Liberal/Morality question - Do you think modern songs and movies are eroding our values?

Question

Even 30 years ago songs were upbeat and had not swearing.
Then we had the 60's drug songs which eveolved into the woman beating, drug, taking, killing RAP songs we have today.

Movies were clean and the whole family could watch them. They are so dirty now - even the really funny ones like Wedding Crashers.
They keep pushing the envelope there too.

This is all leading to the decline of morals in our society which will lead us to "crumble from within". Moral societies are much stronger than immoral ones.

Liberals say this is okay. IT IS NOT OKAY. WHEN are you liberals going to say enough is enough?

Answer 1

Who says it's okay. Our problems in society have many causes. To simplify it like this and blame Liberals is ludicrous. Pardon the pun. Our society today is better than it has ever been, with the exception of the glow of victory and prosperity following WWII. Should we censor everything and outlaw free speech? I always hear about the good old days. Which ones? The days of slavery or the days when women couldn't vote?
I just get tired of people spouting this doom and gloom. Churches have said this since the beginning to gather members, I guess.
Good parenting and strong family structures would solve many problems. Our mobile society breaks up a lot of the solid family structures that tend to cultivate structure and stability. If you have a lot of family and relatives around it tends to keep you in line and you have a lot of role models you can't ignore. This is not to say that you need this to have a moral compass. Any one can get one. They're free.
Part of what makes this country great is what actually is a detriment in a societal way. That restless pioneer spirit and freedom stirs the pot.

Answer 2

Well, to be honest, I think it's probably more like a continuous loop.

I think entertainment started reflecting the changing culture, which then spreads the changing culture, and then the newly changed culture pushes more and more films showing the changed culture. It's a cycle, but I do believe the culture changed before the movies changed.

You can still find clean, happy pop songs, and family movies. You might not find them on the radio or at the movie theater, but they are around. Just have to do a little searching is all :)

And you're right, I am a moderate-liberal, and I do say this is OK. I believe strongly that morality should be taught by parents, not teachers, politicians, or movie stars. And please stop slamming different areas of the political spectrum. I'm only 19 years old, and even I can see that is rather childish, and furthermore, I really don't appreciate your clear assumption (though left unstated) that liberals are immoral. Actually, I find it insulting. I am a 19 year old college student, and even though I attend the #1 rated party school in the nation and watch R rated movies, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, and I don't have sex with everything that moves.

Answer 3

You are ignoring the truth. There have been pornographic movies since the time of the invention of the movie camera... look up the movie "Black Timber" - it is an ancient silent PORNO movie.

As to songs not having dirty words in them, that is not true either - there have been dirty songs since there were songs. Remember the "Fish Cheer" from Woodstock? And there were dirty songs long before that - and pornographic images... on ancient Greek pottery there are examples of this! In ancient Roman theater the actors costumes were deliberately short so that they would expose the actors when they reached upwards - you are ignoring the historical truth.

You are blaming the media for the change in values. It used to be OK to discipline your children by KILLING THEM about 100 years ago - things change, and just because you don't like the direction of some of it that doesn't mean that things aren't getting better in other places. Child molestation and domestic violence used to be ignored, and now they are not. Society's values change - the media is only reflecting this.

It isn't a matter of being a liberal here - its a matter of being a realist. The only constant is change - for some strange reason too many conservatives seem to ignore this. I'm a moderate, but I'm also a realist. If you don't like a movie - don't buy a ticket. If you don't like a recording of a certain kind of music - don't buy the CD. Vote with your wallet. If enough people do this, the media will go where the dollars are. If there are no dollars, the media will move on, guaranteed. Don't blame the media for reflecting society - try to change society instead. Good luck with that one!

Answer 4

I am a moderate and I think that it just comes down to plain old capitalism.

Corporations have no morals. Enron doesn't and neither does MGM. They hail the bottom line, and that's it. Whatever makes them money is what wins out, and if that means some T&A that's what it's going to be.

Back in the 50's corporations were accountable to their employees too.
A lot of things were different then.
Plus, we have become so multicultured now and so intergrated, we can do nothing but accept that not everything is squeeky clean.

Do you remember in all old movies how they poured the whiskey non stop and smoked like chimneys?
Ahhhh the age of ignorance.

It's all give and take.

Answer 5

In other cultures, Americans are considered corrupt in values. Americans and those who circumvent decency are called the "Great Satan" with no respect for women, themselves or the family.

Music, does affect thinking. An experiment was repeated with plants not too long ago. Some were given rock and hip hop to listen to and every last one stopped growing or died, Others listened to classical, jazz or gospel and inspirational music to listen to and flurished and grew. What does that tell you about the brain, which is also organic? Your eyes are the threshold to the brain.

Free Speech/free excerscise does not include filth or the freedom to holler fire in an occupied building or insult others race, gender or religion or lack of one. You cannot legally commit ritual human sacrifies either. Liberalism seems to be productive. It is in fact destructive with no restraints. It's the great de-evolution into chaos. Could these be the new cavemen?

Answer 6

Well, if you do not like these things then do not buy them or let your kids buy them. I believe that these things MIRROR our society, however. To me, this is a double-edged sword. I am not for censorship - otherwise, this board would fall victim to free speech. I am however for accountability and good parenting. My 13 year old freshman daughter cannot have any CDs with parental warnings, period. She is not allowed to see R-rated films or certain tv shows, but I also give her her freedom as to what types of music or shows she can watch.

Each and every generation is told their generation is the worst and "back in my day" stuff. This time, however, I feel as a DJ who does several teen gigs a year, they are right... music has DE-EVOLVED, especially the latest rap music. Look at the Now Music CDs... each year they get progressively worse. It's this whole 'gangsta'-like culture and 'pimp'-wannbe's, but kids have no clue as to what and whom they are emulating. THAT is where parenting comes in. You can't shield them from what is in, but you can at least PACIFY them as well as yourself bi COMPROMISING as I have with my daughter. We watch absolutely NO MTV here, although some VH1 upon occasion and she is fine with that... it's the music she likes, not the words or videos.

If you raise your kids right, they will for the most part make good, informed choices, but the more you try and take away or shield from them, the more they want what is forbidden bi you... that is just human nature. Also, good, open, honest OPEN-MINDED communication makes for a much better teen-parent relationship, earning way more respect. good luck... been there, doing that.

P.S.>>>although I'm a fairly politically conservative Christian Republican, I am also fairly liberal minded or at the very least open-minded socially, especially in regards to my/others' sexuality. to blame all of the recent culture purely on LIBERALS is SCAPEGOATING. it took far more than liberals for us to get to this state of our culture... it took society as a whole and lacadaisical PARENTING.

Answer 7

All i know is outside of the disney channel, there isn't much to watch as a family these days.Reality shows and what sitcoms there are, are all filled with sexual innuendo.No we're not prudes in this house, but geez when you're 8 yr old tells you something is "pimping" or you hear them singing a song with lyrics they have no idea what means, you do start wondering about all of the filth out there that is so easily accessible for them...Thats when parents have to teach them right from wrong

Good question, sorry to see so many tolerant Liberals bash you for it..

Answer 8

Couldn't agree with you more...
...I think it is a stretch to even call what is playing on the radio music.
...Our Gangster mentality has been in part been caused by allowing the lowest class of people to be the "only" influence. Then we wonder why we have an immoral cultural ...
..Bunch of cr*p, our young people are being brained washed by these negative "mantra's" and then we wonder why the kids are so out of control...

...just like a potato that has gone bad, ruins the whole bag.!!! we have allowed the rights of a "few" shadow the rights the majority deserve

...Darwin is right, except right now we are currently "devolving", Agree?

Answer 9

I don't know if it's that, or parents not paying attention anymore. Maybe it's just a combination of things, and I do believe the media can influence you good or bad (it sure has on me) however, the media is not 100% responsible for bad behavior or loosening of morals. Why is being liberal such a bad word today?

Answer 10

I remember the Brady bunch.I also remember the Partridge family being a lot more racy.

The 60's counter culture is today's culture.It has not been good for the country.

My daughter thinks she should do the things they do in the TV shows of today.I suppose most do.I think it will only get worse.Pandora's box and all that.