[2012/06/14] Topic-Morality in decline

[lancelot]

Morality in decline

Many people blame the entertainment industry for the decline of morality that has occurred over the past few decades. Most people over 40 agree that morals in western society have been in a downward spiral for the past few decades. We see it everywhere in the violence all around us, in the promiscuous behavior of the young generation, in the road rage on our highways, and in the general disregard that people show for one another.

Kids don't respect their elders the way they used to, and they think nothing of cheating on exams. Vandalism is common and computer hackers get enjoyment out of messing up other people's computers. If young people think this is way things have always been, they're wrong.

Not long ago, the worst things that American kids did in school were to chew gum or pass notes to their friends during class. Now sexual behavior and carrying knives or guns are the main problems. Some schools now have metal detectors at their entrances and pass out condoms th the boys.

Dress codes used to be strict, but today fashions focus on showing as much skin as possible.
In the old days students danced at school dances, but today what passes for dancing is more like simulated sex on the dance floor. They call it "freak dancing". Dancers rub against each other in sex positions. Most schools have banned it, but students say they just "having fun"

The USA isn't the only country experiencing a breakdown of morality. In Japan and Korea the recent trend is for middle-aged men to pay $100 or so to spend 2 or 3 hours having sex with teenage girls. South Korea now has an all-sex cable channel, but just a few years ago that would have been unthinkable.
Many people blame the entertainment media-movies, TV, the music industry - for the decline of morals in society. Many movies are filled with unnecessary violence and sex. Even computer games are centered around killing the opponents.

Pop stars, who are the role models for teenagers, have to be sexy in order to become popular. TV news channels sensationalize their news programs with video scenes of violence to steal TV viewers away from the other news channels.

The result of society's preoccupation with violence and sex is that the public has become desensitized. Scenes that would have shocked audiences 30 years ago don't surprise anybody today. Nobody is shocked by public nudity. Naturally, most producers of entertainment media claim they're only giving people what they want. They say that their artistic creations only portray life as it is and that they are not responsible for causing it. They say they wouldn't produce if people wouldn't buy it, and they're probably right.
Another possible reason for the decline of morality is the breakdown of the family caused by rising divorce rates. Meanwhile, the digital generation is producing a generation of social misfits who can interact better with computers than with other human beings.

<Question>
1. Do you agree that society's morals are low?
If so, what makes you think so?
2. People say that sex and violence in movies and TV brings down moral values. The producers of those shows say that they are just giving people what they want and that they're not to blame. Who's right? Tell why you think so.
3. Who is more to blame for the low morals of young people-parents, the schools, or the entertainment industry? Tell why you think so.
4. Do you think it's important whether society's morals go down or not?
Does it matter to anyone? If so, how?

[Hiro]

오전 스터디 모임에 참석 하고 싶은데 신입도 참석해도 되나요?
만약 참석 가능하면 시간, 장소 및 스터디 요일 좀 부탁합니다 ㅎㅎ

[lancelot]

쪽지 방그확인했고요. 화목 오전 10시 20분부터 11시 30분까지 형곡시립도서관옆 커피스토리 창가측자리에서 모입니다. 제가 경험한 바로는 아주 개방적인 모임이므로 언제든지 오셔도 됩니다.

[미니봉봉]

참가 하셔도 됩니다^^ 화, 목 10시 20분 부터 이구요... 장소는 현재 시립도서관 옆 커피스토리에서 하고 있어요...~~ 환영합니다~~~

[lancelot]

미니봉봉님이 누구시죠? Maybe Hee?

[청아]

저두 일단 시간은 모두 채크해 놓고 시간나면 참관좀 해두 될까요~
영어로 자기소개도 못하지만 듣는 귀라도 좀 넓혀보고 자극도 많이 받고 싶습니다...!

[lancelot]

환영합니다.^^

[미니봉봉]

미니봉봉은 저 ... 희예요~~ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[lancelot]

네 흰줄 알았습니다^^