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Violent TV programmes

(82 Posts)
Bridgeit Tue 15-Jan-19 21:54:11

They seem to be the norm now, are they a reflection of parts of our society OR are they steering us towards accepting this as the norm .? Does this brainwash a generation of young people into carrying weapons as acceptable & par for the course?
It’s the same old question , do TV & films reflect reality or do we emulate what we see & watch?

Mamar2 Wed 16-Jan-19 11:18:41

It's a genre I enjoy...a good 'Who dun it'? Can't wait for Game of Thrones to begin again. I'm nearly 68 & don't plan anytime soon to go find my Dragon & fly off into the sunset.

Nanny41 Wed 16-Jan-19 11:08:49

I cant stand violent films or programmes dont watch them.I like documentaries and Countryfile kind of things, and love some of my soaps (none violent) Call the Midwife is my favourite.

winterwhite Wed 16-Jan-19 10:58:55

We only see the trailers before the 10 o’clock news and that’s bad enough. And they make everything seem the same except for the dress. Bring back Hancock’s Halfhour!

Someone made a good point about our generation not flinching from cowboy and western films, and dressing up and play involving guns. But the exotic locations and the dressing up clothes confirmed it as make believe. Played out on home streets and with no horses it might have been a different matter.

Telly Wed 16-Jan-19 10:51:14

I refuse to watch anything that I know has extreme violence and if I find something unacceptable I will turn off. I think this level of violence brought into peoples homes can only do damage and make people think this is normal behaviour. I also find that I am unable to watch most wildlife films because the cameras are able to get up close and personal to creatures being eaten alive. I know it goes on, but I don't have to see it.

nipsmum Wed 16-Jan-19 10:49:37

I like watching things like Silent Witness. I find the forensic aspects of programmes like that fascinating. Yes they contain violence but violence happens every day and has done since the beginning of time. If you don't like to see it you don't need to watch it.

Kim19 Wed 16-Jan-19 10:33:25

Tv's current showing of Les Mis is having rave reviews and yet I cannot bring myself to watch it because I find the plot harrowing in the extreme. My problem is that in many ways it actually reflected true life for some in that time. I can't seem to handle that.

Anja Wed 16-Jan-19 10:24:34

GG ???

Anja Wed 16-Jan-19 10:21:37

It’s the gratuitous violence I cannot stand. Like Luther. I watched Silent Witness last night and there was a point being made.

GabriellaG54 Wed 16-Jan-19 10:15:21

I watch very little tv and of those programmes I do watch, 90% are factual, non-violent, non-sexual.
My AC and GC are very outdoorsy in their workplaces and into sports so they would rarely be found veg-ing in front of the tv.

Nelliemoser Wed 16-Jan-19 10:12:50

I am fully with eazybee on that. It has to have an effect on people.

I find so many of these programs are unnecessarily violent.
You can easily make it clear that a violent action has taken place on film or such.
Luther being one of far too many.

Lily65 Wed 16-Jan-19 10:02:55

I think the cruelty and gore used to be in part balanced out by an intellectual challenge of who done it and why.....not its just vile for the sake of it.

I am still haunted by an episode of A touch of Frost.

sunseeker Wed 16-Jan-19 10:02:35

I don't think there was the graphic, up close and personal, violence in the older TV programmes and films. Just like sex in films it was implied but rarely shown.

I am sure some GNs will reply by listing violent films, but they were in the minority - now it is almost compulsory to put graphic scenes into TV and film.

Cold Wed 16-Jan-19 09:51:45

I don't like violent TV shows and I don't watch them.

However violent TV shows are not a new thing at all. I remember shows like "The Sweeney" in the 1970s being pretty violent and the original series of Taggart had their moments as well.

Coconut Wed 16-Jan-19 09:46:17

You only have to watch the reality Police and Prison programmes to see just how much vileness and violence there is out there today.

paperbackbutterfly Wed 16-Jan-19 09:45:04

Soaps used to reflect real life and offer an insight into ways of dealing with problems ( I still remember the saga of Minnie Caldwell's missing cat!). If they are a reflection of real life now then it is horrific I no longer watch soaps.

Jane10 Wed 16-Jan-19 09:41:32

I agree re Father Brown. I also liked the Dr Blake Mysteries now under a different name minus the doctor sad

Witzend Wed 16-Jan-19 09:38:43

Didn't even watch the whole first episode of Luther. In particular sadistic cruelty or violence really bothers me. Things I've seen or read can come back to haunt me in the small hours - sometimes for years.

But some people must enjoy them, which I do find disturbing.
When I worked at the library there was a perfectly pleasant, 60-ish woman who was very keen on a particular crime author. She asked me whether I liked the books, and I had to say no (although I enjoy most crime novels) because they always seemed to feature sadistic violence.
She said she enjoyed those bits!
It still gives me a chill to remember that, and it was years ago.

Lily65 Wed 16-Jan-19 09:30:58

I watched some of Luther and questioned what on earth I was doing....this is entertainment?

I don't think so. Deeply disturbing and a waste of talent. I like the genre of crime but what is watching this stuff doing to us? The bar has definitely moved in terms of what is acceptable viewing.

Grandma70s Wed 16-Jan-19 09:10:07

I never watch any violence. I switch off the moment there’s any sign of it. This is very limiting - historical dramas or documentaries, for instance, are often full of violence. It puzzles me that many people don’t seem to mind - or even, I’m sorry to say, enjoy it.

Luckygirl Wed 16-Jan-19 09:03:13

I gave Luther a miss - violence for no reason, silly masks - just generally nonsense.

I like police dramas, because of the trying to solve the conundrum of who-dun-it. But the gore is a bit unnecessary. I don't need the gore to enjoy the process.

Greyduster Wed 16-Jan-19 08:57:59

I must say that, by the time the last two episodes of Luther came around, I was finding it very difficult to watch. I don’t think the darker moments in film and tv reflect reality, but we are faced with so much of it that maybe we are finding it difficult to put into perspective. I don’t think the viewing public expect it, really; I think it is forced on us. I think I will be sticking to reruns of Father Brown!?

LullyDully Wed 16-Jan-19 08:16:24

We missed.Luther too, being too squeamish. I dislike the post mortem scenes where cutting into flesh and showing organs is common.

I wonder why we are all so drawn to a good murder. All the psychopaths seem to be so intelligent, knowledgeable about the scriptures and with perfect, meticulous planning.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 16-Jan-19 07:47:41

I like detective/ police dramas, but abhor violence for violence sake!!!

Luther was a no for me also.

Jane10 Wed 16-Jan-19 07:32:24

I hate all this cruel violence presented as entertainment. What is wrong with the viewing public that we seem to expect it? I certainly won't watch such programmes.

dragonfly46 Tue 15-Jan-19 22:45:08

I totally agree about the violence on tv. I am sure there is more of it than there used to be. I hated Luther and hid behind my iPad.

There used to be far more comedy eg Only Fools and Horses, Butterflies, The Good Life even AbFab. Okay there was a lot of rubbish but it was silly harmless rubbish. Now it seems that programmes are not rated unless they have violence, bad language and sex.