[EchoedTruth]

Originally Posted by killaessedai [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You mirrored xenu's thread after calling everyone morons, this thread in itself is veiled disrespect.
I agree with a lot of the points you are making, but being generalizations they are kind of misleading. Everyone is to blame for their own actions, but to pretend that there isn't factors that contribute is insanity. The contradiction is even in your post.

- Blaming random forms of entertainment for the actions of stupid people (movies, video games)
- Trying to find something to blame when the fault lies in this society's lack of emphasis on education, respect of one's fellow human beings, and lack of concern for others.

You say its stupid to blame random forms of entertainment because the fault lies in society's lack of respect of one's fellow human beings, and lack of concern for others.
Yet in a lot of ways our entertainment (music, violent video games, violent movies) contributes to our society having a lack of respect for fellow human beings and concern for others. Am i blaming these things? No, because the blame lies with the person.
I agree with your main point, but taking a perspective like yours almost destroys any possibility to talk of external factors that influenced someone's decision.

Another example is you say its stupid to blame drugs for a person's decision. There is a lot of crime that would have never been committed if not for drugs. Ultimately the person is to blame, but it's an aggravating factor that can't be ignored.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y-tVvjVi2m8?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y-tVvjVi2m8?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Drugs are very powerful, you make the decision to take them, but sometimes the decisions made while on them are a lot different then the one you would make while not on them.

You can't just go oops its just stupid people, looking at things that happen that lead to people making horrible decisions is important.

I can't possibly begin to agree with your point. While you make it eloquently - I grew up watching Aliens, Predator, all the bloody, violent, 80s and 90s movies, and games. I would never hurt a fly. I apologize to bugs if I have to kill them. The only time I would ever raise my hand in violence is to defend someone being attacked and/or myself. I grew up surrounded by violent games, movies, media, etc... and I would consider myself a very strong pacifist. I like violent games/movies because they give me an outlet for my frustrations (when I have them). I am the way I am because my mother raised me to respect and love my fellow human beings and other animals we share this planet with. If it were not for her, I would likely be different - not because of violent media, but because I lacked the strong foundation of mutual respect, appreciation, and peaceful nature.