The store music police
This article from Australia sums up the mentality of some people:
A MOTHER outraged by clothing shop music peppered with the F-word could not find a single agency to deal with her complaint.
Deb Sorensen was in a city Deborah K clothing store this month with her 14-year-old stepdaughter and her friend when “degrading and offensive” music was played.
“We were subjected to a loud barrage of foul and highly disturbing lyrics, including the ‘F’ word,” she said. …
Store manager Hussein Kaiser dumped the music, which he said was chosen by young sales staff. But Ms Sorensen said there was nothing to stop others playing it.
Victorian Consumer Affairs had referred her to ARIA (the Australian Recording Industry Association), which sent Ms Sorensen to AMRA (the Australian Music Retailers Association), which suggested the Australian Retail Association, which passed her on to the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission), which suggested ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission).
Ms Sorensen also contacted her local MP and Melbourne City Council. While most were sympathetic, no one could help. …
“There is obviously a gap in legislation, and authorities seem confused about who is responsible,” the mother of seven said. “Vulnerable children should not be exposed to sexually explicit, violent material, anywhere, at any time.”
No there is not a gap or a problem. No new agency is needed to deal with complaints about what music is played in a private store. If you do not like the music, then never shop there again.
If you really feel passionate, about it then blog about it, twitter about it. Even stand outside and picket then (God knows why though as they clearly said they dumped the music). But don’t go demanding some Government agency do something.
What she should have done, if she was smart, was ring ARPA (Australasian Performing Rights Association) and tell them the store was playing music without having paid royalty fees to ARPA. They would have probably had a SWAT team down there within 30 minutes 
October 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Classic.
If she had even half a brain, a strongly worded letter to the company head office would probably have garnered her a handful of gift vouchers to the store. Either that, or talk to the local/community newspaper – this is exactly the sort of nonsense they lap up.
There is obviously a gap in legislation, and authorities seem confused about who is responsible,” the mother of seven said.
I think i’ve found the gap.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I question the accuracy of the story.
Particularly the “music” part.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
LOL she should take a moment to listen to what is on her 14 year old’s ipod if she really wants to have something to complain about.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Maybe there should be a government ban on all young people choosing music. Not just in shops but from cars as well.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Aw. I’m sorry her daughter had to hear the F word. After all, it’s been excised from schools across the English speaking world.
What a tit she is.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
It was a private property, probably not breaking noise restrictions, she should get over it and shop somewhere else.
If she thinks the state should be involved , you are one step away form street musicians only being allowed to play music from a state approved list of songs.
Sounds like a terrible choice of music and unless the stupid prick who played it is given a kick up the backside, they’ll lose customers.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Um, if I swear while walking down the street, is she going to call the government on me?
October 13th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
This is just too retarded to contemplate
October 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I hate people like that woman. Although not exactly the same, she reminds me of the person who complaines that if they stand on the top of their roof they can see the nudist beach. I often hear muzak in stores I hate. If it irritates me I walk out.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Should be made to watch “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”
October 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
It’s getting close to THAT time of year again. Just because it’s about one dude being done to death doesn’t mean they should do the same old songs to death every year. It sure as hell doesn’t get me into the buying and giving to profits mood.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
THIS IS THE TASTE POLICE. YOUR MUSIC IS OFFENSIVE. PLEASE STEP INTO THE CAR.
I too do not appreciate loud unpleasant music in shops. I am attempting to show such shops the error of their ways by refusing to patronise them. I agree it is not The Gummint’s responsibility to ‘Do Something’ about it.
(Unfortunately most Wgtn shops are staffed by utterly clueless students, and the customers are usually the last thing on their minds…)
October 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
So do we think the daughter is a) laughing her head off with her mates or b) dying of embarrassment and hoping never to have to go to school again?
October 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
The extent of the offence, and therefore the response has little to do with the content, and more to do with who was being offended.
If, say, the lyrics of the song suggested that Mohammad enjoyed lurid pastimes with children you can be sure that the offence would be taken very, very seriously.
It’s a post-post-modern world we’re living in.
RRM – re Wgtn shops and students. Completely agree!
October 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
@fizzleplug you mean this part?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-xKUU5sWS4
Its the ringtone on my phone (and the reason why its permanantly on silent at work)
October 13th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
DPF said…
No new agency is needed to deal with complaints about what music is played in a private store.
So, a private store is definitely the property of the owner according to your statement above, huh? Can you also say the same thing about Telecom’s private telecommunication network? I don’t think so, since Telecom is not private to you DPF, Telecom belongs to the state and the state have every right to legislate anything against Telecom if they don’t like the way how they run their business.
DPF said…
But don’t go demanding some Government agency do something.
I recalled you demanding that the government (Labour) should do something about Telecom’s monopoly about a couple of years ago.
[DPF: 99.999% of the population would consider there is a difference between a vertically integrated monopoly that controls NZ's telecommunications infrastructure and a private shop that is one of thousands of competing businesses. If you don't that is your problem]
October 13th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I had the pleasure of taking my daughter clothes shopping in the school holidays and displeasure of hearing similar music blaring out in a clothes shop on the North Shore.
I had to stand outside for about 35 minutes whilst my daughter served part of her female apprenticeship
October 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@ Rakaia George – I’m going with (b). Of course my 14 year old daughter wouldn’t be caught DEAD clothes shopping with either her mother or father so would never be a problem for her.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I have a complaint about a mother of seven not getting over it. Is there some agency I can deal with that will help ensure this doesn’t happen in future?
October 13th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
whats Tipper Gore doing in aussie?
October 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I’m getting the ladder out now..
October 13th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
FFS. Thousands of years to find some sort of civil free society and what do people want to do with that freedom? Complain that there is not enough government intervention.
Life worked. She found something offensive (I agree in that context), complained to the dude who owned the store, who took said complaint seriously and then fixed the issue. Get over yourself lady.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
MikeE>you mean this part? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-xKUU5sWS4
That was filthy. You need to be punished! I just rang TVNZ and they said that they’re not responsible for profane links in blogs. I e-mailed my MP but he is a lefty who is fully occupied Twittering from a disaster area. I called Consumer Affairs and they said they’re responsible for accurate labeling on blogs but not the contents or accuracy of comments. I stopped a police officer parked beside the road and he told me not to waste his time, and that he had to ticket another 15 speeders before he was allowed to go home. I rang the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and they said they’d prosecute you to the full extent of the law, but only if your language was sexist and it isn’t. Finally, I got hold of Geoffrey Palmer who admitted that he’s the sort of joyless wowser who’d pass a law to ban rude links, but that he was too busy at the moment trying to stop young people enjoying a beer or glass of wine.
There is obviously a gap in legislation, and authorities seem confused about who is responsible. I don’t have seven children.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
It’s great seeing all of you old fuddy-d(a)ddy’s compain about the crap music those ‘yoof’ listen to.
Once upon a time, you we’re young too. And your parents hated your music as well.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Phil 4:18 pm,
Let’s be clear; I was NEVER young.
Luckily, though, my music tastes have changed as I’ve travelled through the millennia. Something with excessive swearing, or a strong drum emphasis, has always been associated with ‘calling up the demons’, and hence not regarded as real music.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I suggest she try 0800 555 111.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
My mum hates my music as well, has done for 50 years!!
October 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
She actually has a point, but you are all clueless, which says something for the NZ you represent doesn’t it.
Should anyone who opens up their ( private space DPF! ) to the public, which would include young children under 12, be allowed to display or play music videos or songs or posters etc etc that are objectionable to that age groups parents?
It is a public space as it has been intended for the public to enter it as part of it’s existence, it is NOT a private space. duh!
Personally I think not, but that is based on a set of values that we obviously don’t share, so we can’t talk about common sense because we don’t share the same values.
Fuck and all the other F,B,C words are not acceptable in my view around young children.
Et tu?
October 13th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Actually I agree with MikeNZ. It simply is not necessary to spend all you talking time using such language, especially in a space where general public has access and more so where there is no warning that it is occurring. I swear and have even used the word on this blog a few times lately (usually associated with the National Party of late and you can guess why.)
There is no reason why there shouldn’t be a standard of decent conversation because in general the F word adds nothing to the conversation and really tells the listener that the person using the f word doesn’t remember the other 60000 words available in the English language.
Are you all that dumb?
October 14th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Gotta be honest, I agree with MikeNZ and Viking2.
There is a big difference between a private house, say, where most people would agree whatever you say or do is your own business, and a PUBLIC place. I’d like to think that we, the general public, still try to uphold some standards (yeah, yeah, I can see all the eyes rolling), and using the “F” word or calling someone a “c**t” IN PUBLIC isn’t the sort of standard that I would have hoped most people want to maintain.
Put into another context, how would you feel if the teacher at your child’s primary school was to use these words in front of the class? Or you’re standing in line at the cinema with your children, and there’s a group of teenagers using the “f” word and talking about other “mother-f*****s” and “c**ts”? If you don’t feel even slightly uncomfortable in that situation, there’s something wrong with you.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:59 am
I’m not adverse to using the ‘words’ talked about as a relief to my frustration [ cresent slips off nut] or pain [when I hit my thumb with the hammer] but it surely shows a lack of education to feel one have to use them ‘every second word’ in normal conversation or as ‘entertainment’ by reproduction device.
The moral of the story for me is that as an example of ‘the curse of our modern age’ … when I face something I don’t like would SOMEBODY PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT … the reverse action CAN’T DO ANYTHING BECUASE SOMEBODY MIGHT COMPLAIN OR WORSE SUE ME/US