Blurring the Line

The line between fantasy and reality for most adults is pretty clear cut. We might fantasize about getting revenge on our slave-driver of a boss, but we realize it is just that: a fantasy. But the same can't be said for children. The line between fantasy and reality is often very blurred. Children have their imaginary friends and some will even insist that their parents talk to the imaginary friend or set a place for this unseen guest at the dinner table. They believe, with all their hearts, that there's a man in a red suit living at the North Pole (with a bunch of elves who make toys) who passes out gifts all over the world in one night on a sled pulled by flying reindeer. They believe that there is a fairy out there somewhere who will pay them for the teeth that fall out of their mouths. They believe there's a rabbit out there who dyes chicken eggs and hides them all over their houses for them to find on Easter morning.

This inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy makes children especially impressionable to the things they see and hear. They see a "professional wrestler" hitting his opponent in the head with a chair and they think they can do the same thing to their little sister and she'll get up just like the other wrestler did. Despite their claims to the contrary, this writer believes that reality TV (under which I reluctantly put "professional wrestling" and including realistic shows like CSI), realistic video games and violent lyrics play a large part in the alarming rise among youth of crimes that were once considered possible only of adults.

On August 31, 2009, a nine-year-old boy led police on a 30-minute chase, reaching speeds up to 80 miles an hour because he was upset that he had an 8:00 pm curfew on a school night. I'd be willing to put a small wager on the likelihood that this child has or has played some realistic car driving video game, like "Need for Speed" or "Grand Theft Auto". Nine days earlier, a similar drama unfolded in Nashville, but this time the driver was an autistic nine-year-old girl. In January of this year, a six-year-old boy who missed the school bus decided to try to drive himself to school. He reportedly told police he learned how to drive from watching "Grand Theft Auto". (Link) Fortunately, in these incidents, no one was seriously injured. But each of them underscores the fact that these children believed they were capable of safely operating a car when in reality, they were lucky they didn't kill themselves or anyone else.

The same can't be said for several children who have attempted to imitate the moves performed by professional wrestlers. The most famous of those involves Lionel Tate, who, at the age of 12, attempted to reenact what he saw on TV, leaving 6- year-old Tiffany Eunick dead (although it must be added that there are those who doubt Tate's version of the events). During the trial, experts from both sides agreed that children mimic the violence they see on TV. (Link) In the spring of 1999, a 7-year-old Dallas boy killed his 3-year-old brother while attempting to imitate the "clothesline" move. (Link) How many other children have been taken to hospital emergency rooms with broken bones or worse after attempting to perform some "wrestling" move? But professional wrestling isn't the only culprit. Shows like "Fear Factor" and "Survivor", where contestants have to perform dangerous stunts, also contribute to blurring the line for young children between fantasy and reality. These kids see real "everyday" people doing dangerous things, but it's what they don't see that has the biggest imfluence: they don't see the preparation that goes into making a reality "stunt" safe. Reality shows don't show the consequences of stunts gone wrong: it's bad for business. So to the eyes of a young child, there's no reason they can't do the same stunt and have the same consequences.

Music, it is claimed, can "soothe the savage breast". (And yes, it is breast and not beast.) Music, with its rhythms and lyrics and melodies resonates deep with us and often leaves a lasting impression. How many of us have not heard a song and been instantly transported back to our high school days. Music, and the lyrics that we sing to it, often become tied to certain emotions. How many of us have cried a tear years after a breakup when we hear a song that reminds us of a former lover? But music-- or more accurately, the lyrics-- can have just as strong a negative impact on our minds and emotions, particularly if the mind is a young one.  A former friend like violent rap music and her child listened to it as well when they were in the car. Then she wondered why, when the child began talking in sentences, would call her names like "ho" and "bitch" and say things like "I should just slap you, mommy."

Mind you, I'm not advocating banning such music, video games or TV shows (although personally I fail to find any entertainment value in professional wrestling). But I do question what it is in humans who enjoy such violence and negativity that draws apparently normal adults to plop themselves down in front of a television to watch grown men and women stage fights. Or to listen to songs whose lyrics advocate beating up or even killing another human being. Or to play video games where one of the options is to set the "blood level" that "splatters" on your screen.

I do think that children are being desensitized to violence and blood and gore. And I do believe that the everyone involved in the production/consumption of violent video games, CDs/songs, movies, TV series/shows, etc., from the artists/actors themselves to the consumer, are responsible for the upsurge in "adult crime" among today's youth. But I suppose that's what happens when you live in a country where the almighty dollar is worshipped above all else.