I appear to be of about the same generation and I agree to an extent. I grew up in the projects, where everyday life consisted of zip guns, knives and chains. The up close factor did not seem to deter those bent on hurting others. Thank the Lord I was able to escape those streets. Today the same violence exists with a different venue. We are in general a violent race, survival of the fittest and all that. I agree that the sex and violence depicted in movies, songs, and tv programs has allowed some (includung my little brother) to believe that it's the life for them. You teach your children the best you can and hopefully give them the tools to survive in this world. Perhaps some day war will consist of drones killing each other and not people. Very powerful image and portrays your thinking well.

You know that's why they changed the way the military trains. Used to, they shot at round "bulls-eyes" targets and they found that in actual combat, most men would hesitate when a person popped up in front of them. After Viet Nam. they started using "E-type" targets that resembled a persons silhouette. Reaction times improved greatly. Then, most people would dump a whole magazine as soon as they saw someone. Now, they train us to hold off until we make a PID (positive identification).

WOnderfully done and great creation !!!

I have to agree as well. And I do not think it really has anything to do with the video games or media images per say. I think it has more to do with how we as parents teach our children. As Zander alluded to earlier,I have spent a lot of time talking to my kids about what goes on at school with their friends, there seems to be many of the children left to their own devices more and more. One of my son's 10 year old friends has a mini fridge and microwave in his room and he does his own laundry. While I am all for teaching them responsibility, I simply cannot understand this. Our family still subscribes to family meals, Sunday drives and Saturday chores. My kids do play video games and my 10 year old loves to watch scary (not gorey) movies. But I have taught them the difference between fantasy and reality. I fear that unless more adults take the time to talk to and listen to the children in their care, than you wonderful artwork will be an all too real future.

As life is what you make it, so too are one's children, the way they're guided and nurtured, given the morals to distinguish the right path to trod. I agree with what you've posted, Seth, as well as with many others in this post. It seems far too often kids are left to their own devices anymore, parents being too relegated to slaving away at jobs to gift them (and also themselves) with anything and everything. Gone are the days where we all ate dinner together, discovering how each's day went, progress in school, difficulties at work... but that doesn't surprise me in the least. We no longer know who are neighbors are, neighborhoods aren't full of neighbors anymore, just full of folks that live on the same street and keep to themselves. We've always been bombarded by violence in our various media and/or entertainment. I'm of the era of growing up with Walter Cronkite announcing body counts of the day from Nam while Mom was cooking dinner in the kitchen. Thankfully I was just young enough to escape that fiasco, not having turned 18 until late '74 as things were winding down to "peace with honor". The general apathy as a nation is so apparent whether it's in the way people treat each other at the mall, on the road or even in it's inability to stand up and take a voice against what's going on in this country and the systematic destruction of our way of life. Me personally? I'm glad I'm getting to the age where perhaps not all that much longer I won't have to fret or fume over it. Well composed image Seth, powerful in it's symbolism.

Great art inspires controversy leading to (one hopes) civil discourse, and you have done that here powerfully. And I know you are speaking to broader generalities and not pointing out anyone's parenting, or lack thereof. Humans have always been violent, yes, from the first Neanderthal who picked up a rock to now. Someone said we should go back to the days of sticks and rocks..my feeling is we should go back to swords, haha. But we can never put the bullet back in the gun-can't go back to any milder times in our history. Since that first rock our weapons have become ever more deadly and complicated, and I think what this picture alludes to, with the child at the controls, is a lack of thinking through and consequences with things like drones, which is going on now and will be our wars in the future...by remote control--stressing "remote" here..you won't have to look your enemy in the face before you pull the trigger but rather never see him at all. You won't have to leave the safety of your base to invade another country...and that is a bit frightening, remote wars fought without emotion--consciousness. And our rocks will only become bigger as we find a way to make newer and deadlier toys. And beyond the violence on TV and computer screens, that is the biggest threat to our humanity.

our days back then were cool Seth, 100% agree on yours and otherwords about todays kids. in my/our days there wasno gun violence as there is today, we did not have to worry about our kids being killed in high school. i hate to put it this way but i believe that the violent video games are a strong part in shaping minds in kids, (the wrong way). then of course the worlds probs with killing and media spreading it all over the tv. also the very strong violent movies these days also. so many things can shape a persons mind in how they think and react to all this. your image is moving and exteamly well done.

Your image has generated some great comments, Seth. Yup, I read all of them and there's not really a lot for me to add. I think Jane summed it all up pretty well. Excellent work Seth!

Powerful render!

I think the problem is differentiating between reality and fantasy; That and the inability of some parents to instill the basic concept of right and wrong into their children Great image

excellent, emotional image

I understand your point, but I think it an American issue. In the US and Canada, you never had a war in your home. Never been bombed, shelled, sacked, raped by foreign armies. Your kids are "innocent". They never felt the horror of the war, they lost their parents in war but they never lived it on their skins. Here in Europe (and in Asia, Middle East, Africa) things are quite different. Our grandparents, our parents lived war on their skins, some of us lived war on their bodies (Bosnia and Kosovo), some of us played goodies vs baddies with actual kalanshikovs. I think that our perception of violence and war is quite different.

For sure there is some certain truth in your written words... Pathetic scene and realization!!!

Stunning scene!

I was extremely naive as a child not going any where and no influence from tv except watching wrestling on Saturday night at a neighbor's house. I either found a radio in the local dump or was given one. I changed the oscillator connections and was able to get shortwave broadcasts from all over the world.just dumb luck really. it was my escape into the outside world your render is extremely dramatic and I was say the most dramatic this year

And now I hear they are making a special medal for the people who operate the drones!! Unbelievable. This little guy could grow up to get the Medal of Honour. I hear what you are saying, at least I think I do and that is enough.

super work on this image, seth...and i will have to disagree with some folks about video games messing with kids heads. if one understands how the brain develops they might see the connection of habituating young folks to violence and the role these games play in preparing guys/gals for killing in war and of course this stupidity of all the gun violence in the US...guys' brains are not fully developed until the age of 25...just some food for thought...

the worst in my eyes is that a lot of the young generation takes whats happening on tv for real all these reality crap shows and idol crap,is just too much. although me too we watched matt dillon of course and bonanza and high chapparal and all that we played cowboy and indians but we knew the difference between real and fiction.(in a way it seems to me) its still early in the morning and i have no moood for ranting yet but i will keep this one in mind seth boy.

True words, dear Seth and excellent picture. Very well done.

Original that it is Seth,on of your best.

Very strong renderwork... When I was a kid I was also playing kid-games, not like the kids totday, that's just bad education of their parents!

Great artwork! Very sad but true image......there's way too much violence going on all over the world....

Awesome work.

A strong statement and an excellent image. It's very, very sad... but reality!

A fantastic image and apposite words for evil and dangerous games that you can buy today!!! Even the movies are too bloody and violent!!!

Xcellent work !

WOW! Seth,This is an magnificent message to the peoples eyes,who didn't completely blind yet!!!I agree to your all words completely in your 3 comments my friend!!Thank you for your awareness!And Because of that,I say;"Protect your internet communication rights,like your own life" If we continue to corresponding other countries and Their Peoples,Politicians-Media and Governments lies didn't affect us easily!! Please everyone;Trying to protect your internet communication rights!....Take care my friend:-)))

powerful image, excellent work!

You did really cool pic! Great!

Well said and the art screams the sentiment. A while back you wisely commented on one of my pieces with the same thoughtful view of us in our current state of evolution. I sometimes think it will be a miracle if we make it another 1000 years. Time will tell. For each act of thoughtless violence we find an act of kind good. I myself am the same. There has been violence I hate myself for and yet, smiles for what I got right. So it comes down to WTF are we? I will probably make it because of my age but I do pray for the children and those yet to be born.