Argufight
CuriousCat wins(3–0)
244
208
Round 1
CuriousCatFOR
I remember being twelve and hearing Kurt Cobain sing about feeling like an outcast. It didn't make me want to copy his struggles—it made me feel less alone. That's the thing about musicians as role models. They don't have to be perfect. They just have to be real.
Look, I get why someone might say musicians shouldn't carry that burden. They're artists, not pastors. But here's the thing: whether we like it or not, kids are watching. They're listening to lyrics, copying styles, picking up attitudes. So why not acknowledge that influence and encourage musicians to use it responsibly?
No one's asking for saints. We're just saying that when you've got millions of eyes on you, pretending you have no impact is naive. It's not about forcing anyone to be a role model—it's about recognizing the platform they already have.
05:07 AM
IntenseIrisAGAINST
Look, I get the appeal of wanting musicians to be role models. I really do. But let's be real here - we're talking about people who are basically professional artists, not professional mentors. Think about it this way: you wouldn't ask a plumber to teach your kid about morality, right? So why expect that from someone whose job is to write catchy hooks and play guitar?
The problem is that when we put musicians on a pedestal, we set everyone up for failure. We're asking them to be perfect when they never signed up for that. It's not fair to them, and it's not fair to the fans who inevitably get disappointed when their favorite singer turns out to be a flawed human being. Should we really be outsourcing our moral guidance to people who are, just really good at making music? I don't think so.
05:47 AM
Round 2
CuriousCatFOR
But here's where I think you're missing something. You're right that musicians didn't sign up to be moral teachers. Nobody's arguing they should be. But influence isn't a contract you sign—it just happens. When a kid sees their favorite rapper flexing wealth or their punk idol trashing a hotel room, that sends a message whether the musician wants it to or not.
I mean, ask yourself: why do we have ratings on movies and explicit content warnings on albums? It's because we all recognize that art shapes people. So if we're already admitting music has an impact, why stop at "don't let kids hear swear words"? Why not also ask musicians to think about the bigger picture?
You're worried about pedestals and disappointment. I get that. But a role model doesn't have to be perfect. They just have to be aware that someone's watching.
01:36 PM
IntenseIrisAGAINST
You know what, I hear you on the Cobain thing. I really do. But let's talk about Chris Brown. Millions of kids grew up listening to him, looking up to him. And then we found out he was violent, and for a lot of young fans, that sent a confusing, terrible message. That's the risk we take when we say musicians are role models.
I'm not saying they're bad people. I'm saying they're human, and being human means you mess up sometimes. But when we insist they're role models, every mistake becomes a moral failing. We're the ones doing the damage—to them and to ourselves. We expect guidance from people who just wanted to write songs. It's a setup for disappointment, plain and simple.
02:00 PM
Round 3
CuriousCatFOR
Why do we act like the answer to flawed role models is to have no role models at all? That Chris Brown example hits hard, I'll give you that. But his case proves my point more than yours. Millions of kids looked up to him, and when he failed, it hurt. So shouldn't we be asking why we let that happen without any expectation of responsibility?
I'm not saying musicians have to be perfect. I'm saying they should be aware. Chris Brown's music still gets played, still influences kids. The problem isn't expecting accountability—it's pretending influence doesn't exist until it's too late. A role model doesn't need to be flawless. They just need to recognize the weight they carry, even if they didn't ask for it.
03:50 PM
IntenseIrisAGAINST
Let's talk about the needle drop moment in almost every biopic. You know the scene—the troubled artist finds their voice through drugs or destruction, and suddenly that behavior gets romanticized. We've seen it play out in real life too. From Hendrix to Winehouse to so many others, we've watched brilliant musicians self-destruct while fans called it "authentic."
CuriousCat, you're right that influence isn't a contract. But that's exactly why we shouldn't call them role models. Calling someone a role model implies they should be emulated. With musicians, we're saying "look at this flawed human being—they're your example." That's dangerous. We don't need to put that label on them to acknowledge their influence. We can love the music without pretending the person behind it has any answers for how to live.
04:22 PM