SPEW!! DEBATE!!

[ohthatisbadnews.livejournal.com]

Click on the picture to join!

The monthly SPEW debate is here! Wanna know whats going on? Look under the cut!!


Imagne going to the record store, and blaring from the loud speakers is an artist like Eminem. You have your two young children with you. Should they have to listen to that kind of music, even if you think that it is immoral?
The Topic of the debate is a popular one. Should Music/Movies/Magazine/Video Games/Etc. be censored? Should the government be able to say, "No You cannot put that on your album" or "That is too vulgur for our youth to see on the big screen!"
What I Want I want you to debate over this issue. Gryffindor//Slytherin will be arguing that the government SHOULD NOT be able to censor the media. Ravenclaw//Hufflepuff will be arguing that the government SHOULD be able to censor the media.
Rules
-Only qualifing comments count! They must be signed, be at least 3 sentences, stay on topic, and stay on your assigned side.
-Keep it civil. If you don't agree with what someone says, let it slide off your back, and don't start an argument. You will not be allowed to participate in the contest for SPEW.
-Have fun! Thats what I want most of all

The Break Down
-10 points for first comment.
-5 points for each additional comment.
Deadline
-The debate will end THURSDAY, Mar. 2nd, at 8 P.M. EST!

Thank you!



DEBATE OVER! Sorry, I had to end it a little early, but I have a paper due tomorrow, and it will take me the rest of the night to finish it.

Comments

[sleep-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Parents are NOT taking responsibility for their children. They're not even taking responsibility for themselves.

But is the majority of individuals or the minority?

Violent lyrics breed violent thoughts which in turn breeds violent behavior.

not a proven fact.

Freedom of Speech in America is an absolute illusion. You can't even speak out against the President without being marked as a suspected terrorist, and treated accordingly.

This is a clear misinterpretation of the law regarding such matters. As one does have the right to speak out against the President. What one cannot do is make threats toward the President (then again you cannot legally threaten anyone).

The "Patriot Act" has just passed another addition wherein suspected terrorists ON US SOIL may be interrogated and held without due process! That's not freedom of speech.

This is an isolated response to an isolated incident, not the societal norm. (exception to the rule idea).

The store might not be a place for young children, if it's blasting Eminem, sure, but what about the mall? What about walking past the store? In a free marketplace society, where all are free to say and do as they wish, in theory, shouldn't one also be free to NOT have to listen to "Smack my Bitch Up?"

Having worked in a mall at a popular retail store I know for a fact that stores are not allowed to play music of their choosing. For those stores that are national many have certain CDs which must be played. When stores decide to move into a mall type environment they sign a contract agreeing to various rules in regard to what can and cannot be displayed/played within their stores. Thus a major censorship is already placed upon store/malls/outlet/etc there is no need for the government to get involved as we are currently handling matter ourselves.


trent | slytherin

[karinablack.livejournal.com]

But is the majority of individuals or the minority?

Unfortunately it's the majority, or this wouldn't be an issue. Neither would seatbelts, helmets, or car insurance laws.

not a proven fact.
Reference:
Violent Music Lyrics Increase Aggressive Thoughts (http://www.apa.org/releases/violentsongs.html)

Study links music lyrics to hostile feelings. (http://www.drum-circle.org/study_links_music_lyrics.htm)

I'm sure I can find more.

This is a clear misinterpretation of the law regarding such matters. As one does have the right to speak out against the President.

From this page: (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/04/INGPQ40MB81.DTL)
The police cleared the path of the motorcade of all critical signs, but folks with pro-Bush signs were permitted to line the president's path. Neel refused to go to the designated area and was arrested for disorderly conduct; the police also confiscated his sign.

Having worked in a mall at a popular retail store I know for a fact that stores are not allowed to play music of their choosing
Having worked at a mall previously in a store ;) and having been a shopper for 20+ years, I know for a fact some ARE playing music of their choosing. Even when there are "rules" in place, the managers aren't always around to enforce them, nor the volume level.

Some of the ones they are "required" to play also contain sexually suggestive or explicit lyrics. This music simply should not be available because it could be abused (and is abused) in this such manner.

Karina Black, Ravenclaw

[tsukinofaerii.livejournal.com]

I can't argue that many parents don't raise their children properly, and I can see why there's a prevalent thought that this means the government should step in and take care of it via censorship.

Of course, from there it's only a small step of logic to saying that the government should raise all children in a nation-wide commune, in order to make sure they're raised properly.

I'm sure you can see the absurdity of that statement. If parents aren't taking care as to what their children watch, then the answer isn't government intervention. All that leads to is sloppier parental supervision, which makes for more government intervention. It would accomplish nothing, and only create more problems in the long run. All the nmoney and effort spent on censorship could be put to better use figuring out why so many parents neglect their children, and then doing something to fix it.

Moon Faery//Slytherin