Pornography: Formula for Despair

CERC ^ | Donald DeMarco

[gcruse]

Actually, I think this says it very well:

 To attempt to censor [pornography], regulate it, or otherwise altar a freedom to choose what one reads or watches for entertainment, gives a few individuals the power to regulate the arts for the rest of society. What's destroyed in this process may be worse than what's there in the beginning.

[It's me]

None one else seems up for it beyond immature locker room sex talk.

Because, that is where they're at emotionally and intellectually.

[Savage Beast]

I have never witnessed a family torn apart by pornography.

Pornography is an extremely low form of... what? entertainment? not art, or course.

But...so what. I've learned some interesting things watching pornography. Not that I've watched much of it; it tends to gets boring fast.

[JMJ333]

Ok: suppose the article is 100% correct. What is the implication? The implication (when you post to a political forum where people debate things like policy) is that porn should not be voluntarily consumed much less sanctioned.

Actually, I have never been one to force anything on anyone. I attempt to persuade people to my point of view on logic and truth. Thanks for your reply.

[gcruse]

 First Amendment was adopted for good
reasons, and those reasons did not include
the furtherance of radical personal autonomy."

And guess who gets to define radical?

Social conservatives are what made
me a libertarian.
 

[JMJ333]

I'm sorry, but you'll have to further explain the connection between the devestating effects of porn...and that of bingo. Is that really your argument?

[PJ-Comix]

So then, you fault all the boys who complained about the priest's molestations?

Um...There is a HUGE difference between a Priest (male) molesting a boy and a hot teacher (female) getting it on with a willing high school kid. There is a BIG difference between these two situations.

[JMJ333]

I'm glad the social conservatives drove you to be a libertine. I, however, am still waiting for some form of meaningful debate from you on any issue covered in the article.

[JMJ333]

Yeah...it's all RELATIVE don't ya know.

[PJ-Comix]

This all reminds me of the time some preacher claimed that Ted Bundy committed mass murder because of pornography.

[codebreaker]

I saw that! What is Ron Jeremy doing on basic cable is beyond me..

[JMJ333]

In other words, you have no argument except to reach at straws claiming some faceless preacher is looking down their nose at you. I'm glad you and your buddies cleared that for us.

[PJ-Comix]

Hey, if you want to get all worked up over Porno, fine. I prefer to get upset about more significant stuff like government coverups (such as the suppression of the John Doe #2 videotape), etc..

[Starwind]

In the 1965 Gephard study it was confirmed from police reports that sex offenders often have pornography in their possession. But this same study also concluded that there was no difference between male sex offenders and nonoffenders in their exposure rates to pornography. (Olen & Barry, 1996).

Unfortunately, this study is not online to look into more thoroughly. Obviously one causative indication is that offenders, at some point, are induced by porn to offend, since offenders 'often have porn', and by implication very few offenders are induced by some other non-porn factor (e.g. anger).

Further, It would be interesting to see how long they tracked offenders and non-offenders. The assumption is the non-offenders won't ever offend, whereas in fact the only conclusion that can be drawn, is they have porn, but haven't offended yet.

And then there is the obvious unknown, they're only measuring the offenders who have been caught.

Pornography can ...[snip...] boost a waning sexual relationship.

But like any stimulant, it wears off and requires either a greater dosage, or the user crashes, usually with worse effects. How often does porn save a marriage, indefinitely?

Another technique, called fading, used also as a reconditioning exercise for treating pedophiles

I thought the reports out of the Catholic clergy pedophiles indicated a high rate of recidivism?

[gcruse]

I'm glad the social conservatives drove you to be a libertine.
I, however, am still waiting for some form of meaningful debate
from you on any issue covered in the article.

The article, my dear, is full of metaphysical malarkey.
I would as soon debate a Shinto priest on the likelihood
of reincarnating as a chocolate rabbit.

I refuse to endorse  letting you or anyone
else choose what an adult reads or watches for
entertainment.

[Lorianne]

Not at all. If we follow your "we know what you're thinking" logic there would be no place for social criticism of any kind whatsoever because it might lead to legislation.

Apparently lost on yours is the irony that this is the same type of projection of motive you are accusing the author of having.

[JMJ333]

I see. You're basic argument is "It's malarkey." LOL

[Harrison Bergeron]

What's the effective difference between somebody ruining their marriage because they can't stop looking at naked pictures and somebody ruining their marriage because they can't stop blowing the grocery budget on bingo cards?

And besides, how are we going to solve the problem of young sexy attractive women from going around naked under their clothes?

[HassanBenSobar]

You may have misconstrued my point. I conceded: suppose the article is 100% correct. Then what? I don't mind the social criticism. Lots of things in society deserve criticism. So, fine. Maybe it IS correct. Is it not reasonable to ask, 'so what'? The ARTICLE (not necessarily the poster), from the tone itself, screams out that something should be done. Ok. Obviously I disagree. If I had to insist on one point, it's that porn is utterly trivial compared to other social ills. Just my point of view.

[Prince Caspian]

This all reminds me of the time some preacher claimed that Ted Bundy committed mass murder because of pornography.

Actually, Bundy himself was the one who detailed his own experience with pornography and its role in turning him into a serial killer. He provided an interview to James Dobson while on death row, hours from his execution. It is a very interesting and revealing dialog. You often get the straightest, most unvarnished talk from someone facing their own eminent demise. No more spinning, justifying, or self-deception. Just straight talk.