The glorification of suicide on television.
Does anyone else see this?
Does anyone else notice that there's more and more of this on TV?
Or is it just me?
I know that there are plenty of things people have issues with on television; too much sex, too much violence, too many naughty words - I get it and totally agree with all of it. It's all just too much.
I don't understand WHY that would be a big review grabber for people that it needs to be shown.
Suicide is a super sensitive subject to me. I've lost two family members to suicide... my dad and my brother.
I don't want to see it on television. I don't want to see it in movies. I don't want to see it.
For me it's a "false memory" that plays out in my mind on a regular basis - reliving what must have been the most awful moments of my brother and father's lives. The end of their lives, playing out on a TV or movie screen.
Why does this need to be shown?
I don't want or need to see anyone holding a gun to their head or to their throat or anything on that level.
Preventing suicide is a difficult thing. Depression runs rampant, especially in a day and age where the economy sucks and bullying has become the norm, where many parents don't accept responsibility for the actions of their children & where people feeling lost don't always ask for help.
It's almost as if TV is playing it all out for them... making it an easy choice.
"Hey, life is hard... let me just go get the gun or the pills or the razor -- I saw it on TV, it doesn't look that hard, and I'M suffering WAY more than that person on TV was... this is what I need to do."
This is what scares me. The desensitization. The acceptance.
The total disregard for human life, across the board.
But what if I'm not.
It is my very strong opinion that television, movies and the video gaming industry has largely desensitized modern day youth against violence. For them, it's the norm. They see it all the time. It's no big deal. For the younger, less developed mind - characters get shot or shoot themselves all the time and then they are right back on the show / game / movie the next day. It's not real.
But it is.
And I have a huge problem with it.
I know my little voice won't mean much in any of this... but it's out there.
Maybe someone will hear it.
Thank you for reading my blog!
~Jenn
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If you are in crisis, call1-800-273-TALK (8255)National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Your voice makes a sound. I was not aware that this was a prevalent subject, but I am not as sensitive to it as you would be. I am not bothered by 4 letter words, and some of the censoring late at night is so silly. They can say ass-bleep, but not asshole! A little nipple slippage never hurt anyone. How do people worry about such crap and let sensitive content be glorified?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joe - It is my hope that this post will make people more aware. Like I said, I'm sensitive. But in just 2 shows that I've watched this week - one a crime show and one a drama/thriller - two graphic suicides. I also remember on House when the one doctor committed suicide. I remember how disturbing that was to me / for me. It's something that stuck - and that was probably about 4 years ago. It's just not necessary. Thank you for your support! :)
DeleteI was searching through some images on Monday and came across one that was a picture of a young woman, looking down, holding a gun to her head and the caption was: "Suicide. Because this world would be better off without you." Who makes this stuff? Who thinks this is funny? It makes me want to bash some heads and knock some sense into people.
ReplyDeleteThat is truly disturbing!
DeleteKudos to you for writing this, Jenn! I totally agree with you--media is sending the wrong message when they depict suicide in a fluffy, dramatic sort of way. Suicide is painful and ugly and devastating. I ache when I hear anyone--in real life or on TV say things like, "I'd be better off dead." Why do they put this stuff on TV and glamorize it??? For ratings, that's what, and I think it sucks.
ReplyDelete