Second Negative

&*%$#@! (edited for content)

For one reason or another, I don’t buy a lot of music. I’m a big music fan, but I mostly enjoy older stuff that I either already have in one form or another, or else I listen to the radio. When I do make a purchase, I go out of my way to take my business to a local record store that actually gives a damn about music.

That said, I’ve never agreed with the Wal-Mart practice of selling edited music. I’m curious if the new online music store they rolled out is selling edited mp3s. It reminds me of the Blockbuster policy of editing R rated movies for “family viewing”. Family viewing? Most R rated movies are not intended to be for “family viewing”, that’s what G and PG, etc. are designated for.

Why would someone want to watch a movie with large parts of the narrative missing? Why would you buy a cd with adult content on it, if you aren’t interesting in hearing the adult content? Your kids know what is under every bleep, and what is missing from every song. Why would an artist want to compromise their vision so that you don’t have to wince every time someone says “fuck”.

It’s not complicated. You buy art that someone else created, and you experience it the way they intended you to experience it. If it shakes you up a little, all the better.

If you want your kids to be able to watch R movies, either wait until they are old enough to experience a movie with adult content, or else educate them about what they are going to see and hear. It might also help to stop pretending that your kids are going to be shocked by nudity, profanity or violence. Besides, they can get that for free on CNN.