Ethics, belief and music

The below explicitly excludes bands or musical "artists" that transport their views clearly visible via lyrics, artwork, symbols etc.

Currently, these questions remain unanswered.

1. Is it somehow OK to listen to music where one of the band members might be a racist, a nationalist, a lunatic, an idiot? Who will help me take this decision?

Would I know that a band member is a racist, a nationalist, a lunatic, an idiot? Is it OK not to search online for hours, not to read interviews with band members, to not find out if they are?

Is it OK if I assume that "back then" the band member didn't have these views yet?

2. There is no doubt that anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia - just to name a few - cannot be tolerated. But if a band is ridiculing, insulting and discriminating Christianity - why is this then "OK", or at least something that we don't really take seriously ("it's part of the show and the image"). I do not exclude myself from this line of thinking, either.

3. See this entry by someone: http://www.negatron.de/politik/kritik-und-verantwortung

It thematizes the fact that people who publish a certain radical opinion and, in most cases, include theories, examples and "proof" that their radical opinion is scientific fact, cannot be totally excluded from taking at least some part of responsibility for what is then done with this opinion. People would usually say they are in no way responsible for what was done with their ideas, and that they stand aloof from everything.

Granted, a metal band is (or should be) in no way a political unit. But if we ask the above from people, why do we so vehemently dismiss every question regarding a metal band having an influence on affecting their listener's thoughts, actions or views? Would we maybe say that, as a public figure, metal bands actually might have this kind of influence in some cases, and they should take responsibility for that if they publish, promote and support radical and extreme opinions that, in some cases, also lead to discrimination of others and intolerance?

Yes, as a listener (or viewer, or reader) you also have a stake in this, a huge stake. You have to be willing to be influenced, and it is still your own decision how seriously you take such publications. But we are not talking about the sole responsibility, we are talking about a part of the responsibility, even if it is only minor and can only be addressed as one of the many influences that one is opposed to.



--Sapnish--