Response to Violent Media is Good for Kids.
In " Violent Media is Good for Kids", Gerard Jones takes position that violent media helps kids "engage" with their rage and may lead them to utilizing it in life's challenges. Jones provides anecdote examples throughout his essay to prove that violent media is a healthy emotional outlet for children with inner rage.
Gerard's first 6 paragraphs are anecdotal evidence of himself as a kid. He mentions that Incredible Hulk was the character in which "caught" and "freed" him from the "wall" that was created to divid Jones and the cruel American pop culture in the 1960's, do to parents that were against violent media. Even though his anecdote strengthens the argument, because violent media led him to being a successful writer. It only proves to be helpful for himself not children as a whole.
In paragraphs 7 through 12, Jones mentions school shootings and how most people believed it was violent media that was causing these out burst he states that he began research. Gerard tries to justify his argument by stating he did research and found Melanie Moore P.h.D., psychologist who has done studies with her daughter on urban teens, who shares the same opinion with Jones. Melanie has created a program called Power Play, a program that helps young people improve their self knowledge through heroic combat. Although Jones presents several claims towards this evidence he does not have any creditable statistics to prove, or back up this evidence. In other words its not enough to just mention the psychologist that agree with Jones.
Gerard's first 6 paragraphs are anecdotal evidence of himself as a kid. He mentions that Incredible Hulk was the character in which "caught" and "freed" him from the "wall" that was created to divid Jones and the cruel American pop culture in the 1960's, do to parents that were against violent media. Even though his anecdote strengthens the argument, because violent media led him to being a successful writer. It only proves to be helpful for himself not children as a whole.
In paragraphs 7 through 12, Jones mentions school shootings and how most people believed it was violent media that was causing these out burst he states that he began research. Gerard tries to justify his argument by stating he did research and found Melanie Moore P.h.D., psychologist who has done studies with her daughter on urban teens, who shares the same opinion with Jones. Melanie has created a program called Power Play, a program that helps young people improve their self knowledge through heroic combat. Although Jones presents several claims towards this evidence he does not have any creditable statistics to prove, or back up this evidence. In other words its not enough to just mention the psychologist that agree with Jones.
Jones took part in two case studies, paragraph 13 through 15. Both case studies where about two young girls who had troubled homes. The first girl had separating parents which caused violent fantasies out burst that other moms would worry and would try to control her stories, but the more they controlled her the more she acted out. The other girl was dealing with a "chaotic family situation" in which she used street violence found in rap. Jones uses these two stories to show he is not the only one who used violent media to free himself. These cases are a valid point to an extent, he relates it to a relatable narrative story, but these girls could have had other help that was not stated in the essay.
In paragraph 16, Jones states that he is not going to argue that violent media is "harmless", which would be considered his refutation argument, but instead he goes back to his own opinion. Gerard talks about how "everyone its hurt, its helped hundreds.", although he makes his statement sound factual there is no actual evidence to prove his point.
The concluding statement in paragraph 17, was more of a warning instead of representation of his thesis in paragraph 12. Jones states that if parents and society continue to protect their children from violent media, "we risk confusing them about their natural aggression" and compares it to the "Victorian" age. This warning does not have evidence to prove that children become confused if we shelter them from violent media.
I do not disagree with Jones opinion, but I do believed he failed to have factual evidence to back his anecdotal evidence. He did a well job of getting his opinion across, without having done much research about violent media helping young people with their rage.
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