You are what you eat – this word has been around for a very long time. There is now a new, more modern sage saying that everyone should take note of – especially parents. Their children are leaving them see. A little different, yes, but very up to date as to what our children are allowed or happen as video games, turn on the TV channels or surf on the computer.
There have been some court cases of parents suing companies because their children have committed vicious crimes after watching a TV program or playing a computer game that allowed them to "Shoot 'Em Up". The difference was that the "players" got up after the game, but in real life, the victims do not get up. School violence is a farce and everyone asks, "Where do these children with these violent thoughts?"
There is violence in something as simple as comic books with superheroes doing the unthinkable. Toys that imitate superheroes can do anything the imagination can be given the authority to do so. Film, TV, computer video games and even television programs that allow children to see violent crimes such as rape, murder, incest, and torture. They can not stay in the channel for long, but it is the image that is a place in your mind and decide to stay there.
The companies that put out such ads say that this action is not their fault and that their product could not exert the influence that parents say they have. Case in point – why corporations spend literally millions of dollars per minute to place an ad in the Super Bowl games. The answer – because they know that a picture is worth a thousand words and an image that will leave a lasting impression. This is business sense to place their ads where so many people to see. So in essence, that the image will stay in the mind of a consumer returning and seeing the image of another place or see a particular product, they will buy it because they remember the commercial – which could have been months.
Human behavior has been traced by U.S. companies for a very long time. They have it down pat what sells and what does not. While any special meaning, as a state, do your images to target areas and sectors of the population that will make more business, more baselines. Alcohol advertising low spirits of all are published in low-income areas of the country. Snuff ads offer "gifts" to save the coupons that in turn means that you have to buy more to get something. Teens are pressured to "war game, videos and even computers can lead to hand in case they get bored with real life. These games are carried over in movies, various products with the logo or image, and even in our pharmacies. Take these vitamins and you may also be a "super hero".
Prime time is an uncontrolled field of adult content, but the air when families should be together and children of all ages sitting on the couch next to Mom and Dad. The ads for erectile dysfunction are common and the idea that a pill will make you a man is there at every pause in the program. Pharmaceutical companies have ads on the pill that allow their children to see that from a simple stomach ache to a cold and sinus, the pills are there to relieve whatever ails you. What about peer pressure, fear of not being popular, or even freeze up on test day? Children are growing much taller and stronger these days, but his mind is still the mind of a child. The maturity factor grows with the experience and daily life. As a child of his perception of reality and what we see does get a bit mixed. What we hear are not side effects of these drug ads which now include such daunting effects such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and even death.This is lost in the vision of the perfect man, women and couples.
What can parents do when their children are at risk, and society as a whole is less because of the marketing strategies of corporate America? Some companies are taking their responsibilities seriously and try to stop when and where their ads appear, but once again, is that the eggs allow some bad prime time and fun time to become violent. Did you ever try to get a persistent "theme" song of his mind, or even recognize a picture on a poster before knowing the title? Well, the child's mind work basically the same way. Not that the image of perfection, popularity and "kick ass", that swings his mind set on being what it can not be at this time. They want to be on top and want to prove something to everybody who have skills and abilities. Their capability and as the future becomes today, you will become what they want to do with their lives. But now, here, that the pill, smoking, a bottle of liquor, and worse, that violence calls to the heavens that you can have everything at this time, no questions asked. But the questions being asked, and the changes must be made. The solution – take the time to observe the products and the companies that make them – remember these companies are always looking for results – the products sold and the profits raked in If you have to hurt them where it really hurts, to get that stop destroying the future of many young people, then do not buy what they are promoting, and not allow these products at home, no matter how much the children cry, demand and show that "everyone has one." While that may be true, your main concern is to start changing things in their home front for parents in the house next door can use their children as an example of how "it is not necessary to be good at school, good friends, and going down the right path towards a wonderful future.
Parenting is a difficult task because there are no instruction manuals that are given out at birth. It's a hit and miss sort of job description, but everyone strives to achieve more successes then misses. The children do turn out well and parents can be proud of the milestones along the way but has a defined standard, difficult decisions, and know what is there and can do damage. Is Education for parents and is not taught in school but in the real world. The world does not have the best interests of your child at heart, because he's too busy making sure the money flows and increase profits. Therefore, the job of parents to take charge and make sure that when they pull the "strings" that the rope in decency, good values, and best of all, the pride that their children have to her parents took some risks, maybe made some mistakes, but always made with love. Something to think about.
© Arleen M. Kaptur
April, 2009