Jacob Delashmutt, one of the convicted
killers recently told the Washington Post that the music had nothing to
do with the murder, “ She was murdered because Joe [Fiorella (one of the
other convicted murders)] was obsessed with her, and obsessed with killing
her."
So we see all of these cases where music
was said to influence the behavior of fans. In the case of the West Memphis
Three the fact that the accused listened to heavy metal made them instant
suspects. In the other cases, where people are trying to pin the blame
on the music, they totally ignore the other facts surrounding these cases.
These appear classic cases of the blame game, where faced with the reality
that it might possibly have been other factors like drug abuse, mental
illness or poor parenting that played the crucial role in these tragedies,
people close to the victims instead choose to take the easy route and blame
it all on the music.
In almost all of these cases drugs and
alcohol were involved. Alcohol is classified as a depressant, so when abused
it very well may lead to depression. Add in the equation drugs, which only
intensify the psychological effects, it is an easier leap of faith to blame
the suicides on the effects of drug and alcohol abuse rather than the music.
But then you have to examine why these teens turned to mind altering substances
in the first place. That will most likely point to unhappy lives or other
psychological problems. To simply blame it on the music is asinine! The
person who may be susceptible to messages in music would have to start
out with some kind of warped perception to begin with. Millions of other
fans listen to the very same songs, and do not commit murder or suicide.
So it appears the problems lies with the individuals not the music.
I had a roommate a few years back that
went over the deep end one day and beat his wife to death and then attempted
suicide by driving his car off of a cliff, killing his baby son and injuring
himself. What went wrong with him? Was it the music? His favorite band
was “The Eagles” so if that’s the case we should begin scouring their
records for hidden messages. Or could it have been that he grew up neglected
and abused, and carried the behavior he learned as a kid into his role
as father and husband? Or was he simply an evil person capable of murderous
anger? Add to the fact that he was an alcoholic and you would have to really
have your head in the sand to conclude that “Witchy Woman” drove him to
murder and attempted suicide.
I grew up listening to heavy metal and
watching violence in movies and TV. I have yet to commit murder or suicide.
None of the friends I hung around with growing up, who listened to the
same bands, have gone on to murder or kill themselves. In fact, almost
all of them are living normal productive lives.
Can a rational person buy into the allegations
that music influenced these tragedies? If we as a society were to buy into
this argument, then we would have to take it one step further and blame
youth violence on cartoons and movies. Do we blame the actors Robert De
Niro and Jodie Foster, Director Martin Scorsese or screenwriter Paul Schrader
for John Hinckley, Jr.’s attempted assignation of President Reagan? Do
we blame AC/DC for Richard Ramirez’s brutal “Night Stalker” killings? Will
we soon hear “Bugs Bunny” made me do it!,” come from a killer’s lips? With
the breakdown of the family and a generation of parents influenced by touchy
feely pop psychology influenced parental ideals, it would be easy to place
the blame on entertainment. It’s always easier to point the finger at others,
instead of looking at yourself to see if you had a part in it. It might
be well to remember that when you point the finger at someone else you
have three fingers pointing right back at you.
So we are left with a society that finds
it easier to blame music for tragic behaviors, label kids who act up in
class ADD and put them on drugs instead of disciplining them for doing
wrong, a nation of victims who would rather pin the blame on others then
taking a close look at their own failings and taking responsibility for
their own actions. It is no surprise, that some people would try to blame
music for these tragedies, it is much easier than facing the truth that
hits closer to home that drug abuse, mental problems and perhaps bad parenting
played the significant role in these tragedies.
Fan Speak Here is your chance
to agree or disagree, call me names or praise me for my insight. Everyone
has an opinion. You just read mine, now lets hear yours!
Fan
Speak:
Posted by Nemesis80Evil:
MUSIC MAKES ME HAPPY
DEATH MAKES ME SAD
MUSIC MAKES DEATH AWSOME
Posted by Sania:
Well i was looking for and article to help me develop ideas on how to write another article that was posted in one of my countries newspapers,blaming a particlar artiste who is a friend of mine, for the violence that is taking place. I found your article. It is the best thing i have heard, because it embraces the exact way i feel about this topic. Thank you!.. now i posess the confidence to write and write from the heart.
Posted by pantera's no1fan :
people are responsible for there own actions not the music its there to make you feel better about your self
Posted by PIRATE:
It seems "all too simple" to me. I can't believe so much time has been wasted on this debate! Here is the correct answer..."If Heavy Metal music causes people to commit crimes, their would be a non-stop crime wave of murder and mayhem." It would affect the "masses", not the "elite". Millions of people have heard the song "Suicide Solution", only one person has been reported to have killed themself because of it. If what "they" say is true, wouldn't most people kill themself after hearing this song then? Bottom line,...UNTIL AN EPIDEMIC OF MURDER AND SUICIDE BEGINS, MUSIC CAN'T BE BLAMED FOR A FEW SCREWED UP INDIVIDUALS!! End of discussion. (Call me when the "average person" in large numbers of people start to do evil things after a new Metallica album is released.)
Posted by doesn't matter:
I agree that people make their own choices but I believe that violent behavior is glorified and highly normalized through lyrics in music. If violence wasn't treated as acceptable by teenager's idols, then perhaps they wouldn't find it so acceptable.
Posted by The Punkkinator:
Society is more or less pointing the finger at music and entertainment, before facing the real situation. This is a real crisis, and only a handful of us realize it. This thesis doesn't belong on a website, it deserves to be referenced in hearings dealing with "suggestive" lyrics of Metallica or Ozzy Osborne or other "Black Metal" bands. The author of this site definetaly deserves credit for this piece.
Posted by Kory:
Great article, really insightful.... gives you something to think about next time someone blames a rape on Eminem or a killing Marilyn Manson or Slipknot
Posted by Graeme:
hey guys. I am also writing a thesis on how heavy metal is percieved as a negative influence through the media. I agree with you both, music can not be blamed for murder or suicide, the case usually is that the fragil mind is to blame, these people obviously have sub-concious problems y'know? Let me know how your work is going.
Posted by Andrea:
You are completely and totally right in everything that you said. I am in the process of writing a thesis paper about perception and reality and I have used some of your thoughts and beliefs in my paper. I am so glad to know that I am no the only one in the world that feels this way about why people do the things they do.
Posted by Shannon:
I am doing a arugmentative paper on this issue. I think it Ridiculous that people can blame the music for peoples actions. Obviously they have a lot more problems then the music they listen too. Its just an excuse for bad parenting. Thanks for the article it gave me a lot of info i needed to finsh my paper.
Posted by Kat:
No one else causes your problems, your precption is what does.
Music is just the excuse people use to get out of things. No one really belives that, just because not every song says "be happy!" doesnt mean people go insane.
There are a milloon songs and a million emotions shown. No one is happy all the time and these people who sue should ask "am i happy all the time?" of course that would be no. So why are bands shot down for writing a song bout a time when they are depresed?
Posted by baby blonde:
ok heres what i think i think that music has a bid impact on what goes on in a teens life but i also think that teens can listen to music an dnot get ideas to go and kill some one just because the lyrics "told then to"
Posted by emily:
Im doing this research paper for class (a persuasive Research paper) and I totally agree with your point of view. Your insights are brillant.. I read another guy's webpage saying music does make people go insane and it pissed me off so badly. At least I know some people can put 2 and 2 together and not get 5.
-peace
Posted by Annie:
I couldn't have worded it better
Posted by chavonloco:
Well I dont think Music is to blame for crimes that people commit; but I think that some music can make it easier meaning when someone has mental problems or is really depressed it could make it easier for them to commit the crime or suicide.
Posted by Nut Symptom:
I don't think that music, movies, and video games should be blamed for today's problems. We should blame people like Tipper Gore and the other politicians. She's just a SLUT that, along with Joe Liberman (that bastard), wants to blame everything.
Posted by Latimus:
Personnally I have been listening to a lot of Heavy Metal and I don't specially have done harm to myself of others. But it is no surprise because my personality, the way I am, makes it from the beginning rather impossible. With music or without music, I do not like to be specially unpleasant to others or myself. Anyway, for me, most of Metal bands' message is rather Be strong than give up and kill yourself. The music itselfs is strong, it is power, sweat, it is rather like a sport. When I listen to Slayer or Motorhead in the early morning, that music do not "says" to me to stay in bed drowing into my problems but rather to get up and face the day.
Apart from that, I nevertheless think that some Black Metal bands are going a little bit too far.
But on the whole, I think Metal is more positive than negative. It is energy and fight.
That's about it, boys and girls !
Latimus (from France !)
Posted by nickel:
Most teen kill themselves because they are depressed not because they listined to a song
Posted by Brittany Nolan:
no,it is all beacause of the gay bullys in skool not us.
Posted by HipHopF@n19:
thanx guy...imma use your site for my senior paper...it's a persuasive paper on how life imitates musiq...i personally think it all comes down to how your mind operates and if it can't interpret the lyrics as being just lyrics then you shouldn't be listening to it...
Posted by kkarl:
there is alot of crappy music out there with crappy people to listen to it, if people got more into the types of music they listen to it would solve alot of problems including the above said suicides.
Posted by Ryan:
well, i listen to many types of music. "metal" and hardcore are two of them. (or metalcore for those technical people). anyway, there are many bands out there. i don't think you could say that bands really influence people to so such things. there is such a huge contrast in metal alone of what the artists talk about. take "canibal corpse" for example. this band talks about suicide, mutilation and rape, while on the other end of the metal spectrum, band like "poison the well" or "adamantium" talk about typical issues such as girl problems and friends. one can't really say that metal as a rule influences one commit suicide or murder. they may be an outlet for youths, but if one is taking so much influence in, that they take their own life, or someone elses, they must have issues anyhow. yeah.
Posted by yogi:
this awesome article gave me an idea for my presentation. yep, that's all
Posted by PhatKat:
I dont see how music could inspire anyone to do any harm to others. When i was in a depressed state of mind a couple years ago, i locked myself in my room and listened to silverchair's album 'neon ballroom' and it helped me out of my situation...and at the same time i listened to manson and kittie and slipknot..i was in my meta/rock stage, now i listen to mostly oi punk...anways, but that other stuff didnt get me thinking of suicide...even tho i was suicidle, it was only because of my home life (step-dad). People need to see past the inconsequencial and little non-important facts and trying to use them just because they THINK something when they all they are is being predudice (sp?) towards alternative people...and i hate how people judge other by what they listen to or dress as...dig a lil deeper and you can find all the truth you want
Posted by The Tall SKinny Pale Guy :
"If you believe a S!@# head w/ a guitar then your a S!@# head yourself"
Got that off VH1 behind the music
Posted by Becky:
Music does not influence
n e 1 to do n e thing, if
they are that STUPID to
do something like, murder
or comit suicide from music...
they had serious problems in
the first place. I wanted to
kill myself once, i was very
depressed, and listening
to bands like marylin manson,
disturbed, adema, staind,
korn, slipknot...etc..
made me realize that
my life is not that bad
at all. the lyrics sung in
the songs, are feelings
of the singers. Can't they
express their feelings without
being CHARGED, BLAMED
OR CRITISIZED because
some kid hated their life.
get real. The Media and parents
are just trying to make
excuses up for suicides
because they cannot face the
fact that some ppl. think life does
suck. Or kids hate their
parents. Why don't you blame
the parents for not realizing
their children needed help!
Posted by cassie:
i think that music is a wonderful outlook and outlit in life. i listen to punk music, and have been known to listen to some manson in my time. i have never had the urge to kill anyone as a result of listening to that particular type of music. sometimes i find music to be a therapy to help me cope with a particualr feeling and it's comforting to know that someone else is going through the same thing as i am. i think music is a wonderful thing, and when people need something to blame they grasp at straws and find something innocent to blame.
Posted by Tabitha:
I absolutly agree with you.
Posted by Princess Jasmine:
I agree completely with you. I just cannot fathom how a song or an artist can "force" someone to commit murder. Even if certain songs had "hidden messages", you have a brain, and it can differentiate between right and wrong, so it's your choice. No one can "make" you do anything that you don't want to do, and if you have a concience and know the difference between right and wrong, then these "hidden messages" shouldn't affect you in the least.Don't blame the music! Blame yourself for being so mentally fuct up that you could commit such a horendous crime.
Posted by The sad angel clown who....that cries:
I agree totally with what is in this article. Suicides and murders happen all the time. Columbine was a tragedy in its own sense, but these teens didnt even listen to marilyn manson. So why blame him? Because its easier. Dont blame the music. Its their for entertainment. Anyone who takes it seriously is screwed up in the first place.
Posted by gusleon04:
i don't think heavy metal is responsable a lots suicides around the world. the parents unresponsables is the big problem for no talk and guides children,is too for the meaning understood songs.
Posted by sys64738: i agree that music cannot physically make
someone commit a criminal act, but one must also realise that along with
drugs and alcohol, music can also serve as a trigger in the wrong sort
of person. if one of these high school killers listened to classical or
country music though, you'd hear nothing about their musical inclinations.
angel of death, i do find it somewhat strange that you pick on rap for
its "blatant references to having guns and killing people", but you see
nothing in listening to bands that sing about torturing and raping women
with knives or raping dead children. hmmm.... the hypocrisy from some musical
fraternities astounds me sometimes.
Posted by Thorn: I want to agree with you. I've been listening
to metal for almost 10 years now and I have not yet tried to commit any
sort of crime. I've seen Slayer in concert several times, and although
the pits may be violent, no one kills anyone. Slayer's lyrics are just
opinions of the band and no more. Some agree with them and some don't.
I don't understand why all the 'metal' bands get all the harrassment...
What about the rest of the music genre? Metal at least tells the truth.
They never say to go sell drugs and smack your bitches. Least of all go
shoot some guy for no reason or kill yourself. Not to pick on the rap genre.
I think I'm just writing this to stand up for the real metal bands that
don't deserve to have to go such nonsense. I respect them and their talents.
If you aren't strong enough to make up your own mind as to what is right
and was is wrong.... You might as well be dead.
Posted by Killjoy: Both sides are fuked in this issue. No
one thing causes these problems, you can't blame it all on alcohol or drug
abuse or mental illness, or bad parenting anymore than you can blame it
on pop media. All you can do is decide wheather something someone does
is a "good" thing or a "bad" thing. Life causes these things. You can't
solve the question why anyone would kill someone else, or themselves, any
more eaisly than you can solve the question why people risk their lives
to save other people, or why they get married and have kids. There are
people all over the world that abuse substances, and have had terrible
upbringings, and mental illnesses, and never do these things. But to say
that all of these things start in the home, and that nothing else in the
world affects people is idiotic. The bottom line is music does affect people.
People buy and listen to music for that very reason. But if I type out
KILL YOURSELF and a thousand people read it how many will actually kill
themselves? Music is the same way.
Posted by Idiot Boy: i had suicidal thoughts even before i
listened to music. i was practically off. then i started listening to music.
and it calmed me down a lot. now i don't ever think about suicide. tool
has kept me sane
Posted by Wobbs: I am 14 years old, and I am doing an essay
on musicians being blamed by society for teen violence. I agree with everything
in this article. It is absolutely pathetic that parents are too blind to
see that problems with their children originate in their own home. They
are desperately clinging to any excuse. Like any other artist, a musician
has the right to express their feelings through their work. You seldom
hear parents blame movies or books, which depict murder, crime, and drug
use in detial. A 2 hour movie is far more influencial than a 3 minute song
that can only vaguely communicate violence. Thats all i have to say for
now *Peace Out*
Posted by princess: music is a persons feelings and a way
of expressing them. its not demands. if a person kill themselves because
a "song told them to" they were simply looking for an excuse to do it.if
they commit a crime and blame it on the music they are just sorry they
got caught and want to get out of trouble. so dont censor our good music
cause some people are idoits. thanx for standing up for our music.
