Gangsta Rap, Censorship of Options

[Hell-Rell]

Should the government censor lyrics of songs that are violent or expletive, for example “gangsta”rap?

There is an ongoing debate about the impact of music on certain listeners – especially music such as « gangsta » rap, with lyrics linked to violence and illegal acts. There is widespread disagreement, for example between the music industry and parents’ groups, about the effect such music has on young listeners, and their behaviour, i.e. does it encourage them to behave in a particular way?


I think that Government censorship is a dangerous form of statist control. Even if one accepts the argument for some limited form of government censorship to protect public morals, this needs to be very precisely and conservatively defined to avoid the slippery slope towards creeping totalitarianism. Allowing censorship of popular culture on grounds that the lyrics are mildly subversive is unwelcome as it incorporates a very expansive view of the proper ambit of government regulation. This issue is properly the concern of parents, who should take more interest in, and responsibility for, the music (and films, TV, internet use) to which their children are exposed.

[*nightmare4taki*]

Ok. The red should help proove my point, if I did the coloring right, but anyways.
This is you though. Slightly biased. [What isn't these days though] Sure you dont but what about little Johnny down the block who is only 9? He listens to this, thinks OH GUN! ME SHOOT! and then what happens?

And that is why I said parents should be more responsible for their kids.

But that's just it. Not that many kids get that it's entertainment

Yet again, where are the parents to guide their kid in the proper direction and also observe what their kids listen to.

Kids ARE responsible for the crimes they commit. Kids THINK they could get away with whatever they do by blaming the music. But when the kids do a crime that is perfectly spelt out in a song, that raises up a couple of questions.

Its just an excuse the kid uses because he always had the desire to pull off something daring. Its apparent that before the kid commited the crime it was planned and he had time to think things through. Again why aren’t the parents better role models to the kids.

My colorization prooves the point. They were INSPIRED to tag places from this game.

By saying they were inspired, they were simply using an excuse.

The green= Wtf? Launching missles at vacant missles? Care to explain that one?

Pardon me, I had to laugh at that.
Care to read over it again.

and the blue. Care to explain that one as well?

I feel the need to quote myself.

If they are going to place a censorship on the gangster rap I will have no problem just so long has they place censorship on the movie industry as well.

No doubt from a psychological aspect it does influence the kids behaviors but I did say that if they are going to have a censorship over gangster rap ,which already has a parental advisory tag on the label , then they should censor movies no matter the rating. To just single out gangster rap as the main problem is being without a doubt bias. The fault however still lies on the stores that are allowing kids to purchase the material and the parents for not being more observant to what their kids listen to.