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From: west@utcsrgv.UUCP (Thomas L. West)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.women
Subject: Re: Anti-porn ordinance
Message-ID: <628@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 5-Jan-85 21:23:50 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.628
Posted: Sat Jan  5 21:23:50 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Jan-85 21:41:41 EST
References: <249@ahuta.UUCP> <894@dual.UUCP> <1007@opus.UUCP> <4015@ucbvax.ARPA> <181@ihu1m.UUCP>
Reply-To: west@utcsrgv.UUCP (Thomas L. West)
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 41
Summary: 

[]  <--censored bug

    While the net seems to be unanimous in its condemnation of the proposed
law, is this because of opposition of censorship of any kind, or just because
the law is sexist and rather unfair (things can become crimes retro-actively)?

    It is my opinion that the pornography is definitely unhealthy for society.
While the actual cases of there being a direct and sole causal relationship
between pornography and violence against women is suspect, I find it rather
hard to believe that pornography does not promote a rather degrading attitude
towards women (and men).  Sure, a single viewing of Friday 13th isn't
going to turn men into raving murderers, but the set of attitudes associated
with these movies will probably begin to have an effect on people.  Lifestyle
ads are also 'fantasy' but they seem to shape people rather well, albeit 
directly.  I doubt that several million (tens of millions?) dollars would be
spent if they didn't.

    It seems likely that ANYTHING we see is likely to influence us to some
degree, especially over prolonged periods of time.  The shaping of attitudes
towards women (and men) by pornography is something that seems to have no
positive side to counteract the obvious negative of re-inforcing the image
of women as sex-objects.  Hence, I really can see little justification for
allowing such to continue to harm society.

    Of course, I suppose that graphic sex between loving and caring couples
doesn't ensconce such attitudes, but gee, isn't it funny that this sort of
thing is next to non-existent in the 'industry'.  Actually, not really.  I
think we all recognize the set of attitudes that pornography promotes.

    Of course, censorship is a rather tricky business, and one must be careful
to make sure that it doesn't go anywhere beyond the boundaries originally
proposed for it, but then again, the same applies to anything governmental.
As usual, I imagine it's the middle path between pure freedom (chaos) and pure
control (totalitarianism) where the desired path lies.

    I'd take the Ontario Censor Board over Times Square any day.  Then again,
us Canadians are that much closer to the Soviets.  We're obviously being
influenced by them.    :-)

   Tom L. West                       Ontario Flame Board
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