It isn't just music, its pop culture in general, but, those here who claim that it has no influence are, at very best, extremely naive. Lets face it, it generally isn't adults listening to the music in question. It isn't adults watching the videos. Its kids. Kids are very impressionable. I in no way advocate censorship, but, when music primarily aimed at children is so overtly sexual, you are asking for trouble. When the core audience is 10 to 15 years old, it is flat out shameless and irresponsible for the artist as well as the record company. It is nearly impossible for parents to protect their children from these outside influences, so to say it all boils down to responsible parenting is not quite accurate. Parents DO need to be responsible, but unless they lock their kids in the house with no radio or televison for 18 years, they have a nearly unwinnable fight on their hands. Pop culture and peer pressure are extremely strong influences. Some have said "music didn't make them want to have sex. Hot girls in short skirts made them want to have sex". But ask yourself why a 13 year old girl is wearing such "hot" skirts. Could it possibly be the influence of some irresponsible record company pushing the latest radio and mtv slut to a young impressionable audience? Ask yourself why natural hormones are sent into such overdrive?
Just as an aside, IMO there is nothing good about teenage sex.
"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."
Well, what is an artist supposed to do? Put a muffle on his own work just because some kid may hear it? It doesn't seem very fair that the artist, who wants to express themselves and may do it by using sexual lyrics, explicit language, etc. Plus, it's even more unfair to the people you buy, watch, listen to that music because they choose too. Why should the people who are mature enough to handle things such as this nature have it taken away from them. I understand that kids are impressionable but you can't just tell an artist to "keep it clean for the kiddies".
Back in ancient Rome parents were saying "these damn kids and their crummy music and sex....what the hell has happened???"
And they still say it today.
And I'll be saying the same thing when I have kids.
Except now the babysitter is the t.v. set and it sets up the fall of the child just the way the corporations want it. Drive it to the mind and the unmolded mind will follow. Didn't the video come before the radio version of the tune anyhow?
It isn't just music, its pop culture in general, but, those here who claim that it has no influence are, at very best, extremely naive. Lets face it, it generally isn't adults listening to the music in question. It isn't adults watching the videos. Its kids. Kids are very impressionable. I in no way advocate censorship, but, when music primarily aimed at children is so overtly sexual, you are asking for trouble. When the core audience is 10 to 15 years old, it is flat out shameless and irresponsible for the artist as well as the record company. It is nearly impossible for parents to protect their children from these outside influences, so to say it all boils down to responsible parenting is not quite accurate. Parents DO need to be responsible, but unless they lock their kids in the house with no radio or televison for 18 years, they have a nearly unwinnable fight on their hands. Pop culture and peer pressure are extremely strong influences. Some have said "music didn't make them want to have sex. Hot girls in short skirts made them want to have sex". But ask yourself why a 13 year old girl is wearing such "hot" skirts. Could it possibly be the influence of some irresponsible record company pushing the latest radio and mtv slut to a young impressionable audience? Ask yourself why natural hormones are sent into such overdrive?
Just as an aside, IMO there is nothing good about teenage sex.
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"But ask yourself why a 13 year old girl is wearing such "hot" skirts. Could it possibly be the influence of some irresponsible record company pushing the latest radio and mtv slut to a young impressionable audience? Ask yourself why natural hormones are sent into such overdrive?"
Uhhhh... NO. How about the parents setting boundaries on what is appropriate for a 13 year old girl to wear out in public? I know if my 13 year old daughter came home from the mall with a shirt that said, "Porn Star" across the chest... I'm sitting her ass down and explaining to her what that means and the implications and consequences she will most likely face by wearing it. And hopefully... between her birth and that day, I would have instilled a core set of values that would lead her to avoid purchasing that shirt in the first place.
If the parent sets the boundaries that allows their 13 year old to dress like a prostitute... it is the parent and the child who are responsible, not the television or the radio.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
Well, what is an artist supposed to do? Put a muffle on his own work just because some kid may hear it? It doesn't seem very fair that the artist, who wants to express themselves and may do it by using sexual lyrics, explicit language, etc. Plus, it's even more unfair to the people you buy, watch, listen to that music because they choose too. Why should the people who are mature enough to handle things such as this nature have it taken away from them. I understand that kids are impressionable but you can't just tell an artist to "keep it clean for the kiddies".
No one said anything about censorship. I sure didn't. in fact i specifically said I do not endorse it. But, lets be honest. Because some kid MAY hear it?! C'mon now. in most cases, kids are the ONLY ones hearing it. Not many 30 year olds are listening to this crap. It isn't that it is AVAILABLE to kids. Its fucking AIMED at them! The target audience of these artists is about 10- 15! Most people "mature" enough to handle this crap don't even listen to it.
"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."
No one said anything about censorship. I sure didn't. in fact i specifically said I do not endorse it. But, lets be honest. Because some kid MAY hear it?! C'mon now. in most cases, kids are the ONLY ones hearing it. Not many 30 year olds are listening to this crap. It isn't that it is AVAILABLE to kids. Its fucking AIMED at them! The target audience of these artists is about 10- 15! Most people "mature" enough to handle this crap don't even listen to it.
No one said anything about censorship. I sure didn't. in fact i specifically said I do not endorse it. But, lets be honest. Because some kid MAY hear it?! C'mon now. in most cases, kids are the ONLY ones hearing it. Not many 30 year olds are listening to this crap. It isn't that it is AVAILABLE to kids. Its fucking AIMED at them! The target audience of these artists is about 10- 15! Most people "mature" enough to handle this crap don't even listen to it.
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Still... isn't it a parent's job to be a part of their kid's life? I mean, I can see letting the kid have a longer leash when he's 15 (and has been showing responsible behaviour up to this point)... but, what parent isn't a part of their 10 year old's life?
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
...
Still... isn't it a parent's job to be a part of their kid's life? I mean, I can see letting the kid have a longer leash when he's 15 (and has been showing responsible behaviour up to this point)... but, what parent isn't a part of their 10 year old's life?
Oh, absolutely. I place responsibility primarily on the parents. i have three children myself. And, again, I'm not advocating censorship. My only point is that it is ridiculous to say that overtly sexual pop culture has no influence on children. That's crazy! And parents can teach their kids. They can monitor their kids.They can instill their children with scruples and values. But, lets face it, all to often teens and preteens look not to their parents for guidance but to their heroes in the popular culture.
I also said to my wife "if we ever have a daughter (we have three sons and are officially done), I will never let her dress like that". My wife, having been a teenage girl herself, would always remind that "you won't be able to stop it. Its called changing at a friend's house".
"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."
I think music is definately an influence, along with tv and other media. I have to say I was well and truly influenced by the music I listened to as a teenager and the people who performed it. Luckily for me I believe bands like Pearl Jam have been a good influence on me (even though my parents were very much against us listening to music like that). So why wouldn't the kids who like this sex type of music be swayed by it, wanting to imitate their favourite artist?
Also teen magazines and tv were definately a factor on how I viewed sex. once I became a teenager and shows like 90210, etc were indictaing that it's normal for teenagers to have sex I felt quite abnormal. Now days it's even worse with the OC etc. It's just become acceptable for young kids to have sex and kids feel they should be doing what it appears everyone else is doing. I know kids who start smoking and having sex, etc, at a very young age because they think the older kids will think they are cool and the older kids are just feeling sorry for them, thinking they don't realise what they are doing, which they don't. Young kids really don't have the sense or knowledge to see the long term implications of what they do in the moment. Kids may have been raised well, but put enough media influence and peer presure on them and they might just be inclined to try something they don't feel comfortable with, and once they have done it there is no turning back so they continue.
I agree that parents have a huge responsibilty to instil their children with standards and morals, but I also believe that their children are influenced by so many sources that no matter how good a parent they are their children may sway from the path. Not to mention the teenage years is the period when children naturally begin to turn away from their parents and even rebel against what they have been taught.
Comments
Just as an aside, IMO there is nothing good about teenage sex.
Back in ancient Rome parents were saying "these damn kids and their crummy music and sex....what the hell has happened???"
And they still say it today.
And I'll be saying the same thing when I have kids.
Except now the babysitter is the t.v. set and it sets up the fall of the child just the way the corporations want it. Drive it to the mind and the unmolded mind will follow. Didn't the video come before the radio version of the tune anyhow?
"But ask yourself why a 13 year old girl is wearing such "hot" skirts. Could it possibly be the influence of some irresponsible record company pushing the latest radio and mtv slut to a young impressionable audience? Ask yourself why natural hormones are sent into such overdrive?"
Uhhhh... NO. How about the parents setting boundaries on what is appropriate for a 13 year old girl to wear out in public? I know if my 13 year old daughter came home from the mall with a shirt that said, "Porn Star" across the chest... I'm sitting her ass down and explaining to her what that means and the implications and consequences she will most likely face by wearing it. And hopefully... between her birth and that day, I would have instilled a core set of values that would lead her to avoid purchasing that shirt in the first place.
If the parent sets the boundaries that allows their 13 year old to dress like a prostitute... it is the parent and the child who are responsible, not the television or the radio.
Hail, Hail!!!
No one said anything about censorship. I sure didn't. in fact i specifically said I do not endorse it. But, lets be honest. Because some kid MAY hear it?! C'mon now. in most cases, kids are the ONLY ones hearing it. Not many 30 year olds are listening to this crap. It isn't that it is AVAILABLE to kids. Its fucking AIMED at them! The target audience of these artists is about 10- 15! Most people "mature" enough to handle this crap don't even listen to it.
Yea, I'll give you that.
Still... isn't it a parent's job to be a part of their kid's life? I mean, I can see letting the kid have a longer leash when he's 15 (and has been showing responsible behaviour up to this point)... but, what parent isn't a part of their 10 year old's life?
Hail, Hail!!!
Oh, absolutely. I place responsibility primarily on the parents. i have three children myself. And, again, I'm not advocating censorship. My only point is that it is ridiculous to say that overtly sexual pop culture has no influence on children. That's crazy! And parents can teach their kids. They can monitor their kids.They can instill their children with scruples and values. But, lets face it, all to often teens and preteens look not to their parents for guidance but to their heroes in the popular culture.
I also said to my wife "if we ever have a daughter (we have three sons and are officially done), I will never let her dress like that". My wife, having been a teenage girl herself, would always remind that "you won't be able to stop it. Its called changing at a friend's house".
Also teen magazines and tv were definately a factor on how I viewed sex. once I became a teenager and shows like 90210, etc were indictaing that it's normal for teenagers to have sex I felt quite abnormal. Now days it's even worse with the OC etc. It's just become acceptable for young kids to have sex and kids feel they should be doing what it appears everyone else is doing. I know kids who start smoking and having sex, etc, at a very young age because they think the older kids will think they are cool and the older kids are just feeling sorry for them, thinking they don't realise what they are doing, which they don't. Young kids really don't have the sense or knowledge to see the long term implications of what they do in the moment. Kids may have been raised well, but put enough media influence and peer presure on them and they might just be inclined to try something they don't feel comfortable with, and once they have done it there is no turning back so they continue.
I agree that parents have a huge responsibilty to instil their children with standards and morals, but I also believe that their children are influenced by so many sources that no matter how good a parent they are their children may sway from the path. Not to mention the teenage years is the period when children naturally begin to turn away from their parents and even rebel against what they have been taught.