Media Vandalism

There are quite a few different genres of music out there and tons more lifestyle promotions in all that accessible content. I’m sure a few possibilities have come to your mind already—we’ve all heard a song or two that we didn’t find appropriate according to our own standards. Drinking, premarital and extramarital sex, and drug use are usually the “really bad ones” that come to people’s minds. But it’s a biiiiiig world out there and as noted, there’s a ton of music too. Surely these aren’t the only forms of questionable content?

You’re right, they are not.

Bad attitudes and reactions to sticky situations can be promoted as well. I was listening to a song by Carrie Underwood a while ago—Before He Cheats. It’s a catchy tune and I found myself singing to the lyrics with her, before I really realized what I was saying.

Here’s the chorus:

[That] I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive,
Carved my name into his leather seats.
I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights,
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires.
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats.

The context of the song should be pretty obvious—boy is dating girl, boy cheats on girl, girl throws a fit and destroys his car as payback.

Why is this acceptable?

In all reality, do you know what this is called? Vandalism. Do you know the consequences of vandalism? The end result is a misdemeanor or felony resulting in community service, fines or jail.

USLegal.com defined vandalism as “when a person knowingly causes serious physical damage to a structure or its contents.” And vandalism is not mere child’s play or worthy of the statement “boys will be boys”, but it is “a crime…Vandalism costs millions of dollars worth of taxpayer money to counteract.” (www.criminal-law-lawyer-source.com)

Now when I personally listen to this song I’m not going to go out and slash the tires of someone who upsets me. But Carrie sure does promote the act as acceptable doesn’t she? Sure, I won’t actually do it, but the thought is in my head. I can still commit the crime if I think revengeful thoughts enough.

And sadly there are tons of people out there paying fines or serving time due to their reactions on their issues with other people, whether they were influenced by music or not.

So I’d encourage you to pay attention to the words of the music you are listening to. You may not necessarily commit the acts that are listed in the lyrics, but you’ll find yourself accepting them as appropriate the more you listen to them.