Television - The Most Powerful Weapon Of Them All

If the govt' owns everyone else's minds, they can never own ours. And it also helps if you read at least for an hour everyday to stay "sharp".
Does everyone hear that? That's the NWO going down in smoke because of our researching and inquistativness.
I know, good at grammer, sloppy on spelling, but awesome on useless information and all the useless stuff you never wanted to know about BSB!

[edit on 1/22/05 by BSB2005]

You all think television kills independent thought. Try video games. They are interactive, actually placing the user into the world view of the video game. And they are far more addictive than television. Plus, this year there are lots of video games coming out with realistic themes, even political themes. Great training for the Nintendo generation’s future in the milirary.

Good point , Eastcoast......I've heard it called "the drug with a plug"

....I have managed to 'transfer' my addiction to my PC! I was originally addicted to books.....my parents would actually pry them out of my hands and push me out the door with, "go out and play in the sunshine!" Those were the days!

Originally posted by Diabolita23
You all think television kills independent thought. Try video games. They are interactive, actually placing the user into the world view of the video game. And they are far more addictive than television. Plus, this year there are lots of video games coming out with realistic themes, even political themes. Great training for the Nintendo generation’s future in the milirary.

Not the violent video game argument again. Can't you just let people spend their time as they please? Or is it "won't somebody please think of the children"? Let me guess, another concerned mom that knows nothing about video games or their affect. Name 1 video game with a "political theme".

Originally posted by justyc
i'd like to throw out a challenge to all you regular tv watchers out there... (if you dare!)

pick one of the following and do it every day for 1 month & record your experiences here -

1. do not turn your tv on
2. have the tv picture on but not the sound
3. (if you have a tv capable) turn the picture off and leave the sound on

This is an excellent idea. I challenge everyone who reads this to take a shot at it.

Back in early November my friend and I made a pact to do just this. Well, we actually ignored all TV news and commentary for two weeks. GUess what? We didn't miss a thing. It's unreal how worthless it actually is. We would all do so much better for ourselves if we just turned the tube off, did our own reading and studying and formed our OWN views - WITHOUT the help of those TV DOLTS.

I say make a thread. It would very interesting to see folks' comments and observations along the way.

Originally posted by Diabolita23
You all think television kills independent thought. Try video games.

Amen to that! THe thing I most hate about them is how they train kids to think about killing and destroying things. How utterly sick is that? It desensitzes kids to violence and gives them the impression that that is actually how war is. If they go and join, their illusions will be shattered faster than they can say GRAND THEFT AUTO.

Disturbing doesn't nearly describe what this phenomenon is.

Originally posted by SplitPeaSoup
Not the violent video game argument again. Can't you just let people spend their time as they please? Or is it "won't somebody please think of the children"? Let me guess, another concerned mom that knows nothing about video games or their affect. Name 1 video game with a "political theme".

Gee. I remember a time when there were NO video games. What in the bloody hell would you poor kids do today without them? You'd have to actually get CREATIVE, or GO OUTSIDE and be ACTIVE.. or READ, or DRAW.. You know USE YOUR BRAINS instead of cruising on auto pilot indulging in your little programmed electronic orgy of make-believe. There's a REAL WORLD out there kids, unplug and go out and dive into it. You won't be sorry.. and you won't become 500 pounds of brain dead couch potato.

Originally posted by EastCoastKid
Gee. I remember a time when there were NO video games. What in the bloody hell would you poor kids do today without them? You'd have to actually get CREATIVE, or GO OUTSIDE and be ACTIVE.. or READ, or DRAW.. You know USE YOUR BRAINS instead of cruising on auto pilot indulging in your little programmed electronic orgy of make-believe. There's a REAL WORLD out there kids, unplug and go out and dive into it. You won't be sorry.. and you won't become 500 pounds of brain dead couch potato.

Firstly, I am not a kid. I am a full grown adult who enjoys video games. I am active, I do go outside, I am educated, use my brain often, and enjoy my healthy life. I also weigh about 150 pounds.

The Tibetans set aside part of each day for contemplation. The Spanish have the siesta. Some people meditate, I play video games. I believe it is important to take daily breaks from the real world - to de-stress, reduce the amount of Cortisol in my blood and chill.

Video games can be used to outlet the anger and destructive side that all humans have. That way you don't end up using those energies to judge others' pastimes on message boards (speaking of make believe worlds. . .)

Originally posted by SplitPeaSoup

Originally posted by Diabolita23
You all think television kills independent thought. Try video games. They are interactive, actually placing the user into the world view of the video game. And they are far more addictive than television. Plus, this year there are lots of video games coming out with realistic themes, even political themes. Great training for the Nintendo generation’s future in the milirary.

Not the violent video game argument again. Can't you just let people spend their time as they please? Or is it "won't somebody please think of the children"? Let me guess, another concerned mom that knows nothing about video games or their affect. Name 1 video game with a "political theme".

How about Tom Clancy: Rainbow 6, Ghost Recon, or Act of War (coming out this year). If you don't think art imitates life (which then imitates art):

gamesdomain.yahoo.com...

Originally posted by EastCoastKid
Amen to that!

THe thing I most hate about them is how they train kids to think about killing and destroying things. How utterly sick is that? It desensitzes kids to violence and gives them the impression that that is actually how war is. If they go and join, their illusions will be shattered faster than they can say GRAND THEFT AUTO.

Disturbing doesn't nearly describe what this phenomenon is.

I agree. It's getting more and more creepy, as the technology of the games progresses it allows the graphics to be more realistic, which in turn allows the plots to more closely resemble real life. Some of the games really do seem to be training tools for the military. Look at link and tell me what you think:

gamesdomain.yahoo.com...

Like i said before...TV watching or Video game playing Or anything with Fast moving Images puts a person's mind into a 'Alpha State' or hypnotic state...

At that state you are open to any suggestion (positive or negative)...In order words, what ever it is that a person is watching...it will have a lasting and impressive effect on that person's mind...

Some side effect of TV watching or Video game playing Or anything with Fast moving Images:
1) Dulllness or Sleepyness
2) Hypnotic state (open to suggestiong if the Subconscious mind is Willing)
3) Passing of time is seemless
4) hunger
etc...

Video games can be used to outlet the anger and destructive side that all humans have. That way you don't end up using those energies to....

I have to agree with Split Pea on this part....I used to work with a bunch of salesmen, and I would come home in knots. After sitting down with my son's Doom game for a few minutes, I could feel the tension drain away....I worked there 10 years and never did kill or injure any of those guys! LOL

Originally posted by Diabolita23

How about Tom Clancy: Rainbow 6, Ghost Recon, or Act of War (coming out this year). If you don't think art imitates life (which then imitates art):

gamesdomain.yahoo.com...

For someone who doesn't like them, I'm impressed with your game knowledge.

Thank you for the link to Act of War. I downloaded the demo and burnt off some steam kicking terrorist butt.

The plot is actually pretty interesting - definitely something for conspiracy theorists: Tthe oligarchs of the world are fighting over oil, the U.S. wins, terrorists attack and kidnap Senators and stuff. Your player is in the U.S. army – the aim is to fight the terrorists off. Towards the end of the game it’s revealed that the U.S. government is behind the terrorists. Definitely not a training tape for the miliary - as you so labelled it.

Even more interesting - the French are the ones releasing the game, but it's not written by the French. The storyline is penned by Dale Brown, a former Air Force pilot turned techno-thriller novelist. He's supposed to release a book with the same theme as the game later this year. This is one of the first times I've seen a storyline written by an actual writer, as opposed to a game developer. It's definitely worth a look, whether or not you like video games.
I'd be curious to hear reactions, comments, reviews?

Originally posted by SplitPeaSoup
Firstly, I am not a kid. I am a full grown adult who enjoys video games. I am active, I do go outside, I am educated, use my brain often, and enjoy my healthy life. I also weigh about 150 pounds.

My, my. Aren't we sensitive?

A closer reading of my words: I was talking about KIDS.

Originally posted by EastCoastKid

Originally posted by SplitPeaSoup
Firstly, I am not a kid. I am a full grown adult who enjoys video games. I am active, I do go outside, I am educated, use my brain often, and enjoy my healthy life. I also weigh about 150 pounds.

My, my. Aren't we sensitive?

A closer reading of my words: I was talking about KIDS.

That's a pretty harsh way to talk to kids.

I have been playing video games for 22 years (and boy are my fingers tired :cool. I started when I was 6 years old (space invaders, baby). I played them all through my childhood, I was allowed a controlled amount of time to do so.

There was a time when children grew up without these influences, true. But that is no longer the case. We all yearn for the good old days it's natural human instinct, but it's important to recognize the current situation and meet it on its terms. It's useless to bemoan the game companies - they satisy customers and are the fastest growing branch of the entertainment industry.

The problem is not the video games, the problem is poor parenting by a generation of parents who grew up without the games and therefore have no idea how to regulate their child's use (that is if they are even interested enough to do so). That and that the average American child eats over 100 pounds of sugar a year.

Video games came out when I was around the 5th grade, so I played them through jr. high. AFter that, I had plenty of other things to keep busy with. Like sports, drawing, hanging out with friends etc. Video games bored me, especially after getting my first car at 15.

I will agree that bad parenting is hugely to blame for the hook being so planted in kids noses w/regards to video game playing. That doesn't excuse the perversity that pervades the minds of some game manufacturers, tho. Those folks know what they're doing and are getting obscenely rich off those willing to pay.

I say GAME OVER!

2. The Lehrer News Hour

Yep..have to agree, we get Jim Lehrer over here too, I always try and
watch it if I'm home.

You get it there, huh? Interesting. What's your mainstream news like?

As an Australian, I find one of the most disturbing aspects of television is the assumptions about what is fair or just come from an almost entirely American model. In our country we used to have free tertiary education and comprehensive health care, todays generation pay more tax than ever before and have lost free education and are forced to contribute increasingly large amounts for health.

The irony of this is that because our television is mostly from America, young people don't question why this is so, there becomes a tacet acceptance that this is how it is everywhere, without questioning whether it's in fact a good thing or not, or understanding that tha American health system is a national disgrace for a nation so wealthy, and that America is almost singularly untypical in the OECD.

Some call this 'cultural imperialism'; I find that term a little strong as it's the greed of a handful of entrepeneurs who drive the mass media, but the net result is a generation of adults who beleive that reality is something that occurs elsewhere to people with accents other than our own...

Television : a medium neither rare nor well done.

Originally posted by Flange Gasket
tha American health system is a national disgrace for a nation so wealthy, and that America is almost singularly untypical in the OECD.

I've always argued for the free market over say, socializm. I railed against Hillary Clinton's universal healthcare scheming.. and socialized medicine in general. I've always said, you get what you pay for and that doctors deserve to make large amounts of money for their extraordinary abilities and services. I still believe that, fundamentally, but I heard something the other day that just stopped me in my tracks..

What if we took half the money we've blown on Iraq and applied it towards healthcare for all Americans who need it?

Damn good point. It's a shame we can throw so much of our money and our children and grandchildren's money at another country - that doesn't even want us there - and yet, we deride anyone who suggests that we should explore the possibility of universal healthcare here. It's just not right. We need to start caring for those among us who need help. Are we America the great, or America the full of shyte?