Notes

Develop a Better World for Everyone Around You! The way the Media Affects Teenager's Behavior
"We are living exactly on the planet we have been creating, trying so difficult to exploit our 'freedom' up to we can."

Have you noticed how people have a tendency to imitate you or others? Or possibly you imitate other folks and you haven't noticed. When I'm in the park doing my morning exercises, I like to walk -before I run- moving my arms, stretching my hands, & most of individuals I meet start doing the same thing I'm doing. I've noticed this for a long time now, but I am paying more focus on it in the last 90 days. When I'm walking on the road or in a public place and somebody starts to accomplish another movement, several people tend to imitate him/her. I believe it's the way the brain works.

Some researchers say that people have a specific "imitation system" in the mind. Imitationis an advanced behavior whereby a person observes and replicates another's actions, in accordance with Answers.com. I came across that imitation is among the primary techniques children, and adults, learn normal habits. So that methods to me that imitation is a natural reaction of humans (animals, too -I think) and sometimes it may be irrational. Why am I saying all this? Because I want to understand why some individuals say that music, TV shows, movies and video gaming don't influence people, especially children and teenagers.

I watched Enrique Iglesias' new video and browse the comments in a forum discussion about any of it. Some of the participants where making fun of a female who wrote that she was worried because her children were fans and the video was inappropriate for them because it had strong sex scenes. We've the right to express ourselves, but we have to respect everybody's opinions, too. Sex and violence are favorite topics for songs, movies, shows and video gaming and people appear to be eager consumers of these. I consider myself an open minded woman and I'm not afraid to speak about anything, but I'm confident that we are living exactly on the planet we are creating, trying so hard to exploit our "freedom" up to we can.

When this sort of video is watched by grownups (they are supposed to be able to think for themselves) that's O.K., but these videos are reaching teenagers and kids more regularly, because these singers have significantly more pre-teens and teenagers as their fans. Kids have become easy to influence and they imitate everything they see, just to prove it! They think, in case a "famous" person does something, why can't we do it, too?

What about Skins, the new series on MTV? The entire episodes of the original British version are available on YouTube without the restriction. This is exactly what MTV says: "Skinsis a show that addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way. We have been confident that the episodes of Skins will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to your viewers. We also have taken numerous steps to alert viewers to the strong subject material in order to choose for themselves whether it is appropriate." The show shows "real-world" issues for teens because the world of sex, drugs and debauchery. Do you think tweens and teenagers can choose for themselves what is appropriate for them? For most of these, no, they only do what other kids are doing. The premiere of Skins attracted 3.3 million viewers, and tweens and teenagers are what MTV is targeting. It is a pity that a teenager's life could be full of these things, and we have been accepting it because we live in a "FREE" world full oflawsthatare useless... where freedom may be the power to act or speak or think with externally imposed ideas from the media.

Maybe you are an extremely liberal person and you also think that kids should try to learn about these sorts of things, and you also are right, but we -as adults and a community- are responsible to instruct them right from wrong. Our body is beautiful and sex is among the best expressions of our love for one another. The body is our temple and we need to look after it. Is this being responsible, or is it too old fashioned? Sexualdepravityanddebauchery is what we are watching a growing number of in the media. This seems to be O.K. with us, since it's "normal" nowadays. If we say something against it, we have been old fashioned or too conservative. I usually ask myself if people -including grownups- who practice or imitate this sort of behavior feel good about themselves. Why do they need alcohol or use any other drugs to feel good about themselves? I believe it's because they don't really have enough courage to really look at their very own behavior. The abuse of sex, drugs, alcohol and violence seems to occur as an organization usually.

We all are responsible for our environment and each and every time that we listen to or sing a song, watch a video, movie or show with high sexual-drug abuse-violent content, we are encouraging people in the media to create more of exactly the same. Who are the easiest visitors to seduce? Yes, children and teenagers, including individuals who are unable to think by themselves. Imitation is really a natural behavior for human beings. What behavior can you -and your children- desire to imitate?

Patricia Anaya, creator of brainywoman.com, includes a passion for creating projects that help people, especially women and children. [http://brainywoman.com] opens up a great deal of possibilities to the touch women's lives and help them to boost self-esteem. She's also passionate about offering the very best in content and commentary, humor and high-quality merchandise that supports brainywoman.com's signature motto, Love Yourself! Tell the planet, I'm Pretty, Sexy and Smart!
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