well in rap most of the people making the music haven't exactly walked in a park with a cop. most are speaking from their experience.

I'm a little disturbed that the above question singles out violence against cops. They've been rapping violence against women for ages. Do you have daughters?

Well i have nothing wrong with cops that "protect" you from "criminal dangers" (stuff along that line)...But traffic cops...seriously need to lay off. And being a rebel is cool to most people...even if you dont think that you are. It just is...weird way of the world.

my opinion who cares, they put the warning label, made it legal for sale only to 18+(yes i know some stores dont adhere) the fact of the matter is, if you have a issue with your kids playing or listening DONT BUY IT FOR THEM!!! Some crime goes down(oh he must have gotten the idea from videogames or music. BULLSHIT! If parents these days would get off their fat asses, and put down the beer, and or potato chips, and not let the TV, or boombox raise their kids, for one thing, a 200 lb elementary school child would be rare, second you'll actually know what your kids are up to. If a kid takes fantasy too seriously TAKE IT AWAY! dont go running to the damn lawyer because your moron kid plays Wolfenstein, and a week later is goosewalking. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND TAKE IT AWAY, and actually explain why they cannot have it. If you dont like the content, then dont watch, listen or play it. Dont go and fuck it up for others who want to actually enjoy something a little violent. Yes I think a 12 yo playing grand theft auto isnt a good thing, but the fact of the matter parents YOU are in control of what your kids are playing, and YOU can keep it out of your house but DONT try to ban it because you think it paints a wrong image.

Violence against police officers or prostitutes in a game like GTA are only a secondary branching concept of what games originally are, despite it being warmer to society. In most games, you kill people and things in order to win, no matter how elaborate the entire construction of the game is. Everybody knows that, and any kid with half a brain knows that there's no real message behind it, no matter how well established the elaboration of a game and its concepts are. Sure, they may say it's cool and go FUCK COPS. But on the other hand, the one who's going to harm or discriminate against a police officer probably won't make any claims, he'll just do it. If the kid presents a theory or reason that is actually researched and applies to society and real life, I doubt video games are responsible. It's not supposed to be sending a message to kids though, and if they receive one, then somoene's not doing their job teaching kids the difference between reality and fiction. It's not a game's job to teach the kids about proper social behaviour, it's the parents. The game just entertains them, sometimes with elements they can relate to, like an American like neighbourhood including cultural themes and styles like gangsters and cops. But it's like a Goth dressing up, he knows he's not a vampire. If he really acts like one, then it's in his brain. There's also something called the ESRB rating system, and while I often question their work, it does say +18 or M for mature on it. Look at what you're buying for your kids before paying for it? Being mature will ensure that you don't get any weird messages from a hobby or form of entertainment when what it shows and requires you to do does not apply to real life. But yeah, there are war simulators and the like which are reserved for the army, or public games of the sort that even war veterans from WWII accounted for realism. In the decor and historical accuracy, but they say the combat included in most games is completely ridiculous when it comes to comparing it to what they experienced. If a video game inspires you to go beat up a police officer or instills ideas in your mind with reason to hate them, then you have a serious problem which would manifest itself regardless of weather you played the game or not. There are no reasons in most games that include the cops to hate them, aside from them making you go Game Over. They're just concepts given existence in order to create a playground, tools with loose and vague relations to the enemies you have to fight, depending on the game of course. No real morality or principle that doesn't stop at style or plot motivation. Punks don't play games for the most part, and they hate cops. Unfounded basis doesn't account for any source relaying any messages, aside from the need to relate one's ignorance to justification which would occur with almost anything else out there, were the games not to be in question. Many are very elaborate with their plots and concepts, but like movies, they're meant to be entertainment. If someone takes it seriously, then the game is a far cry from the actual problem. And I wouldn't say video games encourage violence for various reasons I've already explained. It's not real, such a simple thing to see. To answer your question, I find the ''coolness'' factor with cops and the like in video games shallow and boring, BECAUSE it's not real enough. Therefore, I'd rather fight vampires and dragons. At least that way, I can't compare. I know you asked what we think of this supposed message or what it might be, but in my long winded thing here, I'm saying there isn't one. Although granted, that's what most people who don't play games seem to think. Ever thought about how kids are having fun playing their games, and not much else?

I guess it's all to do with the stereotype that some people have to be overly rebellious to be 'cool'. I'm not saying being rebellious is always a bad thing, because it can help you voice your opinion out rather than keeping it all in (I used to be a shy little kid when I was younger, so I know how it feels to keep everything in), but being overly rebellious is definitely a bad thing as it causes unnecessary trouble & problems.

Not all rap preaches violence, just so you know. I think that watching/hearing certain things doesn't automatically encourage it. If a kid sees a movie in which somone is violent, they are very much more likely to be diturbed by it and not copy it, than going on a killing spree. Violance against cops is usually portrayed as a good thing yes, but most of the cops shown have abused their power in some way (eg pulp fiction.) However some proportion is intended as pure rebellion not actual acts, or based on desperation. I don't like the idea of cops or what they represent, but i have never once been influenced to hurt one. (I would also be classed as a 'young person - so it is relevant)

Sometimes you gotta fight the powers that be.

Its pretty obvous what message is being sent and received, by the voilence and behaviour we witness from young people today (no disrepect to any decent ones of course) Our standards seem to have gone down the WC, sadly the population seems to be following.

Its up to the parents to make sure today's youth knows how to make the right decisions. Not one thing, whether it be violence or anything else, should be able to dictate what kind of person a child becomes.

There's a lot of video games aimed at killing monsters too, but nobody's complaining about that! lol..don't take this seriously shiny. I'm just kidding on this one! : )

As a child, I never let movies, music, etc. influence the way I thought, and I don't think the entertainment of today is encourageing violence against the police, it's just there for value. The truth is, kids naturally have a thing against authority, so they're going to be against the police, being of high authority, just like they are of their parents. Anyone, really, who tells them what to do. Especially once they hit their teens. I remember how I was at 15, but I never took violence as an act, I just stayed clear of authority.

If the police were purer than pure I think I would align with your concern. Unfortunately the way police in america and appointed and controlled does not afford confidence. There are many police officers who have chosen the job for the same underlying reasons - in this country we cannot trust the police to do the right thing consistently. Its rather sad and worrying.

Mrshinyshoes, you may want to look at this video in response to your police sympathizer question... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWbgnyUCC7M

I find it disturbing that so much media promotes violence *period*! I hate that they have games that involve killing, especially the games that involve killing innocent people who have done nothing to hurt anyone and yes police too.

television takes society's view into their scripts, simply because if they are drastic and have thugs loving the cops nobody would watch it. in video games people love adventure, and attacking people to save ourself is a basic instinct we have. and mrshinyshoes is an idiot =]

No, not at all. I think this sort of anarchist thinking is good for kids. Seriously, fuck the police, and the corporations and such. It's better they're violent in video games than real life.

Oh yes, attack the police impressionable little kids, it's not like they have guns or you could go to jail.

nothing really to the middle class America. Those kids are too scared to go to jail. Its the kids who live in impoverished neighborhoods that see their brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers being handcuffed daily by cops that want to lash out and fight back.

I find it sad that many people don't know that it's just entertainment and not real...

Not really. I don't listen to rap, and from my experiences violence toward the police in video games carries a harsher penalty than any other violence. But then I'd have to know what specific games you have in mind.

well if its that bad foe the kids dont let em listen to it ppl gotta opinon of they own and they got the rite to voice it and you or ya kids do have a choice to listen to it and if you disturbed by it dnt have no connection with it in other words lil homie dnt listen to it watch it or play it or do it ok thats it simple and plan

Yes, and no, about finding it disturbing. If Rappers and other entertainers choose to express aggression through their art, that's their prerogative, I believe. It's better than doing crime yourself, I guess. However, it could be bad in that it may be setting a bad example for our young and impressionable people. For example, I was a victim of a financial scam once, and find "Take the Money and Run," by the Steve Miller Band to be offensive in its message to people. Songs need more messages like "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand," by Diana Ross, which serve as better examples to mankind. Finally, I'd rather hear the Diana Ross song than the Steve Miller Band song;I love it a lot, and it's my fave Ross song.

violence toward anyone is wrong, but i dont like pigs, pigs that wear badges. and the message artists are sending is that just cause you wear a badge, it doesnt give you the rite to violate my human rites.

I like cops. I'm a middle class white guy, so why shouldn't I? They're there for me to protect my interests and keep my home safe. My brother in law is a cop and I think a damned good one. Most police are actually pretty good people. That said, they are in a position of extreme power and some abuse it, as any number of videos can demonstrate. I think that they need to be reminded constantly of the ramifications of abusing their power: i.e. a lack of trust and erosion of community support as expressed in these various media.