Stephanie Mencimer over at Mother Jones wrote yesterday that lobbyists and interest groups are pushing for regulation (IE: Censorship) of porn because of its exploitative nature, and how easily children can access it.
Porn makes a lot of money for people involved, otherwise they wouldn’t do it. Not just the performers, either. Lots of ancillary jobs are involved: Hotels, Photo/Videographers, Editors, IT Managers, Accountants, Lawyers, Costumers, Props, etc.
Can it be violent, exploitative and unhealthy? Sure, but so can unregulated capitalism.
Porn is just another industry in the free market. What have all you haters got against that? Do you get up in arms about environmentally-exploitative industries? What about those employing children? What about industries whose sole purpose is the manufacture and sale of weapons? You’re okay with those, too, right?
This is business, and America means business. You must hate America.
Child porn hurts children immediately and in the long term, and should remain illegal, even though it is also big business. The difference between that and adult porn is informed, legal consent. And it’s gross.
If there is no consent, then it’s already a crime and should be investigated and prosecuted. We already have laws for that by people we voted for.
Instead, why not vote with your wallets? Why not take responsibility for what you and your kids are exposed to?
Don’t like products that sexualize children (just about anything marketed to teens/tweens these days)? Don’t buy them.
Don’t choreograph your 7 year-old to gyrate to “All the single ladies.”
Have you seen the trashy dolls in the toy stores? Don’t buy them for your kids.
Finally, talk to them. If you fill their heads with how the world should be – how women should be treated with respect, dignity and reverence – then when they see porn, they’ll see it for what it is. If you let TV and the Internet raise your kids, then you get what you pay for.
Spend quality time with your kids because the investment is priceless.
