New Rule: Hollywood's Culture of Violence | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

[@keganbeavers3464]

I’d add a fifth slice to that pie chart labeled “parental failure” In almost every one of these situations there was a complete breakdown in the home between parents and child in terms of authority and communication. Parents who saw signs and didn’t recognize them, or parents so detached and oblivious they ignored them completely.

[@starventure]

The Uvalde shooter’s parents were quickly revealed to be utter pieces of shit when it came to parenting.

[@neildusseault8404]

I agree... no accountability, no intervention.

[@purpurina5663]

Yes x 1000 Authority, accountability, and proper socialization.

[@smidlee7747]

USA government welfare system rewards single parent homes.

[@JohnDoe-zw8vx]

I'd say replace the movies/TV slice with parental failure or no emotional support. They tried to make a connection between violent video games and violence in kids and they couldn't prove it.

[@ChrisMcCarroll]

I grew up in the 80s. Lots of great action movies. I don’t remember mass shootings back then. Other than the occasionally postal workers. Bill makes a few great points between Washington and Hollywood. And yes, I agree movies to provide ideas and stimulate the imagination. The thing with all these mass shooters today. They aren’t emulating their favorite movie. They are doing it because they are severely broken. Deeply and severely broken. And that just goes down a whole different rabbit hole

[@kylebarton778]

I was thinking the same thing, thanks for typing it out for me.

[@raddad9041]

Tend to agree. Frankly, what kids are even watching these kinds of movies anymore? Kids are on phones, or video games. The occasional movie, sure, but that's not their predominant exposure. It's literally a raising-our-children problem. Too many parents let the TV, Tablet, Phone raise their kids. They helicopter them about physical environmental harms and heavens forbid your kid goes out and builds a tree fort in the neighborhood anymore. Lets not forget that almost as many households for kids are broken homes as there are two parent homes. Or hell, the petty ass people who take their anger out in the home environment because there they can direct some of their shitty impudent rage at something they can bully. Put children through years of abuse, and "mental health" is a polite way of writing ticking-time-bomb.

[@Wildcat82164]

It reminds me of the guy who played Dexter a murderer killed someone like how Dexter did. They asked the actor how he felt, he felt bad but said he would have still done it just got an idea from somewhere or someone else

[@Balderdash1000]

I was reading an article about mass shootings the other day, and according to the studies done, all the mass shootings are meant as a form of suicide. Let that sink in for a minute and realize how serious that is. I don't think it's a coincidence that for over 20 years suicides in our country have been ratcheting up to new heights, and so have mass shootings. If you want to fix the problem something needs to be done about the constant since of depression and alienation that people are dealing with these days. Everything I've seen tells me that if you want to stop these mass shootings, the best way is to give people hope for a better tomorrow, and something to fight for. That's what's different from the 80s.

[@sadeghsaati1335]

I guess you're just not getting the point.

[@lesterwink23]

This segment reminds me of one time I was working at a movie theater in high school and a woman took her 2 young sons to see the movie Hostel…30 minutes in she came out demanding a refund, not because of the scenes of graphic torture and violence but because it contained female frontal nudity. THE HORROR!

[@outbreak49]

growing up i was allowed to watch violent movies and play violent video games, but if it had a lot of nudity or sex scenes i couldn't watch it. i think that's the consensus for A LOT of parents.

[@axgreenious9400]

I remember that movie; the T&A was excellent!!! Once the torture started, the fun of watching the movie ended. But, it was an excellent horror-gore movie if one is into that type of thing. Didn't someone make Hostel 2? I need to google it.

[@MikeJuly]

LOL NOTE TO SELF: watch the first 30 minutes of the movie 'Hostel'. HT: NMcD RIP

[@Marijuanifornia]

I edited a music video for the song Snooze Button by the California funk-metal band, Snot, which is all about how Americans sit and watch police brutality and violence on tv like it's supposed to be normal and no one will do anything about it because they're all asleep on the couch. "You hit that snooze button and fell asleep again." That video has a Graphic Content warning on it. I also edited a music video for the Beastie Boys song Girls which is a bunch of bouncing butts and titties in skimpy lingerie and bikinis, but no graphic content warning.

[@zombiediet]

Dude I used to work at the movies and some family had their 8 year old watching the hateful 8 and when they hung daisy the little kids eyes were bugged out and he was trembling. And I'm torn cuz I grew up on violent and scary movies but it just made me a movie buff...I guess sometimes it scars

[@robinrahmani4705]

Bill Maher remains the only person on television who again and again tackles both left and right with logical and meaningful segments. Bravo to you Bill for never being reluctant to call out flaws that exist on both sides of the spectrum.

[@bbblackwell]

Too bad he hasn't realized that they're just the left and right boots of the same marching tyrant. When you concede one man's power to act as "authority" over another, you've forfeited the game and embraced you're own enslavement.

[@MrLuigiFercotti]

I remember how shocking the violence of Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" was when released in the 60s. Now every action movie has piles of dead bodies, with no real accounting of it, no reflection or despair, everyone just goes and gets a pizza.

[@gokhanersan8561]

Just saw an episode of Star Trek. After one crew member’s loss, camera always turns to the Captain who is devastated by the loss. Movies stopped keeping track of the dead long time ago. But, especially today movies have made heroes of mass killers. Remember Batman’s Joker; it inspired the mass killer in the movie theater, during a Batman 3 screening.

[@willwalker6894]

I think it’s worse now than when films were blatantly violent like the 80’s action and horror films. They were more brutal but now films are more sanitized and polished in order to pass a PG-13 rating and because of that the audience is even more easily detached from the brutality than when guts and blood were the standard 20 years ago. Whereas; Jason Voorhees could slash through a body count of 10 in one film, now kids and young adults are able to witness full fledged genocides and superhero’s going through villains and henchmen in the 1,000’s in your next Marvel film. At least parents when I was growing could distinguish if they wished to take their child to an R rated film or not. Now; these films draw a very thin line.

[@privateuser7]

Because that's what death is . We make way too big a deal out of death. It's really a beautiful thing.

[@markbay9275]

@@privateuser7 We dont share the same concept of beauty.

[@privateuser7]

@Bass Player I agree 10000%. I play basketball at the park and I always teach and mentor the boys that go play there. Their parents love me though, I've never had any issues.

[@TBTeams4]

I get where Bill is coming, but I’d attribute that more towards the detachment from reality. Social media, as great as it is, has become a horrific detachment from reality.

[@Monochromicornicopia]

Your response ignores his point entirely. Namely, the hypocrisy of the left rejecting the glorification of guns while simultaneously allowing it in movies

[@pamelacourts5989]

Yes indeed!

[@CodeMonkeyCharlie]

People don't seem to see the value of an individual life, either. Just another cog in the machine, nothing special.

[@roboticeye]

YOu said "but", but then you agreed with the pie chart he presented. It was all connected.

[@MrJonsonville5]

Sexual frustration. That's the one thing they all have in common, they can't get laid and they hate women.

[@purpurina5663]

I’m not a US citizen but I’ve lived there and visited many times. So from an outside perspective I see the following: a society that, while VERY puritanical (ie repressive), carries significant underlying violence. You have to fend for yourself. You don’t count much unless you are “successful”. The goal in life is to be rich. Unless you are well-off, there is little education on culture (music, arts, books), which really is what feeds the soul and connect you with humanity, together with affection of course. But the parents aren’t there, they are working or they also don’t really care about those things. Moderation isn’t a value; kids are not taught to regulate themselves, to be patient (also a factor in obesity IMO), to know what enough is. And then everything seems already done, streets are wide, stores are huge, everything is available; what I want, I can (=must) have. Which also means you don’t feel there is much space for you to contribute. And then violent video games, easy access, and the rest.

[@ProctorsGamble]

I live here but have an outside view. Moderation an self control are not valued in this so-called society. Actually that’s the problem. There really is no society. It’s each for his own.

[@mindlessmonk3322]

33 years living in America & you nailed it.

[@marymitty3105]

😔

[@8ofwands300]

Very interesting and seems bang on. Would you elaborate on how other societies compare? I mean it's not clear to me that only American kids are watching violent movies and playing violent video games.

[@Quantumanticz]

I’m not a huge fan of outside countries point of of view because if you’re in the UK or AU I think you have no room to judge considering the shit show that is your socialist failure of 1 world government. Generally Americans agreeing with outside views have never had the opportunity to realize how good they have it. But in this case I agree. The average American is overly materialistic, lacks responsibility and self control and has more mental issues than dollars in their savings account. Something’s going to break the camels back and we’re currently playing with fire. Unfortunately it’s our kids who are going to get hurt.

[@HYPNOTICVIDEO]

The scripts for many action movies is just one huge explosion.

[@caronstout354]

Paging Michael Bey!

[@christopherharris6145]

Years ago Bruce Dern was asked in a Playboy interview, what he thought of Movie ratings and his answer has stayed with me. He said, " I've never understood why, if I kiss a woman's breast, the movie gets a X rating, but if I hack it off with a sword, it gets a PG."

[@mirahgirl01]

What movie got a pg rating for cutting off a breast? Doubtful

[@myes344]

Its not x for kissing. And is not pg for the blood and gore. Get out

[@desertsuede4]

@@myes344 before nc-17, r and pg-13, those were the ratings

[@mjkittredge]

because the Reagan era dinosaur moving ratings agency is a bunch of prudes overly concerned with how offended Karens get overy nudity and sex. Watch the documentary "This Film Is Not Yet Rated"

[@neotagatg3238]

@@myes344 invasion of the body snatchers 1978 has full frontal nudity and head getting smashed in it's rated PG. Ratings changed over the years and not consistently or for the better any form of sex or nudity seemed to become instant R or higher while Gore and violence continued in pg13-R movies. Some movie get an R rating because they cursed one to many times not because of the act of violence that are done for crying out loud.

[@yousefmohammedayub1798]

I used to run a youth male therapy group and another one for adults males who committed domestic violence. These circles were so helpful in allowing boys and men to be vulnerable, be open, and honest with themselves. There was a lot of crying, laughter, and reflection from them. When I look at things, there aren't too many places where boys and men can go to develop socially and morally, to reflect and relate with others unless it is court mandated or you must have a serious mental health diagnosis. The institutions today (family, school, work, bars, clubs, ball games) that boys and men are expected to go, make you feel isolated, frustrated, wanting to get drunk, high, act foolishly, angry and hopeless. Being a male myself, when I ask where can I go to connect intellectually, emotionally, and positively with other males, there aren't many options Id consider. That is a serious problem and explains a lot of the problems we are facing.

[@appamaddox8190]

Males? Interesting preposition.

[@GregConquest]

@@appamaddox8190 Noun, not even a pronoun, definitely not a preposition. And no, it's not an interesting choice of words. It encompasses "males" at any age. Boys, men, guys, ... all have some age exclusion. "Males" is perfectly accurate in this case.

[@GregConquest]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. But what about Maher's thesis here that gun violence in movies and on TV encourages gun violence in real life? I've not read much about this, but it does seem to me that even if the thesis is true, ending gun violence on screen would be near impossible. War movies are about our history. I would not want to see shooting taken out of those, and we should watch them/understand our history, facts, drama, and all. And how many movies are about shooting a bunch of innocent people? None of the movies on his list were of a guy going into a school and mowing down children. Those kinds of characters are generally taken out by other characters in most movies. So, I'm not sure Bill's thesis is well grounded. And even in Japan, with its extremely low, near zero, gun violence, yakuza , war, and fighting monsters are all popular genres. Ditto for popular video games. The world of fiction and reality seem pretty well separated in general.

[@breeosteen647]

There once was a time that a boy/man's therapy was working on a vehicle under a shade tree or wood shop etc...

[@kristen7775]

As a mother of two sons, I couldn't agree more. I remember how tenuous their awkward teen years were. So many slip through the cracks.

[@64standardtrickyness]

"You humans always say you don't want to see violence, but you know you do. I defy you not to watch"- Bender

[@lennonacid]

Good quote. But I have to admit, I don't know who Bender is or where it came from. 😔

[@raymondluxury-yacht1638]

There's a pearl of wisdom from TV's greatest philosopher. "Death to all humans!"

[@ericocccams5865]

@@lennonacid Futurama

[@Robert_Westwood]

@@lennonacid, you've never seen Futurama?...

[@baharinkamarul3389]

Bender bending rodriguez rodriguez

[@ricklayeux5688]

Right on with this Bill, much respect.

[@1Tomrider]

As a Hollywood producer once said, "When violence starts taking a beating at the box office, we'll stop making it!"

[@leoperidot482]

When Americans stop doing drugs, cartels will stop making cocaine.

[@marygard4608]

You are correct-its' just business and it's what sells in America.

[@1Tomrider]

@@marygard4608 Yes, and "doing business" has been sanitized, as if any and all atrocities are then OK - from the Godfather ("It isn't personal, it's only business!") on to the present!

[@leoperidot482]

@@marygard4608 So are you saying other countries don't watch or make violent movies, play violent video games, therefore they don't have mass shootings?

[@typearce1823]

Then why do they keep putting out all these gay shows that keep bombing.. and yes i mean gay in a literal term.

[@architeuthis3476]

Yes and no. Glorification of violence is definitely a problem, but people in countries other than America that don't have gun violence anywhere near as bad as the US watch those same movies (including places where people have guns). The problem is not portrayals of violence but a culture that sees violence as a solution. That being said, I definitely agree that its a bit hypocritical of Hollywood to be sensitive on certain issues but not others, but that's just poor artistry.

[@pizaliasta8369]

Other countries have a better sense of personal accountability also. Here in the US we have created a snowflake culture that does not first ask the question "what is my part in how I feel on where my life is right now...?" etc. Instead we have trained our youth to believe that their feelings come first and personal accountability comes later, or never. Think of it this way; a personal with a high level of personal accountability is very unlikely to ever be a mass shooter. This is our fault as a country. For far too long we have allowed politicians and school systems to have a one sided conversation about everything that a person is entitled to without ever having the other side of the conversation which is about what responsibilities that they have to be good human beings and good American citizens.

[@jameswhite3415]

@@pizaliasta8369 I still don't understand why you would be a mass shooter. Where is the logic there?

[@lynnbardwell7580]

@@pizaliasta8369 while I agree that being woke has been taken too far, these kids DO have parents to instill values in them. My son is 22 and I raised him to have a thick skin. I explained to him that nobody is going to give you anything in life, you have to earn it. I also raised him competitive. I pulled him out of team sports that celebrated participation instead of developing skills to win. When he didn't get the position he wanted in a sport, I told him to speak with the coach to see where he needed improvement so he could earn his way to that position. We are our kids first teachers and if all we do is coddle them their whole lives, yeah they're going to be ill equipped to deal with any problems.

[@FlorisGerber]

as someone from outside the US, let me tell you that we had a FAR less violent ang graphic TV content for a long time. Action movies are still sometimes censored when they are sent primetime, and only shown uncencored in the repetition deep in the night. And there is a new quality to the new crop of movies and series over the last 10 years. If we did not have sensible gun laws: as in: nearly no guns in the civilian population, there would probably be mass shootings here, too.

[@lynnbardwell7580]

We've always had violence on TV, we've heard the blame on video games before and even music. It's extremely difficult to be a teenager as it is but I think social media has amplified and exploited insecurities in our country's youth. They used to just have to deal with being miserable at school but now it's 24/7 when they're bullied online, forced to compare themselves with other kids that seemingly have a "perfect" life, are judged by their amount or lack of friends/followers, and have algorithms that feed their insecurities. We're a nation of consumerism and keeping up with the Jones's. Kids are nonstop comparing themselves with millions of other kids through the magic of social media. That's why their mental health is in decline.

[@christopherrivera7837]

Now I just want an interview between Bill and Quentin Tarantino.

[@BXBZ88]

Bill did on his Podcast a few weeks ago.

[@MiggsMultiple]

They just did one on Bill's Podcast...Club Random

[@anaibarangan4908]

That was about ia year ago on his show.

[@liamwinter4512]

Quinton would have the facial expression of a man talking to an ant the entire time

[@JordanbM83]

Bill had Quentin on as a Guest, and Bill Praised Quintin on all his movies.

[@MarlinDarrah]

EXACTLY. Excessive gun violence makes a lot of money in cynical Hollywood.

[@k2411871]

Violent movies are shown in Korea, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Canada etc... They don't have the same issues you in the US do.

[@mahatmaghandi4288]

Exactly. But sometimes people in America forget that other countries exist when trying to make a point.

[@theonethatknocks209]

Shhhh!! America is the only country in the world...don't tell Americans that.

[@maelstrom52]

I didn't think his main argument was that gun violence in movies is the primary CAUSE of gun violence, but more that there's an inherent hypocrisy in the Hollywood. They will create equity quotas when it come to the makeup of a film (both in actors and productions crew), and they will happily display progressive ideals in films when it comes to issues of racism, for example, but they all profess to be against gun violence, and yet the films don't reflect that in the slightest. Now, that said, if Maher is attempting to lean into the "cultivation theory" idea that violence in the media impacts real-world violence, then I would be very skeptical of this as there just isn't any real good evidence to suggest this is happening. Simply saying that the violent people tend to consume violent media is not a compelling argument because it's not a causal argument; it's just a corollary. It's more plausible that violent people are attracted to violent content than violent content causes violent predations.

[@rdalge]

@@maelstrom52 Hollywood is selling what people will buy. It’s not the other way around. It’s no different than the drug war: we keep snorting, they’ll keep selling. The reason sexism, racism and homophobia is not being produced is because large sections of the public will not buy it. Pornography and gun violence are here to stay.

[@paldeusjaco9657]

Yep, cause only in America everyone is made to feel hate or hate for others due to the political people in power that can only say "blame the others for your stupidity"...hell USA is removing God after the family is removed and what's left but to hate each other. And don't forget slavery we have to keep that alive as if it was just 1 minute ago...

[@blatherskite3009]

Mass-shootings are a uniquely US problem, though. Other countries have gun ownership, but they don't have the same problem with mass shootings. And pretty much the whole world has all of those same movies (and games) but we don't go around shooting people. The US is going to have to face the fact that it's not any of the traditional easy scapegoats but a deeper cultural problem.

[@Dawn737]

You need to go read a list of the violent movies and video games America produces that are banned in other countries due to their extreme levels of violence. Even the children's movie "King Fu Panda" had Europeans joking, "Americans are upset by the nudity of the Panda, huh? Not the violence."

[@janrogers8352]

There have been mass shooting in other countries, just not as often as the ones in the US.

[@zyx7478]

I have traveled to many countries of the world. And strangely and inexplicably it seems like Americans are the angriest, ready to fight unhappiest people ever met. We have a beautiful nation with so many resources but the hairtrigger temper’s and ready to go to violence in a second, that’s one of the biggest problems…

[@Dawn737]

Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci said it best. "America is backwards, films with nudity get an R or NC17 rating, yet films with so much violence will get a P.G.13 rating. In Europe it's the opposite."

[@blatherskite3009]

@@Dawn737 American films don't get banned for violence in Europe. Occasionally they can get slightly cut, but not because the content is unacceptable; it's because our age-rating systems don't line up exactly with America's and studios opt for the lower rating with cuts in order to sell more tickets. As for games, censorship is almost entirely about sexual content these days - and that mostly concerns games of Japanese origin because they have, erm, very different standards regarding what's OK than the West does.

[@danielandrews5357]

The problem is: other countries watch the same stuff and they don’t seem to have this problem.

[@williamerickson520]

Not even gun-friendly Switzerland, where nearly everyone is trained to use and openly carries.

[@milmal7336]

yes, but why don't other countries make the same level of violent movies per captia?

[@skillzorz101]

@@milmal7336 Because it costs money. Do they make the same amount of comedies per capita?

[@raymondluxury-yacht1638]

@@milmal7336 They do, many more so. Have you checked out Japanese movies?

[@milmal7336]

@@raymondluxury-yacht1638 I've seen a few, mostly horrors. Do they have a lot of action movies with guns?

[@ferriveiro3101]

I lived abroad for a while in a very peaceful east asian country. The county's violent crime rate is 0 and gun ownership rate is also 0. TV content was blissfully free of violence. The people just had no interest or thirst for violence. It was such a privilege to live there. Thank you Taiwan for showing us what the world could be like.

[@sqchen1982]

well Asian people watch hollywood movies too. Its just they watch other movies as well. and the guns are not really available.

[@dianaparsons3750]

What a WONDERFUL WAY TO LIVE. ❤ 💖 I LIKE THE OLDER MOVIES WHERE THEY FADE OUT ON THE SEX SCENE. YOU DON'T ❤ HAVE TO WATCH EVERY LITTLE GRAFFIC MOMENT. YOU CAN WATCH THESE WITH YOUR PARENT'S @ CHILDREN THANK GOD 😊 GRABDPARENT'S

[@Pool_Inspector]

Yeah but 95% of the country is Han Chinese and you have a defined culture and values. When everyone looks like you and shares the same ideas, kinda hard to find hostility btwn them.

[@tomweickmann6414]

Only a nimrod defines the culture by what is on television. The rest of us live in the real world Bill. We can differentiate between media bs and a real life dangerous event. "Gun violence". How about "people violence".

[@lucaspaiva3634]

@@Pool_Inspector exactly great point. I think that applies for many countries that are worshipped as model societies, like Finland where the majority of people belong to the same ethnicity, Iceland, Portugal or Singapore are also like that and the violence is really low in those places.

[@SDCB754]

I'm a Christian conservative, and Bill Maher is really growing on me. This man is hilarious when he branches out to other topics besides bashing Trump. And even when he does bash Trump, he has some valid points.

[@GaZonk100]

and if only childish Trump would listen an grow up! grrr the world needs him

[@starman4699]

Sorry you're a Christian You can do better.

[@darkwoodmovies]

@@GaZonk100 The world needs a good leader, but Trump is absolutely not that. Some of his qualities in moderation are good, but the whole package is a disaster unlike anything we've ever seen in recent history.

[@GaZonk100]

@@darkwoodmovies why? what specifics?

[@darkwoodmovies]

@@GaZonk100 Well, for one we can start at the stolen election lie, which caused irreparable damage to the country that we'll be dealing with for a generation. But more generally, his ability in making "deals" was an overstatement to say the least, he wasn't able to get anyone to cooperate at all. It's all words and blaming everyone else, but he had a Republican Congress for 2 years and wasn't able to get much done in that time. Even his wall was a failure, despite it costing us a month-long government shutdown that we're still to this day experiencing the fallout from. He's all talk, MASSIVE ego, but no substance to back it up. He's a nepo baby that got everything handed to him on a silver platter, but in his mind, he "earned it with hard work".

[@jgndev]

I don’t always agree with Bill but I highly respect his independent thinking and guts to say what he thinks

[@rickved]

But what do you think of his views on this video?

[@Christobanistan]

@@rickved Moronic. Violent movies don't make people violent any more than violent games do. Lots of studies have been done and there is no causal link.

[@suewood8707]

@@Christobanistan His point though was the woke of Hollywood tell us what to do and think but then produce these kinds of films with extreme acts of violence-many using guns. He's pointing out the hypocrisy while also saying he doesn't support censorship. I don't often agree with him politically, but his recent videos demonstrate a willingness to have a conversation that doesn't end with a rant and devolve inyo name calling.

[@Christobanistan]

@@suewood8707 No, he's also totally agreeing with the disproved premise that violence in TV and movies influences people to kill.

[@suewood8707]

@@Christobanistan I went back and rewatched this. I see where your opinion came from and I agree-the reason shootings occur is more complex than seeing it happen in a movie. I still think that his overall point is to show the hypocrisy in Hollywood telling us there should be more gun laws but then creating these types of movies because they make massive amounts of money for the creators and actors.

[@SaintMartins]

Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci said it best. "America is backwards, films with nudity get an R or NC17 rating, yet films with so much violence will get a P.G.13 rating. In Europe it's the opposite"

[@phoenix5054]

My parents from the Philippines repeatedly told me when I was a kid that sexual scenes promotes a promiscuous lifestyle. We have way less sexually open conversations in our movies and TV. Our country's birth rate is higher than any European country's. Go figure.

[@robertbullock9554]

Saint Martins-We Americans have lots of issues backwards.

[@Mondfischli]

... same in Germany. Kids can buy a beer legally at 16, drive, marry and vote at 18 but can't get a gun before 21 🤧

[@robertmadison1205]

We Americans hate sex but love violence. There was once a movie called A Bullet to the Head, which i a terrible thing. But can you immagine a movie titled a Penis in the Vagina, which is natural thing?

[@delanoblazin]

@@Mondfischli I'd like to add to your very correct comment that in Germany you need a license/permit for a gun that you can only obtain through the police after a thorough background check.

[@Barbaralee1205]

I came to this same conclusion about Hollywood 30 years ago. I got rid of my TV and carefully screened any movie. I read books now almost exclusively nonfiction because after all how many times can you read Jane Austin and her ilk is vanishingly hard to find today.

[@albertobarbieri117]

I'm italian, we watch the same movies and have, inheritedly, kinda a thing for retaliation and vengeance, but we don't have a hint of your gun violence. Mr. maher likes to stay in this middle ground that makes him feel unique but also kinda generic. If that makes sense.

[@five1five06]

Fredos

[@greatwolf5372]

This is true. Easy access to guns in the US is a primary reason. Unfortunately, the cats out of the bag. Criminals all have guns and the government is totally incompetent so we cant rely on them for safety. Any attempt to restrict guns will be a bigger failure than the War on Drugs.

[@KitC916]

America is way behind the rest of the world in terms of civility or consideration for others. "Every man for himself" is the logical consequence of late stage capitalism, and boy do Americans worship capitalism.

[@egorm8952]

Perfect sense.

[@CHICOZTACOS]

Sounds like the other slices of the pie he referred to aren’t as big in your country.

[@Kingdeme]

Media may influence it’s consumers, but the reality is that most of these shooters are people who have been ostracized from society. With regards to lone shooters, I believe the way to fix this is: Helping these men adjust to society BEFORE they become violent. “The boy who is rejected by his village will set it on fire just to feel the warmth”

[@mattheww.6232]

They are focusing on lone shooters to distract from the mass shootings that happen every week in their urban poverty vote plantations that define Democrat run cities. It's stupid and conflating lone shooters with the bulk of the gun violence and only works when arguing on the internet from the safety of economically segregated neo-liberal homes. It's not Mad Max out in poor rural areas despite guns being everywhere.

[@vtc8570]

Not enough emphasis on mental health services, sadly.

[@ASDFCH]

I agree, male ostracization is a big component. I'd like to hear guests come on and discuss this further. For example, the past few years, we now see a drop in male attendance to university. Men in society are losing interest in higher education, one of the keys to societal success! This is just one of many datapoints indicating that young men are in a psychological decline.

[@rjframe4410]

theres a profound idea

[@hermanhoppe3773]

@@vtc8570 bro Psychopaths aren't mentally ill. They know what they doing. Every shooter were put in psych ward but nothing cured them.

[@billsmith9297]

This goes a lot deeper than what kids are watching. Canadian kids watch this type of stuff just as much, and we have a tiny proportion of mass shootings.

[@missesmew]

Agreed fully, wondering if we had the amount of guns would we be as rampagy and murdery? And yes, the bad guys do have the guns like people in the US say they do but I don’t think we get killed by them as they just kill each other. Most of the mass killers get their guns legally 🤔

[@spearfisherman308]

@@missesmew but Canada was already less violent even when gun laws were looser and other countries censor video games and movies a lot more than the USA.

[@pakpala1]

Bill Maher is influenced by ratings.. he wants the right and the left viewership..

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Canada is different, I'm Canadian. I grew up with stalking, rape, and physical and psychological torture as par for the course. Canada also has a barbaric, degenerate culture. Guns are less likely to be involved, and if they are, then we hide it from view instead of widely publicizing it. It's the same human species, kids.

[@rugbyelite1361]

Yeah no shit. We Canadian kids can’t buy machine guns at 18 lol

[@markscottames9277]

As usual, bill is still the only source of info that is true and honest. Thank you Bill!

[@ernesthill4017]

By no means the only source of truth, but like John Oliver, he effectively uses humor to get his point across. The truth is out there for anyone who cares to look for it. It's just largely drowned out by the cacophony of modern media. The terrible truth is that loudly spewing lies is much more profitable than calmly stating truths 😮

[@sandler800]

he's become so much more reasonable over the years, but if he's your only source you need to look harder.

[@mandymcnulty8083]

“It’s a sad world when politicians are a joke and entertainers are taken seriously.” Will Rogers

[@joseywales148]

Thanks for the quote

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Will Rogers had some great quotes, you can read them online and it's hard to believe that they were from ~100 years ago.

[@SinHurr]

Sadder still when Maher is taken seriously :\

[@joseywales148]

@SinHurr He’s done a 180- jumped off the Woke band wagon - even crazy for him

[@larrywilliams8063]

@@joseywales148 Only because Trump is out of office, he road that wagon until the wheels came off.

[@dennischallinor8497]

Remember what Confucius say: "He who seeks vengeance should dig two graves."

[@dolfanatic314]

why does Confucius sound like confusion?

[@dennischallinor8497]

@@dolfanatic314 I don't know but his thinking seems to follow that kind of pattern. I prefer stoicism myself.

[@spartacusjonesmusic]

That's called an appeal to authority. It's a common fallacy. Even Confucious can be wrong.

[@TheOwlCreek]

Confucius also said, "He who stands on toilet is high on pot."

[@dennischallinor8497]

@@TheOwlCreek And the ever-popular: "He who rides above the crowd is high on vape!"

[@spoonman9584]

Most of it is horrible bullying. I was tortured in middle-school by my bullies. Literally. Bent my fingers back further than they were supposed to go over and over again. Now some of my fingers are perpetually crooked. That and getting beat up nearly every day in the halls whilst teachers and staff did nothing or getting thrown at lockers. Whilst at the same time dealing with other kids telling me that I was retarded and that I should just die. That shit happened. I wasn't allowed to watch violent movies. I wasn't allowed to play violent games, and I had a family that loved me. Instead, other people made me want to hurt them. The only reason I never went down that path is because I could imagine the guilt my family would feel, and I never wanted them to go through that pain. Which is why I started thinking of ways of ending my life. Eventually, I also realized that my family would be in a ton of pain because of that too, so I didn't do it. Despite my inner turmoil, I was still getting tortured to and from school every day on the bus and getting beat up in school and called names. It continued for months. I never told my family what I was going through because I was partially afraid that the bullying would get worse. Despite all that though I eventually found myself and fought back. I put a kid in the hospital sure, but the other six bullies I had got off lightly. And the school backed me up that time. I suffered a lot mentally from this and into my early twenties. Mid-twenties is when I finally got over it. But due to what I went through I had to battle PTSD, and severe, security-based OCD. The only "positive" I've had is that I'm more resistant to pain, but I'm pretty sure no one wants that perk because there's only a few ways to get it, and they aren't that fun. Those problems are muted and shadows of what they once were, but the OCD is still a massive pain to deal with. It makes me late a lot, and I can't really explain it to people as most just assume OCD is just being a neat freak. It's way more than that, but because people never see it, they usually never believe it. Despite that, I still try to tough it out. In some ways, I'm thankful for it. WHAT? you might think... I'm thankful for all the shit that I went through because it made me tough, mentally and physically and now that I've overcome and numbed those nightmares of the past I feel stronger spiritually because of it. I think that while you might have a point about the hypocrisy of Hollywood's violent entertainment whilst pro-anti-gun sentiment, we shouldn't look to that as the only reason.

[@eponymousIme]

I am so sorry you went through that. I was so angry reading that, because it sounds familiar. My son went through something similar. They mugged him, destroyed his textbooks (which we had to pay to replace!) and beat him up when the gym teacher was nowhere to be seen during class. The school was of no help. My son was terrified that if I complained to the school and the bullies found out, they would shoot him when he least expected it (e.g., at the movie theater or some other place). We ended up taking a line of credit on our home so we could pull him out of the public school and send him to a private school 30 minutes away. Many people do not have that option. My heart breaks for them. We need to be willing to pay for high-quality teachers, staff, and administrators in our public schools and demand excellence from them. We need to fund longer school days and year-round classes, and extracurricular activities. So many of our public schools are dumping grounds for the problems our society has created and we have unrealistic expectations of underpaid teachers and detached administrators to fix them.

[@jamelwest2586]

@Spoonman Brother, I was nearly moved to tears by your story. It mirrors my own staggeringly. I'm so happy that I had a mother and sister that loved me. Without them, I doubt I would have survived the bullying I experienced. Thank you for sharing.

[@donavanj.1992]

I'm glad your here to tell that story and made better choices. I wish or hope that everyone had or has the family support to do so.

[@recordgirly2567]

Thanks for sharing ...

[@mattdillon4398]

@@eponymousIme America already spends more per student than most of the world! We DON'T need more funding! We need to eliminate the unions (they ruin excellence by securing jobs despite performance), enforce a strict dress code (to eliminate some of the pettiness) and bring back school discipline! Schools need to be able to get rid of students that bring the class down but they can't because of "equity" and "inclusion". Harsh punishment is needed. Of course Nothing that you or I suggested will do anything if the parents don't take responsibility. When I was a kid, if I got in trouble at school I knew I was gonna get it twice as bad when I got home. Now, many parents come into the school raging and demanding that their kid not be punished and blaming teachers for their child's bad behavior or grades. 50% of kids in America don't have a dad at home! We MUST get back to traditional biblical family values and morality.

[@purgatorysrath4455]

I remember in the early 80's when the show THE Warriors was aired, my parents and grandmother adamantly told us you are not allowed to watch this show! We, of course a few years later, did watch the movie, unbeknownst to our parents. I remember thinking how bad it must have been growing up without a parents guidance and thanking god I was in the position to go to school and play sports and also graduate and try to better my position in life. Although I did not reach my goals because of my own actions, I have survived 50 years in this world and have raised two children of my own that have moved out and are living their own lives. Not everyone makes the right choices and a lot of it has to do with parenting.

[@HistoryandHeadlines]

The overwhelming majority of people who watch action movies are not inspired to commit acts of violence. Moreover, these movies, even the ones about revenge, have the protagonist usually going after villains, criminals, etc. They tend to not be targeting random unarmed civilians in schools, grocery stores, etc. The same generally speaking with mainstream video games, where you are shooting zombies, Nazis, etc., but not kids at schools.

[@victorschlatter3357]

I agree but to play devils advocate you could make the same argument for gun owners "the overwhelming majority of people who own guns are not inspired to commit acts of violence... They tend to not be targeting random unarmed civilians in schools, grocery stores, etc"

[@tier1solutions28]

There are 400 million guns in America. The overwhelming majority are perfectly peaceful. It's the fringes that hurt everyone

[@waveoglesby2920]

The problem is that the person who is doing the shooting thinks children and random people are zombies and villains to them.

[@Charlii931603]

@@victorschlatter3357 doesn't change the fact that those who own weapons of mass destruction can still lead to the maiming, killing, or destruction of someone or something. They're not the same at all when gun access has been the lead reason as to why these issues are happening not only in mass shootings but in overall gun deaths. To say just because you own a gun then therefore you more likely to be a mass shooter is ridiculous, but it is very likely that you may end up hurting or killing someone or thing. That doesn't happen with video games or movies nearly as often. Hence why Bill kept playing films that literally dropped when his hair was still brown.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@@guitarman7300 most of the world watches American movies. It's the access to guns that's the problem.

[@chribjslaha]

"We're a miserably violent species. But there's a complication, which is we don't hate violence, we hate the wrong kind. And when it's the right kind, we cheer it on, we hand out medals, we vote for, we mate with our champions of it. When it's the right kind of violence, we love it." - Robert Sapolsky

[@TheWolfWon]

The universe is a mindlessy violent place. Earth is mindlessly violent planet. Life is miserably violent. Humans are just a product of the environment.

[@pastis51marcel]

It was all making sense to me until I realise that all western countries have the same level of access to violent movies. Most comparable countries have the same access to violent video games. So America’s problem with guns and guns related violence must come from something else than movies that are available all over the world.

[@Dawn737]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Natural Born Killers, and Saw were all banned in some European countries that feared copycat violence. European countries tend to have more sex in their entertainment and less violence than America has.

[@8ofwands300]

That was my thought. And let's face it - this " revenge" motif and pervasive gun violence isn't new in cinema - yet mass shootings are relatively new. While obviously every issue has many aspects, gun accessibility - especially to weapons of war - is far and away the most relevant factor. Maher is frustrating me lately. Obscuring the obvious in some effort to " play fair" to both sides.

[@victorsaumarez3714]

That is the access argument.

[@Dawn737]

Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci said it best. "America is backwards, films with nudity get an R or NC17 rating, yet films with so much violence will get a P.G.13 rating. In Europe it's the opposite."

[@quietwind6931]

Yeah Europe has a gassing problem, 6 million would agree. Europe also has mass casualty events, most of our gun violence is suicide or drug war related, of which no one attempts to do anything about at all, everyone still rewards the shooters with never ending attention every time. After the Uvalde shooting I couldn’t help but see the guy’s face plastered most places. Guns also in general have been removed from daily life in suburban areas due to weak/cowardly urbanites so most mass shooters know they will not face resistance, law abiding citizens when trying to help anyone will usually have the state trying to prosecute them for it or stop them just like the Uvalde shooting. The state often knows of these individuals before the event and refuse to act knowing their budgets will again be “justified” after another tragedy. And if I was killed in a mass shooting would I want something that can prevent the state from killing by the millions as it has in just the last 100 years be banned? No.

[@monl3807]

You're one of the smartest man I ever saw on t.v.you say what you think and don't care about censorship...

[@MjollTheLioness-o4y]

There is a link between mental health and social media that is undeniable. Too bad it's not studied nor talked about as much as it should be.

[@matejzizanovic7959]

Also the link with mental health and medication. US population is by far the most medicated one on this planet, and overall US has largest number of people with mental issues. Every kid on this planet uses social media - yet only US kids shoot eachother at schools...

[@peepanugg102]

If it were undeniable there would be lots of content to support that

[@michelekett8450]

There is more of a link between mental health and parental behaviour. Social media has its problems, mostly caused by adults trying to abuse people, but a parents influence starts the minute a child is born. The first 6 years of a child’s life are one of the most important in determining how a child sees the world. Our perceptions determine our beliefs and ultimately how we act. Perceptions come from observation and response. If a child is not loved, or is expected to follow a parents directions without due consideration for who they are, expect that the person they become will have fear, resentment and anger as the first reaction.

[@3rdreichball525]

Its not spectacular enough to talk about mental health when there are "weapons of war" the media and politicians have to prop up the AR-15. Even though hammers and strangulation kill more people in the usa theres more political points in discussion of banning semi automatics than talking about the things that matter like social media and mental health

[@3rdreichball525]

@@peepanugg102 there actually is quite a bit of content on it. You just have to look for it honestly. I remember seeing quite a few articles discussing depression being a symptom of social media. That and identity issues, like being too ugly, and the things young girls and boys still go through

[@carlgfunk]

It's not the movies, movies with shooting have been around since the 1920s. It's America's addiction to anger. People get angry, social media amplifies it, and then people get angrier.

[@TheTrance91]

I think you missed the joke. Re watch and pay attention about what he is talking about when he mentions smoking.

[@mhtinla]

It's not the movies. It's not the guns. It's not America's addiction to anger. The real problem is that Americans are not born with bullet-proof skin.

[@Marijuanifornia]

Grow weed. America legalized "Marihuana" to fight the Nazis. Watch the 1942 USDA video, *Hemp for Victory.* There was a bill in Congress titled HR 3652, the *Hemp for Victory Act of 2019.*

[@meh4770]

@@mdmurray17 Drugs make the world less safe. Intoxication and escapism are not the solution for social ills.

[@dragonflyradio127]

In the 1920s criminals were terrorizing the nation with fully automatic machine guns. See: "Tommy Gun", "Chicago Typewriter"

[@elausraliano]

when I was a kid in Chile in the 1960s, we were bombarded with American movies and one plot that stood out was the VENGEANCE theme! Speaking of vengeance, I once ended up in emergency with a cut lip that needed stitches after a fight and the male nurse that was stitching me up was joking about the other guy with not a scratch on him and I said I’m going to take revenge! And he said “you’re going to take it easy, more people end up here for taking revenge than anything else.”

[@tuckerparsons]

Brilliant... absolutely right. I work in Hollywood, and the hypocrisy is nuts on this issue.

[@mrcherokee1973]

Bill, the '80s called. They want their Religious Right, "violence in Hollywood is the problem" argument back. Why do other countries see all of these movies as well but don't have the same problem? #eyeroll

[@Hirnlego999]

Next up Bill O'Reilly.. I mean Maher will blame RAP MUSIC.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

Ok smart guy. Then explain why in America during the 1920s and 1930s during the Great Depression, when people could mail order, without a background check, a 14 round Browning High Power Semi-Automatic 9mm Pistol, did they not take their much easier to get guns and shoot up their schools and workplaces with them? Your argument is that gun availability is the great factor. Then why when guns were far easier to get (and were much cheaper) were they not used for mass shootings? And no, gangster violence does not count as mass shootings. So please enlighten us.

[@someguy7424]

The 90s called. They wanted their “The (insert decade/year here) called and said they want their ________ back” joke back.

[@m.c.martin]

Oh no, they do. Europe has some of the worst gun violence in the world. The Middle East and South America are hell holes

[@mrcherokee1973]

@@m.c.martin Yeah...that's a crock of sh*t. Go lie to somebody gullible enough to listen to you rather than do actual research. It (gun violence) is the worst in the Americas, with a few exceptions (that includes us), like Canada and Chile. I'm sure it's bad in some Middle Eastern countries because they're so often in a conflict with another country and have internal, tribal issues as well. But, Europe has some of the lowest rates of gun violence in the entire globe. And, even the countries that are on par with us don't have "the same problem," meaning kids under 18 shooting up their schools like Uvalde and Parkland, etc. NOBODY has THAT problem like us.

[@smtbigelow]

The fact that Hollywood and the gov have admitted that depictions of smoking in the media influences young people to smoke and yet gun violence in the media is ignored, isn’t really surprising.

[@izzyizzm8761]

The Anagram of OMICRON/DELTA is media control..

[@tiyenin]

Why does everyone have a cell phone? Because they're bad for you and readily available for purchase in America. Why does fast food accommodate for 36.6% of meals consumed daily? Because it's bad for you and readily available for purchase in America. Why are mass shootings commonly done with ak-47s? Because they're REALLY bad for you and readily available for purchase in America.

[@davidlenz9902]

Yeah but something switched with kids with millennials.. since the adults didn't want us to smoke, we actually did.. but now the kids fall in line and actually don't smoke. I suppose it's because they're less rebellious and more dependant and infantile.

[@robertnoble7554]

You need killers at times of war not activist preaching peace.

[@SinHurr]

@@robertnoble7554 Generally not at war with churches, schools, movie theaters, and grocery stores though, so. You know. Plus, that's the military's job. Turning regular, normal people into killers.

[@skylarsaenz5561]

"Don't you blame the movies. Movies don't create psychos, movies make psychos more creative." - Billy Loomis, Scream

[@codiak2680]

"No! Watching TV shows doesn't create psychopathic killers, CANCELLING TV shows creates psychopathic killers. The Wayans Bros. was a good ass show and we didn't even get a final episode." - Ray, Scary Movie

[@kanedNunable]

also, us in europe watch these movies and dont go around shooting everyone. this is an american gun problem but you try to do all you can to pretend its not.

[@latinhero1818]

It isn’t. Guns are not new in the American experience. And regardless of what lies that senile vegetable in the Oval Office tells, Americans did have access to strong weaponry such as warships and cannons in private hands at the time of the revolution. If the founders were alive today, I guarantee most of them would encourage if not require citizens to get AR-15s or something like them at the very least. They’d even buy it themselves. Guns are not a new variable. What has changed though is the economy, family, culture and moral structure of the country. Divorce laws, drug addictions, porn, usury, feminism, the sexual revolution and the weakening of nuclear and extended families. The result is a toxic materialist culture that produces more atomized, lonely nihilists and that can’t even replace its numbers. Europe has this even more than the US and even with years of this liberal leftist ethos in the education systems there, people are not happy, they still produce mass murderers and the current system cannot sustain itself. Add in the problem of unassimilated islamic immigrants and the corruption/weakness/subversion of law enforcement in places like the UK and you will find that it is modernism/modern life that is responsible for all this far more than the gun.

[@Sweet.Mother.of.Cheesus]

@kanedNunable I'm from Switzerland and I wouldn't be so sure that we wouldn't have daily mass shootings here, too, if guns and ammunition were so easily accessible and affordable(!) while simultaneously the economy, education and health care were completely rotten (as it's in the US). The US is breeding those mass murderers before giving them access to weapons of war. We don't breed these kind of people, simply because our societies are still more or less intact. And the few potential (mostly religiously motivated) mass murderers we import from 3rd world countries don't have easy access to guns, so that problem doesn't get out of hand either

[@Adamkalb1]

Whoa, nice catch.

[@Belena711]

I'm a right-leaning independent, and I gotta say, an advocate of truth on the left is like sweet sweet nectar to my soul. Thanks for being so honest and grounded. I LOVE this content.

[@craigculwell9177]

Honesty is rare. Thank you 🇺🇸

[@outlawscar3328]

Paid poster

[@Ghoulstille]

This is one of those Old Man Yell's At Clouds scenario's.

[@dustinsindledecker154]

I agree one week bill makes sense and then another he has his boomer moment.

[@sloppyjoe400]

Love that Bill is becoming a solid voice of reason.

[@owholypwner3548]

i'd rather have bill maher as president then sleepy joe, because he keeps it real even though i don't agree with every thing he said edit: and i'm a trump supporter from overseas

[@rickwilliamson9248]

It just shows how out-of-touch Hollyweird and the majority of the Left have become if Bill is a voice of reason on their side.

[@stereofreq7112]

only took him 50+ years, but I guess better late than never...

[@pablohanc]

Not really. Hollywood movies are viewed worldwide, but there isnt an epidemic of highschool shootings happening elsewhere. It's got nowt to do with Hollywood. It's because the type of dickheads that would carry out a high school shooting have easy access to guns, in a nation which doesn't take mental health seriously.

[@flaccidego4291]

He's always been the voice of reason. He hasn't changed a bit. Its the "progressive" neo liberals who have misunderstood what true liberalism is because of their complete ignorance of the liberal philosophical movement that rescued Europe from the Dark Ages. Many of those who call themselves liberals are anything but! They are ignorant of history. They are have no idea what classic liberalism is. AND finally to repeat myself, Bill Maher is exactly who he has always been. A classic liberal who has been sounding the alarm to the very UN-liberal left in this country. Bill Maher is the Voltaire of our times.

[@curtisthomas2670]

"Equilibrium" and it's "gun kata" sparked a new sub genre of action: death ballet 🤣😅😂

[@hipiticlivi7400]

You know, in Europe we watch the same movies, and our age appropiate rating systems are more relaxed, and still we don't go around shooting ourselves. This ain't it chief.

[@snuffeldjuret]

are you for real with that comment?

[@ickerish]

@@snuffeldjuret what's wrong with this comment? It's true that other countries have the same exact movies and games but don't have the daily mass shootings. Games and movies have absolutely nothing to do with America's gun culture problem.

[@snuffeldjuret]

@@ickerish what is wrong with the comment is that the video talks about multiple reasons, but OP misrepresents the video as if it said that the only relevant factor presented is the movie one. Your comment fail at this as well :).

[@floatingsara]

Was writing the same thing. Too bad Americans won't read though

[@sdr6541]

America have a serious problem with over prescribing medications for young men that can cause psychotic and suicidal thoughts. No one talks about this.

[@paulsutubification]

Although we are miles apart politically I really appreciate your honesty when it comes to today’s culture war and all the Wokeness and the hypocrisies.

[@vickymcpherson7985]

Someday he he may end up being a conservative.

[@ruffusgoodman4137]

@@vickymcpherson7985 If he continues with great insights like these, he won't need to

[@sgenetti77]

@@ruffusgoodman4137 Is everyone agreeing this is good common sense, then? No way! Lol.

[@ruffusgoodman4137]

@@sgenetti77 Excuse me?

[@sgenetti77]

@@ruffusgoodman4137 It's a joke about how this isn't partisan politics Maher is talking here, it's common sense, and most seem to agree. That is all.

[@jackbeckman7028]

At,last, someone who also recognizes the futility of seeking revenge, it’s never enough. When it is glorified in movies and TV it shows an unrealistic concept that unfortunately is taken as real life, but isn’t.

[@garybulwinkle82]

At last??? The Lord's Prayer: ......forgive my sins as I forgive those who sin against me....!!!

[@mainstreetsaint36]

@@garybulwinkle82 I like the sound and feel of the original, "And forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us." Well, original for the more understandable English.

[@christianlassen7027]

I’ve never heard a truer commentary. Thanks Bill and your writers of course.

[@OnyxLee]

I'm a liberal, and I think Hollywood's lack of creativity on problem solving and only relying on guns and fists is a big problem itself, whether about gun violence or not.

[@matthewchandler7845]

Yeah but tbh. I don't want to see Indy stop the bad guys by sitting down like an adult and having a responsible conversation. >.

[@Mr_Dopey]

Don't forget Alec Baldwin was 1 bullet away from a mass shooting. With one bullet he shot 2 people. 4 makes a mass shooting.

[@jbrown4137]

So you want all movies to be about love and forgiveness? That won't change anything in society, people were horrible long before movies.

[@robintst]

Really the problem in modern action movies is gun fights suck without squibs and blood packs. All that CG blood looks terrible and did you ever notice when the camera cuts to a wide shot of a room that just had a bunch of dudes get a shot up with their blood spurting everywhere that the floor is completely clean?

[@jacobmccandles1767]

I'm a conservative, and I couldn't agree more. The violence is over the top. It isn't portrayed as unfortunate, it's celebrated...and the grizzlier the better! The theme of revenge/justice has always been there, but in the old days he bad guy went "ugh" and fell over. We knew he'd been killed without a bloodbath that culminated in his guts flying from a flagpole. • The North Hollywood robbers watched "HEAT" over and over. • "Money Train" showed a guy spraying gas on a toll booth clerk and lighting it. Guess what happened in real life? • "Seven" portrayed a guy building a sex toy with a Rambo knife in place of a phalus. Guess what police caught some guy with? Guess where they got the idea? • The "bear trap" device the lady had on her head in "Saw"? Yep, someone built it and was planning to use it when police caught him? How about all the copy cat crimes after "A Clockwork Orange" was released? There are dozens of not hundreds of examples of cinema-inspired violence. No shooter yet has said "I got the idea from the NRA".

[@popcolgate9490]

I have to disagree with Bill on this one. For example, from the Godfather to John Wick, violent movies were watched all over the world and yet other countries don't experience the kind of gun violence as the US. There's a difference between thinking of doing violent act and actually doing it, US is just allowing it to happen very easily.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

You are obviously arguing in favor of stricter gun control and saying that it is easy gun availability that is the main culprit. Well if that's the case, then then why during the 1920s and 1930s during the Great Depression, when people could mail order, without a background check, a 14 round Browning High Power Semi-Automatic 9mm Pistol, did they not take their much easier to get guns and shoot up their schools and soup lines with them?

[@rohittantia4020]

They don't have so many guns all over the world 😂 also extremely difficult to get one

[@Phil-gc2qh]

Yeah.. let's just foreift our means to protect ourselves and we can just rely on the police to protect us as they stand outside of schools arresting parents when children are being murdered inside.

[@ecurb10]

His main point isn't so much that violent movies cause mass shootings (I'm sure there's research done there and no doubt it's a complicated subject), but rather Hollywood's double standard when it comes to social engineering, what they prohibit vs what they allow.

[@robyhartland852]

I believe he made the point that it was a significant contributor of gun violence. Not the only contributor. His point is that it is the combination of mental health, easy gun access, the Internet, and entertainment all play a role in it (is his argument).

[@KunalNatu]

I usually agree with Bill but I feel like he missed the mark here. Michael Moore did a great documentary (Bowling for Columbine) on the subject and talked about how kids from other countries including Canada also watch the same movies and they don’t have the same problem of gun violence as we do here in the US.

[@skillzorz101]

99.999% of kids don't have that problem, so who does?

[@larrygarland3728]

THANK YOU! Movies are FAKE! Guns in society are REAL. Especially get rid of the weapons made for war!

[@agesilausii7759]

@@skillzorz101 The miserable - angry kids who can buy a gun as easy as i can buy milk in the super market.

[@rogersmith7396]

Lack of access to guns.

[@agesilausii7759]

@@Wadzillia Good point. What is your opinion then?

[@cher255]

The pendulum of "wokeness" has swung way too far and makes us all look like fools. As with all movements, things don't settle in the moderate, common sense area until it has burned itself out. Loved your piece of actors and their roles. Great way to show the absurdity of "political correctness" brought to it's insane extreme. Thanks as usual, Bill.

[@ZedNebuloid]

Right, we should censor more... Thanks Bill. 🤣 Your audience will follow your dumb points no matter what. Might as well join the panel on Fox News with this bullshit take from the 90s.

[@albertgaspar627]

Wokeness reminds me of the old expression, "don't be so open minded your brain falls out of your head". As usual, Billy's trying to be the "too cool for school" cynic, but there's little proof of a link between violent games and TV and violence, just as there's no link between song lyrics and suggestion. If a parent is allowing their kids to watch inappropriate media, there tends to be other responsibilities the parents are failing at. they may even be letting the TV be the baby sitter and we know that lack of human contact can lead to issues in young minds. It is hypocrisy to not want to kill your own golden calf on whatever your altar is, but in this case Bill might be getting angry about the wrong thing as usual. Liberals might be right to focus more on supporting the family with social safety net programs that cutting them to give the rich tax cuts, and recognizing a family with two mommies who love their children may be woke and yet also generating healthy children.

[@paulettemackenzie-dubuc6927]

I guess hipocracy is hip now.

[@paulettemackenzie-dubuc6927]

I guess hipocracy is hip now.

[@hotsoupknor5657]

Yeah... 'woke culrure' is responsible for it's easier to buy an automatic AR-15 riffle with hollow point ammunition than a candy bar in your country... In Europe we also love action movies but I'd never get close to a real gun. They teach us the difference between fantasy and reality since children and do a severe gun control.

[@claypage1089]

Revenge stories used to complete the story; they were called tragedies. Hamlet got his revenge, and it destroyed him.

[@WarHeadZZZ]

When I was young, watching violent movies & playing violent videogames, I had these things called "Parents" that would tell me that none of this shit is real and that this is not how you solve a problem. They also tried to keep me away from the worst shit until I was old enough to know better. You mean kids today don't have those? We should fix that. We should also make a rating system that helps these "Parents" to know what media their kids should be exposed to................... Oh wait....

[@HiThereHeyThere]

Good parents wouldn't even let you access or play those games. It devalues life

[@kristibushe541]

Yup totally agreed with u. I was obsessed with horror, occult and the more blood and guts the better. But I knew it was fantasy! Also tv was not my only entertainment. I read a lot and would also be outside playing or riding my bike with siblings/cousins/friends.

[@adamc1966]

Nobody give a rip about ratings.

[@IAmHoTSHoTzz]

Considering how much violent entertainment is being consumed, you'd think there's more mass shootings, right?

[@moldysshoe8639]

animal crossing new horizons convinced me to genocide people with red hair, thanks Tom nook you son of a bitch.

[@timothye5936]

I’ve always been so confused by this country…like since I was a little kid. It was okay to show bullets tearing through human bodies - in prime time, in slow motion. But the thought of showing a nipple on a female breast was unacceptable ??? There’s something deeply wrong with the priorities of the foundations of this sht

[@Professicchio]

It's called "puritanism", the first white colonizer took it with them when they got (rightly) kicked out of Europe and frankly you have been struggling shaking it off ever since.

[@AceMcSch00ly]

@@Professicchio crazy thing is, the descendants of those white conqueror's you speak of invented the internet, the cell phone and this app. All three you're using to hate on them with lol.

[@Professicchio]

@@AceMcSch00ly Did I say or even implied that? I certainly don't hate you for the puritanism you are forced to still carry on your shoulders, I actually feel a lot of pity, nothing else.

[@DSPHistoricalSociety]

Yeah dood, that's how our country started- love it or lump it.

[@timothye5936]

@@DSPHistoricalSociety I guess you must support slavery and slaughtering native people also. Or maybe you’re just uncomfortable around female nipples…lol

[@mauriciorodriguez4996]

There it goes the “individual responsibility” argument…

[@mindphaserxy]

I'm 41. Prototypical American boy that grew up during the NES generation. Watched Rambo and The Terminator. We ripped out hearts and spines playing Mortal Kombat when I was 12 years old. Played tons of violent games, watched violent movies and listened to dark, aggressive music. When I was 20 years old Grand Theft Auto III launched and we virtually car jacked, killed cops and caused chaos. I haven't committed any mass shootings. No thoughts of malice. But I also had normal social tendencies and never let anything derogatory change my outlook. I still chased girls and got lucky a few times. We still had the internet in the late 90s and early 2000s too so there was always a place for nutjobs to gather. But not everyone is gravitated to that. We still need common sense gun laws and regulation. Sure movies, TV and video games can spark an idea but they're not the instruments that carry out the death sentences to kids in schools or people at the grocery store.

[@bellowingsilence]

The only nugget of truth in the whole argument that violence in media, particularly video games, has anything to do with any of this is that they can probably serve to further desensitize and trigger people already prone to this kind of violence. You might notice that in the cases of mass shooters where video games are involved in their story… it was never just video games. Yeah, “guns don’t kill people”, but at least they’re a tool used by people to kill people. The fact that some people try to direct the blame from gun laws, to video games, is absurd. Do video games kill people? Has anyone ever used a PS4 to try to kill you?

[@HurricaneJD]

These things didn't affect us now that we're in our 40s we can say that but the effect it's having on today's people is completely different and yes people believe that if they saw it on television it must be true. When in fact you should do the opposite. if you saw it on television assume it's not true. America is way way too easily influenced and manipulated by television

[@rogersmith7396]

@@bellowingsilence This has been going on for a long time. Remember Sam Peckinpah? Psychological studies have shown a desenstitizing effect. There have been so many mass murders I wonder if people just don't care anymore.

[@neilmartis17992]

I think in the end it boils down to family. A stable family dynamic in the home creates good role models for the kids who in turn grow up stable. Are there exceptions? Sure. But the norm would be so. In the past the violent games were there, the shows were there but what is different between then and now is the family.

[@milton7763]

@@HurricaneJD right, ‘cause we’re such an enlightened bunch but kids these days are too stupid to tell the difference …🙄…okay dad… Must be why this generation memes the sh1t out of standard action movies and we left the theatre imagining we were its main character

[@chris_tine1430]

Canada litteraly shares the US culture for tv, movies, social media and phone access to kids. We also have a lot of mental health issues with lacking access to care. Yet we don't have mass shootings. WONDER WHY

[@migueld8970]

Switzerland is heavily armed and has no mass shootings...

[@darleneturner7764]

We know why!

[@johnathanfoster6278]

Canada has much stricter gun laws

[@chris_tine1430]

@Cassius Naylor still different Canada than others, the proximity makes it so that our cultures are extremely similar. Thats why when people go visit Europe they feel the difference in culture, that why they go there.

[@chris_tine1430]

@@migueld8970 oh I know Im not saying Canada is special 😅 just saying we are basically the same as americans with 1 major difference...

[@davidlenz9902]

Although, being a conservative, I'm okay with turning down the violence a bit, I'm not sure if this narrative is exactly true. My generation grew up on robocop, James Bond and the terminator, but we were never fixated on commiting violence. If anything, we were encouraged to join the military if we wanted to use and exert aggression in that way.

[@SinHurr]

It's patently false, correct. It's the satanic panic/refer madness/xyz will cause the end of all things hysteria that certain conservative folks manifest and latch onto whenever they need a boogyman to be on about. Except in this case there's an actual issue and all the boogymanning is just avoiding the actual issue. But 100% good on you for having the good eye to spot the hokum.

[@Fuzzira]

Yeah why shoot up a school in your backyard when you can do it overseas! JOIN THE ARMY!

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

I can't believe I'm watching a hardcore liberal argue that movies cause violence. Jesus Christ. As a gotcha for corporate wokism I like it. But as a sincere argument it's utterly ridiculous.

[@davidlenz9902]

@@cockoffgewgle4993 IDK why, i can't even see your reply any more, so can't respond. Can't stand how censorious YT is.

[@jamesstevenson3279]

As did I but I think there was a balance back in the 80s/90s. Films were watched in the evenings with the family, during the day we were out on our bikes all day playing with other kids in the neighbourhood. We weren't glued to a screen playing video games or watching mindless videos. The real reason for mental health issues around the globe is the Internet, social media and media as a whole.

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

I saw a really good movie called The Son. Its about a father whose son was killed by another kid. Rather than seeking revenge he tries to move on with his life by rehabilitating the kid and forgiving him. Its a pretty amazing movie.

[@PRECIADOR]

SO TRUE BILL, BUT AGAIN THOSE MOVIES ARE SEEN IN SO MANY COUNTRIES WITHOUT THE SAME VIOLENT RESULTS.

[@jasonfischer8946]

Except Mexico, Central America, South America, Africa, and parts of Asia. Children are recruited into the drug trade or tribal warfare. They're still killing people, but just not in schools. It's a disaster everywhere, but for some reason we focus on school shootings in America like they're the only places where people are killed.

[@raymondluxury-yacht1638]

Japan has the sickest movies but a low murder rate.

[@GOODNOIGHT]

And THE PARENTS ARE NOT PARENTING EITHER

[@medusaspupil]

I know, guns are the main problem not movies. If a "wannabe killer" gets inspired what is he/she gonna do if he/her has no guns. attack people with a fork? I think Bill Maher needs to stop smoking that much weed, he is getting more lame.

[@petercollingwood522]

They don't have guns.

[@nelanoma]

Things that are universal: violent movies, violent video games, violent media in general. Things that are unique to the US: An epidemic of mass shootings. Come on, this is a ridiculous take.

[@LiveLoveLevelUp]

He said its part of the problem, not all of it, hes kinda right though, Mentally unstable, virgin guy, who cant get his life together, decides to take revenge gets a gun and mows down a bunch of children at a school cus hes too pussy to go somewhere with adults. Where did he get that idea from? oh yeah Violence being depicted as a solution in everything media. Now obviously thats the fringe cases, but you gotta admit! its happening more and more, and its not gona be fun if it happens to someone you love

[@phileas007]

look on the bright side, at least it's not about video games ...

[@tragoscantineros]

Well, by itself it is a ridiculous take, but when you combine it with bad parenting, easy access to guns, mental health problems and social media fixation, violence in movies and videogames becomes a piece that fits into the American puzzle.

[@guntherdergarstigeganter6431]

@@tragoscantineros Yes, but it's by far the most irrelevant piece and by acknowledging it, you just help the people interested in diverting the focus from the real problem.

[@glennandlillian9905]

The biggest indicator I have heard of that leads to gun violence is domestic abuse against those in parental role or spouse/partner

[@davudpivac]

No no, it's those darn movies and video games

[@216Numbskull]

@@Mercurystars4202 "You can't take the stripes off a zebra!"

[@Chris-mf7ee]

SSRI use in young men. "rage monster" syndrome.

[@gigaus0]

Yeah no, it's having easy access to guns, since ya know, domestic abuse happens everywhere but mass shootings only happen in the US.

[@glennandlillian9905]

@@davudpivac use sarcasm much?

[@linguist8623]

@Maher It is awesome that you and a number of your fellows in Hollywood are standing up to the promotion of violence, including in "entertainment".

[@adam_p99]

Every country has the same access to violent films. It’s not the movies that are the problem.

[@CollegeBinary]

THANK YOU from Australia

[@Craznar]

I see you entirely missed Bill's point.

[@adam_p99]

@@Craznar yeah I struggle to see what his point actually is. Please explain

[@saveriopersichilli1129]

Every other country does NOT actually . America is hyper violent compared to a lot of countries...some cultures are way more censored than our media

[@Nicksonian]

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it and never will. And if you don’t get it, you’re part of the problem.

[@jamieferguson2576]

This is probably the first time I've seen any mention of social media and smart phones as apart of the "mass shooter" equation, and I think the short and long-term affects of what social media is doing to all of us should be talked about much more. Social media platforms and the way we take in news and information today have a significant negative impact on our physical and mental well-being and should be looked into more in the aftermath of these recent tragedies

[@AM-qz6cm]

Social media should be illegal to anyone under 21, imo. Adults can't even handle it well.

[@UnbornNameless]

I think social media is okay but not on portable devices

[@eargasm1072]

We have a nation loaded with social media addicts & junkies who have lost all grip on reality and cannot distinguish between fantasy/reality. And the disconnect of that fact & reality is something that also escapes most of our elected peeps in D.C.. They are way behind on things and totally out of touch, with few exceptions

[@couchgrouches7667]

Not social media, backwater forums

[@kurtsudheim825]

It's not submit the social media, it's exactly what is being seen & more importantly with whatever it is how much. Really though guns are just one of the make versions of beauty for girls, is so about looking cool etc

[@jasonkennedy2497]

This reminds me of when they tried to blame bad things kids did on heavy metal music. I too grew up watching these action movies, I listen to heavy metal, I watched looney toons and I was entertained through all of it. Then I went back to my real life, I knew the difference between entertainment and reality. Movies, music, cartoons, never made me feel like killing myself or someone else, but for those who did, something was going to trigger them at some point, something was mentally wrong and lacking. Please don’t sensor everything and say it’s for our safety, don’t blame the movies, music and cartoons, you need to look deeper and not try to point blame on these things, there is a lot more going on underneath the surface than Yosemite Sam or Elmer Fudd shooting guns triggering these kids, it’s a sick society and government threat refuses to look at themselves and accept the truth!

[@coolworl]

Also, the same violent movies are shown around the world and they are nowhere close to our mass shootings.

[@Tracker5111]

Movies are some part of it. But not everything. How about adding a slice of " schools telling white males they are responsible for racism and misogyny"

[@chadklaren9537]

They blame the things they do because they know most people are dumb and believe anything the same tells them. The real issue is drugs pharmaceutical drugs that are forced on everyone for everything these days but big pharma lines every politician's pocket with millions of dollars every year so they will never blame the real problem!

[@Mawyou]

Does anyone ever respond positively when you say they "refuse to look at themselves and accept truth"? Sounds like you're spreading religion or something. I know there have got to be more effective ways to convince people than saying they need to "do their research" or they need to just "accept the truth". Or saying we need to just "fix society" (if only it were so easy).

[@gf5050]

These are good points (i grew up in 80s too) but the younger generations are different now, lot more r messed up and the main issue is that gun violence is glamourised in movie. They should apply what they did with cigarettes to guns.

[@4everhealthwellness344]

Bill speaking the truth as usual

[@dgodinho]

Absurd: we have Hollywood action movies in Canada, as well as video games and whatever else you want to blame your problems on. We have mental health problems and smartphones too. For someone who seems to believe his thinking is evolved, his logical inconsistency is mind blowing.

[@DTwxrisk]

silly reasoning on your part

[@shivapejman8155]

Canada has turned into a totalitarian communist state. Enjoy.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

Lol, your government only seizes people's bank accounts and labels political rivals as terrorists. Yeah, what a paradise!

[@ThommyKane]

Bill Maher is so on fire man. He is at the top of his career for real.

[@alysiaduemler2221]

He’s not calling for censorship, he said so himself that he’s not. He is making a point about the hypocrisy, and that maybe people (parents) should not let their young people (kids) watch these extremely violent films and get on smart phones (social media). Additionally, he seems to suggest that mental health resources are needed for many, and that guns or certain kinds of guns are too easy for people who should not have them to access.

[@starvedbaby2510]

He showed all white males. What happened to the black males who commit mass violence like the black man in Waukesha who mowed down 60+ people during a holiday parade 6 dancing grandmas were murder and a 7 year old who succumb to his Injuries a week later, Plus the 54 injuries of children sitting on the sidewalk. All done with a SUV. You have never heard bill bring that up. I could go on and on. If he wants to be honest He should be honest. He’s a phony! He doesn’t believe a word the writers wrote for him.. You do know he reads what someone else writes, don’t you?

[@starvedbaby2510]

BTW. You can buy a gun illegally on the streets in any city, plus criminals cross the border with contraband everyday, That’s given to them by our own government…

[@ollipolli4799]

Exactly. He's calling out the hypocrisy of Hollywood. Not enough people call them out. Hollywood talks the talk, but very rarely actually walks the walk.

[@ZedNebuloid]

Japan has all these problems, except access to guns. That is the issue. All Bills points are invalid. This segments belongs on Fox News in 1990.

[@theelusive8058]

I kindly disagree - his point is that liberals and Hollywood are hypocrites and don't really care about gun violence or they would act in an area where they have the power to make a difference. He really didn't spend any time to develop any other points but that one.

[@blairsterling6141]

Maher is spot on with his sarcastic humor. The only thing that is not censored in one form or another, is : killing with guns. These are dark, twisted 180 degree times where we see millions of gun shows and movies, but never get to see one act of making love. We should be deeply ashamed. Our kids minds are maimed. 🤫

[@Andy_Sidaris]

It's not censored? They put a rating on it saying it's not appropriate.

[@cHriiSzbEe]

Broken men who feel like losers and want the world to hurt like they do! ABSOLUTELY RIGHT BILL!!! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@karenryder6317]

Yes, back in the day we psychology teachers would quote the author of a popular book at the time--broken men who turn violent believe "I'm not okay and neither are you."

[@lacountess]

Except if they can’t get a gun, they’ll be stuck dreaming about it, just like they are stuck dreaming about having Iron Man’s suit or Spider-Man’s webs.

[@lolodee3528]

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”-F. Douglas

[@chrisj3788]

It's parents who abuse or neglect their kids. But they won't say it because they'll lose their audience

[@williamkennedy9147]

The problem is when someone doesn't have the mental capacity to separate reality from fiction.

[@weabtale6831]

EXACTLY

[@weabtale6831]

all the other countries have movies like this too it's just now for some reason America as a whole is falling down the stairs backwards and hitting our head many times on the way to rock bottom

[@kunikloy477]

However, if the children are fed with fiction about violence 24/7, even only 10% of kids become more violent, that's is a lot. Kids like to mimic things that they admire. Kids 20 years ago want to become superman, batman, PUNCHING bad guys. Now kids want to be John Wick, shooting dozens of people in a row.

[@waterkingdavid]

@@weabtale6831 One of the reasons could be that most of the weapons in the world are made and exported from the United States. Unbelievably bad karma.

[@peterstafford4426]

That problem is world wide.

[@boythee4193]

Japan: lots and lots of extremely psycopathic, violent films, yet very very little real world violence

[@millier.206]

They aren’t letting kids watch that stuff though…

[@thekingsson1757]

They don’t have guns access like us

[@wildbillnj1975]

They also have a culture that doesn't elevate individuality and self esteem above all other values. There's nothing wrong with freedom and self love but we don't teach kids to be compassionate except in the paradigm of competitive virtue signaling. We don't let them experience failure so they learn how to deal with disappointment in a healthy way. We tell them they can be anything they want (because we don't want to limit their potential) but we don't tell them that in trying to aim high they may fall hard, and often. Of course they grow up bitter and disillusioned.

[@andrewpinson1268]

@@wildbillnj1975 Now that thought is something I do not see often. Very well stated.

[@jebidiahnewkedkracker1025]

@@restlesslystrivingtilimhop4016 Yes, they did....Dont know if the dude is still alive though. (The name of the guy was Issei Sagawa I believe, and he killed and ate pieces of the corpse of some gal named Rene ??? in Paris, France back in the mid to late 1980's.) Google probably has more details on such a bizarre story, or you can read about it in a "charming" book entitled Apocalyse Culture (2nd ed.), edited by Adam Parfrey, put out by a "charming" publishing company called "Feral House".

[@rickipacaci1338]

Brilliant monologue ❤

[@michaelanderson5747]

You can throw the "Hollywood" angle on the pile with "Violent Video Games" and "Mental Health", these things exist worldwide but it is still this country's failings of how to realistically deal with it and our children's emotional needs. BTW: If you think other countries aren't showing movies with more violence and guns than we are, you might want to dance around the internet some more.

[@meauxjeaux431]

Throw gangsta rap on top of the pile while you're at it. Because that was the beginning of the end for young black males. Look where it's gotten them.

[@alansands256]

You may have a point but I still got to give Bill credit for pointing out Hollywood's hypocrisy on the issue

[@fernandod3510]

It's a process of denoralization that takes at least a generation. The other countries will be close behind as their children are newly bombarded with this. The same people who defend this also love Hollywood and entertainment in many ways. You are a corporate bootli key who has replaced the Christian God with the God that is Media. You should just become an atheist, not jump to another god

[@natashamaier5233]

yuri bezmenov's warning to america

[@On_3]

My “friend” got arrested a couple months ago because he made a threat about shooting up my school. I can tell you from personal experience social media is the biggest issue with situations like this. He expressed it so many times saying he wished social media never existed because of the influence it gave him. So happy he’s sitting is prison right now

[@Kyle-2020]

Unfortunately this is a symptom of a dead and rotting society. The demonizing of Masculinity in Men and the idolatry of mental illness and even the institutionalization of mental illness. All but one of these mass shooters came from fatherless homes.A father is the best safeguard against criminal behavior.

[@nonyab5640]

What do you think about the violent video games? Are they not more immersive, more violent, more first-person than an hour and 1/2 long movie? If played since boyhood, and consistently throughout developing years?

[@devonnoneedtotrainlarratt7629]

So he is not your friend

[@sleepyancient6655]

@@nonyab5640 Violent video games are, as far as anyone can determine, for the average person who doesn't have severe mental health issues, a desensitizer. The military uses them to help make a soldier's first shot against another human being easier. But that's all we really know. Anything else has far too many contradictions and not enough data to make a solid point. For example, I used to play League of Legends. A game with a community so toxic the devs became the first video game company in history to hire a team of psychologists to figure out how to calm things down. I played over a thousand games, partly before the team was hired, back when games averaged 45 minutes instead of 20-30. People who say LoL is the most toxic community today may be right, but it was FAR worse back then. This experience was after playing and enjoying Battlefield Bad Company 2, Bioshock (1 and 2), Deadspace, and Gears of War 1, 2, and 3 with hundreds of hours in multiplayer and particularly enjoying mastering how to dodge shots while revving up the lancer so I could get as many chainsaw kills as possible. Rainbow 6 Siege, which has a very realistic kill time, has so many cheaters I can't stand the game half the time. And do you know what the only game to ever make me want to actually hurt someone was? Rocket League... a game with no shooting or violence. It's car soccer. Control a car to hit a ball in the net. I got mad at the devs for intentionally bad matchmaking whenever one gets close to ranking up. I get close to ranking up, then get teammates who play like they belong 2 ranks below for the next 10 games. Then I slowly climb back up... only to get bad teammates. It always does this. So why did the non-violent game end up the only game that made me want to (briefly) hurt someone? I think the answer is that the violence levels of the video game had less of an effect than the fairness of the game. People hate being cheated, which doesn't really have anything to do with what media one ingests. Keep in mind, a video game is a way to get one's mind off of reality, so guns in games that have them are more of a process for grinding the skill. Guns in movies are tools that let the hero become a threat to the bad guy. Video games are more immersive, but they also glorify the kill less in most cases. I would argue, however, that the biggest issue with video games is how it allows adults to play like children for much longer, stunting the maturity of men and women. But still, what is a little less maturity when... Broken and single parent families are at an all-time high (less maturity is a big cause here, but there are so many ways that immaturity is a result of other selfishness that I wouldn't say video games are the main reason for it). Schools often can't/won't fail kids anymore, meaning there's little consequences for screwing around when kids are young enough for the point to easily imprint. Teachers, far too many, are only barely more mature than their students, allowing things like bullying to happen, and participating by doing nothing, even though they pretend to be so against it, because they don't truly care for the kids under their care. Bullies have more tools and are safer than ever, having the internet and social media to help them figure out how to find and exploit victims while violence at school is so abhorred that, if the victim ever has enough and starts punching, they get in trouble and the bully smugly rubs in how they got away with it and will always get away with it. And anyone wonders why school shootings are becoming more common? Fix families, schools and teachers and nearly every other issue will see a drastic reduction. How does one go about doing those things? That's outside of the scope of this post. My point is that violent video games are so far down the list one can't bring them up and be taken seriously without first recognizing all the other issues that might make violent video games a straw that broke the camel's back. Besides, for anyone who is concerned about societal harm caused by video games, I've got news: violent video games are not the games one should be concerned about. M is not the highest rating a game can have, and shooting alone won't get one beyond that.

[@moldysshoe8639]

​@@nonyab5640, Chief, watch dogs 2 taught me that I don't want to have to pull the trigger, not that I should kill thousands with a form of nuclear terrorism that would make your average dirty bomb builder blush.

[@Darksephir985]

I enjoy action movies and also a time when young people could distinguish fiction from reality.

[@liamwinter4512]

Reality comprehension is something we need

[@rogersmith7396]

They prefer fiction to the capitalist reality.

[@samuelkim2926]

fiction is the new reality..

[@tdog4153]

Many people think reality is subjective and they are the player character. Broadcast a spell to make us all delusional

[@luket4319]

So do I, I find it disturbing that young dudes can’t differentiate fiction from reality and treat everything like a joke.

[@LaLa-jh7mo]

Loving you more and more, Mr. Mahler.

[@milton7763]

Oh, but Bill, Hollywood scuffs a lot of woke rules. Disney may have protested ‘don’t say gay’, but it will gladly cut or minimalize gay (or black) characters or actors for the Chinese market. Gotta chase that almighty dollar!

[@jasonarthurs3885]

I think you meant Yuan.

[@RocStarr913]

Disney only condemned the bill because they were pressured into it. This would not have been something they would have been so willing to do years ago. But yes, in the end, it’s all about keeping their bottom line.

[@Pandalius]

It's fine to point out the hypocrisy of people talking about the effects of media, yet do not care for violent films. The issue with all of that though is the lack of evidence that media somehow directly causes or translates to the action. People always point to games, which study after study finds no strong link to real world violence.

[@rjframe4410]

yup, its not the games or the movies causing the issue, this is just a very boomer level cop out. The meatgrinder society we've created where everyones life online looks perfect and fake Instagram vacations exist and the cruel nature of constant bullying online and maltreatment of people , in addition to a money crunch since the 80s for the average person has created this anger, then its directed by right wing mouthpieces saying its the "others" fault, and then we get dead people. Bill doesnt want to address that reality, so lets go back to the " entertainment brainwashing" argument, thats been proven false so many times its practically a middle finger to the truth to bring it up

[@danb6838]

Really? Lack of Evidence? We've been talking about the TERRIBLE influence of Hollywood on young mentally disturbed lunatics since Hinkley admitted he used "Taxi Driver" as a "good idea" to try to kill Reagan 40 years ago!!

[@5000rgb]

I think the media appeals to a part of our psyche, the movies don't make us violent as much as they satisfy some viewers violent thoughts.

[@Craxin01]

@@quadrga No, actually, the gross consumption of pornography tends to lead to sexual dysfunction or a lack of seeking sexual interaction, not sexual deviancy.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

@@quadrga To my knowledge, there are no studies that prove there is NOT a connection between violent media/games and IRL violence. There ARE studies which attempted to prove that there IS a connection... but they FAILED to prove it. I personally suspect that violent media and games actually provide a useful outlet... pressure relief... sort of like throwing darts at a PICTURE instead of bullets (etc) at an actual person.

[@christophermills9289]

The entire world watches the same violent movies, violent TV shows, and plays the same violent video games but they don't have this level of gun violence.

[@BradGoodman]

He's taking money from the NRA now, that's why he's spouting this crap

[@Wildflower1555]

Watching all that gun violence (usually automatic weapons) makes kids desensitized to violence. Hollywood has a HUGE problem because they keep putting out violent movies. Shame on them. People have to boycott these movies with gun violence (but it probably wouldn't work in America). You'll never see someone smoking on TV anymore. But it seems that Hollywood movies with gun violence make more money -- and that's ALL they care about.

[@Wildflower1555]

No -- not the ENTIRE World. Look up places that don't. America is a very small space in our world.

[@christophermills9289]

@@Wildflower1555 I have been to 21 countries in three continents. Yes the ENTIRE world has seen Terminator and Rambo. Everywhere there is electricity or batteries has watched the Sapranos and Sons of Anarchy. Everywhere they play first person shooter games. Like the whole planet ok. America is close to 350 million citizens and covers 7 times zones. Would not call that 'very small'.

[@sooty1410]

The Hollywood producers' answer is usually, "but everyone knows it's not real"...... WRONG !! Most of us do, but not all.

[@sirdopaminesjournal3292]

I have to disagree with Bill on this one... this "life imitating art" argument has been made by every generation since the 70's. In the 70's Rock Music and Devil Worshippers were the reason for society's ills. In the 80's, it was Horror flicks. In the 90's it was gangster Rap. In the 2000's it was Marylin Manson who caused Columbine. In the 2010's, it was violent 1st person shooter video games. Now this... I love you, Bill... but you're getting a little out of touch and it's starting to show.

[@7Lil7Boo7]

a little ... starting ...

[@rjframe4410]

it was metal, then rap, then video games, now its violent films, and study after study says that aint it.. Why do they keep making this debunked argument?

[@DavianSinner]

I was just thinking if he's going down this road, why not include violent video games and violent rap or dark metal music? Probably because picking on video games and music would make him sound really old.

[@rjframe4410]

@@DavianSinner Also it would be to obvious that his argument is the same one as those two if he mentioned them, but it is nice to see alot of people linking them despite the obfuscation

[@MrKnoxguy101]

Oh man that’s right.. I remember that. They actually were blaming Marylin Manson for having this influence on the Columbine shooters. It sounded just as ridiculous then as it does now. It was as if they were just grasping at anything they could to place blame. The “ life imitating art” argument almost seems like an involuntary reflex for some. I think it’s a form of denial.. denial over the fact that sometimes the cause of things like this happening are simply unexplainable.

[@snowcrest7863]

Also, -End the "self esteem movement" -End the "grievance Culture" -Teach kids to have a thicker skin. Not every "insult" or "disrespect" requires killing someone.

[@SadhuPlantBiologist]

Good, smoking Obama!

[@Northstar1989]

You have no historical perspective. Mass shootings (6 or more victims) in the USA have averaged more than 1/year since 1965- starting with mostly military veterans on university campuses. This shit started long, long before the "self esteem" movement you scapegoat.

[@GovilGirl]

"Kids these days!" are really not the problem. It started with the kids in John Wayne generation and that is really who needs the mental health education, stopped seperating reality and fantasy, and refuses to take responsibility for the burden of their privaledged upbring leaving it to future generations to clean up their mess and pick up their tab.

[@jabrokneetoeknee6448]

Self esteem is bad? Don't see how that relates to these shooters. It's always the lanky dork with no friends... the kind of people with low self-esteem not an over-abundance.

[@SadhuPlantBiologist]

@@jabrokneetoeknee6448 However, how do you catch one of these "lanky dorks" before they lose their minds?

[@alexstanton83]

You can’t blame real life violence on entertainment. These type of films are watched by everyone in the world and shootings happens everywhere… oh no wait, only in USA

[@skillzorz101]

Only in the USA? You need to watch something besides CNN. Just because our news corporations spread this garbage around the world every time it happens, doesn't mean it only happens here. Jesus, no wonder why Europeans have skewed views; they actually trust American news. Yikes!

[@DTwxrisk]

It's not the guns per se it is the ease of access to guns which is of course unbelievably easy to obtain in America. And it is the collapse of the mental health system. The United States easily has the worst mental health system of any of the G20 Nations. No Mental Health Access to 350 million of firearms--- it's actually surprising that there aren't more mass shootings

[@TheSoleYankee]

He's talking about Hollywood hypocrisy. How can they censor everything but guns. Not that guns need to be censored.

[@michaelmorrissey1052]

Tell that to the FBI 0:40

[@KingRandor82]

no, they're just *reported* here.

[@wokegod007]

Love the look Bill gave to the Schmuck attempting to applaud the bad guys getting shot in moves 😂😂 The audience have never realized it’s people like them who he tends to speak out on.

[@SeyhawksNow]

One of the 4 things missing from that pie chart is infamy. Some of these shooters specifically do it because they are starved for the attention. Not the normal kind of famous out of chance or just being a socially acceptable human being. The kind of famous where someone lost their life at their hand, and they feel the hatred and attention the world gives them as fuel

[@jayidee4247]

This infamy is another kid of mental and emotional illness. Mental Health encompasses many kinds of behavior and is very much a huge slice of the pie!😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪

[@markmcwilliams2461]

This segment illustrates why Bill Mahr is so unique among tv personalities today. He dishes out criticism to both sides, fairly equally and exposes an alternative perspective on most issues, like this one on guns. You go Bill. Love your show from inception!

[@memento81]

yes, and only Bill Maher manages to make dumb talking points from the 90s such as "action movies and video games make children more violent", that has only been debunked a million times since. Bill is dropping the ball hard since covid started and is deterioting rapidly into the kind of boomer thinking he always rejected when he was more lucid.

[@freeman7985]

Yeah I love when an old man can prescribe every problem to "media bad." When he himself is probably responsible for some of the rhetoric used by white supremacists in these shootings.

[@mr.harajuku4974]

Lmao this isn’t unique, conservative media has been arguing against violence in entertainment for atleast a decade 😂

[@0320209]

@@freeman7985 Not "media bad", but "media hypocritical".

[@freeman7985]

@@0320209 To what? America overseas has always been the influence of death, hate, and profit. It's not Hollywood like Hollywood is responsible for your belief that all brown people should get drone strikes and you should be able to buy anything you want including a child.

[@kelmohror6960]

If liberalism was as consistent and clear-minded as Bill, I would be all-in.

[@animelover12261]

Im not a liberal but i said the same line you said towards republicans because both are so fucking stupid it hurts

[@GonzoDonzo]

What i find funny is that hollywood is run by the liberal institution. These complaints are a direct result of them progressing their ideology

[@willfreese]

Conservatism, on the other hand, is consistent in its evil.

[@GonzoDonzo]

@@willfreese no state can compare with california for evil. Democrat policies have created the worst homelessness problem and the greatest wealth disparity in the nation. They have some of the worst public schools, dilapidated public roadways causing fatalities, polluted drinking water, catastrophes whos investigations were hidden from the public, lookin at u oroville, public utilities with known issues for almost 4 decades who were rewarded by the state politicians time and time again for not doing what was required and promised for their rate hikes, resulting in city blocks blowing up and entire cities burning down. Their authoritarian overreach is so great that u can be fined if u have a puddle in your gutter outside your house. Thats just the tip of the ice berg and i could go on all day. It always amazes me that people can live in this state and keep voting for abject failures but most people are extremely stupid and remain blissfully unaware that everything is crumbling around them

[@wirelessone2986]

Yeah I miss JFK

[@richardboll8763]

SPOT ON, Mr. Maher!!!! We don't always see eye-to-eye on things, but in this case we are in violent agreement!

[@adarian]

This bit made me really think about one thing. It is time to re-watch Equilibrium

[@Ray-uc8ij]

It was a pretty sick movie.

[@JoshuaDavidBrown-Jaded423]

I remember where I was when I saw it for the first time as a teenager. It made me that "wait you gotta see this part" guy that would rewind it and watch people's reactions and get upset they didn't enjoy it as much as I did. 🤣😅

[@MrDlt123]

I remember getting tossed out of movie theatres as a kid because I didnt meet the age requirements for the movie's PG rating. I havent seen that happen in decades. But with access to EVERYTHING 24/7/365 on children's cell phones, and lots of people not monitoring their children's Internet use, what's the point?

[@leoperidot482]

It's because parents think violence is normal.

[@Tijuanabill]

You are mistaken, or not in America. There has never been an age limit for PG in America. It stands for Parental Guidance, which just means parents should talk to their kids about that movie, if their kid sees it.

[@gothicgirlfriend7375]

Switzerland has guns and the still lack violence. The only thing all the most peaceful countries have in common is the fact that they teach emotional intelligence in schools. These countries have these classes and they are just as important as math. Try telling Japan and Switzerland that the issue is violent movies. Geez Japan invented violent TV and its still one of the least violent countries in the world. They teach the importance of honor there. No it's just ignorance on every side, plain and simple. Talk about that please someone. 🙏 A child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth African Proverb

[@goodamacthesecond5931]

@@Tijuanabill I used to have to show a Id to see a R rated film back when I was in highschool, if you weren't 17 then they won't sell you a ticket. Is that not a age limit?

[@Tijuanabill]

@@goodamacthesecond5931 He said PG rating, not R rating.

[@halesharp4270]

Film and video game violence have been around a long time and the vast majority of people who watch or play them are NOT committing acts of violence. There's been plenty of studies on this and it mostly boils down to not just some mental health issues, but also the family life. Neglectful parents, abusive parents, or anything of that nature that could severely damage the mental state of a child, boy or girl. They tend to act out and yes, guns are more available for some families and that again is the responsibility of the adults. Nowadays you could make the argument that social media has also increased our possibilities of getting more bullying which connects more to gun violence than media. As an entertainer and someone who's been in the industry a long time, Bill should know this if he actually did any research.

[@Xavier_Coogat_the_Mambo_King]

Its almost like you completely skipped the part where he clearly stated its only a portion of the problem.

[@Xavier_Coogat_the_Mambo_King]

"Nowadays you could make the argument thay social media has also increased our possibilities...." HE DID!

[@dailynews5683]

He clearly stated that it wasn't *JUST* gun violence on television, but a multitude of different things. He even brought out the pie chart. I don't think violence on television does cause violence in real life, but to say there is absolutely *NO* influence at all is complete horsesh~t.

[@halesharp4270]

@@dailynews5683 Based on legitimate data collected over the past 20 years where they looked over shootings committed by minors, 99% of the time they found that they actually were not influenced by the violence. I would recommend that you read into it. Reason I made this comment is because based how divided people have become, I'm worried that people will start to slip into this mindset even further and make it so even more things are censored, even if Bill says he's against the censorship.

[@shivapejman8155]

Watch the entire skit. And oh, by the way, guns have been around a lot longer so what gives?

[@carlkinder8201]

I remember when I was a kid I had to go to bed early whenever my parents wanted to watch movies like Aliens, Predator, Die Hard because they were "too violent" for me to watch. Society just doesn't care anymore.

[@FreshCutFrenchFries]

Very true. I remember my parents and thier friends would even stop the movie just check that any young eyes were at the steps listening to swear words or violence.. Even these damn cartoon for kids these days you can't trust

[@leonfa259]

Same for me, but the nature documentaries I watched as 5yo were 10x more brutal than any movie and actually real. Lions eating their own kids to not starve themselves or killing the kids of another losing lion to have more "breeding success" with his lioness. Also much is better slowly covered by parents than by peers showing real "shock content" of mexican gangs in early secondary school (which is hard to stop).

[@lesleyschultz6846]

I decided to stop watch programming with violent content because it just reinforced some pretty awful ideas about how we deal with social conflict and problems in modern society. It means I watch almost nothing but PBS and documentary programming but I feel much better. Seeing these clips alone just made me feel ill. Imagine living surrounded by a sea of this awful violent content! Just stop watching this garbage and they will eventually stop making it.

[@GaZonk100]

you're right and no-one could have put it better than *doesn't care anymore...they don't have the mental energy left to g.a.f.