[thulldud]

But the reaction to the Superbowl went beyond any reason and went into the area of trying to so massively punish as to have a chilling effect on free speech in general. For example networks are now afraid to show "Saving Private Ryan."

You seem to be relatively unconcerned with any potential consequences for posting that comment. Reason? The real reaction to the Superbowl was from individuals. It obviously didn't chill YOUR "free speech" just now. And what was the "massive", disproportionate response, from the gummint? A fine.

That was it. No hordes of black-suited, jackbooted thugs, no censors. Just a bill.

The driving force behind political speech, especially that which the elites would happily suppress, is not something that counts the cost. Since it is not mercenary, it can't be bought off. OTOH, porn, being mercenary in nature, runs from a fine like Teddy Kennedy from a sinkin' Lincoln. So I'm not willing to extend it equal consideration.

Bottom line for me is, I consider porn destructive. There was a time when you couldn't get it in this country, but it wasn't because the government was forbidding it. It was because there was no market for it.

[gondramB]

You seem to be relatively unconcerned with any potential consequences for posting that comment. Reason? The real reaction to the Superbowl was from individuals. It obviously didn't chill YOUR "free speech" just now. And what was the "massive", disproportionate response, from the gummint? A fine.

You are right - blogs and message boards will be some of the hardest to censor. But corporations are already feeling the effect. I don't understand how somebody could dislike pictures of nude women enough to want free speech limited - but that is what is happening on a small scale.

Will it get worse? I think probably not because I think the feeling is that the pendulum needs to swing back.

And you may think that threatening to put a $54 billion dollar business out of business for showing one nipple is not extreme but it is extreme whether you see it or not.

[steve-b]

The real reaction to the Superbowl was from individuals.

Puh-leeze. It's already been pretty well established that this was a classic "astroturf" (i.e. fake "grassroots") scam by a small pressure group.

Bottom line for me is, I consider porn destructive. There was a time when you couldn't get it in this country, but it wasn't because the government was forbidding it. It was because there was no market for it.

Man, I thought I'd seen some serious disconnection from reality on DU, but you outdo them all.