You seem to be saying that the music has made our society BETTER and that would be a debatable position.

It would be correct if every person chose their music very carefully and only listen to the up building kind then yes that would make the people better.

My own concern is about violent television and violent movies as more than half of every show is about some murder or many murders and I see that as hurting everyone who gets exposed to it.

Of course if we carefully pick out the up building movies and shows then yes those will help to make better people.

Not all music has made our society better. Music that reinforces negative thinking and behavior is not good for us. As I consider all the songs and lyrics I've listened to over the past 45 years I've come to believe that some songwriters have Dependent Personality Disorder.

EMD- Yes, I think pop culture is very insidious in molding our attitudes.

All these, "Can't live without you" type of songs. And let's not forget glamorizing drinking, sex and the like.

I also blame Disney for the crap attitudes of youth and the clothes companies that make horrible outfits for kids.

The only way to insure good values is to build a strong family unit that can insulate from all those negative influences.

I believe my relationship addiction, the ideas I developed about how relationships should be, came from music, magazines, and other pop cultures sources. It certainly didn't come from any family or community source. I am usually resistant to blaming a society/culture for anything, but as I analyze where that aspect of my thinking comes from, I see it more and more. I've gotten to the point where I don't watch romantic movies or listen to love songs on the radio just because I don't want to reinforce that thinking in myself any more, even subconsciously. It's crazy. Good topic, thanks for posting it. :-)

How about the foolish Disney rabbit statement, "If you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all."? That is classic for letting abusers continue on their abusive pathways and keeping people codependent on their abusers.

Yeah, Brightside. It's also a way to keep women quiet.

A level of objectivity obviously always needs to be taken when "importing" any type of information of any format in my opinion, including opinions (try saying that 3 times!)

I personally suffer a lot from the internet (ironic that I use this site) sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. As well as, from watching Television. So as a result I have taken those things out of my life until, if and only if, I can remain objective to them.

As far as music goes, I can see the rabbit hole it can build....but my taste is so far and wide with music genre's, I frankly feel like there is ALOT more out there then just pining love songs.

For instance I love Classical music while I am studying or working...there are no words there. I love Reggae to go dancing to, while quiet a few talk about oppression from the white people, mainly their music is a celebration of their version of god called Jah. Or I listen to Punk Rock music and go to a lot of their shows, and they are about being against society conformity and thinking outside the box or "normal" society. But yes, of course, if you listen to certain genre's I believe you can get trapped, but for me.....music would be difficult to ever give up....so I will continue to work on objectivity in this arena.

Last night I had read this post, Fiona Apple's first album came on my iTunes, it brought me back to when I was with my ex (I was with him for 14 years) and how at one point we had broken off and during that time the album was an anthem to how I felt about our relationship at that time "Shadowboxing....."

Anyway, it made me chuckle because I did see that it is easy to do...fall into the trappings of the music and identify it as a means to communicate internalized feelings. I was glad you made this post so that I can stay in that awareness and not fall into the trap again ;) But I certainly laughed at my younger self being so dramatic about my ex.....oh to be young again and full of so much passion......*sigh* HAHAHAHAHAH

Thank you for the topic, it is a great one!

And thank you, everyone, for the insights and wisdom you've shared on this topic. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this part of myself.