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"Do you think television programs are too violent?"
(asked at the Kirkland Library on 04-16-98; published in the EJ on 04-19-98)

Helen Faamoe, Assistant librarian, Redmond

"Well, I presently find a lot of them quite violent. I personally watch a lot of the more informational programs... There's a lot of violence in the news -- cause and effect? You just don't know."

Virginia Kraft, Retired librarian, Mounteagle, Tennessee

"Yes, I do. There's too much shooting and too much obscenity and too much pornography and vulgar language. It's very distasteful for young children. And the number of shootings and acts of violence toward other people -- they need to do some policing of their own writing. And as parents -- turn off the set."

Andrew Schoneberg, Researcher, Shoreline

"I'd say I don't tend to watch those kinds of programs but I would also say that violence on TV reflects the violence in our culture in general. The U.S. is an extremely violent culture, with a history of violence up to now... But I do think ratings systems help parents and adults to judge."

Gillian White, 8th grader, Kirkland

"No, I don't think so. People are going to see it anyway out on the street, wherever they are. I think it might have an impact on violence in real life, but not necessarily a negative one because you see the results of your actions. But if you're going to go out and shoot, nothing is going to dissuade you."

Sean Tabler, 7th grader, Kirkland

"I think it's not really that violent. If programs are on TV, with the ratings, most things aren't really violent, like when they put movies on and skip out a lot of parts. I might read the ratings if I see the beginning of a show... I don't think violence on TV causes violence. I think you have to think like that first."

Matthew Malone, Restaurant business, Bellevue

"I really don't watch very much TV but what I've seen of what others watch is quite violent. It's a matter of opinion but I think there's quite a bit of violence. I spend a lot of time in public with adolescents and it seems to be carrying over so I don't think it's a good thing... But the television media is viewer-sponsored and putting on entertainment that viewers don't care to watch won't pay the bills -- so it seems to be what people want to watch."

© 1998 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

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