Do you Feel Certain Music affect People for Bad?

Music - Everyone listen to music, There are tons of different kinds of music people enjoy
@mzbubblie (3839)
United States
March 7, 2007 4:05pm CST
The reason I brought this up is because I saw a discussion a while back about "Certain Rap music causes people to do Crime" Hmmm I beg to differ, however, I would love to hear what others have to say about "ANY" kind of music... People in general enjoy their own kind of music and some don't like this kind of music but like that kind of music. Everyone is entitled to his/her own. I never been one to think music causes one to commit a crime, however, if they are weak minded or mentally disturbed maybe it's possible, I honestly don't know... I will say I do listen to rap, R&B, Old school hip hop, Reggae, some Reggaeton...Some of the rap music I listen to have profanity in it, but it doesn't mean it causes me to use foul language or want to fight people... Granted, alot of music now-a-days isn't the same like the 80's and prior, It's definetly changed through the time...I do know this... My question to you is what do you think? Do you think music (any music) plays a part to people and crime? What are your thoughts? Also, what kind of music(s) do you enjoy? Please share...
2 people like this
30 responses
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I do think certain types of music are bad for people, especially rap and heavy metal music. Not all rap or heavy metal is bad but a lot of them have lyrics that are not in good taste and set a bad example for our children. You hear a lot in the news about rappers and heavy metal musicians getting into some kind of trouble, whether it is their music or them causing the problems. I think there are a combination of different things that can lead a person to crime, not just music.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
7 Mar 07
But what about the older people, not just children...I mean I can say I've listened to some really hard rap and still do, but that doesn't contribute to my actions or how I speak to others. I agree, I have heard in the news before how rappers caused a youngster to do this or that, however, as a whole what do you think?
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I don't think music plays anymore a part in criminal activity than video games or TV or books. Outside stimuli of that nature will not have any effect on a healthy minded individual. The individuals already prone to violence will seek out affirming material - their inclination was there, and it led them to the violent mediums. If violent movies/music/video games/books were all it took, I'd be a serial killer by now. (I'm a perfectly well adjusted individual who's worst crime is accidentally stealing a ring from a street fair.)
2 people like this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
7 Mar 07
hehehe, I agree, I think it's not the music, the tv, the books, it's that own person individuality...
@pagli84 (1850)
• Netherlands
8 Mar 07
i dont think music makes people commit crimes. its their upbringing and environment and mental state that makes them commit crimes. i really hate how people, especially parents, try to blame marilyn manson for the columbine shootings or rap for gang wars. instead the parents should step up and take responsibility for raising their kids badly. crimes existed way before any of this music, and i dont think the music perpetuates it even more. i listen to all kinds of music, but i guess it depends on my mood. i like rock, rap, pop, some heavy metal. i HATE country. but i also listen to a lot of international music like reggaeton, french, german, arabic, iranian, afghan, indian, and turkish.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Very true, but people blame certain rap stars the same way. I believe for our youth, it depends on how we bring them up and observe what they listen to, like I said prior in a response, I let my son listen to rap, it's edited of course but, he never wants to go do crazy things or talk back to me. I believe it takes communication and if one wants to go beat up a kid at school, I feel that child had it in him from the jump...The parents were not activly involved like they should have..just my personal opinion..I don't think any music should be considered the reason for one to do harm if that were the case..
@tad1fan (3367)
• Canada
8 Mar 07
I love all music,my kids range from 9-22 so I've heard it all and living in the projects for 14 years introduced me to all different kinds....I don't believe music has any affect on people unless,like you said they are disturbed....I remember back when I was in school,we had a gang of "Gothic chicks"(That's what they called themselves) who listened to nothing but Ozzy Osbourne,I did too....they never committed any crimes and neither did I,even though I was titled a 'devil worshipper'.....LOL
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
HEHHEHHE, see that right there, I bet people judged you because of that. Just like if someone see me listening to rap music, be suprise when I tell them I'm in the corporate world or me all dressed up listening to some cranking rap music..lol...
• United States
8 Mar 07
Some people are affected by the music because they chose to be, not because its natural. Some people are easy to control, these type of people blame their behavior on anything but themselves. I listen to all types of music, some have edgy lyrics, but Im not mimic-ing their behavior.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Exactly, that's what that's how I feel also...I dont mimic the music I listen to either...
• United States
8 Mar 07
I'm pretty sure it's person specific. If I listen to an angry, violent song, it has no effect on me. However, if someone who is already angry and violent listens to it, then yes, it does have an effect. I tend to listen to industrial music. Loud, angry lyrics, often in German. Many of my favorite bands are on the lists of the "Kids go in and shoot up schools" favorites. However, at 26 I have never had the urge to do such a thing. My younger, more impressionable nephews listen to much of the same stuff, the music doesn't make them angry or want to change the world using bullets. Unfortunately, this isn't true of everyone. I think unstable people can be just as effected by music as by video games, movies and television.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Very true, I believe if you already angry and got tendecies to where you ready to go to war, then it's very possible depending on the music, push them to want to do more...Who knows...But, like you said as I did, they're probably unstable before the music came along
@MGjhaud (23252)
• Philippines
8 Mar 07
i actually listen to all kinds of music but there really are times like for example im feeling upset and i would tend not to listen to some love song cause i feel that it only add up to my emotional condition. it really is a turmoil listening to love song which coincidentally jive to what you feel.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Ahh, yes love music can change one mood if they are with their special love one...or if one is parted from the other and their favorite love song come on. It's does make you start to think
@Talha22 (384)
• Pakistan
8 Mar 07
yes I feel some music contain some adult stuuf which could affect children for example some songs contain the word f**k and bi**h which children learn and sings continously even with thier paremts and other elders they even dont know the meaning of the words just imagine if a childs say to his mother that you are a bi**h or saying to his father what the f**k is that nice or cool so we should see what our child or any younger one is watching or listrning.Am I right.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Now I agree, limit what your child listen to..my son is 12 and he listen to rap however it's edited and I don't have a problem with that at all...I know my son has never disobeyed me, or talk back to me, or even get in trouble at school... I believe it's up to the parents to listen and limit what the child listen too
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
8 Mar 07
To blame anyone's particular actions on a song or a movie, or a piece of art is a tad absurd. However, you do have to keep in mind that a person is a product of his or her most powerful and most common thoughts. So, you take the very young and impressionable, and they could easily very bell be influenced by the people they hang out with, the tv they watch and the music they listen to. Again, I point out the words you yourself wrote "weak minded or mentally disturbed"... What's more weak minded than a young kid in need of approval by his peers?
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Very well said and I totally agree with you...However, when it comes to "weak minded" If there is a child who listens to certain music or tv etc...We as parents should be observing, communicating, educating... I believe if one just let them listen to whatever they want, then yes I can see that possibly happening...
• Philippines
8 Mar 07
I believe that music does have an effect on humans. It can have varied effects. There is music that can relax your mind, and there are those which do just the opposite. It is backed scientifically I think. I think I once read an article about an experiment done with rats. The first group was made to hear very loud, metallic music, and another group was made to hear mellow music everyday for a certain period. It was stated that rats who were exposed to loud, hard metal music was observed to have an erratic behaviour afterwards compared to the rats of the other group. There was an explanation to that. The article talked about a part of the brain which is destroyed little by little by hard, too loud music. I couldn't remember exactly what it was but the explanation has something to do with the function fo the parts of the brain. The article explained further the reasons how music affects the human brain.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Oh, if you find that article please share it..I would like to see it also...as to relaxin your mind, yes music the type of music tends to make one feel a certain way, calm, roudy, mellow, etc... Thank you for responding
@d_eagle (100)
• Philippines
8 Mar 07
yes, i dont think not all music. do you know about back masking? i heard it before and heard once a music that was played backward and there is behind message which is something like worship the devil,,,cant remember exactly. in a different scenarion, my friend experinced a hypnotism, a man hypnotized him and robbed her. she knew that the man was robbing her, she can see but dont have the strength to refuse. so having this two story, i think some music can really affect others thinking, yeah those weak mind, but how can we know if we are strong or weak? anyway, i believe more that it is hypnotism that affects people to commit crime through the music. its hard to explain. personally, im now careful in choosing my song.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
For me it doesn't matter what kind of music it is...It doesn't bother me one bit, yes I think it takes someone already troubled prior and listen to a song and probably want to copy what they are saying... As to Back masking, I never heard of it..That's wild with playing backwards, see me I would think it was creative cause I never heard anything of that sort, and form my opinion, however, it would not make me want to worship the devil..lol
• Philippines
8 Mar 07
Its really wierd to think that music can cause some people to commit crimes. On the other hand, music has a positive effect on people. It makes one think of the past, and it feels good, bringing us back to our younger days, to the times when we had less problems and stresses in life. I like music in the 70s, they are really good.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
I enjoy music in the 80's myself being I'm 33..Some 70's music if i remember well are pretty good. I can say overtime music has changed so much...
@UAkshay (72)
8 Mar 07
I do agree that you have a point here... Some music like classicals and folk literature help in calming down the tension in the mind, while music like rap,hip-hop, pop musics spoil our concentration and increases the tension and leads to some irregular disorders..........
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
I don't agree with it increasing the tension and leads to irregular disorders, because as long as I can remember, I've never been one to want to go outside my life to do something silly or something I would regret down the line...I believe it's the individual with a weak mind that does that
• China
8 Mar 07
I know music play an important role in our life,which give our life much influence.Everyone likes different styles music.I like Hip pop.I always feel exceted with that.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Yes, I enjoy hip hop myself....
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
7 Mar 07
Punk and rock music used to get the same bad rap (no pun intended) back in the day. I think some people get some milage out of being outraged and claiming that we're all going to hell in a handbasket. I don't pay any attention to them.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
I don't either, I like what I like and that's that. as long as I'm not disrespecting anyone..I agree
@AnnaB87 (761)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I think that some types of music can influence someone to do things they should not, or encourage someone to do something that they think their favorite musical group has done or is doing. But as far as causing no, I think that the person has to have the desire to do something bad to start with, and that this is just an excuse people use when they decide to commit a crime. I do however think that what you put into your mind will eventually be part of you, and if you continually put profanity in your mind then sooner or later you will begin using it probably when you least expect to be doing so. Because whatever you fill your mind with eventually does come out your mouth. At least that is my opinion. I also think everyone is entitled to listen to whatever music they like but I would really prefer that people who are listening to any music no matter what kind that they just turn it down because not everyone likes the same things and I really do not like to hear the profanity that I hear coming out of some peoples car stereos, whether it is country, rap or whatever.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Mar 07
I totally agree with you....as to turning it down, I agree that's just respect...
@bluewings (3857)
7 Mar 07
I don't think music contributes towards making a person criminal ,but I could agree with the converse.Good music has a calming effect and a healing power.Doctors have been known to listen to music while carrying out complicated operations. If a person commits a crime ,then it's out of desperation or because he/she has a criminal mind.There are too many research results that are thrown at us and some of them ,to me,don't sound worthy of research at all.The music of choice ,if anything, should bring down the crime rate and not elevate it.I like pop,hip-hop,classical.I like Eminem when it comes to rap.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
7 Mar 07
Oh that's cool..I love hip hop myself...some pop depending on what it is... You are so right and I agree with you...I have heard of surgeons listening to music as they operate also....
@JuliaPan (564)
• Canada
8 Mar 07
For sure music influences our minds and our spirits. I don't listen to rap and hip hop, I like more calm music. Though it depends on my mood. What I want to stress is that there are many examples when young people got violent after hard rock concerts and went to smash up everything they saw on their way. My husband witnessed it once when he was about 15 years old in his native town. As for rap music, many years ago I read an article about some clairvoyant who asserted that there are negative energies concealed in most rap songs. Well, who knows if it's true...
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Mar 07
I think so. It's hard to believe that some people can be puppets to what they hear, but it happens. There are alot of fake gangstas out there who like to pretend that they are hood. Usaully they create an image in their mines based on who they are listening too. I miss the old school stuff. I really feel sorry for our kids because their is so much trash out their for them to listen to. People who produce this music should be more responsible because they are teaching little boys how to talk to little girls. They are also teaching girls how to respond to little girls. My daughter is 5months old but when she grows up and she starts really listening and understanding music she will listen to disney:)
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
7 Mar 07
hahahahahaha..awww disney..I can tell you one thing from having a 12 year old son....I allow him to listen to rap, he does like it, but it's edited...
@murtwot (206)
8 Mar 07
It's pretty patronising to assume that peoples decisions can be influenced by any form of media. Even if it is deliberately trying to influence them you have to account for personal liberty and freedom.