Television, The Other Parent- And they say TV is influential! In The Wall Street Journal it is reported that television anti-drug ads haven't had the intended effect.

Yesterday's Oprah also featured discussion of the media's influence on children, including an interview with the mother of a 12-year-old boy seriously injured while copying TV stunts. I'm sorry, lady, but your son is stupid for lighting himself on fire. I don't care if he is book-smart and can get A's in school. Common sense says that you do not ignite yourself, even if Johnny Knoxville does it on Jackass. Yes, television does have an impact on viewers, especially younger viewers. But television does NOT reflect reality and it is your job as a parent to ensure that your child understands that. As a medium of visuals, television attracts an audience with outrageous actions. At its best, television should be used to laugh at the misfortunes of others, not as a blueprint for creating misfortunes of your own.