News.com.au reports that a woman and her 14yo step-daughter were in a city fashion shop when music with offensive words of the F variety started playing. What is a mother to do? And how should she have expressed her outrage at the scene and thereafter?
"I could have simply walked out. However, my children were in the changing rooms and that was not immediately possible."
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.
Perhaps the more astounding thing (in the sense that the authorities couldn't/wouldn't really handle the complaint) was the ensuing barrage of acronyms:
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).
A spokesman for the State Government [of Victoria] later said offensive behaviour was covered by the Summary Offences Act, enforced by police and amenity laws administered by local government.
And then we get to the central concern, expressed as always with children's interest at heart:
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."
And finally, a pressure group is referred to:
Kids Free 2B Kids director Julie Gale said it was ridiculous to expect busy police officers to be responsible for the unacceptable situation.
"What it shows is this is a big hole when it comes to looking after kids," she said.
There are comments after the story:
My God, Is this the womans first time out in public or something??? Please get a life lady...lifes is way too short to get all stressed out over something so unimportant as swearing in music lyrics. Mick
Posted by: Mick Johnson of Brisbane 8:47am today
Comment 3 Oh please. This woman is obviously another bored housewife. She needs to get a life!
Posted by: Darren of Brisbane 8:50am today
Comment 7 of 51
My personal favourite:
WONT SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Seriously? Are there really people like this?
Posted by: get a life 9:01am today
Comment 21 of 51
This one is more thoughtful:
Debra Sorensen should see the situation for what it was: a case of misjudgement in music selection. When you work in a shop that plays music all day, soon enough you don't actually hear the content of the songs. It turns into white noise. She complained to the manager who I am sure had it turned off immediately and probably profusely apologised for the error. No doubt the staff responsible has also been reprimanded. There is no need to waste precious resources on something that can be fixed simply by removing yourself from the area. Not to mention that many 14 year-olds already listen to that sort of music and that Sorensen's daughter has most likely heard it all before. The kid is 14, not seven.
Posted by: Erin of Melbourne 9:07am today
Comment 28 of 51
But she does have her supporters:
Its too late, the thin edge of the wedge is way past, when its funny to laugh at comediens using the F word, films, TV etc showing unecessary violence, sex and outright base behavour people with manners, morals and ethics are on the endangered list. If no one complains we are giving in to the "dark side" and what is next legal murder?
Posted by: Las Vegas 9:33am today
Comment 47 of 51
I fully sympathise with Ms Sorensen here. I generally just walk out of stores when I see pimply-faced teenagers running the show playing distractingly-loud music peppered with F-this and F-that. It is very frustrating. Ruins the shopping experience.
Posted by: Gracie S of Maroubra 9:29am today
Comment 49 of 51
And chillingly:
I think this article shows just how quickly the standards and morals are degrading in our country. I have no doubt there is no retail law to cover the problem, as quoted "the trouble is no one envisaged this senerio". Who would have thought in just a few small years (in the overall scheme of things) since the laws were witten we would ever drop this low. Even a trip to your local Harvey Norman can be a nightmare for a parent, M/MA movies playing or video games on display/being played. How about some family friendly accreditation / laws that stores have to ensure they maintain and adhere to.
Posted by: Brendan of Hobart 9:31am today
Comment 51 of 51
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