One of my best friends, let's call him Eric (cus that's his name), is something of an Aficianado of video games. So much so he built a "super hype" computer with state of the art grapics card to run some of the more demanding apps.
He's a generation back from me, 11 years younger to be exact.
While Eric and I share some similar film, tv, and musical interests - I am definitely aware of some generational difference in our choices. I've never been a fan of hyper-violent films, or action films or "guy" films in general, and no, I'm not gay. Occasionally they'll be one that's a bit smarter than the pack, but generally they're just too dumb for me. I usually find myself hoping all the characters get killed.
This is not a diary about violence.
It is a diary about
values, choices, censorship, and morality.
I find our contemporary culture to be extraordinarily mean spirited, small, and stupid. It's often downright evil. I don't throw words like "evil" around that often (usually only when referring to certain republicans), but in the case of Jerry Springer, or some Nelly lyrics - well, that shit is just wrong.
I am not for censorship of any kind.
This may seem inconsistent with some of the things I've just said, but I think repressing, or disallowing expression of anykind only makes it more appealing. Japanese culture is the perfect example of this - repressive "mainstream" culture, hyper-perverse "underground" culture.
I wish I could tell you this rant was leading up to some genius solution. It isn't, I have none. But when Eric came in to work today and told me he bought Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas - and it freaked him out, he was surprised it was even "allowed" - I started thinking about the subject again.
If "big brother" doesn't determine standards of decency, and individuals don't take responsibility for their own expression, what to do?
If it was only the "underground" of our culture, I wouldn't even mention it. But it's mainstream. The major consumers of the worst of it are youth - Hip Hop and Video games - the rest, Jerry Springer style exploitation TV has a somewhat broader demographic.
I want anyone who may read this to know a few things about me -
I'm not a prude, not even slightly.
I'm the least uptight, non-politically correct fellow you're likely to meet.
I love culture of all kinds - high and low, popular and scholarly.
I don't have any kids I'm trying to protect (not that I know of anyway).
Am I alone, or has this shit gotten way out of hand?