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.

[technicolour]

*ah yes a rebuttle*

So basically everyone is saying that it's up to the parents. Well hm..I'll use my own life as an example. I own many artist's cd's that my parents HATE and that if they KNEW i had them..my head would be sitting next to me, not on me. I can get Cd's of songs that my parents dont like and they have NO CLUE what exactly is going on.

Parents CANT always CONTROL what their kids come into contact with.

Again why aren’t the parents better role models to the kids.

Parents are just starting to not give a damn. That's it.

'sides, the parents wouldn't have to worry, become a parent if they knew it wasn't out there in the first place.

[Ni99aRican]

*ah yes a rebuttle*

So basically everyone is saying that it's up to the parents. Well hm..I'll use my own life as an example. I own many artist's cd's that my parents HATE and that if they KNEW i had them..my head would be sitting next to me, not on me. I can get Cd's of songs that my parents dont like and they have NO CLUE what exactly is going on.

Parents CANT always CONTROL what their kids come into contact with.
Parents are just starting to not give a damn. That's it.

'sides, the parents wouldn't have to worry, become a parent if they knew it wasn't out there in the first place.

Let me get this straight. You want a censorship on music, but yet you yourself own CDs in which your parents do not approve of. SMH, kids will always find away around the system no matter how many barriers you put up. They can just simply get someone of an older age who is not a parent to buy it for them.

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