According to the popular press over 20 million UK television viewers watched the recent episode of Eastenders in which 'Who Shot Phil' was revealed. This programme, and many similar to it, has a degree of influence upon the way our society sees itself. Soap opera plots are thought by many to reflect real-life and, as in the case of Phil's bullet, become public talking points as if they had really happened. By the setting of action in current time everyday locations such as public houses i.e. The Queen Victoria in Eastenders and The Rovers Return in Coronation Street, the producers make these imaginary worlds more alive. The recognisable sets serve as the backdrop for the characters that act out what some believe to be realistic scenes and plots. If you have ever watched these soap operas then you will be aware that there is within them a high level of verbal abuse, physical violence, boozing, contrived and complicated sexual interactions and various vile practices. It can be argued that these are harmless, escapist entertainment, however I argue that they often dwell upon the darker side of life and reflect that which is both evil and degenerate in our society making it seem almost acceptable.

In the recent past Coronation Street has featured armed robbery, hostage taking, a son that seduced his father's new wife, a transvestite that had his wedding tackle removed, theft, death by shooting, death by beating, deceitful business practice, unlawful gambling on licensed premises, dubious handling of stolen goods, the molestation of a teenage girl, a male stripper and a sausage competition. Is our society really so degraded? Are we as depicted in the soap operas, a bunch of belligerent barbarians?

The sad truth is, I believe, that we are fast approaching a period which may, in the distant future, be termed The Age of Unreason. Everywhere one looks these days the spectre of unreasonableness looms. For example I think of 'Road Rage' it is real, it is out there on our streets. Seemingly ordinary people hurling insults and abuse at each other for minor motoring matters that in the halcyon days of yesteryear would have passed without more than a raised eyebrow. Extreme examples of this modern malaise include the murder by Kenneth Noye of the unfortunate young man that cut across his path at a set of traffic lights. However, it is the surprisingly common occurrence of intolerant behaviour on the roads that shocks me most. Anyone who drives in or around the towns and cities of today's Great Britain is at risk of being tailgated by a headlight flashing maniac in a huge, four-wheel drive, chrome plated, off the road and out of control vehicle. Or overtaken by a speeding lunatic with wild eyes and a back to front baseball cap, gripping tight to the steering wheel of his supercharged white van. What is so urgent that these drivers can't proceed peacefully at a reasonable pace? Maybe the answer is that they are emulating the kind of behaviour they see daily in the plots of soap operas. Perhaps we should be thankful we don't get a bullet. Life imitating art, if you can call Eastenders art that is.

The problem with soap opera violence is that it seems so realistic. This 'entertainment' is broadcast into our living rooms every day during the early hours of the evening. Long before the so-called watershed of 9 p.m. our children are watching on television what passes for real-life situations and they must be assimilating the message that intolerant behaviour, abuse and physical aggression are 'normal' and acceptable in our society. Observing the way many people are behaving these days it seems, to me at least, that the lessons learned on TV are being put into practice on the streets. If you doubt this I suggest you attempt a walk around any large town or city centre on a Saturday night, but don't go alone.

With regards to spiritual beliefs soap operas are usually ambivalent, they frequently use the established church as a set for weddings, christenings and funerals but pay no heed to the teachings. As for Spiritualism that most often receives the comedy treatment, such as the scenes in which the ghost of Ivy Tyldesley was supposedly haunting her old house in Coronation Street. The only values that are portrayed as being worthwhile are those that in spiritual terms are worthless. Greed, sexual gratification, avarice and all other forms of materialistic pleasure seeking are depicted as being acceptable.

The soap opera characters that seem to predominate in the plots are either victims or abusers. Anyone who regularly watches the soaps will recognise the stereotypes, such as Les Battersby of Coronation Street: Petty thief, philanderer, violent bully, wife abuser and all round 'loveable' rogue. Phil Mitchell of Eastenders: Thug, liar, female abuser and unscrupulous manipulator. The trouble is that such flawed characters are shown not only to be getting away with their misdeeds but are also seen to be thriving upon them. The message to impressionable young viewers is clear, be a bully, be a thug, be a thief and be a 'real' character. The trouble is that, according to the latest crime figures, many young people are behaving like violent thugs. There are now over 60,000 people in prison with recidivism at 80% proving that jail, in itself, is no deterrent. No wonder really, jail has become an acceptable part of our culture. The stigma of imprisonment has largely vanished, thanks perhaps to the way soap operas have increasingly featured main characters being sent to jail. I think of Emmerdale's Jack Sugden locked into a prison cell and being helped by friendly inmates. Or Coronation Street's Jim McDonald who casually murdered another character by beating him to death before being sent to Strangeways.

The whole ethos of soap opera plots is an insult to the intelligence and decency of our society. To offer mindless violence and endless verbal and physical abuse as the basis for various serial dramas is to reduce and dilute the intensity of such behaviour. Also the blurring of fiction and reality by the producers and directors of these TV programmes creates a moral juxtaposition for the younger viewer. On the one hand they are, hopefully, being taught to follow a spiritual path by their parents, teachers and mentors, whilst on the other they are being shown exploitative, violent and abusive garbage by the makers of our daily soap operas. Sorting out the wheat from the chaff is bound to be difficult, especially when the daily topic of conversation is 'Who Shot Phil' or 'Who Sexually Molested Toyah'. From watching violence to talking about violence and on to committing violence is but three short steps. I believe that the soap operas of today are encouraging people to at least take the first two steps and that, in my opinion, is a disgrace. Maybe the next time you watch a violent scene being enacted within a soap opera you will consider the impact it may have upon impressionable minds and turn it off. I sincerely hope so before the next topic of conversation is not who shot Phil but who shot you?

E-mail John G. Sutton with your thoughts.

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