Does violence in media attract the mentally unstable?

[J Bananas]

One thing I've come to notice over the years, living in different areas ranging from small towns to the ghetto is that, the more hardships and horrific things we are subjected to i real life, the less inclined we are to see it in our entertainment (music, tv, etc.). The same goes for age as well, the younger you are, you are more attracted to gangsta rap and violent movies simply because you have not been exposed to them in real life and fully taken them in. My question is, does this violence lust in sheltered youth come from their own insecurities about themselves? Do negative thoughts about yourself lead to negative outlets like violent movies and music, or do they come naturally? I used to seek out the hardest gangsta rap I could, I loved horror movies, etc... until i lived in Oakland for a few years and I realized that there's enoguh horrors in real life that I don't want to see that shit in my entertainment. Any of you have similar experiences growing up?

[coola]

damn, each time i scan to the left i need to peep nadyas suckulent tits... damn she's porno..

[TraceOneInfinite Flat Earther 96']

One thing I've come to notice over the years, living in different areas ranging from small towns to the ghetto is that, the more hardships and horrific things we are subjected to i real life, the less inclined we are to see it in our entertainment (music, tv, etc.). The same goes for age as well, the younger you are, you are more attracted to gangsta rap and violent movies simply because you have not been exposed to them in real life and fully taken them in. My question is, does this violence lust in sheltered youth come from their own insecurities about themselves? Do negative thoughts about yourself lead to negative outlets like violent movies and music, or do they come naturally? I used to seek out the hardest gangsta rap I could, I loved horror movies, etc... until i lived in Oakland for a few years and I realized that there's enoguh horrors in real life that I don't want to see that shit in my entertainment. Any of you have similar experiences growing up?

^^Nice discussion, thoughtful thread.

Yes, I had similar experiences growing up to what you described in your own life.  Fear is a best-selling product, just ask Oprah. 

A book from William Upski Wimsatt heavily influenced me on this subject.  I read it just after highschool.  He explains in his book "No More Prisons" that American's have made themselves prisoners, with all the locks we put on our houses, car doors, and our minds, that keep us in fear and severely decrease the quality of our lives.  American's are generally afraid of even their nieghbors next door.  He went out to prove everybody wrong.  He, a skinny little white dude, made a bet with America.  He went hitch-hicking across the United States for an extended period of time, and he walked the streets at night through all the so-called worst nieghborhoods and streets of America.  He detailed his encounters in the book, and the most exciting thing that happened to him he said, was that one night he got he got roughed up a little bit and they took some of his money.  That's it.  And he actually said he enjoyed the ass-beating, cause he hadn't had one in a long time and was starting to get bored.   

He also met some amazing people in his travels, because he said people who pick up hitchhikers and show kindness to travelers are generally very open, honest people.  He said they are atleast very interesting and origional people to spend time with.

So anyway, that's the way this guy lives his whole life.  He lives in the worst nieghborhoods of America, and never locks any doors to his car or house.

[J Bananas]

I like the thing about the worst neihborhoods, it's true, there's so much stigma surrounding them that it resonates even in suburban communities, and many youngins confuse ghetto with being gangsta, no wonder so many wiggers are more inclined to violence. it sucks.

[Eihtball]

One thing I've come to notice over the years, living in different areas ranging from small towns to the ghetto is that, the more hardships and horrific things we are subjected to i real life, the less inclined we are to see it in our entertainment (music, tv, etc.). The same goes for age as well, the younger you are, you are more attracted to gangsta rap and violent movies simply because you have not been exposed to them in real life and fully taken them in. My question is, does this violence lust in sheltered youth come from their own insecurities about themselves? Do negative thoughts about yourself lead to negative outlets like violent movies and music, or do they come naturally? I used to seek out the hardest gangsta rap I could, I loved horror movies, etc... until i lived in Oakland for a few years and I realized that there's enoguh horrors in real life that I don't want to see that shit in my entertainment. Any of you have similar experiences growing up?

Actually, I think it's the other way around - the MORE we're exposed to violence in real life, the more desensitized to it we become.  Entertainment certainly can (and does) desensitize us to violence, but environment is a far bigger factor.  Soldiers in war, kids growing up in gang-infested neighborhoods, whatever.  If you live in an environment where you're surrounded by death and destruction, you're inclined to think of it as normal or acceptable.  This is a problem for young minds in particular, but it can be a problem for older people as well (though it's less likely).  And unfortunately, as much as Americans may wish to deny it, we live in a society where violence is considered acceptable...this is a country where we tell people it's OK to go down to the gun store and buy an AK-47 with a 100-round magazine, or to carry concealed pistols in public areas.  Does that not send the message that the use of lethal force is OK?  So yes, it's true that America is obsessed with guns and violence, and our media (movies, video games, music) has always reflected that.  And as Allah's Slave pointed out, we love to convince ourselves that everyone around us is a threat and that we have to be armed against them...this is, of course, what Michael Moore pointed out in "Bowling for Columbine".

For this reason, I doubt most people would react to violence in rap or movies as you say.  I grew up in a fairly gang-laden neighborhood in Pomona, and that doesn't mean I refuse to listen to violent rap.  On the other hand, I am inclined to be less accepting of rappers who are violent for the sake of being exploitative vs. rappers whose lyrics are violent because they're trying to make a point.  There's a huge difference between the lyrics of Ice Cube and 50 Cent, for example.

[J Bananas]

his is a country where we tell people it's OK to go down to the gun store and buy an AK-47 with a 100-round magazine, or to carry concealed pistols in public areas.

ummm, this isnt the eighties. plus i didnt mean that you reject violence when you''re around it, but you are also inclined to seek out more positive lighter stuff, hence real ghetto people listening to R Kelly wen most suburban kids mock it and call it gay.

[Kassem]

i think eihtball is right.i don't think there are violent people and peacefull people,it depends on ur uprising and the enviroment around u,expeirences u had in school,house,neighboorhood.

[Eihtball]

ummm, this isnt the eighties. plus i didnt mean that you reject violence when you''re around it, but you are also inclined to seek out more positive lighter stuff, hence real ghetto people listening to R Kelly wen most suburban kids mock it and call it gay.

What do you mean "this isn't the eighties"?  Last time I checked, the local gun stores all had racks full of AK-47s', AR-15s', MAK-90s', etc., and the NRA has been working for years to liberalize conceal-carry laws in many states (Minnesota was one of their last "successes").  Gun control is really slacking in this country; it's always been insufficient, but we're doing quite bad right now.

Also, since when do only "real ghetto people" listen to R. Kelly?  R. Kelly sells multi-Platinum with every album he releases; you don't get that kind of crossover success through the underground alone.  Besides, you make it sound like nobody in the 'hood listens to violent rap just because of the violence they've seen.  White kids may be the largest consumers of gangsta rappers in terms of album sales, yes, but by and large, this music is made by the 'hood, for the 'hood (although it's often diluted by major labels to be more accessible to the white kids).

[BizzyR.I.P.]

ummm, this isnt the eighties. plus i didnt mean that you reject violence when you''re around it, but you are also inclined to seek out more positive lighter stuff, hence real ghetto people listening to R Kelly wen most suburban kids mock it and call it gay.

What do you mean "this isn't the eighties"?  Last time I checked, the local gun stores all had racks full of AK-47s', AR-15s', MAK-90s', etc., and the NRA has been working for years to liberalize conceal-carry laws in many states (Minnesota was one of their last "successes").  Gun control is really slacking in this country; it's always been insufficient, but we're doing quite bad right now.

Also, since when do only "real ghetto people" listen to R. Kelly?  R. Kelly sells multi-Platinum with every album he releases; you don't get that kind of crossover success through the underground alone.  Besides, you make it sound like nobody in the 'hood listens to violent rap just because of the violence they've seen.  White kids may be the largest consumers of gangsta rappers in terms of album sales, yes, but by and large, this music is made by the 'hood, for the 'hood (although it's often diluted by major labels to be more accessible to the white kids).

Yeah, I know WAY more people that listen to Ice Cube, NWA, 2Pac, and so on than R Kelly. If you were talking about oldies like AL Green and Brenton Wood than that'd be different.

[Trauma-san]

One thing I've come to notice over the years, living in different areas ranging from small towns to the ghetto is that, the more hardships and horrific things we are subjected to i real life, the less inclined we are to see it in our entertainment (music, tv, etc.). The same goes for age as well, the younger you are, you are more attracted to gangsta rap and violent movies simply because you have not been exposed to them in real life and fully taken them in. My question is, does this violence lust in sheltered youth come from their own insecurities about themselves? Do negative thoughts about yourself lead to negative outlets like violent movies and music, or do they come naturally? I used to seek out the hardest gangsta rap I could, I loved horror movies, etc... until i lived in Oakland for a few years and I realized that there's enoguh horrors in real life that I don't want to see that shit in my entertainment. Any of you have similar experiences growing up?

Yeah, kind of.  I don't know if it's a result of viewing horror in real life, I think it has more to do with gaining wisdom and just maturing.  Not everything violent is negative though, in my opinion, I think well rounded people have well rounded thoughts and a good horror movie for instance, to a well rounded person, is very entertaining but I don't think it's indicative of any mind set or anything.  It's just an aspect of life that's thrilling so some times it's good to focus on it for 2 hours in a movie while Jason kills everything in site or something.  Anything in reality like that would be ludicrious, but it's fantasy and entertainment, and it prays on your adreniline and the part of you that thinks and deals with horror.

Music is different to me, I see where some of the violence in music is attractive, but to be blunt, I think music is a gift from God, and is best when it's beautiful. 

[J Bananas]

Music is different to me, I see where some of the violence in music is attractive, but to be blunt, I think music is a gift from God, and is best when it's beautiful.

damn, i like that, props

[Dogg_Pound_Gangsta]

good topic man,

When i was younger my favorite movies were, boyz in tha hood, menace to society, bout it bout it etc...  but now i have grown up alot i still watch them but not with the same eyes as when i was 15.  i also dont enjoy Gangsta rap as much.  i still like cube nwa dre, but am more into r & b and soul and funk.

[Don Seer]

imo anything in the media attracts the mentally unstable..

there have been varied cases in the past of people doing things for the attention.. from streakers to murderers..

[Trauma-san]

imo anything in the media attracts the mentally unstable..

there have been varied cases in the past of people doing things for the attention.. from streakers to murderers..

First thing that popped into my head when you said that was, remember the motherfucker who shot Reagan?  He did it to impress Jodie Foster. 

[Eihtball]

I will admit that people who like violent entertainment EXCLUSIVELY are probably a bit unstable.  I've seen kids before who only listen to violent music (gangsta rap, anarchist punk, thrash metal, hardcore reggae, etc.) and play lots of violent video games (GTA, Counter-Strike, etc.), and if anything related to love or something else is brought to them, they'll push it aside.  You know how you sometimes hear kids who say stuff like, "This rap album is too R&B" or "it's not hardcore enoiugh"?  Those kinda kids strike me as being violence-prone types.  It's one thing to like violent entertainment, but you have to take it in doses - I can't listen to gangsta shit all day straight.  Basically, I think the amount of violence you take in on a daily basis does reflect your tendencies towards violent behavior.

So remember, kids: Next time you complain about how Snoop Dogg or 50 Cent is "too R&B", think about what you're revealing about yourself when you say that.