We are all influenced by things that happen to us. Watching films and television programmes are one of the main activities of human beings, so we cannot help but be influenced by them. Whether we are influenced adversely or beneficially depends on what we watch.
             Films and television programmes of today are filled with violence. There is never a shortage of violent shows. we get shows on crime, war, martial arts, psychopaths, murders, the occult and all manner of human degradation. The public seem to love these shows. They get a thrill out of someone kicking another to death, or see a man shoot another in cold blood, or watch a psychopath slice someone to shreds. If they enjoy seeing such shows I do not see how they can avoid being influenced.
             My personal experience is that after seeing a show that I enjoy, I find myself wanting to emulate the hero. At one stage of my young life, I imagine myself being James Bond. At other times I fantasize about being Rambo, Dirty Harry, Bruce Lee and other celluloid heroes. Of course I know I cannot be like them, but the influence these shows have on me is obvious. Unconsciously I imitate them. How do we get to use terms like "no sweat, man", "cool it, baby" and others? They are all straight out of the movies. We are all influenced, whether we admit it or not.
             There have been cases where armed robberies copy the methods shown on popular films. The police admit this. This shows the direct influence of film on crime. Also recently there were cases of people being attacked by person wielding Samurai swords. Would these not be the influence of violent Japanese and martial arts films? They certainly look so. I have seen my friends taking up martial arts after watching one of Bruce Lee's films. It is all right if they do not go out and pick a fight with someone. But who can tell? Given the opportunity they might just become another crime statistic.
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