Carboys Desire wrote:If you say so.
First of all, don't tell me what I am assuming because you are wrong.
Carboys Desire wrote:
You really don't understand that *some* rap music promotes a gangsta lifestyle that is harmful, that exploits and influences young people in urban ghettos and even in suburbia?
Yes, and that's why I don't listen to it. The burden of quality is on its listeners and practioners.
Carboys Desire wrote:
You honestly have to be told that there is a large branch of reality television that exploits women or displays crass behavior that young people without proper parental guidance will come to accept as normal? Or that reality television can influence people to the point that instead of aspiring to go school to get an education and a well-paying job that they instead dream of going on a reality television
show to win a big monetary prize? Or to be Paris Hilton's best friend???
While I agree that I find some reality shows repulsive, the general arguments against the genre are usually ham fisted or make incorrect assumptions about people. For example, most people will tell you that Survivor and other game based reality shows are appealing to schadenfreude. Not only have studies been done disproving this, I can say from personal experiance that I generally have positive things to wish for the participants. Of course criticism is warrented, and I actively encourage it because I think it keeps producers from going too far into things that really ARE immoral. What should parents tell their kids? Anything they want, but expect the smart kids to have a mind tingling rebuttal.
Why should you care what people do with their lives? Why is it immoral?
Carboys Desire wrote:
About Paris...she's become quite famous for nothing more than being a wealthy socialite who has managed to worm her way (quiet effectively) into one of the most widely recognized faces of pop culture. Instead of seeing her for the superficial bimbo that she is there are young women that aspire to be just like her and that want to be her BFF.
The world needs it's bimbos. I've met plenty. I know one with a PhD. Who cares how certain ones choose to spend their time?
Carboys Desire wrote:
Maher contributes because he promotes the questioning of our elected officials, for one. He doesn't sit back and let those that govern do so without challenging them (sometimes directly by inviting them onto his show) and by encouraging others (the audience) to challenge what it is these same officials are doing supposedly in our benefit. While his foremost interest is most likely his own, his contribution to society is hardly "nothing."
Why doesn't he question the very concept of government or authority? He is not encouraging thought or political philosophy, as he admits his show is primarily played for laughs. Actually, he exacerbates political philosophy.
