In every place on earth and at every point in history, people have always described and created their culture with the stories they tell. Through stories we tell each other what matters, how to act, and what we should remember. The story of this nation’s revolutionary origins and founding fathers, for instance, is a powerful story that helps bind us together as Americans, a people with common goals and values.

These days, most of the stories we share come through the electronic media. TV shows, movies, and even video games, have come to replace books and live performances as the dominant forms of storytelling. In many ways this is great – after all, the electronic media have a wider reach, and often, a more visceral impact than the older forms. The modern media offer us a chance to share even more of our culture with each other.

The problem with the modern media is the kind of stories they tell. Because the vast majority of movies, TV shows, video games and other electronic media are made for profit, they often depict values and situations that quickly grab our attention or convince us to buy a product. That’s why we see so much sex, violence and profanity on the screen. That stuff shocks and intrigues us. When we see it, we want to know what will happen next, so we stick around. And that’s exactly what advertisers and for-profit producers want. 

Think about the culture that creates. The characters on our screens act rashly and violently. They are often wealthy and powerful.  They fall into bed with beautiful women and off the back of moving vehicles, usually without consequence. Thanks to the electronic storytellers, we are raising our children in a culture that says we should go after whatever seems fast, easy and fun. 
When we Say Yes to No, we tell our kids a different story. We tell them that life is not always a matter of instant gratification. We tell them that hard work, respect for others, and personal growth are the road that lets us ride off into the sunset.