Okay, this is probably a point that deserves proper fleshing out, but frankly, I don't have the time or inclination. So here you go:
I do a lot of research and interaction with pop culture stuff. And a lot of it is sexist, degrading, violent, racist, homophobic, and otherwise pandering to various lowest common denominators. And people complain. And people defend the products against the complaints, usually with some variant like this: Hey, smut sells. It's just biology. They're giving the people what they want. They're running a business. You can't blame them for going where the money is. They have a responsibility to their shareholders to do what's profitable.
And I call bullshit. Yes, companies have a responsibility to their shareholders. They also have a responsibility to the society they're a part of. A responsibility to not make things worse. A responsibility to be better. Everyone does. (See related principle: don't be a jerk.)
Money isn't the only relevant metric for measuring success.
Later Days.
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