Author Topic: Toss the TV, children wont be scared of anything? (Read 653 times)

Matthew · « **on:** September 23, 2015, 07:10:50 PM »

I say that children are often very imaginative, have a harder time distinguishing fantasy from reality, and their reason/intellect is not as well developed. Therefore, some things might scare them which would not scare an adult.

Someone I was discussing this with said that if you didn't have a TV or watch movies, children wouldn't be afraid of anything. They are only afraid of things because they A) see an object and B) see adults/children reacting with fear to that object. So, in theory, if you never watched a single video, your children would fear nothing at all.

I disagree with this, of course. The person who expressed this belief is a more rational sort, as well as low on the imagination scale. I know very well that some children have very powerful and vivid imaginations.

What do you think?

MaterDominici · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2015, 07:42:00 PM »

Some things are designed by God to be scary. A dog barking at you -- especially if he's the same size as you -- is scary. Adults have learned that there's usually nothing to be afraid of when you hear a dog barking nearby.

TKGS · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2015, 08:43:10 PM »

I don't think children are necessarily conditioned by television to know what to be scared of. In fact, I would think that children who watch a lot of television are less easily frightened as television can tend to condition viewers to become accustomed to images that, at one time, were thought to be incredibly frightening.

Consider some of the old movies. Horror movies from the 1940s and 1950s were very frightening to the audiences of the day--and they actually had plots. Kids watch these movies today and laugh.

jen51 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2015, 09:41:13 PM »

That's just silly. I wonder if he thought that children in the early 1900's and before weren't scared of anything because they didn't have T.V.

I think God given instinct is much more realistic, much like Mater described. Not only that, but books, and for those who couldn't or can't read, stories, experiences, lessons from parents etc. There's absolutely nothing about a T.V. that is necessary to properly form our children.

shin · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2015, 11:09:20 AM »

TV desensitizes to some fear, and awakens others.. Regardless good riddance to it..

Yes there are some fears that come naturally..

Overall are children more afraid of things from TV or less.. I don't know..

They pick up the world's fears.. and lose the Godly fears..

Hmm.

Peter15and1 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2015, 05:39:19 PM »

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.