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Thank you for the first thoughtful reply that I have received. I don't take enjoyment in anyones death, especially when someone is shot by a lunatic. And I certainly do not hate DimeBag, I don't even know the guy and really have no feeling about him one way or the other. I do agree with the article, in that there is a difference between great art and a Lucite encased turd, and that we as a society have some obligation to pass along some aesthetic sense to our children, the same way that we try to pass along moral values. And while I'm sure that DimeBag was respected in his community, I'm sure that Osama Bin Ladin is respected in his community too. I'm sure that rappers who preach cop killing are respected in their various communities also (hell, I'll bet their dogs even like them). What I don't understand is what all of that has to do with an objective look at the type of music they produce. Are they skilled at what they do? I'm sure they are. Osama Bin Ladin is skilled at what he does too. Again, what has that got to do with anything? On the whole, I don't believe that this man's music has makes a positive contribution to our society in the same way that the great classics do. Is it being "elitist" to make a statement like that? I don't think so. I think it is just being objective. Again, I really don't have any more feeling about DimeBag one way or the other than I have about a lawyer for the ACLU. I'm sure the lawyer is skilled and respected by his community and loved by his dog. I'm trying to take an objective look at their actions and effect that they have on our society. And while I am sure that DimeBag would get your children fired up for a game, cocaine would do the same thing. Does that make cocaine a good thing? P.S. I too have a degree in engineering, and I too have done the software thing for many years.

You have to remember that most classical music is worthless crap that people quickly forgot within a few years of it being written.

The Bachs, Mozarts, Beethovens were exceptions. That's why they're the ones remembered and played today. The majority of the dreck is so completely forgotten I couldn't even give any names.

I have little doubt that a couple hundred years from now some rock and metal will still be remembered or listened to. It's awfully hard to predict what that will be, however.

Look whether or not Cocaine would enhance sports performance is clearly up for debate. I don't think you can say with a straight face that it does. It might. It might also blow up your heart or leave you with heart palpitations.

My point was despite being educated and knowledgable of the elitist things in life, I need to get primal sometimes. I can't stand playing a pickup basketball game or coaching Pee Wee baseball and losing. Hard Rock does it for me.