I recently read an article on media violence. Main points of this article touched upon the fact that more violent and aggressive behavior is being blamed on television programs. I believe that many people unjustly accuse the media for our society’s problems. Viewers should take responsibility for programs they choose to watch. I find it curious that television has been focused upon for our troubles. People were committing violence long before television was even invented.

There is violence in sources not related to the media. For example, the Bible contains instances of torture and unnatural suffering. And history lessons in school discuss mass killings and ethnic persecution. Maybe we shouldn’t be exposed to these examples of violence either. We should rely on media entertainment as just that, entertainment. It is not a guide by which to live our lives. It is foolish and irresponsible to blame the media for violence in our society. Violence that is ultimately our own fault.

This form of entertainment is completely optional and controllable. For instance, the best way to eliminate violence from children’s programs is for the parents to change the channel or simply turn off the television and spend quality time with their children instead of relying on the “electronic babysitter” to do it for them. There are many shows that offer children non-violent, educational viewing. Similar things can be said for teenage and adult programs. The role of adults and peers influence violent behavior as well. We often imitate behavior that we have seen people in our lives demonstrate.

A famous actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar, said in response to negative comments about her television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “ If a viewer cannot discern right from wrong or fiction from reality, I’m confident that it has little to do with whether they watch violent television and more to do with the fact that society has failed to teach them these distinctions.”

So when making conclusions about media’s impact on viewers, it’s important to remember that other factors can cause these behaviors as well.