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From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Pornography
Message-ID: <2770@ncsu.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 15:50:37 EST
Article-I.D.: ncsu.2770
Posted: Tue Jan 15 15:50:37 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Jan-85 00:26:29 EST
Organization: N.C. State University, Raleigh
Lines: 71

Why is Pornography bad?  Let me count the ways:

1) Kiddie porn.  
    To make kiddie porn you need to use kiddies.  This can be legally defined
    as sexual abuse of children.  Children are not legally able to consent to
    anything.  Kiddie porn can be and is legally restricted.

2) Violence.
    a) Some people apparently define porn to mean sexual violence against
    women, or some such.  That is a fine definition of something,  but the
    word pornography is already taken.  I get the impression that some
    activists claim to use this definition, but then use the broader definition
    to extend their arguments to include all sexually explicit material.

    b) The arguments against such violence should apply regardless of whether
    sex is involved.  If you are worried about the effects of vicarious
    violence, you should protest Charles Bronson and ignore Marilyn Chambers.

3) Morality.
    According to one recent posting on the net:
	  "Married sexual activity is sacred and its use outside of
	  marriage is a profanation of a holy thing."
    That's fine for you, but freedom of religion is constitutionally
    protected, so arguments based on church doctrine are disallowed.

4) Privacy/degradation of participants
     If someone is coerced into making an explicit movie, whether by 
     force or lack of other opportunity to earn money, then they may
     feel degraded, I agree.  But most people on this net would 
     probably be uncomfortable just to be seen naked by strangers.
     Do the activities described in net.rec.nude degrade participants.
     Are millions of naturists degraded?  No, because they participate
     voluntarily and are comfortable with what they are doing.  It is
     only degrading to do what you feel is wrong.

5) Sex Objects.
     I have never understood why it is wrong to admire a single facet of
     a multi-faceted human.  In my job, college professor, I am admired
     primarily for my giant intellect.  Since I must teach, my engaging
     personality is somewhat admired.  My boyish good looks, athletic
     prowess and artistic genius are totally ignored.  Does that reduce
     me to a 'brain object'?  Yes.  My students care only about what I
     know (and what grade I'll give them).  But that doesn't diminish
     my humanity outside of class.  

     Similarly,  a depiction of beautiful women enjoying sex does not
     automatically reduce women to objects.  In fact, I would argue that
     sex movies, in which women don't have enough time between sex acts
     to prove or disprove their intelligence, do less harm than TV shows,
     in which many characters demonstrate themselves to be airheaded bimbos.

     In fact, I find it degrading to humanity that the *sexual* nature
     of famous people is routinely ignored.  If we are to understand
     Einstein and Eisenhower as whole persons, we must ask whether they
     were sexually satisfied. (only partially facetious)

Have I overlooked any straw men?

In closing, I would like to suggest that if people are seriously concerned
that smutty movies, books, etc., offer a twisted view of sex, and serve to
subjugate women, then they should lobby for the open acceptance of graphic
sex.  The problem with sex movies is that they aren't very good movies.
If you want people to think that sex is a warm, loving exchange between
equal partners, then you should get decent producers, directors, actors
and screenwriters to make explicit movies, rather than banning them.
-- 

Jon Mauney,    mcnc!ncsu!mauney

(I should point out that, despite the example involving my job,
I am not speaking in my official capacity as a professor.)