Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!west 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 { allegra cornell decvax ihnp4 linus utzoo }!utcsrgv!west