were 'simpler' times. I guess you need to define what you are meaning as 'simpler' times. History shows that at every age life has been rough with different struggles.
I agree that it is parenting. Parents must choose what to allow their children to be exposed to or not exposed to. We can all say 'It takes a village to raise a child' and therefore 'the village' should have morals but ultimately parents are the first educator/role model for the child and they set the standards.
Sorry for the rant.
Thanks for a great thinking post!