So the offensive post by my prof that I responded to? Well, she didn't respond, but one of my classmates did.

After I read Professors response I was also a little shocked to the word of "sin". Then I read your post and you stated that we cannot let our morals to influence us 100%. This statement shocked me more than the word sin. Our morals and values are what make us who we are. Never in one million years would I compromise my values or morals just because it might not make me a clear thinker. I was told by a very intelligent woman one time that every time you compromise one of those thing you lose a piece of who you are what you stand for and what you want to teach your children. I personally do not think that porn would put us in the depression. There are much more things out there sustaining our country other than porn. Maybe it was porn propaganda you were watching and in this situation it is you who did not do the critical thinking by buying into it. I can agree that it would have some effect on our country financially but i cannot agree to it being so earth shattering. I am one who can vouch for the negative effects of pornography in a few different ways. It has caused problems (many of them) in my relationship and in turn has hurt me emotionally. You also stated that if we show our morals to everyone we might offend some. I would much rather open my mouth and offend all then keep my mouth shut and not take a stand when it came to something that I believed in. Before reading these two posts I was always questioning this stick to what I believe if it has to do with my morals or always keep an open mind. I can see now that there are some situations where no matter how open you are to both sides your morals should always influence you in your decision making.

This was my response:

I see your points.

For me, my morals are my morals and I have no right to push them on someone else. Just as no one has the right to push their morals on me. The only exception to this is if I am doing something or someone else is doing something that directly hurts me or mine. Then, my morals and values will be all over someone else. My beliefs are mine. Your beliefs are yours.

Personally, I think that some people rely on their morals so as not to have to critically think about something. They can say, "I don't believe in that, therefore I will not even consider any other side or facts that relate to the opinion opposite my own." and that, in the context of learning how to think critically, is counter-productive.

For instance, I am morally opposed to abortion. However, I don't believe that it should be illegal to get one. If someone wants to get one, that's on them and does not affect my morals at all.

You also said the following - Maybe it was porn propaganda you were watching and in this situation it is you who did not do the critical thinking by buying into it.

The report that I saw was either on 20/20 or Dateline. I can't remember which. You might very well consider that "porn propaganda". However, economic experts were showing how some of the biggest companies (Ford, Chevy for example) in this country own smaller subsidiaries that are involved in the porn industry. I think you'd be hard pressed to find an industry in this country that wasn't involved, either directly or indirectly, with the porn industry.

I think the Empress is winning the clear thinking race.

Be sure to add that you are clearly differentiating between the original topic--child pornography--and pornography between consenting adults. Point to organizations like Good Vibrations in SF, which is a co-op run for and by its members and which is largely controlled by women.

ETA: In other words, say something about the fact that everything people label"porn" is not the same.

EETA: I think your responses are kickass. Sorry about being a busybody.

Before reading these two posts I was always questioning this stick to what I believe if it has to do with my morals or always keep an open mind. I can see now that there are some situations where no matter how open you are to both sides your morals should always influence you in your decision making.

I think your responses are kickass. Sorry about being a busybody.

You aren't a busy body.

What you are, however, is a chick on vacation! GO! Make your own porn! *smooch*

Also, how mad am I??? Spirit is having an airfare sale that it works out that Joe and I and Em could fly to Michigan for

drum roll

$418.80

TOTAL.

FOR ALL THREE TICKETS.

For the weekend of the Con. Grrrr.

TOTAL.

FOR ALL THREE TICKETS.

Whoa!

Also, Aims, I like how you have way better sentence structure than she does. And understand the nature of paragraphs. And can capitalize.

She also spelled my name wrong.

One can use critical thinking to decide that porn is a boon to our economy, and then morally oppose it and, if they're really living according to their moral lights, find solutions to take the place of porn's economic impact.