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.

My assistant used to come back from her break with live lobster or crab. I'd be talking with her and the bag in the corner of her office would twitch. Very disturbing, and yet I miss it.

Just like the movie Audition!