Our
view
Society
lacks responsibility
Another teenager has wounded himself and
yet again, the blame is being put onto MTV’s
controversial show “Jackass.” When will
it end?
Late Friday night a 15-year-old boy from
Washington state soaked his shirt in rubbing
alcohol and lit it on fire while his friends
stood by filming the scenario which they
planned to sell. The boy suffered first-degree
burns over his face and upper body.
MTV and Viacom have been sued several times
for injuries that were allegedly inspired
by the controversial “Jackass.”
A MTV spokeswoman reported that nothing
like the stunt that the 15-year-old boy
attempted was ever aired on the show or
in the new movie version of “Jackass” that
opened in theatres three weeks ago. The
movie has already earned $53.3 million at
the box office.
Within the last several years, it has become
a growing trend to blame television shows,
music, video games and movies for the actions
of teenagers. Come to think of it, it seems
to have become a growing trend to blame
everything other than one’s self for one’s
actions. Actions are commonly
blamed on a wide variety of things — including
but not limited to — parents, friends, environment
and unidentified voices in the head.
It all comes down to people not being willing
to take responsibility for their own actions.
It is simply easier and more comfortable
not to.
When did parents stop teaching this fundamental
value?
It can be seen everywhere you look, in relationships,
parenting and crimes. People do not want
to face the consequences for the things
they do. As a matter of fact, people choose
to tell themselves that there are no consequences
for their actions.
Perhaps it comes from a lack of discipline
in childhood and then it spirals down through
the generations. Parents are not properly
teaching their children that there are consequences
to their actions. When little Billy steals
a piece of candy from the store, he is not
forced to bring it back or confess, he is
not punished at all.
We all know that shows, music and video
games will continue to be blamed and sued
for the actions of individuals. That is
not something that anyone really expects
will end anytime soon. But is it too much
to ask that parents start teaching their
children to take some responsibility for
their actions, and for adults to at least
be aware that there are consequences for
their actions? It is a law, for every action
there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Is it too late for such a fundamental value
to be regained?
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