Understanding the problem “Video games are not the source of violence in our society,” says Interactive Digital Software Association president Doug Lowenstein, “It's like blaming illiteracy on television It's time we look at the availability of guns and dysfunctional families as a source of violence, not games (Goodstein)." Entertainment producers argue that it is not their responsibility, but the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children are not exposed to media that could be considered violent or harmful to their children. The media believes it is the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in today's society. Doug Lowenstein said: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "When people talk about violence they talk about playing video games, watching action movies, and doing karate on playgrounds as violence, as if they were somehow the same thing as acts of destruction which is not, This way we only make it harder to address real violence in a real way (Goodstein). "Federal trade commissioners, the FTC, have attacked violent and inappropriate behavior found in the media in recent years. The FTC is shocked to find that children enjoy violent entertainment. The FTC believes this is because companies are manipulating them through deceptive marketing. But many media producers believe the FTC is wrong for two reasons. The producers believe that the facts and the First Amendment are on their side (Rosenberg 182). In a debate held in late 1998 the head chairman of the FTC spoke and agreed with the opinions of the media producers. In his remarks, FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky said, "Although scholars and observers have generally agreed that exposure to violence in the entertainment media alone does not cause a child to commit a violent act, there is broad consensus that it is, however, a cause for concern." (190)." Later in his speech he also agrees that most violent acts committed have no connection to violent media. Concerned American citizens should also look at other countries and their views on violence in the media. Some other countries promote violence in the media and actually have a less violent society. Countries like Japan, which produces the most violent media in the world, are considered one of the most non-violent societies 'action and martial arts, extremely violent video games and violent cartoons known as japanimations or anime (Tepperman). Schools in Japan also support education in some form of martial arts "It is ironic to see a country like ours, which is strongly against any support for violent media but also has an extremely violent society,” observes an anonymous American video game producer, “and then to see a country like Japan that is not against violence” and has an almost non-violent society compared to ours. (Goodstein)"Other countries like Canada also have a less violent society than America. In 1996 the number of people killed by guns in the United States was estimated at 17,000, which makes America seem like the murder capital of the world when compared to Canada's 68 and is even worse when compared to Australia's 10 (Cesarone 88) . Producers from all aspects of the media agree that they are not at fault and that the facts are on their side. Even the parents they have their own opinions on the matter. Although the majority of parents believe that the media is the cause of violent behavior among their parents.
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