Rant about government and censorship

[marieR19]

Okay, so I was totally bored this afternoon, and started reading a few of the "literary essays" in my Writing 101 book that we aren't assigned to read over the course of the semester. One was called "Erotica and Pornography".
Now, I wasn't exactly sure what it would be about... But the entire twelve pages ended up being about laws against sexual things, and what the government is doing to try to "crack down" on internet predators. I know that censorship is getting out of hand in a lot of ways, but since I don't read the paper everyday or really keep on it, the facts in the article really surprised me. The author explained that the government is trying to punish thoughts and not just actions... This one man mentioned was arrested and sentanced four years in jail because his parents found his diary, which included many sexual fantasies about children. He didn't actually do anything, he just had fantasies, like all of us do. And because bdsm is largely associated with violence and control, I'm starting to wonder how far this all will go. How much we'll be censored. My big dream in life is to become a published author, but most of my novels are of a bdsm nature. In say, ten or fifteen years, will it not be possible to get those kind of adult novels published in the mainstream? I'm glad that internet predators and sex criminals are being targeted, but how much is too much? I've been thinking about all of this for the last few hours and finally felt the need to post.


Heather

 

[Guest]

 

[catalina_francisco]

I find it hard to imagine they would have jailed someone for that length of time particularly for fantasies, but then it is out of hand. I am tired of hearing so-called leading experts and advisors from the US declaring anyone interested in pornography of any nature, or a fairly active sex life, is more than likely a pedophile and should at the least be investigated. Seems to me, throughout history, it has been those people who felt they had to repress and hide their desires who became the worst and most vicious of sexual offenders so how restricting people's natural desires and curiosity so there is no outlet such as pornography or a consenting relationship is just like every other abolitionist policy before it, just liable to encourage underground and more serious means to release the built up tension. LOL, interesting thing is those in government who scream 'down with pornography' the loudest, are usually found to be heavy users of it themselves. I recall a certain high up politician in Oz who was good looking, man of God, and promoted a strong family values image complete with the no porn stance who was eventually found guilty of pedophelia against his daughters and from memory, some young friends, and spent several years in prison....then when he was being released, they were discussing if they might allow him to work with school children!!

Catalina

 

[Evil_Geoff]

.... I'm starting to wonder how far this all will go. How much we'll be censored. My big dream in life is to become a published author, but most of my novels are of a bdsm nature. In say, ten or fifteen years, will it not be possible to get those kind of adult novels published in the mainstream? I'm glad that internet predators and sex criminals are being targeted, but how much is too much? I've been thinking about all of this for the last few hours and finally felt the need to post.

Heather

THIS is exactly why supporting the NCSF is so damnably important. NCSF and Barbra Nitke are already suing the Justice Department over the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and is a partner with the Free Speech Coalition fighting against the latest provisions of U.S.C. 18, Section 2257. They've already won temporary injuctions against the enforcement of the more onerous aspects of 2257 but they are _temporary_. The fight still continues.

And the fight against the CDA will be going to the Supreme Court and that is an expensive proposition. Join the NCSF if you haven't done so. Send a donation, join the fight to protect YOUR rights as a consenting adult.

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom - http://www.ncsfreedom.org

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Seems to me, throughout history, it has been those people who felt they had to repress and hide their desires who became the worst and most vicious of sexual offenders
Catalina

I remember reading an article on homophobics and the case study that was done on it. If my memory serves me correctly, there were two groups of subjects, tolerant hetero men and hetero men vehemently opposed to gays.

Both groups were wired up to register and record their responses while they were exposed to images of gay sexual activites.

Take a wild guess which group registered the highest level of arousal? In fact, it wasn't even close between the two groups.

 

[Aeroil]

The problem with pedophilia is sooner or later they feel the need to act on thier desires. Now if you're into BDSM you can find a willing consensual partner to associate with... a child can never be willing or consensual. I'm betting that in that diary there were more than just "thoughts and fantasies."

(yikes, I'm defending the potential pedophile... *shakes his head*)
*ahem* have you felt the need to act on every one of your individual fantasies, vamplawyer? I'd advise watching the judgement.

 

[Aeroil]

I remember reading an article on homophobics and the case study that was done on it. If my memory serves me correctly, there were two groups of subjects, tolerant hetero men and hetero men vehemently opposed to gays.

Both groups were wired up to register and record their responses while they were exposed to images of gay sexual activites.

Take a wild guess which group registered the highest level of arousal? In fact, it wasn't even close between the two groups.

lol, duh, homophobes are *all* closet cases, everyone knows that.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

lol, duh, homophobes are *all* closet cases, everyone knows that.

I agree, I wanted to use a proven case to show a parallel.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I remember reading an article on homophobics and the case study that was done on it. If my memory serves me correctly, there were two groups of subjects, tolerant hetero men and hetero men vehemently opposed to gays.

Both groups were wired up to register and record their responses while they were exposed to images of gay sexual activites.

Take a wild guess which group registered the highest level of arousal? In fact, it wasn't even close between the two groups.

Yes I saw that one too. I also don't buy into the belief people who have fantasies about children will eventually act on it, anymore than any other group of fantasy lovers act on theirs. I find that sort of thought pattern usually comes from people whose first question when hearing of a rape is 'what was she wearing?' or a comment along the lines it would not have happened if the woman (or man) really didn't ask for it in some way. Or people who believe that violence in literature or visual media drives people to live out what they have read/seen. Sheeesh, following on that thought process virtually means then any author who writes of murder, rape, robbery etc., must have first hand experience with commiting such acts, or want to...and sadly, I have met a lot of people in my lifetime who actually believe this. Needless to say, they are not amongst the original thinking group, or group of people who do much thinking.

Catalina

 

[starla{TDM}]

Government and censorship

Hopefully this won't offend anyone, as most know the USA has implemented 2257 laws, they have also put together a porn squad. Bush likes to push his moral beleifs onto the world whether we believe or not. Regardless before people start yelling PROOF here are a few more recent links or our government gone wild. Also I am going to post a few links on how to protect yourself as a amateur webmaster or if your posting pictures ect. I can supply many more links on protecting yourself and your site from the porn police, along with keeping kids out ect, so if your interested in that information just drop me an email

Obscenity in the digital age (PDF)
Legal Concerns with free sites

21 tips for websites

Problems with obscenity Laws

I can supply more but this is a good start
Next a recent case

Red Rose was a pay for site an ADULT site that post fantasy erotica about child/infant play/water sports/scat/beastiality ect this was ALL text message no pictures obviously and supposedly all fantasy. Her site was closed down by the FBI stories such as those are NOT protected by our freedom of speech (so they say)
article 1
She is being represented by Lawrence Walters whom has more posted about her case on His site.
And just around the block from us we have Chris Wilson recently arrested for wholesale distribution of Porn that case can also be read on Lawrence Walters site. The site in question is still up and running its titled http://www.nowthatsfuckedup.com

The pictures are pretty mild compared to some of the pictures I have seen on here and other sites. *shrugs*

Myself, we have a business to run, everything is marked as a novelty item only, it states that all through the site, my personal site, I have taken down the adult area, I stopped posting pictures and stories. Ya these people will get off under the First Amendent but until then their lives have been turned upside down. In Chris Wilsons case His BAIL was $151,000 and His bond which is non refundable is 30,000.

It doesn't matter anymore if its fantasy, written or pictures, the government can, will and has made it more difficult.

Just my two cents worth

starla

 

[catalina_francisco]

Hopefully this won't offend anyone, as most know the USA has implemented 2257 laws, they have also put together a porn squad. Bush likes to push his moral beleifs onto the world whether we believe or not. Regardless before people start yelling PROOF here are a few more recent links or our government gone wild. Also I am going to post a few links on how to protect yourself as a amateur webmaster or if your posting pictures ect. I can supply many more links on protecting yourself and your site from the porn police, along with keeping kids out ect, so if your interested in that information just drop me an email

Obscenity in the digital age (PDF)
Legal Concerns with free sites

21 tips for websites

Problems with obscenity Laws

I can supply more but this is a good start
Next a recent case

Red Rose was a pay for site an ADULT site that post fantasy erotica about child/infant play/water sports/scat/beastiality ect this was ALL text message no pictures obviously and supposedly all fantasy. Her site was closed down by the FBI stories such as those are NOT protected by our freedom of speech (so they say)
article 1
She is being represented by Lawrence Walters whom has more posted about her case on His site.
And just around the block from us we have Chris Wilson recently arrested for wholesale distribution of Porn that case can also be read on Lawrence Walters site. The site in question is still up and running its titled http://www.nowthatsfuckedup.com

The pictures are pretty mild compared to some of the pictures I have seen on here and other sites. *shrugs*

Myself, we have a business to run, everything is marked as a novelty item only, it states that all through the site, my personal site, I have taken down the adult area, I stopped posting pictures and stories. Ya these people will get off under the First Amendent but until then their lives have been turned upside down. In Chris Wilsons case His BAIL was $151,000 and His bond which is non refundable is 30,000.

It doesn't matter anymore if its fantasy, written or pictures, the government can, will and has made it more difficult.

Just my two cents worth

starla

Thanks for the links Starla. Sorry to hear you are another who has felt the need to remove things from their website...wish the nightmare could end soon, but seems it will have to run its course at the least. Perhaps more complaints would help, though many are reluctant to involve themselves, even from the fringes.

Catalina

 

[Kajira Callista]

hmmmmm am i the only one thinking...damn how hot is it that an FBI guy could be reviewing my pictures and....and.... maybe likes them so comes to put me in jail...his own personal jail. WOW i think KC got a lil inspiration to write something on the subject.

 

[cati]

lol, duh, homophobes are *all* closet cases, everyone knows that.
____________________________________________________________

Get real... saying that *all* homophobics are closet cases is a bit far fetched in my opinion. One shouldn't throw out generalizations so easily. One might say they are "afraid" of the "possibililty" of their acting out given the right circumstances. Being considered homosexual (when one is not) is also a threat to an already fragile masculinity/male ego.

As far as becoming aroused watching gay sex vids... couldn't the homophobes just become aroused watching the sex act itself (oral-anal) and not necessarly the thought of having sex with another male?

Plus, how many adololescent boys get involved in group jerks and such? I have even known young guys who have had anal sex with their buddies just to see what it was like, not quite the same thing as being a closet homosexual at all.
Perfect examples of sexual experimentation, nothing more.

 

[marieR19]

Starla, thank you so much for the links, very informative. Just out of curiosity, do you have any links relating to publishing adult fiction. like the laws concerning it and stuff?


Heather

 

[Evil_Geoff]

Bump

Bumpity Bump!

 

[brioche]

I don't think the science has shown that everyone who has fantasies about children becomes a pedophile. What it has ahown is that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is huge, and as a result they are not regarded as a group as being capable of rehabilitation. That's why there are such strict laws on sex offenders when they leave jail.
It has also been shown that a lot of them have been abused, and the age that they tend to fixate on and say sex is acceptable at is the age they were first abused, I think...
I'm not going to search for citations for this, but I do wonder - if we were able to end the molestation of childen would that end pedophilia?

 

[Purple Sage]

I don't think the science has shown that everyone who has fantasies about children becomes a pedophile. What it has ahown is that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is huge, and as a result they are not regarded as a group as being capable of rehabilitation. That's why there are such strict laws on sex offenders when they leave jail.
It has also been shown that a lot of them have been abused, and the age that they tend to fixate on and say sex is acceptable at is the age they were first abused, I think...
I'm not going to search for citations for this, but I do wonder - if we were able to end the molestation of childen would that end pedophilia?

It would sure reduce it- anyway, it's worth a try. Sadly, there's little evidence that criminalizing pedophilia is having much impact on the problem. Even sadder, there's not much evidence that anything else is, either. I think this is one of the great problems, one of the great disasters of our time, and it tends to feed on itself.
American culture is not traditionally friendly toward sex or victims, so victims of sex crimes have tended to be re-victimized by society. Child-victims, especially, have a great need for help, but often deny themselves whatever help might be available because of the fear of exposure. It's little wonder that some of them grow up to be perpetrators in turn- the amazing thing is that, from the numbers I've seen, very few of them do. Many of them (I'd venture to say most, but I can't prove it), have strong sexual images connected to their abuse, and hence to children, as a major aspect of their sexuality. Frequently they feel guilt, self-loathing and worthlessness because of this, and so are victimized all over again. This does not make them perpetrators, or even potential perpetrators. It just makes them examples of how trauma imprints connections on the brain.
I think that protecting children from sexual and violent assault is a critical task for our society. I'm not confident that going after internet porn sites is an effective way to do it. I suspect that, as with so many other things, education would be a more powerful tool. Not the big vote-getter, though.

 

[brioche]

It would sure reduce it- anyway, it's worth a try. Sadly, there's little evidence that criminalizing pedophilia is having much impact on the problem. Even sadder, there's not much evidence that anything else is, either. I think this is one of the great problems, one of the great disasters of our time, and it tends to feed on itself.
American culture is not traditionally friendly toward sex or victims, so victims of sex crimes have tended to be re-victimized by society. Child-victims, especially, have a great need for help, but often deny themselves whatever help might be available because of the fear of exposure. It's little wonder that some of them grow up to be perpetrators in turn- the amazing thing is that, from the numbers I've seen, very few of them do. Many of them (I'd venture to say most, but I can't prove it), have strong sexual images connected to their abuse, and hence to children, as a major aspect of their sexuality. Frequently they feel guilt, self-loathing and worthlessness because of this, and so are victimized all over again. This does not make them perpetrators, or even potential perpetrators. It just makes them examples of how trauma imprints connections on the brain.
I think that protecting children from sexual and violent assault is a critical task for our society. I'm not confident that going after internet porn sites is an effective way to do it. I suspect that, as with so many other things, education would be a more powerful tool. Not the big vote-getter, though.

You make some good points.
Pedophilia is criminalized because of the harm it does to the child.
If there was something else that worked better, we'd do it.
We really do have to help child victims. These cycles need to end.

 

[Purple Sage]

You make some good points.
Pedophilia is criminalized because of the harm it does to the child.
If there was something else that worked better, we'd do it.
We really do have to help child victims. These cycles need to end.

Well, as a society we're caught up in the Old Testament model of "justice": ie, revenge. While I certainly understand the urge to rip the dick off a child molester (I've had it), it doesn't seem to be a functional approach. It doesn't 'help child victims'. In theory it might prevent some of them from becoming, but there's no evidence that that theory is working. What can be known, however, is that the atmosphere of fear and shame surrounding this subject does actually further harm the child victims, especially when it keeps them from seeking help, or when it keeps the subject so taboo that no help is offered. It's also not helpful to potential victims when potential perpetrators are inhibited from seeking help.
I agree that we need to end these cycles. What I fear is that we will restrict our efforts to simple, easy to understand approaches like putting more people in jail or castrating rapists rather than put our resources into actually solving the problem. The problem is too complex for a simple campaign-platform, evening-news-sound-bite solution. In this country, that probably means it's not going to be solved.