rb@cci632.UUCP (Rex Ballard) (10/10/86)
M. Terrible supports the commission findings. basis: Porn (sexually explicit material) leads to child abuse, rape, exploitation of women, family problems, and immorality. Violence in media shouldn't be censored, because it is not as bad a porn. Facts used: Testimony of rape and child abuse victims, unwilling participants in pornographic productions. Research studies. General attitude: Porn is bad, sexual expression should be discouraged. Interests other than marital coitus is perverse. Several reject the commisions findings. Advocate doing nothing. basis: Porn doesn't cause the bad things. Supression could spill over into politically oriented material. Readers can experience positive benifits, majority of those in productions do so voluntarily. Violence should be censored, porn should not. Facts used: Inconsistancy of research, bias of commission, examples of willing models, research not mentioned in report. General attitude: Porn is good, sexual expression is a right, lack of interest is sex is not "normal", relationships can be enhanced sexually by reading porn. Side issues: Moderates: Accept findings, reject conclusions. basis: Some Porn may involve abuses. Some readers may be abusive. Some people may be unintentionally offended, not all material good for all people (5 year olds looking at bondage porn for example). Feel market has been polarised by existing regulations and statues. Support advisory measures, lifting of compulsary measures, wider range of market niches, loosening of some restrictions. Violence subject to same measures. Facts used: Commission findings, pro-porn and anti-violence research, examples of porn available, porn itself, historical perspective, trends since 1963 (start of MPAA ratings). General attitude: Porn can be good, but often extreme. Diversity of sexual interests requires information to reduce conflicts due to incompatible preferences. People with compatible preferences should seek each other out. Informed actions required to do this. Porn provides important information. Resolution: None. Benifits of discussion: Open discussion of socially acceptable means of expression. Each side seeing good points in the moderate view. Points of agreement: Abuses should be prosecuted. Printed word should not be censored. Some restrictions should be lifted. Moderate erotica is over-restricted, some restrictions should be lifted. Violence may be under-restricted. Though refining restrictions in this area may be desirable, it is unlikely.