Rap Music Is Appropriate for Children and Teens

Once again, many thanks to my opponent for beginning this debate. However, I must say, Con, that your question as to whether or not I actually read or skim the arguments is more than offensive. Not only have I responded to every single thing you've said in this debate, but the reason I "simply extend" my arguments is because you have ignored most of them. In fact in the last round I had to single out TEN arguments that you completely dropped in your rebuttal, so if anyone is going to be rude and ask if one of us is just skimming the debate then clearly it should be me. I think that will be MORE than obvious to the audience. Another thing I'd like to mention is that you literally dropped about 75% of my arguments due to lack of character space. However that's only because you copied and pasted what I said word for word in your response instead of just responding which was unnecessary. That said, let's get back to Con's points. She begins by clarifying that she does not suggest ALL rappers are drug users - just some of them. In that case her argument makes little to no sense. I see she didn't respond to my priest analogy, so once again I'll waste character space repeating myself. While SOME priests are child molesters, it would be irresponsible to suggest that people avoid priests as a whole because of that fact. Similarly, while some or even most rappers might use drugs, that is nowhere near a good enough reason to avoid ALL rap. Con concedes this point to me since she never explained why rap music in general should be prohibited and not just the kind that advocates drug use, misogyny or violence. Furthermore, even if Con actually took the time to explain that I would have defeated her argument by pointing out that rock stars use drugs [1], as well as politicians, artists, popes, composers, authors, etc. [2]. Clearly Con's argument A3 has been defeated. Just because some rappers do drugs doesn't mean rap music should be avoided. That's like saying since so many philosophers did/do drugs that philosophy should be avoided. Clearly that's non-sensical (and yes, many philosophers did drugs such as William James' nitrous oxide, Sigmund Freud and his cocaine, Plato and his magic mushrooms, etc.). Next, Con says that I am "irresponsible" for not taking it upon myself to go to the other website where she expects me to read other people's arguments and accept them as her own. Extend my points about (a) that being bad conduct as it's cheating character space; (b) I cannot be expected to debate the people on Yahoo Answers as they cannot respond; (c) I used AnswerBag to quote song lyrics -- not to make arguments, etc. At this point I think only my opponent is naive enough to expect people on DDO to accept a link to Yahoo Answers as an actual argument. Either make the case here in the debate or consider it irrelevant. Moving on, Con says "I believe that we have already debated your points on the positive effects of rap." In other words she completely contradicts her statement from the previous round where she writes, "As for singling out the negatives of rap, please, feel free to list the positive effects that rap has on teens." So in Round 3 she asks me to list the positive effects rap can have (which I already did in R1 and R2). Then when I re-wrote them again since they were ignored, she has the audacity to say "We have already debated your points." She completely contradicts herself by suggesting I never provided them and then saying we've already debated them. Moreover, Con completely failed to respond to any of the positives I mentioned. She ignored Murray Forman's analysis about the impact of cultural expression. She ignored the various rappers I mentioned who rap about positive things. She ignored the fact that rap artists use their talents for good, i.e. Jay Z's rap concert raising money for the families of 9/11, etc. Con is completely incorrect in saying "we have already debated" these things because she simply never responded to those examples and others from previous rounds. She did say some rappers promote bad messages, but I never denied that fact. My argument is that it'd be wrong to assume every artist from a particular genre is to be avoided or presume that every rap song is negative. Moving on, Con writes, "[Heavy metal and punk] may contain profanity also, but that is besides the subject." This ignores the points I have repeatedly stated since the first round about it being wrong and non-sensical to single out rap in particular, ESPECIALLY because it's inherent to so many people's culture. Not surprisingly these arguments were dropped by my opponent as well. Next Con says, "I have presented more than enough evidence of why rap is harmful to children and teens." Well I have provided more than enough evidence of why rap can be positive or beneficial to children and teens, so this is a moot point. Additionally this is irrelevant. Just because I can prove that junk food is undoubtedly harmful to children doesn't mean that it should be prohibited. Con continues, "I mean that it would eliminate the main sources of rap... People can still rap, but it isn't going to get them anywhere. Future generations would be raised not being exposed to it, and would be less likely to have a negative impact from it." I think it is appalling that Con wishes to eliminate a particular genre of music just because she doesn't like the style or content. Finally, since that is all my opponent has left us with I will simply repeat the arguments that were dropped: A) Not all rap music contains profanity. B) Profanity is not a big deal anyway... C) Rap, like movies, are often strictly for fictional entertainment. D) We should not negatively stereotype and draw conclusions about ALL rap songs/artists. E) Censorship is inappropriate and near impossible to enforce. F) Parents are responsible for raising their children and ensuring distinction between entertainment and real life. G) Rap is an art form, and all art can be used for positive means like self expression. H) Rap is an integral part of some children's culture and 21st century society. I) Rap songs and artists can and do use their music for good and to promote positive messages. All of my opponent's arguments have been defeated (see R2 for a step by step analysis of me defeating each of her points). The arguments of mine that she bothered responding to in her rebuttal have also all been in my favor as well. I would have liked for Con to explain why songs such as "Be Healthy" and "Revolution" by Dead Prez, "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West, "Changes" and "Keep Ya Head Up" by Tupac, etc. are inappropriate for teens. Those are rap songs and I don't think they should be prohibited by any means but celebrated for their content. Anyway, thanks for this debate, Con, and good luck in the voting period. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org... [2] http://www.soveriegn.freeservers.com...