Favorite music working against me?

[Profisher777]

I have been thinking about this quite a bit in the last few days. Does my taste in music need to change if I am going to carry all the time? I ask this becasue I enjoy listening to alot of heavy metal, metalcore, screamo, death metal, you name it. It does not make me more aggressive, but I feel people could view me in a way that I am out to fight or whatever. I just have the concern that if I were to defend myself, that the prosecuter could say that with my taste of music, I was an aggressive person or the music made me act in a way to be more agressive. Is this a valid fear, or am I just overthinking WAY to much?

 

[Firefighterchen]

Legit

Legit, want to hear what people have to say about this...then what about shows, games, or movies we watch? Could they be used as well?

 

[Sig1911]

I take it you are asking about whether a prosecutor might try to use the fact that you like to listen to metal music to paint a picture for the jury that you are violent and that your actions were not reasonable under the circumstances if you shoot someone and claim self-defense. I am not a prosecutor, but as a lawyer, I would say that lawyers generally leverage facts they believe are helpful to their case, so you might have a valid concern.

But here's a more tangible concern you might want to consider. Carrying demands constant awareness. If you are listening to loud music and off somewhere in your head, it's likely you're deep in the white zone, and may miss important information in your environment. Plus, you may lose your hearing if you listen to it for too long (whoops - just slipped into mom mode

 

[Horkos]

I think ur safe. Ur hearing my not be. But i think for that to be a valid issue you would also have to have a history of aggression or violence. Something you say or have said in the past or having a rep for violent or aggressive talk would have a higher probability of working against you. But Sig1911 has a good point regarding awarness. Something to consider.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

And oh...wear an earplug. Not everyone like your kind of music especially if it is too loud.:fie::wacko:

 

[Unfettered Might]

Is that a serious question?

Whats next, horror fans shouldnt carry? What about action flicks? Lotta killing in those.

No of course your personal taste in art does not make you a killer. From one metal head to another, rock on!

 

[trophyhunter]

Your Music, Clothes, Etc. Etc Does not Define you. What makes someone an responceble Person, Is how we Represent ourselves.You can not Sterotype someone based on the Cover. If you are truly happy with who you are.Then it will show and people will except you, for you. And the ones that dont,To Hell with them. I'm 47 years old and I listen to Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns & Roses,Ozzy you get the point. I've been Carrying for over 20 years and, have never been Judged for my Music.

 

[localgirl]

"As the modes of music change, so do the morals of the people."

Rephrasing Aristotle.

Music absolutely affects how you feel. So does all media--written, televised, etc. If you watch sad movies, you get sad. If you watch scary movies, you get anxious. That's kind of the point, isn't it? If these things didn't effect us, what would be the point in engaging with them?

I listen to loud, aggressive music when I'm feeling angry, then if I want to change my mood, I'll follow up with something mellow.

But the same isn't true for all people. Your mood will be affected, but not in the same way mine will be. So if you don't feel like your music is making you angry or aggressive, don't worry about it.

 

[MarkX]

It may not be right, but people will make judgments on your clothing, hair, music, car and every thing about you. You can't be too concerned about all this, but you do need to keep it in mind.
My suggestion is to load a couple of Pat Boone tracks onto you MP3 player and be listening to those when the police arive. ;-)
Or get a better taste in music... just kidding I won't judge your music and you don't judge mine. ABBA rules!

 

[SFC]

I guess by watching TV shows like NCIS, NCIS LA, Law & Order all categories, Justified, etc. will make me more aggressive. NOT, love the shows but I'm still aware of my responsibilities as a firearms owner. I remember years ago a lady in Oakland, PRK, was a die hard Raiders fan, when they lost a playoff game she shot her TV and then throwing salt on the wound she was arrested for discharging a firearm within city limits. I guess if you are a fan of a team you better lock up your firearms.

 

[Anubis]

Of course you'll automatically begin to prefer songs with lyrics involving firearms, such as Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns, & Money", Skynyrd's "Gimme 3 Steps", Ronstadt's "Carmelita", etc.

 

[Oldgrunt]

I ask this becasue I enjoy listening to alot of heavy metal, metalcore, screamo, death metal, you name it. It does not make me more aggressive, but I feel people could view me in a way that I am out to fight or whatever.

I have no idea how music might effect your mood or demeanor, however, if you were loudly playing that stuff around me, I'm afraid it would definitely change mine. I don't usually get upset unless the music (?) is excessively loud. People in cars are especially bad about their loud music rattling windows five cars away and their car just sits there and vibrates. It would be very difficult "getting in" to your music and trying to be aware of your surroundings Also, an elephant could slip up on you while listening to that stuff!!

 

[wild eyed willy]

The question is, valid, the answer is yes. a prosicuting attorny would use whatever they could find to help support the case they are trying to build against you. By your actions you control what people think of you. Be the kind of person you would be proud to know. Live your life in a way so you like the person you see in the mirrior every morning. Always remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you and you will have impressed enough people in your life to counter the prosicuter's outlandish claims...

 

[Lakeland Man]

I have two words for you...

Barry Manilow

 

[snatale42]

Over thinking it dude! What your actions are and how you act are what judges you, not your music.

 

[Profisher777]

Thank you for all the imput. I try not to listen to my music too loud, but I am aware that listening to it could put me in the white zone alert level. I have the tendency to space out when listening to music and then I am not aware of my surroundings. On the topic of people judging me for my taste in music, I believe people who didnt know me and my personality could base judgements on me based off of what I listen to, but people who know me could confirm that I am not an agressive person. I just dont want some prosecuter saying im some crazy metal-head that carries a firearm looking for a fight. I guess the best answer based off the responses could be lowering the volume of the music, let people judge me off my actions, and be considerate of others.

 

[revjen45]

Post #9: My suggestion is to load a couple of Pat Boone tracks onto you MP3 player and be listening to those when the police arive. ;-)

The Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, by Sergei Rachmaninoff is probably another good choice without making you vomit.

 

[fuhr52]

Like it or not you will be judged on first impressions by most people. Music, dress, attitude, hair style all make a difference. If you don't fit into the surroundings of the area you live in you will stick out like a sore thumb and will be judged accordingly.

 

[dojoman]

Its so odd, I was just wondering the same thing on my drive home from work yesterday. Although, music has its affects on some people, while others not so much. This is a tough idea to think about.
Some posts had great points as well; whats next? the movies or tv shows we watch?
Honestly, as much as a lawyer my try to burn you with such ideas, I personally do not care. That is what cross examination is for. Nonetheless, with all our minds set aside, if you sat on a jury, and was presented a case where Person A attacked(or made very aggressive motions to) towards Person B(CCW) and Person B defended himself/herself...Id like to think the music or w/e is irrelevant. Facts will be presented in these cases(that's assuming it even makes it to trial).
I personally just tell myself that if I am in fear of my life or limb...the last thing I'm going to ask myself is "oh i hope the lawyers don't find my music stash." We have enough to worry about without having the little things adding to the pile.
All that set aside, it is a great topic to discus for sure, when it boils down to the point...just be smart about your choices and the rest will fall in line.

 

[snatale42]

Music "affecting" people is an excuse, plain and simple. Listening to music does not affect the way people act or what they do. Unless of course there some subliminal content to it. Look at the types of cartoons and toys we all had growing up...Were fine. I had toy guns there were all metal with working actions, Unlike the cheap neon green crap kids play with today which people still blame on violence. Ridiculous.