Posted on 05/19/2005 11:05:47 AM PDT by .cnI redruM
Trite.
I think both sides of this are right and wrong. I'm sure that there is a small hardcore group of people that porn leads to commit violent sexual crime. The trouble is, 90% of the people who watch porn will never commit such a crime. I practiced criminal law for 15 years and there is no question in my mind that alcohol was linked in some fashion with the vast majority of violent crimes committed. If alcohol could actually be banished today the crime rate would plummet. BUT....90% of the people who drink alcohol will never committ a violent crime. SO...is it right to try to ban alcohol or porn for the honest majority who sample it just to deal with the 10% who it effects in an incredibly socially destrctive manner? I don't know the answer but the results of prohibition and our current drug laws indicate that banning isn't the answer. (note: I do not drink alcohol, do drugs or view porn other than the occaisional racy e-mail I get)
I am not a libertarian and I am proud not to be part of the "everything should be legal, moral relativism" crowd.
"Every single one of those predators also drank water and ate bread at some point in their lives. This does not mean that bread and water drove them to predation"
I agree. To blame porno for the problem would be no different than blaming guns for violence - which I assume most of us here would not.
Coincidence.
Correlation isn't causation.
We have a God-given right to view obscene images.
It's a victimless crime.
Did I miss any other sophistries?
Oh boy another porn thread. The evangelicals will be coming out of the woodwork on this one.
That's an opinion. Many on the left see a device such as a gun, dezigned for he specific task of killing to be immoral. Some really left wackos think cars are immoral too. I find the female figure to be beautiful in its raw form, not immoral.
Alcohol is not immoral in and of itself, the abuse of alcohol is. Porn is by its very nature immoral. There is no morally correct way to enjoy pornography.
"I guess if one person isn't allergic to bee stings, no one else could possibly be allergic either."
Well that doesn't mean if a single person were allergic to bee stings we should eradicat all bees, does it?
The two of you battled on porn threads.
First of all, let's not pretend that pornography in any way, shape or form resembles 'art'.
As far as banning it, I wouldn't have a problem with that at all, but I'd think there were Constitutional issues to contend with in doing so. But I wonder if things like pornography, dope, and other immoral and/or illicit effects don't serve the unintended purpose of building character in those who ignore these things.
Evil has been with us since Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels vacated the Lord's immediate side. Ban pornography and we'd still have murders, thefts, etc.
If anything to be banned it should be liberals and liberalism. They are after all the ones perpetuating the aforementioned vices by instilling lax laws and punishments and even acceptance of them to an extent.
As will the porn addicts...
There is nothing "relativistic" about it. Sexual predation is a CRIME no matter who the hell you are. Of course, if you could get past the whole "sex is icky and immoral" thing, the nwe could probably have a decent conversation about why some people become sexual predators and effective means of doing something about it. Like enforcing a death penalty for repeat offenders and more victim armament laws.
But Noooo.... just got go after the porn industry. For the same reasons Sarah Brady is going after Colt and Smith and Wesson.
First, is the "piece of art" intrinsically evil. Yes, pornography is intrinsically evil. That people argue over what constitutes pornography only demonstrates that all people recognize the principle.
Second, is it prudent to ban pornography? In other words, does banning pornography do more harm to society than pornography itself? I say no. I remember the days when pornography wasn't widely available, and I don't remember any crimes associated with its criminalization, as there are with drug criminalization.
I won't stay long. Eventually the porn pirates will gather in a bunch and start holding church camp. I usually bolt when that happens.
Dude you'll never get anywhere with these people, its just not worth arguing on these threads.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.