[anncoulteriscool]

I saw that thing on abc with diane sawyer last week....its was really sad.

[Centurion2000]

"I get 18-, 19-year-old girls who just don't understand that once you do this, you are sociologically damned forever," he said

Well, he's learned something at least.

[billorites]

"some of the nation's best-known corporations are quietly sharing the profits. "

So Honey, you wanna 'super-size this?'

[Fifth Business]

And now ABC is profiting from it.

[Cicero]

People are slow to react to this kind of thing, but these companies will pay a price in the end.

Disney is already paying a price for pushing porn and attacking religion. And Hollywood is racking up a legacy of scorn and contempt that will haunt them for a long time to come.

[Redcloak]

OK... So as near as I can tell, Koop and the others have their collective knickers in a bunch mostly because there aren't enough condoms used in the porn industry.

I'm going back to my beer now.

[garbanzo]

Bill Margold, a veteran porn star who now counsels young people entering the business, says 18-year-olds are too young to make the potentially life-altering decision to go into porn.

At what point do we actually become adults in this country? 18? 21? 37? Well what do you expect when we mollycoddle kids and don't actually teach them how to live as adults and make good decisions about their lives?

[Lancey Howard]

According to Koop, many producers and distributors argue that performers are independent contractors, not their employees, so they don't have any responsibility for them. But Koop calls that a "copout."..... "These youngsters are not unionized, they don't know how to do anything for themselves, and they're really stuck," he said.

I think I would have used a headline for this article like:

FORMER SURGEON GENERAL KOOP PUSHES FOR PORN ACTORS UNION

[F16Fighter]

Few of the [porn] companies provide heath insurance, and most performers find they must work without condoms...

How dare the porno industry fail to provide a comprehensive benefit package for its employees...

I'm sure the first question asked by applicant Betty Big-Ones is: "But do you provide a health plan?"

And yeah, here's a real low-risk group for the insurance companies -- mental-case, drug-using, tattooed, pierced nyphomaniacs and tri-sexuals who "perform" with hundreds of other "performers."

[anncoulteriscool]

I was surprised that the porn actresses (?) really dont make that much money at all to do this.

[webstersII]

I agree that it's not a wholesome business. But to say that it's the employer's fault, nah, I don't think so. No one makes that career choice for those people, and if they did one movie and decided they didn't like it they wouldn't have to keep doing them.

This is the ultimate example of career by choice. You are not forced to do this, it's just that most of these women are too lazy to work as a waitress, they want to believe they will make lots of money for a little bit of work, so they get enticed to do it. And they guys, they are just in it because they are, well, because they are men. Go figure. Then you throw in easy access to drugs and you find the other reason people are attracted to this business.

The issue with porn is like any other addiction. It's not about the poison, it's about the reason for needing the poison. If men aren't into porn that doesn't mean they would necessarily be spending lots of effort in building a good relationship with their wives; they would find some other outlet for their frustration with life, whether it be too much work, too much alcohol, drugs, whatever. Some addictions are more socially acceptable than others. But if you convince people that the particular poison is to blame they will never have to take any responsibility for themselves.

[Tall_Texan]

"Even the people who enjoy looking at pornography really despise the people they're watching"

Dr. Kook lost me on this one. My guess is that viewers don't despise the performers. I suspect they are jealous of the performers.

But to think there are any health standards in the porn industry is like thinking there are any health standards in the illegal drug trade. When you fly below the radar of public morality, you should expect to be among dirty people. It's part of that rebel image.

If you were going to have some sort of regular testing or health registry, the first thing is these folks would have to give folks their real names. OOOPS! - That kills that idea.

[PJ-Comix]

Koop believes that to prompt reform, Congress should hold hearings on regulating the industry and "subpoena some of the people who run these shows."

Yeah, I can just see The Hedgehog testifying as an expert witness.