When you say you're against porn, do you mean because it's basically coming from that? Or just...in general?
The first one. It's the fucked-up industry and what it does to women that I have a problem with. I'm aware that there's another, non-industry kind that is coming from a different place. That's where my views diverge from those of other members of my org - I think a lot of my friends would say that they're against all porn. I'm not sure I totally have a handle on why. Although I do also think there's some porn where it's hard to know where the line fell - whether it was exploitative or not.
I'm sorry if I took a fun conversation and made it serious unnecessarily.
had higher production values
Ha, this is the major reason I don't care much for the video porn. What little I have seen seemed really poor quality, and rather unrealistic. Pictures, sure. But video, eh. I especially hate the bad sound and cheesey music.
What little I have seen seemed really poor quality, and rather unrealistic.
Wait, porn can be
unrealistic?
I am totally against the way the porn industry acts in general, while having nothing against it in the abstact. At the same time, I wonder what the ratio of people harmed in the porn industry (as percent of those working specifically performing sexually or erotically) as opposed to say truck drivers. Cause there is a very high percent of drug use among truck drivers and a very high associated rate of health issues (kidney problems, back problems). I don't know anyone in contracting, especially in roofing over 40 with back problems. So while I'm no fan of the porn industry, I think there are plenty of other industries doing useful work that are just as harmful. I think the issue here is not porn, but workers rights, which tend to have weak protection in general.
Prostitution is another issue. Again I suppose there is a difference between the abstract and practice. But prostitutes really do face more health and safety issues than other professions, and that includes lots of places where prostitution is legal. Also there is the question as Seska says of how many are really there voluntarily, both in the sense of "you have this debt and we'll shoot you or turn you in to immigration if you leave" and in the sense of deliberately addicting people to drugs. Still we have a labor conference every year in Olympia, (which may not happen anymore). And there were representatives of the sex workers Union there who pointed out that a lot of what is wrong in prostitution is a result of how they are treated even where it is legal. For example in Britain prostitution is legal. But if a bunch of prostitutes got together and formed a co-op and rented a building to have a safe place, that would be keeping a bawdy house and illegal. And if they hired someone to screen clients or a bodyguard, unless it was handled very carefully, the screener or bodyguard would be legally guilty of pimping since they would be living on the earnings of prostitutes. And most places that make prostitution legal require special registration and impose special screenings. Which means, among other things that if you were a prostitute for a while and register, it would be on the record future employers could check forever. In short what I don't think has every been tried is true decriminalization, where prostitutes have the same rights as any other worker, plus protection from exploitation unique to their field just as railroad workers have special worker protections from hazards unique to their field.
Of course that would make more sense in a world where work protections are actually enforced. (Massey, I'm looking at you.)
Also:
I think porn is fine but unfortunately, the industry is riddled with abuse and the young people (mostly women) that are being exploited outnumber the women who are in control of their bodies, their lives and careers.
I think sadly, that is true of many industries. I think it may be inherent in capitalism, which is why I'm a blankety blank socialist, even though in the U.S. my political viewpoint is outnumbered by people who claim to have had personal encounters with aliens from beyond the this solar system. It may be outnumbered by people who personally claim to have been anally probed by such aliens.
I defer to Miss Manners...but I think a late thank you is better than no thank you at all, so I'll still send them. Honestly, part of it is that I didn't want to write them all myself, and Drew has been out of town most of the last six months. Not an excuse, but an explanation. Anyway, will soon be a non-issue since I plan to take care of it this week.
I have nothing to add about porn. I tend to be pro-porn but anti-industry, as many of you seem to be.
I'm sorry if I took a fun conversation and made it serious unnecessarily.
I think this is Buffista Apology #24. (also, no. not imho, anyways)
I, for one, have throroughly enjoyed following along. Work was way to busy yesterday for me to chime in, but I have to agree with the pr0n-yay, industry-no. I'm at work or I'd link to one of my favorite tumblrs, sex is not the enemy. Gorgeous pictures, explicit and not, but what comes through is the fact that all these people are there willingly and enjoying the hell out of themselves. It's beautiful.
I think what I need, though, is a clear line between erotica and pr0n. What makes the difference? It's something I've never really thought about before and I'm curious to hear what others have to say. Is there a legal definition? Is it, again, in the eye of the beholder? Does it have to do with consent issues?
erotica and pr0n.
Chicken and feathers. Something.
I always figure erotica = that which is classy enough for my tastes.
It seems like erotica charges more for internet access than porn.
I've heard.
