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The uncontroversial answer to "what is porn anyway?" that underpins the UK ban is "something children shouldn't watch". This is ostensibly a "think of the chil

The uncontroversial answer to "what is porn anyway?" that underpins the UK ban is "something children shouldn't watch". This is ostensibly a "think of the children" move, it has nothing to do with aesthetics or art, low or high. In reality, it's probably also an old school conservative play to "clean up" the filth.

danbruc 13y ago
The uncontroversial answer to "what is porn anyway?" that underpins the UK ban is "something children shouldn't watch". On the list of things children should not watch people having sex should really not be close to the top. It is just sex. After breathing, drinking and eating it is one of the most natural and common activities on earth. A coyote trying to smash a bird with an anvil seems a way less appropriate thing for children to watch.
- DanBC 13y ago
  The UK doesn't have much of a problem with children watching adults having sex. The UK has more of a problem with children watching the weird unrealistic sex portrayed by the US porn industry.
  - thenerdfiles 13y ago
    This is an excellent observation to make. This. Now, why is the US unique here?
    - DanBC 13y ago
      Also, in a thread about censorship: an accidental showing of a half-covered nipple on terrestrial broadcast TV would not result in a half million dollar fine and many many years of legal action. (I think the original fine was eventually overturned, but only because the FCC had changed a policy before taking action??) US TV shows have to censor their language unless they're broadcast on cable or satellite.
  - danbruc 13y ago
    I never thought about which countries are producing all the porn. I tried to find some numbers but it turns out to be quite hard. I still found some interesting numbers [1] although they do not really answer what I was looking for, which country is producing how many hours of porn every year. [1] http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/7668/is-the-income-of-the-porn-industry-50-of-the-revenues-made-on-the-internet http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/7668/is-the-inco...

danbruc 13y ago

The uncontroversial answer to "what is porn anyway?" that underpins the UK ban is "something children shouldn't watch". On the list of things children should not watch people having sex should really not be close to the top. It is just sex. After breathing, drinking and eating it is one of the most natural and common activities on earth. A coyote trying to smash a bird with an anvil seems a way less appropriate thing for children to watch.

DanBC 13y ago
The UK doesn't have much of a problem with children watching adults having sex. The UK has more of a problem with children watching the weird unrealistic sex portrayed by the US porn industry.
- thenerdfiles 13y ago
  This is an excellent observation to make. This. Now, why is the US unique here?
  - DanBC 13y ago
    Also, in a thread about censorship: an accidental showing of a half-covered nipple on terrestrial broadcast TV would not result in a half million dollar fine and many many years of legal action. (I think the original fine was eventually overturned, but only because the FCC had changed a policy before taking action??) US TV shows have to censor their language unless they're broadcast on cable or satellite.
- danbruc 13y ago
  I never thought about which countries are producing all the porn. I tried to find some numbers but it turns out to be quite hard. I still found some interesting numbers [1] although they do not really answer what I was looking for, which country is producing how many hours of porn every year. [1] http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/7668/is-the-income-of-the-porn-industry-50-of-the-revenues-made-on-the-internet http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/7668/is-the-inco...