Talk:There She Goes Again

Misogynistic lyrics

Has anyone else noticed the repeated line "You better beat her"? Should this song not be flagged as offensive?92.23.30.146 (talk) 12:08, 8 January 2018 (UTC)

First, the lyrics are "You better hit her" (not "beat her"). Second, what do you mean, flag the song as offensive? There are many songs, poems, novels, paintings, and other works of art that offend some listeners, readers, or viewers. If it offends you, read another article. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a guide to what may offend you. — MShabazz ^Talk/_Stalk 16:43, 8 January 2018 (UTC)

• Since we don't include the lyrics in articles there's nothing to flag even if we were inclined to do so. The only thing we could do to address those lyrics is to find sources that discuss it and add a short sentence or two, keeping WP:UNDUE and WP:TRIVIA firmly in mind. Wait'll you hear "Walk on the Wild Side"... freshacconci (✉) 16:50, 8 January 2018 (UTC)
  • (edit conflict) I was just adding to my reply that if the original poster can find reliable sources about the fact that some listeners are offended by the song's lyrics (and why), it should be added to the article. — MShabazz ^Talk/_Stalk 16:55, 8 January 2018 (UTC)
    • I'm not aware of anything written about this, other than an article I recall reading in Spin way back in the day when REM covered this song. Something about it being violent or sexist, but it's such a minor mention and not even about the original version that it would be pointless (and I have no idea how I'd ever find it again). If something significant is found, I see no harm since it's a repeated line that's impossible to miss and speaks to Reed's own issues but also his "journalistic" style of writing. (Still not sure how or where we'd flag it though...). freshacconci (✉) 17:07, 8 January 2018 (UTC)
      • I don't remember reading about it either, but (Ellen Willis aside) most of the people who have written about the VU are men. I know I've always felt uncomfortable listening to the song because of its lyrics. They may be "of their time"—a year or two earlier, Stokely Carmichael said that the only position for women in SNCC was prone—but where I come from, men beating women on the sidewalk hasn't been considered acceptable in a long time. Just my two cents. — Malik Shabazz ^Talk/_Stalk 03:31, 9 January 2018 (UTC)