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Not at all difficult, really. It is only difficult in the sense that it is difficult to tell the difference between a snake and an elephant if all you can do is

Not at all difficult, really. It is only difficult in the sense that it is difficult to tell the difference between a snake and an elephant if all you can do is feel its tail. If you actually know what is happening then the distinction is obvious.

lhnz 9y ago
A pornographic photo does not necessarily imply a consent form. Somebody that watches videos or looks at photos does not "actually know what is happening". They are trusting this exercise to the distributor, and if the distributor is just a medium that does not concern themselves with checking for consent (e.g. most free sites), then you have just delegated to somebody this is not performing this work for you. In that case, you have no way of being able to gauge whether some pornography has had somebody else's consent or not. Consider also, the idea that not all pornographic actresses/actors are happy with having their content distributed to non-paying consumers, and I think it's highly likely that you and people you know have broken the law and not received consent for at least some of the content you've viewed.
- timthelion 9y ago
  In the US, pornography websites are required to maintain documentation of age and consent [1]. I'm delegating that trust to the FBI. If the FBI isn't doing it's job, well that's a different problem. I will, however, grant that there are tremendous problems with the porn industry. That is absolutely besides the point. These problems are: A) not unique in any way to porn. Large quantities of clothing and tennis shoes are made by indentured child laborers. B) only go to further cement my opinion that the actual actresses should be paid for their work. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_film_industry_regulations#2257_regulations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_film_industry_regulation...
  - lhnz 9y ago
    That's true but it doesn't hold for the amateur porn that is often found on free sites.

lhnz 9y ago

A pornographic photo does not necessarily imply a consent form. Somebody that watches videos or looks at photos does not "actually know what is happening". They are trusting this exercise to the distributor, and if the distributor is just a medium that does not concern themselves with checking for consent (e.g. most free sites), then you have just delegated to somebody this is not performing this work for you. In that case, you have no way of being able to gauge whether some pornography has had somebody else's consent or not. Consider also, the idea that not all pornographic actresses/actors are happy with having their content distributed to non-paying consumers, and I think it's highly likely that you and people you know have broken the law and not received consent for at least some of the content you've viewed.

timthelion 9y ago
In the US, pornography websites are required to maintain documentation of age and consent [1]. I'm delegating that trust to the FBI. If the FBI isn't doing it's job, well that's a different problem. I will, however, grant that there are tremendous problems with the porn industry. That is absolutely besides the point. These problems are: A) not unique in any way to porn. Large quantities of clothing and tennis shoes are made by indentured child laborers. B) only go to further cement my opinion that the actual actresses should be paid for their work. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_film_industry_regulations#2257_regulations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_film_industry_regulation...
- lhnz 9y ago
  That's true but it doesn't hold for the amateur porn that is often found on free sites.