I was looking over the Comics Code, and I thought to myself, Self, Why did we get rid of this? If more media or people followed even part of the comic book code I think we’d be a better society. For your benefit the code can be found here: http://www.comicartville.com/comicscode.htm

The code just breaks down what is morally right and wrong, and lays it out. I don’t know how many times I’ve had conversations with friends or students and they ask me why I won’t play games like GTA (Grand Theft Auto), or watch movies like Fast & Furious, or the like, and I tell them it’s because it glorifies crime. Why do we feel the need to glorify the worst parts of our society?

I have had immediate responses (almost programmed responses I would say) “Video games don’t cause crime” or “Movies don’t cause crime” I didn’t say it causes crime, but it makes it ok to fantasize about killing or robbing or stealing. And when people fantasize about doing things they know are wrong, they start to ask “Well, why is it wrong?” and this is when the people who don’t have the social support of good friends or family start to cause problems for society.

Now I’m not saying that the code is perfect, for example Section B # 1 could be removed, (No comic magazine shall use the word horror or terror in its title.) because those 2 words, “Horror” and “Terror” don’t scare anymore, but they do warn.  Section C “Marriage & Sex” # 7 (Sex perversion or any inference to same is strictly forbidden.) is too vague and if we’re not allowing sex period, (especially in children’s comics, unlike naked Thor: ) it should be removed, even if we PDA (public displays of Affection) it should be for all. I  digress, My point is: If the people we look up to on TV, or our children to look up to are drug dealers, thieves, and murderers what does that say about us as a society?

I want to express that I am not for organized censorship. But I wish the directors and writers would think about these things as they write. A lot of people believe they are just mirroring our society on TV, but in most cases they directly affect our society and how we think or feel. If children repeatedly see the police as the enemy in movies and TV, then of course they won’t go to them for help, like we should be teaching our kids.

Now if we held this code of conduct to our regular lives, we wouldn’t be having as many difficulties.