[olgreeneyes]

We've had some really insightful and thought provoking subjects on this forum lately, and so, as not to hijack a thread I am looking for your opinions.
Is there more random violence and cruelty lately or do we just have more and quicker access to the stories? Or, is it that as I age I have become more fearful and notice the worst more readily? Forget ethnicity, poverty, locality, or even gender, it just seems like people are killing babies, parents, siblings, strangers, and animals for no reason, or for a perceived slight or minor issue.
Is it just me?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by olgreeneyes

We've had some really insightful and thought provoking subjects on this forum lately, and so, as not to hijack a thread I am looking for your opinions.
Is there more random violence and cruelty lately or do we just have more and quicker access to the stories? Or, is it that as I age I have become more fearful and notice the worst more readily? Forget ethnicity, poverty, locality, or even gender, it just seems like people are killing babies, parents, siblings, strangers, and animals for no reason, or for a perceived slight or minor issue.
Is it just me?

I am hoping...and praying that it is because the internet brings us all of the news instantly.

[Barefoot]

There seem to be a lot more cases of babies disappearing and children/teenagers killing their parents, their teachers, each other. Can it be attributed to violence on TV and in movies? Hopefully, it's not on the increase, we just hear more about it .. Programs like Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew feed on lurid cases.

[Carl in Tampa]

When I was young (a long time ago) I lived in a big city where there was a morning and an evening newspaper. We had radio but TV was still a few years from becoming anything more than a novelty.

The morning newspaper reported what happened yesterday because it was set up and the presses were rolling by late night. The evening newspaper had some of the morning newspaper news and a few items that had happened through the day. There were a finite number of pages, so editors had to pick and choose what news would be reported. Remember there also had to be space for sports, comics and advertising. Advertising, not subscriptions, is what made the profits for papers. There was simply not a lot of room for news that was not of international, national or local interest.

The same could be said for TV as the major networks established their presence. There was usually a morning and an evening newscast that had only a few minutes to touch on international, national and local news, including the weather. Then the networks had their own hour-long newscasts which concentrated on international and national news.

But now we have several 24-hours-a-day all-news channels. There is no way to fill 24 hours a day with news unless you dredge up what was in the past considered local news from places all over the country. In addition, newscasts follow a general rule of "If It Bleeds -- It Leads" which is to say the most gruesome stories go first.

THAT is why you hear so many more horrible stories than was the case in the past.

Having said all of the above, I think it is also true that there has been a coarsening of society since the time when I was young and there IS a greater incidence of teen agers and young adults committing heinous crimes than was the case in the past.

[ijusluvit]

When so many wring their hands at the awful things they read and watch in the media, it does seem there is more violence in society today. I believe the opposite is true. Because we have such focus on violent incidents in the media there are actually fewer incidents in comparison to the past. Some of us remember living in environments where many violent crimes went undetected and unpunished. Law enforcement officials were less objective, less qualified and less well equipped. In many places, the law actually shielded violent criminals. Perhaps the most modern examples of this are child and spousal abuse. Prior to that, whole racial and ethnic groups went through eras when laws failed to protect them.

We need to focus on how our more sophisticated laws, much higher quality and objective enforcement, and public awareness and scrutiny make us safer than we have been at any other time in history.

[gomoho]

24 hour cable news when you want it has been around a lot longer than most of us realize. The world is getting more violent and our country in particular is becoming uglier each day. Get it fast and get it easy and dispose of what bothers you seems to be the mindset which results in an ugly society.

[Teeitup]

I think a strong argument could be made that it is mostly the instantaneous info age and the need to fill so much media content, that makes it feel like crime is at unprecedented levels.

Crime Down For 5th Straight Year

(CNN) -- Violent crime in the United States fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2011 with murder, rape and robbery all going down, although crime remains a serious problem in many urban areas, the FBI said on Monday.

The report of all crimes reported to police nationwide showed slightly more than 1.2 million violent incidents nationwide, while property crimes hit a nine-year low.

Compared with 2010, the new figures show violent crime down 3.8 percent overall. Property crime was down 0.5 percent.

Among violent incidents reported to police, murders were down about 0.7 percent, robberies dropped 4 percent, aggravated assaults declined 3.9 percent, and forcible rapes were down 2.5 percent.

[billethkid]

there have been many instances where it has been shown there are perceptions of increased crime, and all the other stuff listed by the OP and it has been time and again proven to be nothing more than increased coverage by many more reporters and the era of 24/7 instantaneous news reprting.

For example by watching the winter weather reports one could conclude the winters are getting worse. Not really.

Having been born and raised in Erie, PA and traveling between Erie, Buffalo, NY and Syracuse, NY while growing up....10 and 20 inch snow storms were just that. Yes we walked to and from school during 6 some falls.

In our modern reporting in the snow areas I was raised in a 6" snow fall is a reortable storm with all it's dangers. Cameras focused on a dusting showing "and if this continues.....and so on goes the drama factor put in by each and every reporter to make their 2-5 minutes of fame as meaningful as possible.

And to take the weather example a step further, it seems like in recent months the reporting of weather conditions has now graduated to be a part of the evenings national news. And even more inconseqential events are blown into huge report worthy stories.

There is the much larger population than when we were kids.....add to that the permissivenness of what is reported in this "modern" age (remaining polite!)....and 24/7 needing to fill it's time....more opportunities with significant coverage.

I don't think man has invented anything new or different in the being very, very bad category in the recent century.......until modern technology we just never heard about it.

Just remeber that every reporter whether a local area like RV or a national alphabet network are extremely adept at making a banquet out of a ham sandwich.

btk

[duffysmom]

Originally Posted by billethkid

there have been many instances where it has been shown there are perceptions of increased crime, and all the other stuff listed by the OP and it has been time and again proven to be nothing more than increased coverage by many more reporters and the era of 24/7 instantaneous news reprting.

For example by watching the winter weather reports one could conclude the winters are getting worse. Not really.

Having been born and raised in Erie, PA and traveling between Erie, Buffalo, NY and Syracuse, NY while growing up....10 and 20 inch snow storms were just that. Yes we walked to and from school during 6 some falls.

In our modern reporting in the snow areas I was raised in a 6" snow fall is a reortable storm with all it's dangers. Cameras focused on a dusting showing "and if this continues.....and so on goes the drama factor put in by each and every reporter to make their 2-5 minutes of fame as meaningful as possible.

And to take the weather example a step further, it seems like in recent months the reporting of weather conditions has now graduated to be a part of the evenings national news. And even more inconseqential events are blown into huge report worthy stories.

There is the much larger population than when we were kids.....add to that the permissivenness of what is reported in this "modern" age (remaining polite!)....and 24/7 needing to fill it's time....more opportunities with significant coverage.

I don't think man has invented anything new or different in the being very, very bad category in the recent century.......until modern technology we just never heard about it.

Just remeber that every reporter whether a local area like RV or a national alphabet network are extremely adept at making a banquet out of a ham sandwich.

btk

[redwitch]

I agree with the majority -- there's an increase in reporting but not an increase in actual violence. Kittens and puppies were drowned as a matter of course in many places when I was a kid. Hearing of an abused animal was not unusual. Kidnappings have been around for time immemorial. Rape was not reported -- more often than not the victim was considered to be at fault. Child abuse was considered acceptable or kept well hidden if truly extreme. Spousal abuse was deserved and kept quiet. Pedophilia was common (1 in 3 women over the age of 60 were molested as children).

I think the one area that has changed is mass murders. Not serial killers but murderers shooting into schools, offices, etc. I don't remember those occurring in the past (if you were angry at a co-worker, you killed the co-worker, not everyone in the office; you fought the class bully or even plotted his/her death but you didn't shoot up the school).

What amazes me is how fearful our society has become. Kids no longer can play outside without an adult watching them. Their every second has to be scheduled. I find this tragic. Some of my greatest joys were wandering into the woods with a bag lunch and a good book. I'd come home when it began to get dark. I don't know of a child in today's society who could do this. We have an obligation to protect our children but don't we also have a responsibility to teach our children how to protect themselves, make good decisions, learn to live in their own skins? Who can learn this by doing only organized activities or playing video games and watching tv?

[olgreeneyes]

I can't thank all of you enough for your honest views and opinions. Sometimes you just need a new perspective to look at something differently. That's what I love about this forum and the people who participate. It's like a nice group of friends who get together and talk and discuss things, just missing the coffee or drinks and the occasional popcorn.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by olgreeneyes

We've had some really insightful and thought provoking subjects on this forum lately, and so, as not to hijack a thread I am looking for your opinions.
Is there more random violence and cruelty lately or do we just have more and quicker access to the stories? Or, is it that as I age I have become more fearful and notice the worst more readily? Forget ethnicity, poverty, locality, or even gender, it just seems like people are killing babies, parents, siblings, strangers, and animals for no reason, or for a perceived slight or minor issue.
Is it just me?

No, I do not think it is just you as I feel exactly the same way.

However, my husband always thinks it is because we have instant access to news from all over, whereby in the past, one never would know what was happening so faraway.

I think that so many people are on DRUGS now and not just hard core drugs which alter your mind.......but even some pharmaceutical drugs can change how you perceive things (if you listen to the side effects and their warnings)...........and as you mention above, they fly off the handle for minor reasons..........no one seems able to control themselves nowadays.

Living in THE VILLAGES I would feel safer......but not sure about the rest of Florida, with a few exceptions.........places we know to be family oriented and safe.........

But, as we age, we all become more vulnerable to crime or to being taken advantage of.........so better to be among friendly peers......for sure.

Yours is a good thought provoking post.

I , myself, have a calm personality and don't feel the need to raise my voice or "act out"........thus, it is difficult to understand why so many people cannot control themselves.......and do attempt or succeed in causing harm to others.....even to perfect strangers.......such as murder or other acts of violence......which do seem more prevalent in today's society.

I'm sure that the generational change in television shows, movies, music and so on..........do contribute. All of this numbs people to others' pain.

I can watch CRIMINAL MINDS and assure you I will not get the urge to go out and kill someone............but children raised from a young age on violent shows, movies, music, etc........might behave differently.

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I agree with the majority -- there's an increase in reporting but not an increase in actual violence. Kittens and puppies were drowned as a matter of course in many places when I was a kid. Hearing of an abused animal was not unusual. Kidnappings have been around for time immemorial. Rape was not reported -- more often than not the victim was considered to be at fault. Child abuse was considered acceptable or kept well hidden if truly extreme. Spousal abuse was deserved and kept quiet. Pedophilia was common (1 in 3 women over the age of 60 were molested as children).

I think the one area that has changed is mass murders. Not serial killers but murderers shooting into schools, offices, etc. I don't remember those occurring in the past (if you were angry at a co-worker, you killed the co-worker, not everyone in the office; you fought the class bully or even plotted his/her death but you didn't shoot up the school).

What amazes me is how fearful our society has become. Kids no longer can play outside without an adult watching them. Their every second has to be scheduled. I find this tragic. Some of my greatest joys were wandering into the woods with a bag lunch and a good book. I'd come home when it began to get dark. I don't know of a child in today's society who could do this. We have an obligation to protect our children but don't we also have a responsibility to teach our children how to protect themselves, make good decisions, learn to live in their own skins? Who can learn this by doing only organized activities or playing video games and watching tv?

This is very well stated. But before the thread closes, let me suggest that there are two reasons for the emergence of mass shootings: 1) The media fascination and guarantee to the killer that he will become famous, and 2) the accessibility of automatic weapons. Excitement and a sense of control is planted in the minds of sick demented killers, who always felt they lacked that in their frustrating lives.

OK, I've said it.

[DougB]

In 1960 there was less than 180 million people in the US. Now there are over 315 million. Over 135 million more people. More acts of violence? Of course there is.

[DaleMN]

Man's inhumanity to man has been, and always will be.