Heavy Metal is not to Blame

"Heavy metal uses apocalyptic themes and images of power and darkness, the ability to translate verbal ideas into musical ideas that successfully convey the ideas of the words is critical to heavy metal authenticity and credibility." -Wikipedia.ca

It really pisses me off when people say that music prompts suicide. Songs cannot physically make someone kill themself. It is the person themself who chooses to do the action. Nothing else. I'm not trying to be an insensitive bitch about the subject. I'm really not. Suicide is a serious issue and should never be joked about, and people I know have been affected by it.

My point is that there have been many bad things that have happened that people blame on music; specific songs and genres. I'm going to throw out a bunch of examples now that pissed me off.

In 1985, two teenagers in Nevada killed themselves two days before Christmas. They had listened to Judas Priest before they did it. Because of that, the parents of the teenagers took Judas Priest to court and tried to sue them. They claimed that the music of Judas Priest had prompted the boys to kill themselves. The fact is that both of the boys were troubled dropouts, had criminal records, had problems holding jobs, and had already led sad and miserable lives BEFORE they listened to Judas Priest. Each had also come from a family with a history of domestic violence and child abuse and had gotten counseling.

In 2006, a 12-year old girl and her 23 year old boyfriend were charged for murdering her parents and brother. I remember reading the article in the newspaper about it. They were describing her and it said "she states heavy metal as her favourite music." This was a completely unneccesary comment, especially since they did not talk about any of her interests, only how old she was and where she went to school. Heavy metal music has nothing to do with the killing. Maybe her 23 year old boyfriend?? TWENTY THREE YEARS OLD. Something is a little fucked up there. First of all, that's illegal because she is TWELVE. Second, he probably made her do it. Third, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HEAVY METAL MUSIC. Music didn't make her kill her parents. So why the fuck would you mention it in the first place? Oh yeah- stereotypes.

This happens all the time. Bands and music get blamed for people who were depressed in the first place who commit suicide. Music cannot make you commit suicide. You are the one who physically takes your own life. In the end it is your own decision, and if you really want to do it, whether you listen to a song or not, you're still going to do it.

I apologize for my brutal language.