I retired from the magistracy in 2015 after 17 years mainly as a presiding justice

United Kingdom
My current blog can be accessed at https://thejusticeofthepeaceblog.blogspot.com/

EAST ENDERS MORE VIOLENT THAN THE WILD WEST

 14. Feb. 2010. – 17:11:25

Since its availability to the whole population there has been a continuing discussion whether watching violence on TV has any effect on children. Most caring parents of under eights would certainly take note of the 9.00pm "watershed" even just to ensure their little darling gets enough sleep. Advertisers who pay millions to advertise products that appeal to children insist that there is no danger to children in some of the programmes paid for by that advertising insofar as children are able to discriminate real life from fantasy. Many who are "expert" and many who are not so "expert" disagree.


What is not in dispute is that many young children watch Eastenders. I have to admit that I have never seen the programme but have been aware of its transmission from the shouting and screaming from the room where others in my house have been watching it. So it was no surprise to read that in it’s 25 year history, which will be marked with a special live episode on February 19, there have been 70 deaths – 16 of which were violent. That represents a 22.8 per cent murder rate, way over the national average of 0.032 per cent.


If children in families where incoherent argument and violence are perhaps just below the surface are exposed to this "in your face, like it is" material three or four times a week is it not likely that their bases for normal behaviour will be altered? It`s possible to argue that violent video games are seen to be fantasy and have limited effects on juvenile behaviour but "family" programmes with content as described above are not the same thing. I say bring back "Wagon Train" and "Gunsmoke".



 

 

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