Schwarzenegger says film violence not linked to school shooting

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Reuters

Arnold Schwarzenegger may be one of the world's biggest action stars but the former governor of California says violence in films is entertainment and should not be linked to tragic events like the Connecticut school shooting in which 20 children died.

The star of films such as "The Terminator," "Predator" and "True Lies" told a press conference before the opening of his new movie, "The Last Stand," on January 18th that "one has to keep (the two) separate."

&quot This is) entertainment and the other thing is a tragedy beyond belief. It's really serious and it's the real deal," Schwarzenegger, 65, told reporters.

The actor, who will star in his first leading role in the film since serving as California governor for seven years, said the tragedy in which a gunman killed 20 children and six staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, is about more than just guns.

"We have to analyze how we deal with mental illness, how we deal with gun laws, how we deal with parenting," he said.


Read more: http://www.kspr.com/entertainment/sns-rt-us-arnoldschwarzenegger-violencebre9050dd-20130106,0,6318741.story#tugs_story_display

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Wonder at what age Lanza and Holmes watched their first Schwarzenegger movie and if that had an impact in how they see the world.

[Lionessa]

1. And in a way he is right,

it's a whole chicken and egg thing. Art resembles reality which in turn resembles art. I know some of the most passive people who are avid violent gamers. And I know some that are wound up all the time. My daughter is of the former, my son and I am in the latter and do not allow myself to play vid games anymore except for very short bursts during long weekends and such. And movies and games are on the same level in my mind. Again some of my kids' most passive friends loved slasher movies, some who liked them were worrisome.

I don't know, I truly have mixed feelings about what the right answer to the question of media violence being a cause of real violence. There seems validity to the idea that for some it is a way to safely expel daily frustrations and such. There also seems some validity to the idea that it can desensitize folks to real violence.

[Fearless]

6. I would tend to say

That society is much more the root cause. After all these wouldn't be blockbuster movies if society didn't condone them en masse. In the same way, violence wouldn't be written into movies unless we craved them somehow. Saying it's the movies though seems to be a cop out. For instance, you know a horror movie is fake, even if it scares you. Would that not logically also be true about violent movies/games?

[snooper2]

17. There is no way you could have made this scene any better...

And I don't remember wanting my dad to get me a mini gun so I could cut down trees in the woods...Oh wait

[MessiahRp]

2. I call BS on that.

I watch an incredible amount of horror movies. I even run my own Horror Movie Channel online (shameless plug: http://www.indiehorror.tv) BUT I have never considered murdering anyone.

Do I enjoy what I am watching, no matter how disturbing or grotesque the violent visuals are? Yes. But I have drawn a line in my head separating fantasy and fiction. I can watch endless amounts of horror movie gore but I have a very hard time watching shows with real life surgeries and such. I cringe at the concept of war, no matter how many Stallone or Schwarzenegger movies I have seen. I still have real emotional reactions to the scenes of abuse in Platoon and the proportionality scene in the Fog of War.

If I watch so many action movies and so many horror movies and enjoy them no matter how many death/kill scenes they display, in your theory I should be emotionally detached enough to not be affected by real life atrocity. Well, you're wrong. It's just not true.

It's not entertainment. Not movies. Not video games. The culture of violence in America has nothing to do with either. They have those same movies and same games in Japan and Canada and in most of Europe and they're not killing each other.

The NRA would have you believe it's everything BUT guns that did the killing. It's this belief in Americans that guns are a necessity to solve disputes (because the old fashioned way of negotiation is too difficult for many, or hell, calling the cops even)... eye for an eye. I look at that as part of our country's flaw. Fundamentalist beliefs, strongly rooted by corrupt religious leaders are just as prevalent here as anywhere and only the most hateful, spiteful, angry parts of scripture are the ones anyone knows it would seem.

I don't blame the Bible or the fact that we're a way too religious country as the cause of those deaths. I don't even blame all religious leaders for this. I do, however, think that some of the most influential in those circles though have taught widespread fear and intolerance to strengthen the controls of their churches and that taught side by side with that whole eye for an eye concept creates a paranoia that helps drive people to buy more guns. The fear makes people cling to their religion tighter for they are the only ones that really know what is going on.

And thus, the culture of fear that creates more shootings. It's born of xenophobia, righteous indignation and cultural distress. And the pot is always being stirred by the same group of zealots pushing you to grab a weapon.

[SoapBox]

3. STFU, WORST Governor EVER in the history of America.

Go away you stupid fucking War Hawk...you make me sick.

[Joe Bacon]

14. +1,000,000

Absolutely a fucking disaster as governor. He let the red ink run and kept passing the buck.

So glad Jerry Brown is back as Governor doing cleanup.

[samsingh]

18. agreed

[StrictlyRockers]

4. Well I'm glad we got that settled.

And he really is one of the most preeminent authorities on this subject. I mean, who has made more popular, violent movies than he has? Stalone may have a higher body count in some of his moves. Charles Bronson may be a bit grittier and "tough" on the bad guys. But Ahnold really is the one who should know.

Whew, that certainly is a relief. Now we can start looking to other people to point fingers at. Because it's not his fault (according to him).

[azurnoir]

5. no self interest in that statement

nope none at all.........

let's see The Expendables 1&2 Terminator 5 just announced The Last Stand, nope Arnold doesn't have a personal stake in this one

[LawnKorn]

10. Arnie would never try and protect the residuals he receives from those movies

I sure he never gave a thought to the money he receives from the DVD sales of the Terminator, never.

/sarc

[still_one]

7. Well then Arnie how about movies being linked to adultery?

[Joe Bacon]

15. Have pity on him

He's got those awfully high alimony and child support payments to make. And he had to put his house up on the market.

So sad...

[still_one]

25. nah, he deserves it. Anyway he can make one violent movie and pay all that off

[bubbayugga]

8. turned the tube on last night to watch a movie. option 1 was mel gibson being tortured

by having his toes smashed with a hammer while he was strapped into a chair. Option 2 was to watch Cheech Marin being tortured by being brutally cruicified in a church. Basically the only two movie options involved watching a man get brutally tortured. Does art imitate life or does life imitate art? A bit of both I think.

[justice1]

9. Violent movies are seen throughout the world; yet the U.S. has the majority of mass shootings.

We also have poor health care, low wages, shorter vacations, over-extended soldiers, a population that is taken advantage by banks, wall street, and corporations. We are undermined at every turn, leaving us stressed out and depressed...but they give us easy access to high caliber weapons...What is wrong with this picture?

[Shadowflash]

11. Exactly.

They watch the same movies and play the same video games, in Canada, that we see here but they are not inclined to massacre each other a couple times a month.


This is a moronic argument. It's like going into a prison and asking all the rapists if they drank milk as a kid then then concluding, when they all raise their hands, that drinking milk causes one to be a rapist.

The key is how many people who drink milk DON'T become rapists and how many people who play video games and watch movies DON'T become murderers.

[KatyMan]

12. Was about to say the same thing n/t

[Remmah2]

16. Mass shootings vs violence?

http://www.rampageshooting.com/

The buzz words of the day are "mass shootings"; this should be compared to overall world statistics of lethal and non lethal violence.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Don't really know what to make of the argument

Movie and video game violence accustoms people to violence.
It becomes easier to pull the trigger. And the movies show the
act of shooting, but rarely the consequences. Violence is
portrayed as a reasonable option or solution to injustice, internal anger.
People without normal impulse control are susceptible.

Why some go over the edge, why some plan violent events
months in advance? These events are happening with more
than random frequency.

Hopefully someone will find some answers. Seems to me
these shooters have poor self concepts, are outside of any
popular groups, are bent on revenge for perceived or actual
slights. Not in a supportive positive environment, in other words.

[randome]

19. It's a black and white world, right?

Everyone who offers anecdotal 'evidence' that they watch violent movies and play violent video games yet don't do violent things in the real world is defensive and ridiculous.

No one has ever said that watching a violent movie is the sum cause of violence in the world. The same for video games. But to deny that they don't have an influence on the already mentally disturbed is to deny reality.

[closeupready]

23. Yep, +1. Lots of anecdotes here, little common sense.

(Welcome to the Gungeon Underground f/k/a Democratic Underground.)

[Tempest]

20. So when that guy who shot a pimp said Taxi Driver was his inspiration

It wasn't because of the violence in that movie?

[former173rd]

21. hollywood

The guy is nothing but a rich, plastic wanna-be that we made from scratch.

[closeupready]

22. Stupid is as stupid does.

Or in this case, 'says'.

[L0oniX]

24. ...because children don't learn by example.

[Taxee]

26. Of Course Violent Games fuel murders

Beem me up Scotty!

Really, these games feed crazy and unstable minds. So do movies like "saw".

[Eleanors38]

27. Interesting. A serious discussion of an "NRA talking point." Who'd thunk it?

[olddad56]

28. If Arnold said it, it is a lie. Worst governor ever for the state of Ca.

[humblebum]

29. There was a time when i.d.'d potential psychopathic murderers were not left to roam the streets.

When they were able to get the help they needed and society was much more insulated from them. Things have changed. The mental health system in the US is broken.

[closeupready]

30. So you want to return to "The Snake Pit" times?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040806/

You are alone.

[humblebum]

32. No of course not. BUT, when friends, relatives, and counselors are sounding alarms

of potentially violent mentally ill individuals as was the case in the Connecticut school shootings, the Colorado theater shootings, and the Gabby Gifford shootings and nothing is done until it's too late - the "system" is worthless and has failed. This is an all to common problem and innocent people are put at risk.

That I find unacceptable, especially when a cross check of such people could have shown that they had access to weapons. Those two criteria coming together could have saved many lives.

[closeupready]

33. No the system didn't fail; people were irresponsible, unprofessional and

negligent in their responsibilities. The system is not worthless, but those who were charged with performing functions (essential to achieving the aims of getting help to those who need it) perhaps are worthless as professionals and maybe even citizens.

[humblebum]

34. They are the system. I have seen first hand how unnecessarily difficult it

can be to get someone the help they need. It is a bureaucratic nightmare and thinking we can control all mental conditions with proper medication and out patient counseling is a joke. And the evidence is Newtown, Connecticut, Aurora, Colorado, and the Gabby Gifford incident.

[ButterflyBlood]

31. He's right. Compare the level of violence in Japanese entertainment to their school shootings

Also lots of European countries have made some pretty violent movies, anyone seen Man Bites Dog or I Stand Alone? Yet the rate of such shootings in Belgium and France is FAR lower than the US's.