Politics of Porn: Justice Department Launches Long-Anticipated War on Obscenity

ABC News ^ | 9-28-03 | Jake Tapper

[coloradan]

I wonder what it would take to get these people to understand?

Please start by informing me of the difference between a Hollywood rape/murder scene and an "obscene" rape/murder scene. I will even grant you that the porn shows a few more body parts and lacks a leftist plot.

[CholeraJoe]

My point precisely. Porn doesn't turn normal people into sex offenders. Plenty of sex offenders have never watched porn.

[Graybeard58]

I agree with you opusprime. Also:

"The funny thing about my business is I don't force it on anybody," said Zicari. "The only people that are going to be forced to watch my movies are the 12 people that sit on that jury."

The man has a point. He didn't creat the demand, his is a market driven business. If the demand for this vile crap wasn't there he wouldn't have a business.

[LittleJoe]

So, is The Man Show next?

Yes. We can't have those girls on trampolines turning our children into sex maniacs!

[Almondjoy]

I agree... everyone has their "limits". So I'm not aruging the fact that people who watch this will turn into rapists and murders.. I'm just saying their target audience is already twisted so I give a crap if the Justice Department goes in there and throws these people away.

[Orangedog]

Dude, you didn't need to go there. Ashcroft is a conservative Republican, a Christian and a good man.

Good for him. But he's also in charge of the domestic war against the terrorists. Diverting resources to go after pornographers when we are coming up on the two year mark since 9/11 (al Qaida loves symbolic dates and places) is rediculous. And aside from that, there are plenty of real murderers and rapists that he should be concentrating on and filling up limited prison space with. I'm sure there's stuff you've never seen before that would curdle your testicles. And when you've seen it, you'll wonder why people are allowed to sell it.

Yeah, I've seen some pretty disgusting things on film. I've seen enough to know that I don't like it and have no desire to see any more of it. That's all part of character, I guess. But this stuff is so far from making the top ten list of what law enforcement needs to be focusing on right now.

[ecomcon]

To derive sexual gratification from images of rape and murder is obscene. Anyone who would say otherwise is delusional, or simply a contrarian libertine looking for an argument.

[Lorianne]

Actually the Christian Right and the hard-core, pro-censorship, anti-porn Feminist Left are in bed together on this one.

Pretty amusing.

It is also interesting that the article omits mentioning other groups, such as feminists, who overwhelmingly support government censorship of porn.

[thoughtomator]

If you've got a problem with rape and murder in film, you've got the entire US film industry to take on.

You are wrong. The kind of thinking that demands government control our thoughts and bodies is far more dangerous than anything that can be put on film. See Germany, Nazi (1933-45); USSR (1945-1991).

[Almondjoy]

Just as watching NYPD Blue doesn't make people want to just go out and be cops at age 45.

[coloradan]

I agree... everyone has their "limits". So I'm not aruging the fact that people who watch this own guns will turn into rapists and murders.. I'm just saying their target audience market is already twisted so I [don't] give a crap if the Justice Department goes in there and throws these people away.

[proust]

Actually the Christian Right and the hard-core, pro-censorship, anti-porn Feminist Left are in bed together

Now THAT would make an obscene picture!

[Pahuanui]

Why do I find this quote incredibly difficult, if not outright impossible, to believe?Paul Fishbein, president of Adult Video News, a trade journal for the adult entertainment industry, is well aware of the conflict presented by the films of Extreme Associates. "They're horrible, unwatchable, disgusting, aberrant movies that I'd have to vote were not obscenity because the First Amendment is pure and has to remain pure," he said.

Extreme is one of the most successful, heavily advertised production houses in the business, contributing a LOT of ad dollars to AVN.

Sounds like ol' Fishbein might be trimming his sails to whichever way the wind is blowing, but he has absolutely zero history of doing this, so I find this quotation highly dubious.

I've seen some of the videos in question, and the rubes at the DOJ must be smoking some of the confiscated grass from the DEA. There's no way they're going to be able to prove this case.

[Almondjoy]

Turning this into a gun arguement? I see where your going and that's fair. But guns serve a legit purpose. Watching snuff films do not.. I think the world won't be any less of a place without them.

In fact my first arguement is that killers will have guns period anyways. But I don't you can transfer over my arugment that "their target audience/market is already twisted". That's going a little far don't you think?

[IronJack]

Obscenity is extremely hard to prove. Which may require a legislative remedy, but which certainly won't be helped by today's courts. And even if the court disapproves, it's a hard sell to a modern, "enlightened" jury, the majority of whom were spawned in America's cultural desert.

[WackyKat]

What about the huge number of rapes and murders that are depicted in the Bible?

Were those caused by porno too?
Moreover, by your standard, certain parts of the Old Testament ARE porno. Perhaps Ashcroft should order the "naughty bits" of the Bible expurgated on the grounds they are obscene.
Do you understand that American free speech law is almost unique in world history and one of the finest achievements of our civilization? It's not worth wrecking over a few films, however vile they may be.

[Constantine XIII]

Dec. 1777, Valley Forge

General Washington: "How are you doing, soldier?"

Cpl. Lawyerman: "Just fine sir. The frostbite only got two of my toes and I should be good as new by spring as long as gangrene doesn't set up in the wound."

General Washington: "You're setting a good example for the rest of the men through your endurance these hardships. Stout-hearted fellows such as yourself are a gift from God..."

Cpl. Lawyerman: "Please General, stop mentioning your diety. I don't appreciate you using your position of authority to force your beliefs on me, and it makes me feel uncomfortable when you mention ."

General Washington: "...If that's your wish. So what motivates you to stay out here in this frozen darkness without hope of eternal reward?"

Cpl. Lawyerman: "Well, personally General, I'm doing it for the PORN..."

___________________________________________________________

On second thought, maybe that's not a very realistic conversation. :p

[mad puppy]

"Do you have any scientific proof that exposure to porn turns normal people into sex offenders? Or could it be that those individuals with psychopathology commit acts with or without pornographic material."

All the proof I need (common sense aside...):
http://www.totse.com/en/law/high_profile_legal_cases/thelastintervi169246.html

(...snip)
"When Ted Bundy was thirteen years old, he discovered "dirty magazines" in a dump near his home. He was instantly captivated by them. In time, Bundy became more and more addicted to violent images in magazines and videos. He got his kicks from seeing women being tortured and murdered. When he tired of that, there was only one place his addiction could go - from fantasy to reality....
(snip...)


You won't have to read much of it...Obviously not everyone is effected to this degree, but to deny the link is to keep your head buried.