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From: jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Just a couple of thoughts on Pornography
Message-ID: <712@rtech.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Oct-85 06:49:33 EST
Article-I.D.: rtech.712
Posted: Fri Oct 25 06:49:33 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 29-Oct-85 01:08:15 EST
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Organization: Relational Technology, Alameda CA
Lines: 28

> > 
> > YOU STILL HAVEN'T DEFINED PORNOGRAPHY, FRIENDS!
> > 
> It's in the dictionary, look it up.  If porn was not defined, then it wouldn't
> be in the dictionary, in fact, it wouldn't be a word.  All this talk of porn
> being in the bible and if you censored porn most of the bible would be censored
> as well is pure unintelligible garbage.  Porn is porn is porn period.  As you
> can see, I don't feel like playing semantics today.

This is the second posting I have seen suggesting that the dictionary
definition of "pornography" be used.  This won't work.  What is needed is a
legal definition, carefully worded to include what you want and exclude what
you don't want.  The English language contains many ambiguous and vague words,
because English (and all other human languages) are about life, which can't
be precisely understood.  But laws in the United States are required to be
precise and unambiguous.

I have a project for you, Ray.  Write a law outlawing pornography, where the
definition of pornography reads "porn is porn, period".  Then try to get it
passed through the legislature.  If by some miracle you manage to get it
passed, then see how long it lasts before the court declares it
unconstitutionally vague.
-- 
Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)
"Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent..."

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