Personality

[Texsox]

So those that believe violent video games and such does not affect young minds, and it has no adverse affect on adult minds, what does affect your mind and personality?

[BigSqwert]

I think my parent's upbringing helped shape my personality. That and probably some genetics.

[bmags]

real experience I suppose.

[shipps]

Ron Karkovice.

[GoSox05]

Parents, school, friends and economic situation. Things like that, things that are real.

 

 

And the evil effects of satanic rock n roll.

[whitesoxfan101]

I think my parent's upbringing helped shape my personality. That and probably some genetics.

 

^^^^

 

What he said.

[southsider2k5]

An interesting study I ran accross yesterday, that might be germaine to this topic. It seems that areas that have no smoking laws have lower smoker rates, than those that don't. Is being around something a simple way to make more people believe it is OK to do? It seems that simply being around something that could kill you, is enough to make more people think it is OK to do. That kinda makes are arguement that there is some level of influence

 

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7jLztC...Bh5XKAD90FP7500

 

Study: Restaurant tobacco bans influence teen smoking

 

By STEVE LeBLANC – 1 day ago

 

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts study suggests that restaurant smoking bans may play a big role in persuading teens not to become smokers. Youths who lived in towns with strict bans were 40 percent less likely to become regular smokers than those in communities with no bans or weak ones, the researchers reported in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

 

The findings back up the idea that smoking bans discourage tobacco use in teens by sending the message that smoking is frowned upon in the community, as well as simply by reducing their exposure to smokers in public places, said Dr. Michael Siegel, of Boston University School of Public Health, and the study's lead author.

 

"When kids grow up in an environment where they don't see smoking, they are going to think it's not socially acceptable," he said. "If they perceive a lot of other people are smoking, they think it's the norm."

 

Siegel and his colleagues tracked 2,791 children between ages 12 and 17 who lived throughout Massachusetts. There were no statewide restrictions when the study began in 2001 but about 100 cities and towns had enacted a hodgepodge of laws restricting smoking in workplaces, bars or restaurants.

 

The teens were followed for four years to see how many tried smoking and how many eventually became smokers.

 

Overall, about 9 percent became smokers — defined as smoking more than 100 cigarettes.

 

In towns without bans or where smoking was restricted to a designated area, that rate was nearly 10 percent. But in places with tough bans prohibiting smoking in restaurants, just under 8 percent of the teens became smokers.

 

The study found that having a smoker as a parent or a close friend was a factor in predicting whether children experiment with cigarettes. But strong bans had a bigger influence on whether smoking grew into a habit, reducing their chances of becoming smokers by 40 percent.

 

"There is really no other smoking intervention program that could cut almost in half the rate of smoking," Siegel said.

 

Age was also a factor. Smoking bans had a greater effect on younger teens than on older teens.

 

The researchers said it's not clear whether strong bans would have the same effect in other states since local towns adopted their restrictions as part of an aggressive anti-smoking campaign throughout the state.

 

A statewide workplace smoking ban that included restaurants went into effect in mid-2004. Since then, high school smoking rates in Massachusetts have continued to decline, from about 21 percent of students in 2005 to about 18 percent in 2007.

 

Many restaurant owners fought the ban, saying it could drive away diners, according to Janine Harrod, director of government affairs for the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which represents 2,000 restaurant owners.

 

While some restaurants were hurt initially, the effects have eased over time since the ban applies to everyone, she said.

 

Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Altria, parent company of cigarette-maker Philip Morris USA, said the study shows that the reasons teens take up smoking are complex.

 

"There is no single reason why young people engage in risky behaviors like smoking," he said. "We believe that there should be a multifaceted approach to address youth smoking."

 

At least 23 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require most public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars, to be smoke free, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

 

Another nine states ban smoking in workplaces but have various exemptions for restaurants or bars.

 

"We already have more than enough evidence why we should pass these smoke-free laws, but certainly this study should help push them along," said Danny McGoldick of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

[Steve9347]

I think my parent's upbringing helped shape my personality. That and probably some genetics.

Yes. Add to that early friendships formed and their family's influences on you.

Edited May 7, 2008 by Steve9347

[Jenksismyhero]

I'm think it all depends. If you have s***ty parents who don't spend any time raising you, then yeah, I could buy the argument that a video game/tv can alter your reality to the point that you may think certain things are normal or acceptable when they are not. However, if you have decent parents who spend the time necessary to teach kids right/wrong, normal/not normal, acceptable/not acceptable, then it shouldn't be an issue.

 

That said, it's still a matter of degree. I mean I don't see how a child could play GTA IV and think those types of actions are normal and acceptable. Something like the use of cuss words on the other hand, where the rightness/wrongness factor is a little more vague, meh, I could see that rubbing off on kids.

[kjshoe04]

I agree with the above post. It is kind of ridiculous to think that a game is going to incite violence against police officers or others. Everyone knows that shooting a gun at someone is wrong. However, the swearing can rub off because swearing doesn't really hurt anyone. Kids know every swear word in the book by about 3rd grade anyways. I used to swear like a sailor in fifth grade around friends. I knew not to do it around adults though.