Safer at home on the couch

Deb Lewis, of the effect of television on her son:

I can't think of any unpleasant thing he's done as a result of being influenced by TV. He's never beaten up other kids, stolen anything, wrecked the car or knocked over a convenience store. Doesn't lie, drink or smoke, doesn't take drugs, hasn't joined a gang. He hasn't damaged other people's property, kicked a dog, lit a cat on fire.(the longer original)

Sandra's response:

In every single case of any human having done any of those things since television was invented, UNIVERSALLY the world would have been a better place had that child been watching television at that moment instead of damaging life and property.

Television would have saved MANY young people from the justice system. It still could. Television can save all juvenile delinquents if their parents will just MAKE THEM WATCH TELEVISION!!!

For those who stole, lied, drank, smoked, did opium, joined gangs, kicked dogs before 1950.... wait. Are we sure any of those things happened before television was invented? I don't see how, without the influence of television, any person would get any bad ideas.(original)

When parents come and declare that a child is doing violent things in "violent video games," I've said "Isn't he sitting on the couch at your house?"

That it is from "Safe on the Couch" which has a name similar to this page. That's because I create pages and forget I did that! The topics go different directions, which most things do.

Does TV cause violence?
Deb Lewis, with history and statistics

Thinking about Violence

Logic

Safe in his Own Home