OFF: Gigs to be rated?

[Damon C Capehart]

From: M Holmes <fofp at HOLYROOD.ED.AC.UK>
>---- Start of forwarded text ----
>> Subject: Libernet: CONCERT RATINGS: The New Attack On Free Speech & Music
>>
>> ROCK OUT CENSORSHIP (R.O.C.
>> P.O. Box 147, Jewett,OH 43986
>> Press Release
>> December 8, 1997
>> For Immediate Release
>>
>> Contact: John Woods:  roc at eohio.net,
>> PH: 740-946-2011
>>
>> Immediately following last month's Senate Subcommittee
>> Hearings on "violent lyrics" a group of concert hall operators held a
>> meeting to brew up their own brand of censorship called "Concert
>> Rating."  Based on what a few who attended that meeting have
>> said, we can expect to see a major push after the first of the year
>> to initiate some form of rating system for live shows. Currently
>> every idea imaginable has been thrown on the table ranging from
>> warning labels on tickets, warning labels on all advertising or
>> promotions material, barring anyone under 18 from attending
>> "objectionable" shows unless accompanied by a parent....

What a bunch of overreacting this is...
Not the senators... YOU.  Well, OK... -and- the senators. :-P

Most smaller venues already have an age limitation.  Granted that's because
of the sale of hard liquor, but my point is, it's already here, and things
are just fine.  Laws preventing minors from attending shows at these venues
are and have been perfectly fine by me and just about everyone else,
excepting the brats themselves.

Movie ratings are a product of a commercially voluntary organization of
moviemakers (the MPAA), and if record labels and tour promoters want to do
the same for concerts, more power to them.  It's merely the govt's
involvement that irks me - but only a little.

Frankly, I want to know if what I'm about to see might offend me.  E.g.,
while I did not go to HW's Atlanta show in '95, had I gone I would like to
have known that Ron was going to bring a nudiegirl onto the stage.  (I know,
that was an impromptu thing and no one would have been able to let me know
anyway, but I think you get the drift.)

Sorry once again to contribute to this off-topic stuff, but some people can
be so selfish.  Is it really that big a deal to people that, OH MY GOSH,
you'll actually have to FIND OUT what'll be going on at a concert?  And, oh
bloody hell no, my 14 year old won't be able to attend the 2-Live-Crew
concert with me... boo-hoo.

Damon

P.S.:  Reminder - I'm 24.