I think violence on TV does desensitise kids to violence later in life.One thing that being in an audience (real or, as with TV, virtual) does is to accustom you to reacting emotionally but not physically. Thus no matter how many times you watch a horror you cannot intercede in the imaginary (in the case of journalism real) event. You can only attend so many plays; it is the movies and especially TV journalism which really mass-produces that effect.
I also think the government has no buiness regulating television.You and I are thrilled to be able to type text and have some hope that others--in principle the whole world--will pay attention. There are however thousands (millions?) of web sites, and we have to find one which
a) will publish what we want to say, andBy formatting the wireless spectrum--strictly speaking, by censoring radio transmission by we-the-people--the government created radio and television broadcasting. The few teachers' pets to whom the government grants and renews broadcast licenses are empowered to try to get our attention on a highly preferential basis. That is highly discriminatory, and "freedom of the press" does not describe it--not at all.
b) attracts a significant readership.
I have been preaching for years that kids are better off without TV. That is what we need to convince parents of. If you are going to use TV as a baby sitter, at least don't use TV and movies with a lot of graphic violence.At best broadcasting allows you to get timely weather and traffic reports, and to indulge your passion for sports. Broadcast entertainment is an attractive nuisance like the neighbor's unfenced and unguarded swimming pool, and journalism is nonfiction entertainment.
Journalism is also politics. Books, newspapers, magazines, signs, bumper stickers, and the INTERNET are entirely adequate to conduct political discourse--and they have never been subject to government censorship. True Campaign Reform would simply ban politics from radio and TV. Thus eliminating any governmental preference for anyone to propound their political viewpoint--and slashing the importance of $$$ in politics.
I have been preaching for years that kids are better off without TV. That is what we need to convince parents of. If you are going to use TV as a baby sitter, at least don't use TV and movies with a lot of graphic violence.At best broadcasting allows you to get timely weather and traffic reports, and to indulge your passion for sports. Broadcast entertainment is an attractive nuisance like the neighbor's unfenced and unguarded swimming pool,
And the danger posed by that nuisance threatens you if your neighbor responds to it, your own virtue notwithstanding.