As a mother with 2 teenage boys, i attempt to familiarize myself with what they are listening too as much as i feel the need to know who they're with and where they are. So having said that, Eminem was one of the artists that prior to listening to him myself I had been warned by others and the tv, news etc....to avoid letting my kids listen to him because of lyrics and lack of respect for others...
Well, my oldest son, who at the time I believe was 15 or 16 had asked to purchase a cd from Eminem, and of course I was totally against it, then he asked if he borrowed the same cd from his friend would i listen to it and then decide, so trying to be a fair person, I said yes. And now, well I love Eminem, listen to him alot in fact, there are some of his songs that I am not to thrilled about, so i just forward the track and get to the next song....
So now, regardless of what i've heard via people, news, etc....I make it a point of finding someone with a particular cd, listening for myself and then make a decision. Although I have not yet told the boys 'NO' to any particular artist, i do inform them of why i may or maynot like the cd/song/artist, and request that they do not listen to it around me or their younger siblings. As for purchasing the cd whether I like it or not, no double standard here, just because i don't like it doesn't mean they shouldn't, they have their own taste in music and i will honor that. So on occasion I have purchased what i consider a questionable cd, however I have yet to hear it a second time.