Should the government ban or discourage careers in music?

pklima · #1 02-10-2011, 02:22 AM

This guy thinks that pursuing a career in music is harmful, and while he doesn't say outright that the government should do something to prevent people from pursuing them, at least he seems to think it makes as much sense as requiring children to go to school.

http://www.overcomingbias.com/2011/0...ternalism.html

The last paragraph is pretty funny:

Quote:

I suspect we allow harmful acting, music, etc. careers because they raise our society’s status relative to others, and it looks good individually to approve of such activities. Most parents hope it won’t be their kids who pay the price.

Yeah, that's putting it pretty bluntly. Though I'd say it's more like parents who don't discourage their kids from pursuing music hope their pianist daughter will be able to marry rich, or their guitarist son will marry a model.

Nev375 · #2 02-10-2011, 02:32 AM

I wonder if the author has ever asked himself this question...?

Which is worse, being a starving artist or being well-fed in a career that crushes your soul a little bit more every day?

JoZac21 · #3 02-10-2011, 02:36 AM

This article brought to you by Big Brother's crazier older brother.

Wow... "I can mostly understand wanting to let folks be free"... nope... you can't.

sound of bass · #4 02-10-2011, 03:15 AM

How about the arts are just good for the soul!

DeathFromBelow · #5 02-10-2011, 03:41 AM

I'm thinking maybe governments should ban ignorance and utter stupidity first...

El Barbero · #6 02-10-2011, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathFromBelow

I'm thinking maybe governments should ban ignorance and utter stupidity first...

Can't do that my friend, that would ban all politicians and a lot of the people employed in the professions.

**Faderoktopus** · #7 02-10-2011, 04:09 AM

Whenever someone believes they can use terms such as good or bad in as different contexts as jobs and friendships with no explanation required, I think it's safe to assume they suffer from some degree of mental retardation.

djaydjay · #8 02-10-2011, 04:15 AM

What I think is even more harmful is to forbid people to make any choices that may be harmful to them, making them on the long terme unable to make any choice at all.

**Pacman** · #9 02-10-2011, 04:18 AM

The US government is the largest single employer of musicians on the earth.

jollygiantchris · #10 02-10-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoZac21

This article brought to you by Big Brother's crazier older brother.

^^^
Thats an awesome line lol

pasta4lnch · #11 02-10-2011, 04:59 AM

Ok - I'll play along w/ his stupidity . . . if this "ban" were to ever take place, you'd find the number of aspiring actors and musicians quadruple! What's better than fame and fortune? Forbidden fame and fortune!

Pathetic!

JoZac21 · #12 02-10-2011, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoZac21

This article brought to you by Big Brother's crazier older brother.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollygiantchris

^^^
Thats an awesome line lol

This response brought to you by Soma... sex is purely recreational!

lenosgood · #13 02-10-2011, 05:01 AM

The government needs to stay the heck out of our lives and just tend to its business...namely protecting our borders and our people.

pklima · #14 02-10-2011, 05:27 AM

Is this guy really saying anything different from what we all say anytime there's a "should I pursue music as a full-time career" thread? He's just using stronger words like "harmful" and "pay the price".

Quote:

Originally Posted by sound of bass

How about the arts are just good for the soul!

I was going to say something in response to that, but then I remembered somebody else already said it better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R9ZbY-4q1I

Deluge Of Sound · #15 02-10-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pklima

Is this guy really saying anything different from what we all say anytime there's a "should I pursue music as a full-time career" thread? He's just using stronger words like "harmful" and "pay the price".

I was going to say something in response to that, but then I remembered somebody else already said it better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R9ZbY-4q1I

Love that spongebob clip.

When I read the article, I assumed it was satire.

Rickett Customs · #16 02-10-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

The US government is the largest single employer of musicians on the earth.

Quite right. So it would be a bit tough discourage that then.

Fat.Mike · #17 02-10-2011, 08:06 AM

Sounds like the author of the article can't paint, sucked at guitar, and throws like a nancy. IMO. I will also mention that his writing skills are sub par.

DJS · #18 02-10-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nev375

I wonder if the author has ever asked himself this question...?

Which is worse, being a starving artist or being well-fed in a career that crushes your soul a little bit more every day?

Hey - that's me! But it pays for basses, amps, lessons so that's a trade off I'm willing to make.

Personally, I think the government should keep our highways safe, and bad guys away. That's about it. They should not be in the business of "encouraging" or subsidizing anything else. We're free to encourage ourselves with all the extra money we're not paying in taxes to fund forms of "encouragement"

C.Linton · #19 02-10-2011, 08:23 AM

So, is this guy basically saying people should only pursue careers that guarantee success?
Ain't no such thing.

R. Laevinus · #20 02-10-2011, 08:27 AM

...I would be able to get behind the idea of requiring people to pass a standardized test in order to buy a musical instrument. Nothing strenuous, just a basic multiple-choice covering things like the various parts of the instrument in question, some basic questions regarding technique, related equipment (like amps, mikes, etc) and whatnot.

The advantage of that would be that fewer dolts with too much money and not enough passion would go and buy guitars, learn two chords, and then start playing bad shows for no money - meaning, by extension, that it could potentially result in a small, tighter community of better musicians, and potentially even increase the odds of being able to put bread on your table by playing in bars, the way things used to be 40 years ago.

However, as a result of smaller sales figures, prices for gear would skyrocket - potentially negating any perceived benefit.

So the idea of government action in the field is definitely a tough call with a lot of sides to the story. I think things are probably best left as-is.