So many people are paying attention to what they put into their mouths, and for good reason. More and more people are finding out the unfortunate consequences of eating food that tastes good, but isn't necessarily good for their bodies. The more they carefully select what goes into their mouths, the more improvement they see in their health.
So, why doesn't the same principle exist when it comes to what we allow into our brains? I've been paying attention lately to all the shows on TV that not only contain graphic violence, but are centered around it. There have been police shows, detective shows and lawyer shows on as far back as I can remember. But, in the past few years the shows have become more intense and focus on grisly murders and delve into the minds of criminals. And the scenes have become increasingly more gory and graphic and permeated with terrifying images.
Well, all those images have to be having an impact on our brains. I don't believe they go in and immediately disappear. If they did companies wouldn't be spending millions of dollars to advertise their products in ten, thirty and sixty second blocks of time. They know that those images that flash on the screen get in our brains and influence us when it comes to spending our hard-earned money.
So, I choose not to watch the shows that center around crime, violence, blood, guts and gore. But it is unbelievable to me how much of that stuff gets into my brain just by channel surfing. Whether it's seeing snippets of movies, commercials for movies, or commercials for upcoming episodes of TV shows I feel like my brain is being bombarded by violent images.
And if mine is, so is yours if you watch TV. How is your brain being affected? Are you paying attention?
I recommend you take some time to observe the effects all that violence is having on your brain. Are you becoming desensitized to it? If so, is that a good thing?
Television is such a powerful medium and has the potential to teach, to inspire, to motivate. It's a shame that for the most part it seems to be demoralizing, depressing, and desensitizing us.
Here is one indicator of the impact these shows are having on kids. On a recent episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition a little girl was asked what she wanted to be when she grows up. Her answer: Crime Scene Investigator. And that became the theme of her new bedroom.
Be careful what you allow into your brain and the brains of your children!
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