<% ballot="40078" ' Check nothing is broken broken = 0 if ballot = "" then broken = 1 end if set vt = Server.Createobject("mps.Vote") openresult = vt.Open("Vote", "sa", "") ' Created object? if IsObject(vt) = TRUE then ' Opened db? if openresult = True AND broken = 0 then ballotresult = vt.SetBallotName(ballot) ' read the vote votetotal=(vt.GetVoteCount(ballot, "yes")+vt.GetVoteCount(ballot, "no")) if votetotal <> 0 then ' there are votes in the database numberyes = vt.GetVoteCount(ballot, "yes") numberno = vt.GetVoteCount(ballot, "no") percentyes = Int((numberyes/votetotal)*100) percentno = 100 - percentyes ' fix graph so funny graph heights dont appear 'if percentyes = 0 then ' percentyes = 1 'end if 'if percentno = 0 then ' percentno = 1 'end if else ' summut went wrong frig it numberyes = 0 numberno = 0 percentyes = 50 percentno = 50 end if end if end if %> Votes so far:

100% 0%			>		>
			Yes: <% =percentyes %>%		No: <% =percentno %>%

They key to TV programming is the need to provide "entertainment". Thus, the inclusion of violence in prgramming is designed to stimulate the viewer either by a) shocking him/her or b) (although producers would deny this) appealing to his or her blood lust. Both cases are likely to stimulate violent responses/enjoyment of violence in some people. Consequently, depiction of violent scenes should be kept closely in check, even where it may be more justified in eg news programming. In my book, violent scenes should be censored as closely if not more so than sex scenes (which do need some degree of control.
Nigel Aston, Spain

Children become "immune" to tv violence and by that I mean they have no conception of how bad an injury can be and how long it takes to become healthy again after a comparitively mild beating let alone the ones the tv heroes overcome within hours.
Angela Smythe, Canada

Each generation of children is getting more violent each year. TV programmes get more violent. There is a link and we, the adult population, need to do something about it. At least parents should be able to be confident in what children watch at particular times.
Joe Herbert, UK

As far as violence on TV is concerned, parents will have to let their children know the absolute difference between reality and fantasy. As long as we keep in mind that what we see is not real, we can make sure that violence on TV is not a threat to society at all.
Arjen Bokhoven, The Netherlands

Television programmes, especially movies, effect our next generation a lot. Sex is becoming common and one reason for this is the television. Something should be done now to stop this.
Hussain Fakhruddin, Pakistan

The world is a nasty, rough, violent place. I'd love to believe different, but that would be deluding myself. Sadly, we have to face up to this, and that means taking responsibility for ourselves and our action, and those of our children; not expecting the state to hold our hands and make it go away.
Simon Bradley, UK

TV violence would be less of a worry if there were more counterbalancing models. We need characters who display humane and thoughtful attributes. Heros in the old sense that our children can aspire to.
D.McHutchison, Australia

Parents should just monitor what their children watch.
Chika Okoye, USA

Parents have an obligation to determine what children watch. If this were truly the case, we wouldn't see so many censored films on television and on the UK video market.
Trevor May, UK

There are already tough guidelines for broadcasters to follow. Parents have to take some sort of responsibility for what their children watch, especially after the watershed.
David Donald, Scotland

We are not worried enough about domestic abuse, alcholism, gun control, illegal drugs, poverty, child abuse, the justice system, underage pregnancy, illiteracy, or education. These are the culprits of a violent society. I suppose one could add the television set too, but I think it's important to be realistic.
Ray Malinowski, USA

A substantial body of evidence suggests that real but subtle links exist between TV violence and subsequent violent behaviour, particularly in children. It is not simply a case of violence begetting violence, in particular the available evidence suggests that the influence on childrens behaviour is mediated via the reaction of parental role models.
Notwithstanding the links are subtle and the survey quoted above does contribute little to the debate. Producers and programme makers still have a tendancy to listen to what they want to hear and disregard or diminish what is now a sizable body of scientific evidence demonstrating a link, albeit an indirect one, between TV violence and delinquency.
Martin Deahl, Consultant Psychiatrist, Barts Hospital, London

Yet another example of people abdicating their responsibility. It is incorrect to blame TV for the ills of society. Parents should teach children right from wrong, not expect others to do it for them. It is not acceptable to say 'It's not our fault', because it is. They are OUR children, and OUR responsibility.
Ian Mellors, England

Violence on TV only becomes an issue when it is used inappropriately. To be constantly subjected to mindless violence, not as a vehicle for a storyline but as part of the 'formula' for a modern drama, is to de-sensitise ourselves to the issues and suggest to our children that violence is the best policy for stressful situations.
Gordon Macmillan, United Kingdom

Violence exists in the world. If you don't believe me, go visit Cambodia or Northern Ireland or Rwanda. Stories that include or portray violence are just reflecting the realities of life. As long as the programming does not become a sort of pornography of bloodshed in the manner of Clint Eastwood's films, it does no harm. Certainly most "televiolence" is mild compared to the stories of the Brothers Grimm or the Graeco-Roman myths. I have not yet seen anyone on television eat his children alive in the manner of Cronus.
James Castro, USA

I believe that TV should avoid all forms of fictional violence, but factual programmes including the News should show it as it is. I think that people cannot change fictional violence as it is written, but fact-based violence can be shown for its true horror and discouraged.
Nick Lansley, UK

Although classic studies such as that by Bandura have shown that children learn from things they see, later studies suggest that the effect of the tv on children is not as great as it was thought. It's time to stop debating this issue, and make a decision and act upon it... whichever way the decision goes.
Cath Hughes, UK

Evaluating the effects of TV violence on children and adults is quite a tricky question. Should TV reflect reality? If so it must contain some violence. Or should TV be a role model? If so it shouldn't contain violence, but is this another example of an undemocratic nanny state?
J Freeman, UK

Our children will form their ideas of what's socially acceptable from tv. If we allow tv violence to continue to become more explicit, then we will create a violent society of the future. If parents can't exercise control over the remote contro (and what does that say about the parents?) then the government, British or otherwise, should do it for them.
Richard Ayres, Glasgow, Scotland

I totally disagree with Richard Ayres. Television is an adult medium - it's not all for children. If anything there isn't enough violence on tv. Let's have some more, I say. After all the real world is a frightening and violent place - why should we deny what's really going on.
Bob Eggington, UK

Stick & stones may break bones - names can't really hurt you. Dialogue or violence - which would you prefer? If the killing stops when the talking starts - lets hope they keep talking.
Ian Sweeney, UK

While there is undoubtedly too much violence on television, there is not nearly enough sex. Well done for not lumping them together for once.
Mike Cryan, UK

Life is far more violent than TV can ever depict.
Adam, England

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©