NationStates Jolt Archive

The only thing that CDs seem to have in the way of ratings is the occasional "parental advisory" sticker, which is usually only used for extreme profanity.

I have a CD which is considered pop music which includes lyrics like, "arching forward and arching back/bring me closer to heart attack" and "I tried tried my best to feed her appetite/keep her coming every night/so hard to keep her satisfied". In fact, every single song is very obviously centered around this or that sexual situation. There is not any profane language that I can think of at the moment, so there is no sticker. Any child could pick up this CD and their parents would have no clue to the sexual content portrayed within.

Do you think that CDs should have a better rating system? Do you think they should have any rating system? Do you think that CDs with inappropriate content just shouldn't be released to the public? Go on, give your opinion. Embrace the controversy. :p

The stickers are all shit anyway.

SOAD- Toxicity. No swearwords, but possibly based on the album before it, it had a warning sticker.

Shihad - LITNH. at least 7 'fucks' and one '****'. No sticker.

well zot, do you feel corrupted by it?

i think that parents who are concerned about such things should take the time to screen their childs cd collection and weed this stuff out. parental advisories and rating systems just make politicians feel that they have done something about a problem. its not particularily useful for anyone else.

parents should take responsibility for their own kids.

I don't think that one person that buys a CD is 'shocked' or 'offended' by it. It may just be the area that I live in, but I don't think there's more then a handful of parents in my town that really care what their kids listen to because they know that the thought of 'mature' music being a primary cause of 'mature' behavior in their children is laughable. People know what they're getting when they get it. As such, I think the rating system is pointless. The best way for them to 'redeem' their ratings system is to scrap the entire 'ratings based on adult content' idea. Instead, ratings should scale a CD so that you know before you buy it if it's a quality CD or if it's a piece of crap whose sole purpose is to remind you why you like the music you do.

well zot, do you feel corrupted by it?

i think that parents who are concerned about such things should take the time to screen their childs cd collection and weed this stuff out. parental advisories and rating systems just make politicians feel that they have done something about a problem. its not particularily useful for anyone else.

parents should take responsibility for their own kids.
Naw.. I was already corrupt. I just think that it would benefit parents' causes if there was a better system.

Last time I checked audio CD labels (the parental advisory ones) are voluntary and limited to RIAA members.


I think.

hmmm youre buying pop music cds eh? whats your guilty secret? brittney spears? nsync?

the truth will set you free!

I think this whole 'stickering audio CDs' malarky is completely laughable.

Question: why are people afraid of the contents of CDs but not books?

Naw.. I was already corrupt. I just think that it would benefit parents' causes if there was a better system.

So would banning television and contact with their friends at school (or college for that matter. what do you do when they leave home?). The only way to keep your child from running into corrupting influences is to lock him in his room.

I would think that letting your child watch what ever he or she wants and then offering (more like imposing, if I get my way) guidance. The merits of this system have been gone over before, so I'll let it speak for itself.

I think this whole 'stickering audio CDs' malarky is completely laughable.

Question: why are people afraid of the contents of CDs but not books?

Book stores can refuse to sell a book or put it in a mature section. You ever seen porn magazines out where teenagers can get at them? I don't know if the library still bans books, but that's also done if they still do. Parents do fear books. They used to a lot more then they do these days when this generations apparently phobia of books will solve the problem for them in many cases. But there's still enough books printed that could compel our lazy readers to pick them up that parents are worried about them. In fact, I think parents would be more likely to question their child about a book that they have then a CD that they have. A book would be more unusual then a CD.

hmmm youre buying pop music cds eh? whats your guilty secret? brittney spears? nsync?

the truth will set you free!
Maroon5 could be considered rock-leaning pop band. No, I don't like N*Sync or Britney Spears. I used to love teen pop bands, being a child of the 90s. That stage is over. I consider Maroon5 to be exceptional in their genre. I also have R&B, latin, rock, and hip-hop CDs. I consider myself to be well-rounded musicwise.

Maroon5 could be considered rock-leaning pop band. No, I don't like N*Sync or Britney Spears. I used to love teen pop bands, being a child of the 90s. That stage is over. I consider Maroon5 to be exceptional in their genre. I also have R&B, latin, rock, and hip-hop CDs. I consider myself to be well-rounded musicwise.
No they aren't.

So would banning television and contact with their friends at school (or college for that matter. what do you do when they leave home?). The only way to keep your child from running into corrupting influences is to lock him in his room.

I would think that letting your child watch what ever he or she wants and then offering (more like imposing, if I get my way) guidance. The merits of this system have been gone over before, so I'll let it speak for itself.
Are you assuming I am a parent myself? You couldn't be more wrong. I am a child who sees that adults are idiots and could use a more efficient system to aide with their pathetic excuse for parenting. No, I do not think the world should be censored. I think that that censorship should exist so that I can ignore it in my amateurish attempt at rebellion.

No they aren't.

Truth. They're remarkable for the synthesized voice of their singer.

Are you assuming I am a parent myself? You couldn't be more wrong. I am a child who sees that adults are idiots and could use a more efficient system to aide with their pathetic excuse for parenting. No, I do not think the world should be censored. I think that that censorship should exist so that I can ignore it in my amateurish attempt at rebellion.

No, but you said that the warning system would be useful for parents.

No, but you said that the warning system would be useful for parents.
Indeed I did. And I have now stated my reasons for saying so. Do you still have a problem with my statements?

Book stores can refuse to sell a book or put it in a mature section. You ever seen porn magazines out where teenagers can get at them? I don't know if the library still bans books, but that's also done if they still do.

True, but there is no government backed program for rating the content of books (thank Ghod) - books still are very much judged by their cover these days.


Parents do fear books. They used to a lot more then they do these days when this generations apparently phobia of books will solve the problem for them in many cases. But there's still enough books printed that could compel our lazy readers to pick them up that parents are worried about them. In fact, I think parents would be more likely to question their child about a book that they have then a CD that they have. A book would be more unusual then a CD.

I don't think that the younger generation have a phobia of books by any means - I'm in my thirties and my generation were hardly all consumed by a love of books. What has changed in recent years are the number of different media available to young people. The fact that books take up less of the time of youngster now is not because people are adverse to reading and turning pages, but rather that the written word has seen an explosion in other locations, such as the internet, which despite early gloomy predictions has encouraged a massive increase in written discourse.

I don't think that the younger generation have a phobia of books by any means - I'm in my thirties and my generation were hardly all consumed by a love of books. What has changed in recent years are the number of different media available to young people. The fact that books take up less of the time of youngster now is not because people are adverse to reading and turning pages, but rather that the written word has seen an explosion in other locations, such as the internet, which despite early gloomy predictions has encouraged a massive increase in written discourse.

Fair enough. I'm just mad that they aren't reading novels. That's my standard and they aren't meeting it. It's obligatory that the previous generation fear that the current generation is the worst one yet.

Indeed I did. And I have now stated my reasons for saying so. Do you still have a problem with my statements?

Not really, aside from the rebellion thing. But I have a feeling that it was in jest.

BWO/EAC: I also think books should have some kind of rating system, but the subject this thread is on is audio CDs.

BWO/EAC: I also think books should have some kind of rating system, but the subject this thread is on is audio CDs.

I'm firmly in the camp that books shouldn't have a rating system, nor CDs, other than possibly a label saying 'mature/adult'.

Fair enough. I'm just mad that they aren't reading novels. That's my standard and they aren't meeting it. It's obligatory that the previous generation fear that the current generation is the worst one yet.

Do the words Harry Potter mean anything to you? You and I might not think much of them, but the fact that they are smashing sales record after sales record around the world leads me to suspect that someone, somewhere, must be reading them.

I'm firmly in the camp that books shouldn't have a rating system, nor CDs, other than possibly a label saying 'mature/adult'.
Not even something explaining why it was labeled "mature/adult"?

Do the words Harry Potter mean anything to you? You and I might not think much of them, but the fact that they are smashing sales record after sales record around the world leads me to suspect that someone, somewhere, must be reading them.
Indeed. I already loved reading before Harry Potter, but that first book was so immersive for me (I was in 2nd grade), that I literally never put it down in the entire time I read it. My teacher, very pleased with my ultra-love of reading, took a picture of me attempting to read the book while drinking from the water fountain. Since then I have been in love with JK Rowling in a very scary, obsessive way. I have considered constructing a shrine at which to worship her and make literary sacrifices.

Not even something explaining why it was labeled "mature/adult"?

Nah, and I believe that such a label should be intended more as a guid for where the books should be stocked rather than an an instruction not to sell them to children. If a ten year old is going to decide that what they really want to read next is The Rosy Crucifixon or Hogg or The Room, then more power to them if they are prepared to do the work.

Nah, and I believe that such a label should be intended more as a guid for where the books should be stocked rather than an an instruction not to sell them to children. If a ten year old is going to decide that what they really want to read next is The Rosy Crucifixon or Hogg or The Room, then more power to them if they are prepared to do the work.
I believe that there should be profanity/sexual situations/violence and like warnings on books and audio CDs, and then the parent should decide if it is appropriate from there.

I believe that there should be profanity/sexual situations/violence and like warnings on books and audio CDs, and then the parent should decide if it is appropriate from there.

Do we actually have any evidence that descriptions of profanity, sexual situations or violence are actually harmful to children?

EDIT: aside from that, would Little Red Riding Hood merit a warning emblazoned 'VIOLENT' on its cover?

Indeed. I already loved reading before Harry Potter, but that first book was so immersive for me (I was in 2nd grade), that I literally never put it down in the entire time I read it. My teacher, very pleased with my ultra-love of reading, took a picture of me attempting to read the book while drinking from the water fountain. Since then I have been in love with JK Rowling in a very scary, obsessive way. I have considered constructing a shrine at which to worship her and make literary sacrifices.
have you pre-ordered the next book? im getting mine 40% off at borders.

Do the words Harry Potter mean anything to you? You and I might not think much of them, but the fact that they are smashing sales record after sales record around the world leads me to suspect that someone, somewhere, must be reading them.

Are they topping Maroon 5's sales?

Are they topping Maroon 5's sales?
*Laughs.* Shut up. :p

Parental advisory stickers are nice, but a rating system would be better. Movies have them, games have them, CDs should too. I shouldnt have to guess whether something is appropriate for my child before letting them purchase it. Neither should I be expected to purchase a cd that Im not interested in so that I can screen it and possibly have to throw it away because its inappropriate for my child. Ratings are an excellent tool, and I think CDs should have a better rating system.

have you pre-ordered the next book? im getting mine 40% off at borders.
No, I've totally forgotten to. :headbang: I'm used to being a first-priorty on the library list because my mom used to work there.

Parental advisory stickers are nice, but a rating system would be better. Movies have them, games have them, CDs should too. I shouldnt have to guess whether something is appropriate for my child before letting them purchase it. Neither should I be expected to purchase a cd that Im not interested in so that I can screen it and possibly have to throw it away because its inappropriate for my child. Ratings are an excellent tool, and I think CDs should have a better rating system.
Thank you! You now get a fluffle. :fluffle: Enjoy.

I shouldnt have to guess whether something is appropriate for my child before letting them purchase it.

You would rather have a government agency make these decisions for you?

You would rather have a government agency make these decisions for you?
:rolleyes: Duh. :p

You would rather have a government agency make these decisions for you?

Nope. I didnt say the government had to be involved, neither did I say the government would decide. I would still decide, but I would do so knowing ahead of time whether the cd contains profanity, violent lyrics, lyrics of a sexual nature, explicit artwork in the sleeves or on the cd cover, or whatever the case may be. The government doesnt have to get involved, the music industry can do it its self like the game industry has.

No, I've totally forgotten to. :headbang: I'm used to being a first-priorty on the library list because my mom used to work there.
im still a little pissed about that sirius black thing.

:rolleyes: Duh. :p

Ain't no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers. :p

Nope. I didnt say the government had to be involved, neither did I say the government would decide. I would still decide, but I would do so knowing ahead of time whether the cd contains profanity, violent lyrics, lyrics of a sexual nature, explicit artwork in the sleeves or on the cd cover, or whatever the case may be. The government doesnt have to get involved, the music industry can do it its self like the game industry has.
you mean you wouldnt listen to it before OK-ing it no matter what the sticker said?

im still a little pissed about that sirius black thing.
Yeah, but I didn't really, really care about him anyway. If it had been Hagrid, I would have gone on a massive killing spree.

Ain't no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers. :p
Yes. Do you enjoy my stupid answer? I have a million of them. I am quite good at pretending to be more stupid than I actually am.

you mean you wouldnt listen to it before OK-ing it no matter what the sticker said?

I fail to see how that question is relevant to the discussion. Whether I listen to it or not does not change the question of whether its a good idea to inform people more clearly or not.

Suppose I do listen to it anyway. The fact that the ratings were available to me means that the chances of my having to discard the CD (meaning I wasted my money or my child wasted their allowance) is lowered.

If I dont listen to it, then the chances that I wont be surprised by finding out it was inappropriate and my child had been listening to it all this time is also lowered.

Either way, its still better to inform people in better detail on what they are buying.

You would rather have a government agency make these decisions for you?

Parental advisory labels aren't the government's job. Private organizations determine whether a CD should get one.

Yeah, but I didn't really, really care about him anyway. If it had been Hagrid, I would have gone on a massive killing spree.
ohmygod me too, when i heard she had killed someone i was SOOO afraid it was going to be someone that important to the series!

ohmygod me too, when i heard she had killed someone i was SOOO afraid it was going to be someone that important to the series!
Agreed. Don't get my wrong, the name "Sirius Black" amused me to no end, especially the possibility that his middle name is "Lee", but he just didn't seem essential to the story to me.


Remember the first real character death in the series? We should have realized that the series was going to take a turn for the darker right then.

I fail to see how that question is relevant to the discussion. Whether I listen to it or not does not change the question of whether its a good idea to inform people more clearly or not.

Suppose I do listen to it anyway. The fact that the ratings were available to me means that the chances of my having to discard the CD (meaning I wasted my money or my child wasted their allowance) is lowered.

If I dont listen to it, then the chances that I wont be surprised by finding out it was inappropriate and my child had been listening to it all this time is also lowered.

Either way, its still better to inform people in better detail on what they are buying.
you really dont see how its relevant?

i never really faced this problem with CDs because my son wasnt interested in them before he was old enough to make his own decision. but i was faced with plenty of movie decisions and i always found the movie rating system to be severely flawed so that i would always have to make my own decisions based on my understanding of film content before seeing it with my son. there was never a "we wont go to an R rated movie" rule. nor was there an "all pg movies are fine by me" rule (although that was more for crappiness rather than content)

having some unknown person somewhere decide what the rating should be on a CD isnt informative enough for me (if i were that kind of parent in that kind of situation) i would have to know for sure before it came into my house.

Agreed. Don't get my wrong, the name "Sirius Black" amused me to no end, especially the possibility that his middle name is "Lee", but he just didn't seem essential to the story to me.


Remember the first real character death in the series? We should have realized that the series was going to take a turn for the darker right then.
yes and she did warn everyone that it would get darker as the characters aged. now im worried that she'll kill one of the main characters before the end.

yes and she did warn everyone that it would get darker as the characters aged. now im worried that she'll kill one of the main characters before the end.
There is that horribly cryptic prophecy which might forsee the death of Harry Himself. Yes, all pronouns describing Harry Potter shalt now be capitalized, as He is the supreme master of my universe. *Giggles at own capitalization mistake.*

There is that horribly cryptic prophecy which might forsee the death of Harry Himself. Yes, all pronouns describing Harry Potter shalt now be capitalized, as He is the supreme master of my universe. *Giggles at own capitalization mistake.*
she wouldnt DARE

I think there should be a better rating system. There should be a sticker on the front cover telling you whether the music within is shite or not.
It could also tell you how many decent songs are on the CD - I hate buying a CD and finding that there's only 1 or 2 good songs and the rest are just filler.

I don't understand what's wrong with sex. Go to Japan. In some places they parade a giant phallus through town during their penis festival. Grandparents lift their grandchilren up to sit on giant carved penises for good luck. If you're a young man and you want to win the respect of the elders in your town, you should dance naked except for a tengu mask which, is basically a large strap on phallus, and no, you don't wear it on your face. Also, you can find lots of sex and nakedness in kid's comic books. All this exposure to sex at an early age doesn't seem to have done the Japanese any harm. They still have the lowest crime rate in the world, they live longer than anyone else, they have the second largest economy in the world, their students study hard, and they make good cars. Surely, if parents really cared about the future of America, they would be encouraging sex? I just don't get it.

Parental advisory labels aren't the government's job. Private organizations determine whether a CD should get one.

Technically true, but if you look at the history of the PMRC and the US Senate Commerce, Technology, and Transportation committee's investigation into the content of then contemporary music, you can see that the RIAA instigated the parental advisory labels 'voluntarily' in order to pre-empt being forced to do so or having the power of adjudicating what deserved lebelling out of their hands.

I don't understand what's wrong with sex. Go to Japan. In some places they parade a giant phallus through town during their penis festival. Grandparents lift their grandchilren up to sit on giant carved penises for good luck. If you're a young man and you want to win the respect of the elders in your town, you should dance naked except for a tengu mask which, is basically a large strap on phallus, and no, you don't wear it on your face. Also, you can find lots of sex and nakedness in kid's comic books. All this exposure to sex at an early age doesn't seem to have done the Japanese any harm. They still have the lowest crime rate in the world, they live longer than anyone else, they have the second largest economy in the world, their students study hard, and they make good cars. Surely, if parents really cared about the future of America, they would be encouraging sex? I just don't get it.
Shame that their women are considered second class citizens and property of the husband, as well as suicide being the major cause of death among teenagers. Then there's the death by overwork thing. But hey, ignore these and it's a paradise!

Shame that their women are considered second class citizens and property of the husband, as well as suicide being the major cause of death among teenagers. Then there's the death by overwork thing. But hey, ignore these and it's a paradise!

Are you suggesting that these cultural facets are in any way tied to the prevalence of sexual content in their media?

Shame that their women are considered second class citizens and property of the husband, as well as suicide being the major cause of death among teenagers. Then there's the death by overwork thing. But hey, ignore these and it's a paradise!

If the suicide and death through overwork outweighed benefits, it would show up in shorter life expectancy. Women aren't considered second class citizens (any more), just like in America. But yeah, Japan's not perfect, and yeah, ignore a few problems and it is paradise.

Are you suggesting that these cultural facets are in any way tied to the prevalence of sexual content in their media?
Well, the women as property of their husbands most likely is, but I was more making the point that Japan has a lot of it's own problems and isn't the paradise that Phylum Chordata appears to paint it in his post.

Well, the women as property of their husbands most likely is...

How does sexual media content cause this, and why isn't it prevalent in other countries with similarly sexually 'liberated'* media? (Holland, perhaps?)




* something of a loaded word here, but you'll get my drift.

I don't understand what's wrong with sex. Go to Japan. In some places they parade a giant phallus through town during their penis festival. Grandparents lift their grandchilren up to sit on giant carved penises for good luck. If you're a young man and you want to win the respect of the elders in your town, you should dance naked except for a tengu mask which, is basically a large strap on phallus, and no, you don't wear it on your face. Also, you can find lots of sex and nakedness in kid's comic books. All this exposure to sex at an early age doesn't seem to have done the Japanese any harm. They still have the lowest crime rate in the world, they live longer than anyone else, they have the second largest economy in the world, their students study hard, and they make good cars. Surely, if parents really cared about the future of America, they would be encouraging sex? I just don't get it.
Are you REALLY going to go there? You do NOT want to get me started. If parents cared about the future of America, they would DISCOURAGE blatant sluttiness. By the age of 10, many children have not already started dating, but (in the case of young girls) given their boyfriend blow jobs. By the time they're 12, they're already spreading rumors about which of their friends are pregnant. How do I know? Because I've actually been in the public schooling system recently.

You would ENCOURAGE young children to have sex? They don't need encouragement, they already have enough peer pressure as it is. The fact is, children are having sexual experiences at younger and younger ages when they are not emotionally ready to handle it.

If parents cared about the future of America, they would DISCOURAGE blatant sluttiness.

Shurely, the future of America depends upon the next generation having sex, unless large scale immigration is seen as a feasible plan?

Aside from that, do we have any firm evidence that a sexually explicit media increases the sexual activity of people?

Shurely, the future of America depends upon the next generation having sex, unless large scale immigration is seen as a feasible plan?
1. I mean in the context of CHILDREN, as I feel I CLEARLY indicated.
2. Conventional sex is no longer the only option for producing offspring.

Shurely, the future of America depends upon the next generation having sex, unless large scale immigration is seen as a feasible plan?

Aside from that, do we have any firm evidence that a sexually explicit media increases the sexual activity of people?
No, but (s)he said, and I quote:
"If parents really cared about the future of America, [surely] they would be encouraging sex?"

1. I mean in the context of CHILDREN, as I feel I CLEARLY indicated.

You are operating under the assumption that exposure to portrayals of a sexual nature act as an encouragement to have sex, yes?

You are operating under the assumption that exposure to portrayals of a sexual nature act as an encouragement to have sex, yes?
No. I never said that. I never will. In fact, I am insulted that you seem to think I'm conservative.

No. I never said that. I never will.

It seems to me that Phylum Cordata is talking about two possibly different phenomena in the post to which you replied: talking initially about the prevalence of sexual representation in Japanese culture, and then adding as a coda 'Surely, if parents really cared about the future of America, they would be encouraging sex?'

I'm not entirely sure if we can conclude that such a prevalence of sexual representation does actually function as an encouragement to have sex, if anything it could be argued to act in order to discourage actual full-on sexual activity.

In fact, I am insulted that you seem to think I'm conservative.

No insult intended, and I don't really think we can safely correlate such a belief with a purely conservative viewpoint - there have been many 'progressive' movements which have shied away from sexual representation for fear of encouraging the actual act.

well zot, do you feel corrupted by it?

i think that parents who are concerned about such things should take the time to screen their childs cd collection and weed this stuff out. parental advisories and rating systems just make politicians feel that they have done something about a problem. its not particularily useful for anyone else.

parents should take responsibility for their own kids.

Yup agree there, no parent should buy or allow their child to buy music without them listening to it as well.
Same goes for videos/dvd's and comics.

I'm sick to death of people using a cop out and expecting everyone else to parent their children.

You would ENCOURAGE young children to have sex?

I don't think young children should be encouraged to have sex. But what I do think is that it would probably be healthier for society to have a more relaxed attitude about sex. If children knew that it was fun and enjoyable and where babies came from and how to prevent STDs and that they could engage in sex guilt free when they were old enough, then you'd probably contribute to reducing many problems. The Japanese example is probably too foreign for most Americans. Look to say the Dutch. In the Netherlands sex is considered a natural and enjoyable part of life, and people often start having it when they are about sixteen or so, but they have very low teen pregnany rates, etc.

Ten year olds have blow jobs where you come from? Wow, that's pretty young. Better educate them about pregnancy, safe sex, STDs, distribute condoms, teach children how to contol impulsive behaviour, etc.

I don't think young children should be encouraged to have sex. But what I do think is that it would probably be healthier for society to have a more relaxed attitude about sex. If children knew that it was fun and enjoyable and where babies came from and how to prevent STDs and that they could engage in sex guilt free when they were old enough, then you'd probably contribute to reducing many problems. The Japanese example is probably too foreign for most Americans. Look to say the Dutch. In the Netherlands sex is considered a natural and enjoyable part of life, and people often start having it when they are about sixteen or so, but they have very low teen pregnany rates, etc.

Ten year olds have blow jobs where you come from? Wow, that's pretty young. Better educate them about pregnancy, safe sex, STDs, distribute condoms, teach children how to contol impulsive behaviour, etc.
Okay. Then I agree with you.


I am from Birmingham, Alabama, USA. That is precisely the problem: parents encourage dating, because they think it's cute. Meanwhile, their children remain either uneducated or wrongly educated about sex. There's peer pressure to have sexual experiences at younger and younger ages.

Luckily, I was thoroughly rebellious against my peer society by the time I was 9 (the year all the other girls except for one got their ears pierced).

you really dont see how its relevant?

i never really faced this problem with CDs because my son wasnt interested in them before he was old enough to make his own decision. but i was faced with plenty of movie decisions and i always found the movie rating system to be severely flawed so that i would always have to make my own decisions based on my understanding of film content before seeing it with my son. there was never a "we wont go to an R rated movie" rule. nor was there an "all pg movies are fine by me" rule (although that was more for crappiness rather than content)

having some unknown person somewhere decide what the rating should be on a CD isnt informative enough for me (if i were that kind of parent in that kind of situation) i would have to know for sure before it came into my house.

I havent promoted that someone decide on one rating like they do with movies. I would preffer something similar to what is done with TV and video games. They dont just give it an age rating, they tell you why (graphic violence, profanity, sexual situations, graphic depictions of sex, etc). This would be very helpful in making decisions.