I remember from years back that the entertainment industry claimed their products didn't influence people (dangerous stunts, suicides due to music etc...). However, I also remember Rob Reiner (Meathead) talking about no longer allowing characters in his movies to smoke, as they didn't want to influence young folks to smoke, and Steven Spielberg wiping guns from ET and replacing them with hand-held radios.
Well, which is it? Entertainment has no influence, or it does? Can't have it both ways.
Don't get me wrong, in no way do I think the media should be punished for the actions of an individual. I'm just tired of the double-speak and double standards.
The liberals always want to have it both ways!
The liberals don’t want entertainment media to promote good family values or conservative values, or religion, because that would be forcing these values on other people. But, casual sex, etc. is ok to promote. Consider the recent Ashton Kutcher (sp?) movie in which he has some kind of sexual friendships with various girls. That’s considered okay, and will not encourage young people to do anything like that.
To the most extreme liberals/radicals, even the sight of a cross on a mountaintop is government forcing religion on people, and the offensive crosses must be torn down.
But characters smoking in a movie does influence people to smoke. Go figure.
I will never understand the liberal mind.