OK, so today's second rant is inspired by both the radio and an article in The Tartan ( would link to the online edition, but it wouldn't accomplish much). OK, so today I was sitting in Skibo Coffeehouse (my new old favorite place to eat lunch/sit around and read) and "It's Been Awhile" by Staind came up on the radio. All is well and good. However, I noted today the 'bleeping' effect they used. It was the audio equivalent of replacing one letter with an asterisk, like so: fu*k, sh*t. Now, did that really obscure the meaning? I think not. However, if they didn't 'bleep' there would be all kinds of FCC fines and a huge uproar because, gosh, we shouldn't possibly hear naughty words on the radio.
Honestly, the language on the bus to the middle school was R-rated. Now, was this perhaps the result of a society fixated on curses and whatnot? Maybe. Now, am I personally offended if someone swears in my presence? Not at all. I am somewhat concerned if "young'uns" are around, but that's about it. I do, however, lose some or all of the respect I may have held for the speaker when somone swears excessively. Why? Well, it tends to demonstrate an impotent or otherwise limited vocabulary. Secondly, why use curses in the first point? To emphacize a point? Well, do you really need to emphacize every other word? I think not. When words are overused, any impact or 'shock value' they may have had is completely lost because we become numbed to them.
Tangentially, that is why I generally have little respect for rap as a musical genre. Yes, there is some rap with clever lyrics and a good beat that I do enjoy. However, I can't tolerate rap that has foul language as every third lyric and is just talking abot "hos" and "20 inch rims." Blues, rock and roll and such essentially talk about one of two things: your problems or love; often some combination of the two. However, just talking about a "pimpin' " car and girls does not a great song make (early Beach Boys being a notable exception). Good music comes from the soul and is an outlet of some sort, not an exuse to show off your checkbook! /siderant
Right, so back to the FCC. This previous Superbowl, what's the big fuss? Honestly! I watched the Superbowl. The only reaction to the halftime show (excepting the complaints about how bad it was) was Sloaner saying something to the effect of "Wait, did her boob just fall out?" and then we continued with our regularly scheduled lives. If, perhaps, you had a 72" HD screen and you were sitting up close you'dve seen something, or so it seems from my recollection of the camera work at the end of the halftime show. Correct me if I'm wrong. If it was planned by the network then it was a totally stupid publicity stunt to somehow make up for an otherwise uninspiring halftime show. Clearly I don't think it deserved all the hoopla that came after it. Honestly, what's the big deal? "Oh no!! A breast!!" There's only, what, an average of 1 per person in the US? Will that scar kids for life? Probably not. However, that Eminem CD you got them is more likely to scar them, or at least broaden their vocab by a few four-letter words.
Summary:
Swear words: Too profuse in modern America
FCC: Big crybabies
On a vaguely related note, I'd like to point out that I'm a big supporter of properly applied ratings to things like TV shows, movies, video games and music. Should CD's carry an "explicit lyrics" sticker if the artist uses some four letter words? Yes. Are many video games rated "M" for a reason? Boy howdy! Do parents seem to understand and/or care? Not really. Should such parents be the ones to blame when their kids do something bad? Yes. Why aren't they? It's better 'news' to villify a piece of technology rather than tearful parents.
/rant
So now that all that's over with, I'm tired and I still need to take a shower and put away my freshly washed clothes. Therefore I shall bid you all adieu. Adieu.
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