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Does violence in media attract the mentally unstable?

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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:

--- Quote from: J Bananas Williams is Way 2 Saucy on November 16, 2005, 12:32:24 PM ---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?

--- End quote ---

^^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:

--- Quote from: J Bananas Williams is Way 2 Saucy on November 16, 2005, 12:32:24 PM ---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?

--- End quote ---

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.

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