Exteme Media

[bfp]

By: Bill O'Rielly

If you've ever wanted to be a reporter here's your chance.

Walk into any record store and ask the clerk who's buying the new CD by gangsta rapper Ludacris featuring the sure to be classic tune "Hoes in My Room."

Then go to the nearest Multiplex Theatre and see who's buying tickets to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and "Kill Bill," a movie some have labeled as the most violent film ever made.

But if you don't want to do the leg work I can tell you right now who is consuming these products: Children.

Let's take a look at "Kill Bill" (which by the way is not about me). The New York Times writes: "the undeniable passion that drives "Kill Bill" is fascinating, even, strange to say it, endearing."

Wow, that sounds like fun. We all like "endearing." Well cuddle up to this; "Kill Bill" features seven arm severings, five leg severings, two hatchet deaths and a closeup scalping.

If you are keeping score, 45 individuals are slain by swords and a pregnant woman gets shot in the head.

The director of the film, Quentin Tarantino, said this on television: "If you are a 12-year-old girl or boy, you must go and see 'Kill Bill.' You will have a damn good time.

Boys will have a great time, girls will have a dose of girl power. If you are a cool parent out there, go take your kids to the movie."

Calling all cool parents, are you hearing this?

To be fair, Tarantino is a talented man. But he is childless and clueless when it comes to kids digesting violence.

And how about my pal Ludacris, the "artist" who told my TV program that he "loves the kids." Well, he's doing well thank you, his record hit number one on the charts. And who wouldn't love lyrics like this:

"So get your lighters, get your drink and I tell you what I'm so f'ed up, and screwed up. If anybody try to blow my high, you know I'ma tell 'em f-you, f-you, f-you (ad infinitum)."

Revealingly, both Ludacris and Tarantino have been treated great by many in the elite media as they publicize their "creative" vehicles. And therein lies the problem.

Generally speaking, the American press has embraced and promoted degrading entertainment, succeeding in making it socially acceptable.

The turning point came a few years ago when Elton John did a duet with Eminem on national television.

Note to Elton: I remember when rock was young and nobody sang a song called "Hoes in My Room." Thanks for advancing the culture.

Once again I have to tell you that I am not coming at this from a moralistic point -of-view.

If you are over 18 and want to pay ten bucks to watch a chainsaw guy slaughter people than go ahead. Just don't come over to my house.

If you're an adult who wants to hear some guy rant about prostitutes jumping on him, hey, who am I to tell you you're a moron?

But children are something else. It is time for all Americans to realize that your homes have been invaded by insidious forces beyond your control.

That harmful music, movies, computer images, and television will effect your kids no matter what you do. And that the American media is celebrating that very troubling turn of events.

And if you still don't believe me consider this. Halloween is a few days away and a first grade teacher in Biloxi, Mississippi has already held a costume party for her class.

One little boy came dressed as a pimp complementing another little girl made up to be a whore.

Somewhere the Devil is grinning.

while I agree, and it is difficult to argue against, that marketing adult material to children is wrong, arguments like this always have me thinking of Reverand Lovejoy's wife screaming, "Won't somebody please think of the children..."

[Satchel]

Damn I hate self righteous assholes. He does make some good points, but to me they are negated by his high and mighty attitude.

Originally posted by Satchel
Damn I hate self righteous assholes. He does make some good points, but to me they are negated by his high and mighty attitude.

A comedian once pointed out about Gray Davis, "He's right - but he's such a dick."

often O'reilly is too

[Adam D]

If parents don't want their children exposed to this kind of media, then they should be the ones responsible for monitoring their children, not Ludicris or Tarantino.

[bfp]

Originally posted by Adam D
If parents don't want their children exposed to this kind of media, then they should be the ones responsible for monitoring their children, not Ludicris or Tarantino.

you should know that kids can keep a hell of alot of things away from their parents as most kids are very secretive. you think you've banned it from them completely, later on their at their friends house listening to it, or doing whatever.

[Satchel]

I'm pretty sick of people telling me what I can and can't do based on the worries their stupid kids might do it. Note to all parents: YOUR KIDS ARE NOT MY PROBLEM

[Adam D]

I'm not saying I personally think that children shouldn't be exposed to this sort of media. Certainly, you can't keep children under watch 24 hours a day. Some people try to. The results often aren't very pleasant. I'm of the mindset that it's better to allow your children to be exposed to media (after a certain age, there's no reason for a 4 year old to be listening to ludicris) like that around you where you can see their results and discuss the nature of the music or film or tv as ficticious. Explain the cosequences of that sort of behavior. If parents would fucking talk to their kids about stuff we wouldn't have half of the problems we have in this country.

As Satchel stated, your kids aren't my problem.

Originally posted by Adam D
If parents don't want their children exposed to this kind of media, then they should be the ones responsible for monitoring their children, not Ludicris or Tarantino.

Indeed.

Adam - could not agree with you more.

[bfp]

I'm not saying I personally think that children shouldn't be exposed to this sort of media. Certainly, you can't keep children under watch 24 hours a day. Some people try to. The results often aren't very pleasant. I'm of the mindset that it's better to allow your children to be exposed to media (after a certain age, there's no reason for a 4 year old to be listening to ludicris) like that around you where you can see their results and discuss the nature of the music or film or tv as ficticious. Explain the cosequences of that sort of behavior. If parents would fucking talk to their kids about stuff we wouldn't have half of the problems we have in this country.

As Satchel stated, your kids aren't my problem.

what about the kids that live in that culture? they, the rappers celebrate this kind of behavior. kids in run-down neighborhoods look up to this behavior, because they were brought up in that lifestyle. they dont know any better.

its ALL about the kids.

satchel, what a ridiculous statement.

Originally posted by bfp
you should know that kids can keep a hell of alot of things away from their parents as most kids are very secretive. you think you've banned it from them completely, later on their at their friends house listening to it, or doing whatever.

that doesn't eliminate the responsibility from the parent to do what they can - -

[bfp]

Originally posted by xiannaix
Indeed.

Adam - could not agree with you more.

are their parent's going to go hang out with their friends every saturday night? like i said, kids are sneaky.

[Satchel]

It's all about kids to you. To me, it's all about personal freedom.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by bfp
what about the kids that live in that culture? they, the rappers celebrate this kind of behavior. kids in run-down neighborhoods look up to this behavior, because they were brought up in that lifestyle. they dont know any better.

its ALL about the kids.

satchel, what a ridiculous statement.

First of all, you don't know shit about that culture. Don't let 2 episodes of 20/20 lure you into believing that. The culture that the music speaks of preceeds the music. The music doesn't even have to be there for those ideas to be carried out into society. Prostitution is the oldest profession, after all.

If you remove Ludicris' music from Harlem, you're not going to turn it into Highland Park. People there don't need the music to identify with what's going on around them, they have eyes. There were drive-bys before NWA. NWA didn't cause drive-bys. People aren't getting these idea from the music. If I listen to Ludicris, it doesn't mean that I'm going to run out and get some prostitutes. And if I did, that idea was already there before the music.

Originally posted by bfp
are their parent's going to go hang out with their friends every saturday night? like i said, kids are sneaky.

Parental responsibility does not evaporate when the parent and child are not together.

Rather, parental responsibility begins with teaching your children to be a good person, to think about the consequences of their actions etc etc.

Hopefully, the result will be a lack of the need for the nearly Orwellian levels of surveillence you are suggesting will be necessary to ensure that the kids don't do bad things.

Teach them well, fill them with love, compassion and as much tolerance as you can and hope for the best - the "kids" have to do it without a net eventually