Should pornography be banned?

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

Part of me says "yes" as pornography objectifies our fellow human beings; something I find to be intrinsically immoral.

Part of me says "No" as freedom of speech/expression, etc. are necessary elements for a free society.

 

[Jainarayan]

I think it should be banned only for the reason I stated in another thread... too many people think it's real life, when it's only fantasy. Other than that, I don't think it should or could be banned. As Justice Potter Stewart said (paraphrasing) "I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it".

 

[Estro Felino]

I think that we all have free will.
If you don't like it, don't watch it. Nobody forces you.
I guess that we all have a strength of will

 

[Quintessence]

Eh, let's just say it's definitely not high on my list of things that are currently legal that I would prefer to be illegal.

 

[Sunstone]

To some extent, I'd be all for banning it except that as soon as it was banned, some politician would ban non-pornographic political speech he or she didn't like on the grounds it was pornography.

 

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

To some extent, I'd be all for banning it except that as soon as it was banned, some politician would ban non-pornographic political speech he or she didn't like on the grounds it was pornography.

Right back to the 1950's puritan censorship, 'eh?

 

[Sunstone]

Part of me says "yes" as pornography objectifies our fellow human beings; something I find to be intrinsically immoral.

I agree that objectification is bad, but I think previous debates on this board have demonstrated that a fair number of people can't tell the difference between an innocent nude and objectification. I don't trust judges to be any better at it than that, either. Ban porn, and I expect American's to photoshop fig leaves on pics of Michelangelo's David soon afterwards.

 

[Sunstone]

Right back to the 1950's puritan censorship, 'eh?

I would imagine "Howl" wouldn't stand a chance.

 

[ChristineES]

Part of me says "yes" as pornography objectifies our fellow human beings; something I find to be intrinsically immoral.

Part of me says "No" as freedom of speech/expression, etc. are necessary elements for a free society.

No, it shouldn't be banned, if it is with adults. People have a right to make their own decisions. Personally, I don't like it. But we can't force our own values on others.

 

[Quintessence]

No, it shouldn't be banned, if it is with adults. People have a right to make their own decisions. Personally, I don't like it. But we can't force our own values on others.

Technically, not only can we force our values on others, we do so on a regular basis. That's what laws do - they force a particular set of values onto a populace for the purposes of creating a desired type of society.

 

[ChristineES]

Technically, not only can we force our values on others, we do so on a regular basis. That's what laws do - they force a particular set of values onto a populace for the purposes of creating a desired type of society.

That is true, somewhat. Pornography, however, is legal right now. I don't see it being made illegal any time soon, although some people do want it made illegal.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Banned, no; restricted, maybe.

 

[columbus]

Part of me says "yes" as pornography objectifies our fellow human beings; something I find to be intrinsically immoral.

Part of me says "No" as freedom of speech/expression, etc. are necessary elements for a free society.

The devil is in the details.

Who are you willing to give the power to bann? Icky as I find commercial porn I am not willing to give that much power to anyone. Keep it to consenting adults and I will just avoid it.
The other freedoms that would be destroyed are too important to me.

Heh. I remember when John Ashcroft insisted on draping an old statue depicting justice because it included bare breasts I sure don't want him deciding what competent adults can depict or describe.

Tom

 

[bobhikes]

Sex is one of our strongest desires, banning forms of release will only lead to problems and a larger crime base.

How well did the alcohol ban go and isn't sex a much stronger desire.
Whats the oldest profession and its banned almost everywhere.

Banning pornography would lead to more sexual crimes and a much stronger criminal element in society because they would have support of a large base of non-criminals like in prohibition.

The restrictions we currently have in place in the US are fine.

 

[psychoslice]

Sex is natural, there is nothing dirty about it unless yu think it is, if you think its dirty then don't watch it, but don't take that freedom from others who do enjoy the beauty of watching others sharing their experience of having sex.

 

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

Sex is one of our strongest desires, banning forms of release will only lead to problems and a larger crime base.

How well did the alcohol ban go and isn't sex a much stronger desire.
Whats the oldest profession and its banned almost everywhere.

Banning pornography would lead to more sexual crimes and a much stronger criminal element in society because they would have support of a large base of non-criminals like in prohibition.

The restrictions we currently have in place in the US are fine.

As an active proponent for child safety, I have researched the links between pornography and sexually motivated crimes. As sexual crimes are often a result of obsession, in many instances, pornography feeds that obsession and strengthens the abuse cycle. For the most part, presence of pornography, rather than the absence of the same, can be a contributor to sexually motivated crimes. It is for this reason that while in treatment, sexual offenders are prohibited from possessing and viewing pornography.

 

[Estro Felino]

Sex is natural, there is nothing dirty about it unless yu think it is, if you think its dirty then don't watch it, but don't take that freedom from others who do enjoy the beauty of watching others sharing their experience of having sex.

precisely. That's why they don't forbid tobacco either. Nobody forces you to smoke. And still there are plenty of smokers

 

[bobhikes]

As an active proponent for child safety, I have researched the links between pornography and sexually motivated crimes. As sexual crimes are often a result of obsession, in many instances, pornography feeds that obsession and strengthens the abuse cycle. For the most part, presence of pornography, rather than the absence of the same, can be a contributor to sexually motivated crimes. It is for this reason that while in treatment, sexual offenders are prohibited from possessing and viewing pornography.

Key being sexual offenders, I am talking about the average population, which uses it as a sexual release that banning would take away. In the average population what percentage watch porn and why? In the average population what percentage are sexual offenders?

 

[Revoltingest]

Part of me says "yes" as pornography objectifies our fellow human beings; something I find to be intrinsically immoral.
Part of me says "No" as freedom of speech/expression, etc. are necessary elements for a free society.

Tis good that you argue with oneself.
It helps becoming blind to other perspectives.
But I hate losing to myself...I'd rather lose to someone smarter.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Bad porn should be illegal. Good porn should be emailed, mailed, or otherwise delivered to me for free unlimited viewing. No exceptions.