Thread: music censorship

FOXNews.com - Racist Music Just a Download Away on Mainstream Music Sites - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News

So, what do you guys think of this! I suspect, based on the little I have read that these guys are the scum of the earth, but do we ban their opinions and ideas?
I leave it to you guys!

As long as I can choose not to listen to it, I don't mind that there is no law against it. But, if music is used to blatantly and overtly incite specific rioting, violence, etc then I think it should be treated as any verbal or written threat

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

It can't be true, it's Fox News

Sorry! Must've lost my mind for a minute.

The article actually does a reasonably intelligent job of differentiating between censorship and making a business choice not to carry certain media.

Walmart generally does not sell albums with the Tipper Sticker on them. That's not censorship, they just think they can make more money filling their shelves with family friendly stuff.

The woman in the article who said that businesses have a "social obligation" to not sell offensive music is full of ****. Businesses have a social obligation to provide their shareholders with value while not violating laws or business ethics. The censorship of certain art is definitely not an ethical issue.

Pretty much everything that's even slightly interesting is going to offend someone. That's life. I also strongly object to the term "hate music." Most music is pro-something and anti-something-else. Look at acts like the Vandals or even Johnny Cash. Definitely not fans of law enforcement or government, but not usually labeled hate music.

I think an artist should be able to express him or herself freely. If people are offended, they'll vote with their money and I'll remain a starving artist. Maybe I'll be ok with that and stick to whatever offensive position I have chosen, or maybe I'll sell out and adopt something less offensive to sell albums. But it should be my choice.

In all honestly, I'm not a fan of retailers shrinking their catalogues based of pressure from a group of idiots like Turn It Down, but they have a right to if they wish. I just don't get why certain kinds of offensiveness are labeled as worse than others. As the white power activist in the article pointed out, you have all kinds of rap music glorifying violence to women and police officers, and that is not labeled as hate music either.

As a general rule, I like the statement attributed to Justice Louis Brandeis, "The remedy for bad speech is more speech."

Rich

Originally Posted by JMS

FOXNews.com - Racist Music Just a Download Away on Mainstream Music Sites - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News

So, what do you guys think of this! I suspect, based on the little I have read that these guys are the scum of the earth, but do we ban their opinions and ideas?
I leave it to you guys!

It's not "censorship" as I understand it, if iTunes or Amazon refuses to sell it. They are private business, making the private business choice not to be associated with this filth. Or, they can sell it, earn money off the sales of violent racist music, and play the "It's not us, THEY make the music" card.

Personally, I feel there should be no law against it. Legally, the First Amendment protects them. Morally, I think anyone who allows themsleves to be used as a conduit for this garbage is nearly as guilty as those who spew the hate.

Great post smokelaw! I agree 100%, but what of rap music talking about rapin' ho's and killin' cops?

Originally Posted by JMS

Great post smokelaw! I agree 100%, but what of rap music talking about rapin' ho's and killin' cops?

I would understand if a company refused to sell rap music that advocates those behaviors.
Now, why would I just 'understand" if they did that, where I would actively call for them to stop selling the racist music? I probably have some bias based on my Jewish left wing ideologies. I hate racists and anti-semites. I want to fix the problems in our society that cause "urban" music to be so filled with violence. I understand that I have this bias.

Also, is there a line? I'm sure there is. Tough "gangsta" speak, or actually getting explicit about rape and murder? Talking about being a Goog 'ol boy from kentucky? Calling for the elimination of those who will bring about a mud-race and calling for RAHOWA?

Whose job is it to draw that line? The government? Oh, nelly, then you have the 1st amendment to contendf with, unless the language is so specific as to be an ACTION, it's pretty much protected.

The "market," with business deciding who they will sell and not? Relying on the public to tell them what is right by voting with their wallets? Hmmm...I only trust that A LITTLE MORE than the govenrment (very little.)

Tricky topic! One very close to my heart. I am strongly opposed to the goventment being in my business. At the same time, racism and extremism are dangerous, and very much alive and well. In my mispent youth, I was sitting where the illegally removed back seat used to be in a friend's cousin's car. My firend IDOLIZED his cousin. We were driving along, drinking and smoking, being stupid teenagers, lsitening to hard core and metal. That's when I noticed the lyircs of one song, screamed at the top of the cousin's lungs along with the band. "EAT LEAD DROP DEAD AND SEIG HEIL, Mother Fu&%ing JEW!" I went ashen faced. When we got back to the house, I got in my car quickly and left. When I asked my friend about it, he quickly defended his cousin. "He just likes the music, he doesn't agree with what they say." I can't imagine that anyone can be ambivalent about or disagree with these people and listen to it.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Morally, I think anyone who allows themsleves to be used as a conduit for this garbage is nearly as guilty as those who spew the hate.

where do you draw the line? should Apple be responsible to listen and vote on every track they sell as to whether it's offensive or not? how offensive before it's not ok to sell?

Music stores are like common carriers. They don't know (and in the case of Apple or Amazon, prolly CAN'T) the content of all the albums they sell, why should they bother? Look at it this way, if you ran a store that sold millions and millions of songs, with hundreds (or more) of new ones coming in every day... would you have time to always be checking the lyrics?

Also, when is it ok and not ok for a band to hate something? Only skin color? Religion (there's plenty of that, coming from every possible side)? Sexuality? Politics (could the Dixie Chicks be labeled as hate music? or Ted Nugent?)?

As I said before, most bands are anti-something and pro-something-else. That's the nature of music. Some people will always agree and some will disagree. Apple and Amazon are wise to stay out of it and just sell music and not worry about lyrical content.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

I hate racists and anti-semites.

So you hate them, and they hate you. But they are wrong and you are right?

I don't get it. Either hating is wrong or it isn't.