Sober? Do you spend a lot of time with Eminem? On the other hand, how much reefer and booze does Mr. Williams Jr. consume? Probably hard for you to say since you don't spend time with either one. We could sit here all day and argue if rap/hip hop is worse for children vs. country music. I can tell you this much.....I will never put an Eminem or any other rap artist (I use that term losely here) CD in either of my sons hands. I'm not being biased. I'm only 30 and listened to that crap in high school and college because it was the cool thing to do. I know what's in the lyrics. I live on the south side of Chicago and I see the product of that music each and every day.
I should have said "allegedly" sober. No, I don't spend time with either one so I don't know what goes on behind the scenes and really don't care. My main point was/is this....just about any music can have a bad influence on youth...some more than others. If I had kids....I wouldn't let them listen to his music or other rap artists as well. Not disagreeing with you there. What makes you and I different from the "product of the music" you see around your neck of the woods? Thats a serious question btw. I'd like to know. I was able to listen to his music (and Im sure you too) and afterwards not go out and get high or terrorize the neighborhood. Why does it have the opposite effect on others? Do they use the music as an excuse to justify their actions?
Well in theory, one of Eric Church's songs could be seen to encourage copious alcohol consumption and hunting/shooting firearms...if you believe musical lyrics have an influential role on kids...I'm just saying
It all comes down to the parents. It is widely known that human nature is to be a product of it's own environment. The difference is it will not effect the kids that have the parents involved installing common sense and proper values in them. However, some of the children they don't have decent parents WILL be affected by the onslaught of violent and inappropriate media because they don't know any better.
So I had to youtube the song because I had never heard it before (I don't listen to FM radio). I thought Enimen was supposed to be a badass? WTF was that? Just like my fiancee forced me to watch a Justin Bieber video the other day, and then Ludacris starts rapping in the middle? Seriously? And once I finished a 10 min rant about rappers in crappy pop songs, she forced me to watch some video of some new (supposedly popular) pop chick singing about summer or something, and then Snoop busts in the middle of the song. Really? Snoop? *sigh As far as the Enimen's song's lyrics, I think people put too much emphasis on lyrics, especially when they cry "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS!!!" Kids don't listen to music for the lyrics. They listen to what's popular at the time. That's it. If some little girl decides that it's cool to let her boyfriend beat up on her because of this song, well then she has some serious self esteem issues, and would more than likely get abused later in life anyways.
You need to read the whole thread Hooker. I stated in the original statement that if you use this argument (figured it was coming) that the video is probably worse than the lyrics anyway. At 14 many kids are still developing their self esteem and values. Thus the reason they are vulnerable.
Thanks, I died laughing at my computer. but seriously For those saying that kids dont listen to the lyrics, I seriously have to disagree. Before the military I was a police officer. You dont know how many kids I would have to pick up and take to juvenile detention center. On the way there, I was amazed at the things they tell me. A lot of it came from what they listen to and watch. Remember that kid who shot up some place, blaming it on the fact that he did it on Grand Theft Auto. You know how many times Ive arrested a spouse for domestic abuse and then as soon as the jail books them in, I see the other out in lobby paying bond for the person who just kicked their ass. I paticularly dont like this music. But my wife listens to some of it. And every genre has their bad role models but I would have to say at least 75% of rap music has some kind of violence or drug related message.
Most people are products of their environments. The majority of people listening to Eminem are white suburban teenagers. I don't believe they are going to start beating women as a result of this song. I believe it starts and ends with the parents. I will never blame the media/music/television/movies for my child's actions, I just do my job as a parent. NWA was popular when I was a teenager. I didn't know a single person that started selling drugs, doing drive-bys, or killing hookers, as a result of listening to their music. Parenting and environment...not entertainment.
I interprete the lyrics totally different that what is being mentioned here. My take is the guy is abusing the girl, but by saying "That's alright because I like the way it hurts" she means that he can't mentally bring her down her by abusing her. It's her way of "getting back" at him letting him know that it doesn't affect her. Everyone has probably seen a fight where a guy gets hit then yells for the guy to hit him again because he doesn't care, same thing.
It's a look into a dysnfunctional relationship involving domestic violence written by Eminem in regards to his relationship with his ex wife, Rihanna sings the chorus and also has some history with dysfunctional relationships. They are both singers, songwriters, artists, whatever. They often times draw on life experiences for material. This song may explain some of what they felt while they were in those bad relationships, the good times were really good but the bad times were really bad and getting out is the best thing for both individuals but they kept repeating the cycle because neither one was strong enough to leave. It's just a song/video, and for the record Eminem and Rihanna singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" would get millions of hits just because it is Eminem and Rihanna. I imagine some of it's popularity has something to do with people relating to the thought of being stuck in a bad relationship. I worry more about what my kids hear on the bus and in the neighborhood than music or TV. Guess that's just me. If your a parent whose kid thinks it's "cool" to be beat by their girlfriend/boyfriend or it's "cool" to beat their boyfriend/girlfriend then don't blame Eminem and Rihanna, their not doing the child rearing in your house.
IMO, that song doesn't celebrate anything. I'd let my kids watch it.......to show them how F-d up some people are. To me, it's a great reminder of what not to do. Can't answer that one, currently. But, he did enough of those (and more) to almost die in the 70's from a fall. That's how his face got messed up.
I can see this as a good way to handle it. Your physically there explaining how inappropriate this is. Your doing your job as the parent and clearly your child will respond appropriately. But my point all along is what about the kids that don't have a parent doing this? That is where I see the problem. And this is more of a problem then most of us will admit these days in this country. I'm singling out this song and video out because of it's popularity. There are rap songs that have this type of message all the time. I condemn them as well. This song is hitting a much broader audience. Turn on the radio on a hit station and I bet you can't go 2 hours without hearing it right now. It's that popular. Watching a couple punch and spit on one another? I mean really? It's another example of desensitizing of what the American mainstream public deems acceptable as entertainment. That is why I don't think that many people on here have a problem with it. We are all used to seeing it so it is okay. It also been happening on broadcast TV for years now. You can't hardly watch a show without violence or sex occurring. In prime time! I may be against the grain here but if kids are watching as much TV as the experts say ; the kids are constantly seeing violence and sex and if the parents are not doing their job I don't see how it doesn't affect them.
Parents not doing their job is what I believe is the problem today. So many are quick to blame other avenues. It has never crossed my mind to blame someone else for how my child acts. I would like to believe that any teenager raised even half way decent, knows an abusive relationship is wrong, no matter what a music video portrays. Has there been an outburst of abusive teenager relationships since this video aired?
Having a wife who a Speacial Ed teacher and sitting across from a kid who wrote down the most disgusting acts he wanted to do to my wife, I can say it affects them. The worst part is the kid showed no remorse or even that he did anything wrong. The first 5 mins meeting with his(cough cough) parents, it was easy to see where the problems came from. I honestly feel terrible for a lot of kids these days, having moron for parents really sets them back.
Isn't Rhianna doing a bunch of stuff to let young girls know about abuse and whatnot after Chris Brown beat the crap out of her, pretty sure I heard, or read that somewhere? If you think this song condones physical abuse, I don't think Rhianna would be the one singing it. Kinda conflicting.
Link? I did a few minute Google search and could not find anything. The only thing I did find is that she refused to testify against her perpetrator (Chris Brown). Doesn't exactly seem like "stepping up to the plate" if you ask me.
Let me add to the parent theory. As a teacher I see this every single day. You have a kid that you just can't seem to control and get through to. Every choice and decision they make in the classroom and in the halls is just simply wrong. Then you meet the parents, and it makes it so much more clear. They stand very little chance in breaking that influence. With that being said, do I agree with the violence, sex, and drugs, portrayed in video games, movies, and music these days? No.
I was a special education teacher for six years and can tell you without a doubt that crazy stuff on tv, video games, and music does effect kids negatively. My wife has been a teacher for 11 years and sees the same stuff.
Rap and rappers suck. Always have to me. I just can't get excited about some guy spitting out vulgarity and grabbing his crotch. The girl has a great voice... just probably no morals or stability in her life even with her millions. Truly a generation wasted.
