Whether you are a parent or not, you must have been running into a debate on children being affected by violence on TV or in video games. For myself, being in a milieu of active parenthood, the issue presents itself often in a sensitive way. Actually this is one of the challenges for the actual generation of parents. I say parents, because for the kids it is part of their life, without options or much choice. You might be a parent already, or you will be, or maybe not. But the challenge of giving a response to this issue will reach you. The sooner the better, so, should kids be protected from all violence seen on the monitor?

Here it is what did in fact provoke me to hit the keyboard. Part of the media in the country where I live in picked up the story pertaining to a study by the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media. They have studied “the effects of video games on young teenagers” as they say on “real children and families in real situations”. The results were intriguing compared to previous assertions on the topic: video games are means to diminish stress, and do not increase tension or aggressive tendencies.

It is intriguing, it is the opposite of how we were told before, it has news value in media. So far, so good. But then almost instantly a so called authority on matters of child psychology reacted. Until it is still hot, you might say. The guy is not young, belongs to the (media created) image of psychology guru. Meaning that whenever the issue of protecting children from any form of aggression shows up, he is there, bringing you the wisdom of unquestionable authority in the field. But this time I just found it quite hilarious.

The major argument against the Grand Theft Childhood research was Tom and Jerry. That it all started with Tom and Jerry. Tom and Jerry are the roots of all evil.

Now should I be concerned about letting my child watch Tom and Jerry? Is Tom and Jerry dangerous? Will Tom and Jerry “led to violence through easy identification with the aggressors” as the wise man says?

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