Our Seven Guiding Principles

Our Seven Guiding Principles

The Turn Off the Violence coalition has developed the following guiding principles to define our mission.  These Seven Guiding Principles govern the actions of any individual or organization in connection with their use of the logo, name or materials of Turn Off the Violence, or of any organization wishing to conduct a Turn Off the Violence campaign in their community.

1.

We will keep the campaign very SIMPLE.  
This is a positive campaign with two goals:  
(1) to teach people non-violent ways to deal with anger and conflict, and  
(2) to   help   people   realize   that   violent entertainment  influences  our  attitudes about the acceptability of violence ... and among all the influences on violent behavior, that is one influence we can choose to turn off. 

 2.

Turn Off the Violence is a COALITION. 
Hundreds of organizations and individuals have joined the campaign.   The coalition offers the strengths of shared knowledge, shared resources and shared purpose. 

 3.

Turn Off the Violence ADDRESSES ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE.
As a coalition, Turn Off the Violence asks people to turn off violence in all its ugly forms:  physical violence,  sexual  violence,  verbal  violence, violence in entertainment, family violence, gang violence, hate crimes, and playground violence.

  4.

Turn Off the Violence is INCLUSIVE OF MANY GROUPS.  Because no fragment of society has been left untouched by violence, everyone must be invited to be part of the solution.  

5.

Turn Off the Violence is a GRASSROOTS campaign. We   encourage   active participation  by  members  and  interested individuals in all phases of planning and implementation.  

6.

Turn  Off  the  Violence  is  NOT  A CENSORSHIP project.  As an organization we will not sponsor boycotts or compile lists of music, movies, or TV shows we think are violent,  nor will  we  advocate government censorship.   We encourage individuals to carefully consider and voice their opinions not only about what they believe is unacceptable, but also about what is good. We believe that if  enough  people  begin  expressing  their preferences for non-violent media, the market for violent entertainment will shrink and those in the media industry will get the message.  

7.

Turn Off the Violence is A FIRST STEP.   
Certainly there are a myriad of influences that shape violent attitudes and behaviors besides the electronic media.   But the increasingly violent images portrayed on television, in movies, and in music portray violence as an ordinary  and  often  appropriate  way  of resolving  conflict,  demonstrating  power, releasing   emotions,   and  responding   to everything from sexual desire to boredom to social injustice. Media violence is one kind of violence we can turn off. Then we can begin to teach  our children  appropriate ways of dealing with these challenges.