Deziner

I guess the biggest thing Troy is you cannot say just because you turned out OK others will. You can not juxtapose your experience onto others. That is not realistic. The fact that the beheading video affected you when you initially saw it is case in point. Things can affect people in different ways, in your case it was not nagative, but affected you none-the-less. That feeling when you first saw it, if you reflect on it now probably comes back to you quite strongly. That is how the human mind works. How we learn, adapt and in some cases break. Regarding the games generation comment...Not really mate. My generation pioneered them, including shooter games. I also grew up on a diet of Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. Scared the hell out of me at the time. But to use this as an example - You can not discount some of the biggest mass shootings and links they had to playing excessive amounts of extremely violent video games. But as I said, this does not mean everyone that plays them is going to carry out a mass murder. For many it will manifest itself much less extreme...But still negatively. Again I bring back the point I made about soldiers using extremely violent games to desensitise themselves, or I should say they are made to play them for that purpose. Proven psychology that these games do impact the human psyche. This means for a soldier they are able to kill another person much more readily. same will apply in the real world out of the combat zone.

Just to be clear Troy, I am not having a go at you, merely a lively debate. ; ) So your comment "With the right knowledge, anyone has the power to be exposed to anything and not let it affect them." is really far off the mark. Soldiers are given the correct knowledge and tools that are supposed to enable them to cope with the horrors they see. And still we see soldier returning with PTSD. Everyone has a breaking point, its a spectrum, but everyone has a point at which they will be affected negatively by what they see....Even you. I myself have a pretty high tolerance in this regard, but even I, if I am being honest with myself have been affected to some degree with what I have seen. I have worked in security and emergency management as well as having done a Masters in Counter Terrorism so I have probably seen sicker stuff than most on this forum. "Desensitatisation to something is VERY different to influencing the individual to enact that which they've witnessed. I won't at all deny playing/watching violent stuff will desensitise an individual; I will however firmly stand against the common notion being pushed that it will make them more likely to re-enact similar things to that which they've witnessed because they're under the impression it's "normal/acceptable"." Trust me if you give a young teenager access to this material it will and does affect them. Teenagers do not understand that their actions have consequences, this couple with desentitisation and the fact that a teenagers brain chemistry is all over the shop and often results in them acting out at the best of times...It is trouble. As I said before, I don't think this means they are going to turn into a mass murderer but in many cases will lead to issues. As you mentioned Troy, Balance is key. There-in lies your answer. Kids should not be playing super violent games or watching that stuff on TV, that in itself is not balanced nor does that give a kid or teenager a "balanced" view of the world. I understand...Gone are the halcyon days of Pacman and Space invaders. LOL. Even I am partial to a good shooter game, however there is a point where they go way to far. Further twisted games like Silent Hill and those types of things are way beyond what a teenager should be playing.

Ahh yes...All from those who are not parents. One day when you have kids you will be shocked to see how much you start to sound like your own parents! LMAO No, kids should not be "sheltered" in fact our 3 year old went to a family funeral this week. But it does not mean as a parent you give them free run to watch and do whatever they want. It is a sad indictment on society that we see kids being more and more sexualised every day. Letting a 15 year old kid watch sex scenes as twisted as they are and as far from reality as things are in shows like GoT is part of this problem. As for video game, it is a proven fact they desensitise people to violence (in a lot of cases). Why do you think the military uses them? Not saying it turns everyone into mass murderers. But does a 13 or 14 year old (or even much younger from what I have seen) need to play games that are VERY graphic in terms of blood and guts? I have to tell you that most 15 year old's still don't understand their are consequences for their actions. It can lead to problems. Just saying.

I was waiting for someone to jump on that! (waiting again)

Damn...I guess I will have to withdraw from the sexy penis of the year awards. : )

Definately not for kids to watch.

It is good to be informed...never heard one described as such. Now wondering if I measure up...So to speak. LMAO!!!

please explain what a sexy penis is....

I wouldnt let a 15 year old watch it. It is pretty full on. If you watch The Red Wedding episode you will understand. ; )

Agree re GoT.

Patrick and Nina are the two most annoying characters in that series. Should have killed both of them off!

Good going Mik.

Cool. I am taking my eldest son to lunch then will be out there. See you then mate.

I might take a drive out there but I cant until after lunch. Anyone else still going to be there?

What time is this on to?

Spotted a yellow 34 parked accross from the Helenic Club in Woden today at lunch time.

I think it is compulsory in the US. Or at least used to be.

I always wonder why driver education is not taught in school prior to being of age for a licence. In the US they have driver ed in schools, have done for a very long time. It used to include a trip to hospital to visit people seriously injured in car accidents etc. as well as driver training.

I wonder if that would include something like an XT Forester. I was driving one on my P's and legally should not have been, but never got a second look by police. It raises an interesting point though. The XT engine etc. is the same as the WRX's and in some cases bigger displacement and turbo depending on the year of WRX.

I actually thought about charging for rides, but then there are some serious insurance issues etc. on behalf of the school. LOL Yes, lets crash it.....I just can't go home after that! LMAO!!!

Sorry guys but are part in this has been cancelled. I think they wound up getting some more things in that people will pay for and have run out of space. I was really looking forward to all of us catching up at this. Plus the kids would have loved it!

I have seen that car around a couple of times.

Like I said...same thing. LMAO

I am waiting on confirmation. Will update tomorrow.

Aren't they the same thing? ; )