Pornography - are you for or against it and why?

[tackattack]

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“Victims” is a strong word, but you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not talking about the viewers of legal porn being victims. I’m talking about the abused women, men and children resulting from the urges that could or could not be attributed to the use of the legal porn industry fortifying, condoning and exploiting illegal fantasies
To better define my objection. Personally, I see less usefulness in fantasies than real relationships and that is what I mean by I am better without it. If other people feel usefulness in continuing to fantasize, I may consider it a sad state, but I grant them the privilege to do what they think makes them happy. I have no objections with people who choose to view legal porn (even the faked illegal acts). I have an issue with those who can’t control their urges and act on these fantasies damaging men, women and children, often irreparably. Those are the victims I’m talking about. I think fortifying and encouraging those illegal fantasies (which the legal porn industry does) risks more victims rather than saving them by allowing sycophants to act out these fantasies in their own minds over and over.
If you want to make this about things other than porn, other mediums, my religious beliefs, or think I’m using the victimization of real people to elicit an emotional response rather than just stating my beliefs then you’re entitled to, but it distracts the conversation and compounds already big walls of text and erodes to orderliness of discussion.

Now I understand what you are saying about "my life is better off without it". It is a PERSONAL statement and not meant to be a carpet generalization. And I think I understand what you mean in your other posts. You are not against legal porn. You personally think that some legal porn where the actors do things that you dont agree with are questionable, and you frown upon it, but you dont want to make it illegal. You also think this questionable acting, although completely legal, may cause people to act out their fantasies and perform the illegal acts..thus causing victims. You think that legal porn allowing this fantasy to be indulged will ultimately cause a few individuals to act out these fantsies in real life. I can also see where you are honestly trying to give the benefit of the doubt, but at the same time find the industry questionable because of their fringe activities. I can understand this now..at least I hope I got it right.

I think I have a personal example that may be equitable to your views: I do web site building, artwork, animations, games, etc. I asked myself what I would be willing to do and what I would deny before I even started the business. I asked myself; "What would I do if someone asks me to make drawings of pedophilia and offered me large sums of money to do it?" the supreme court said it is legal to do such, as long as it is drawings and not real life people. Now, just because it is legal, does that mean I take the money and do something I am against? The answer is "NO". Even though I agree with the ruling that it is legal, does not mean that I think it is okay.. nor does it mean that I want it to be illegal. I think drawings should be given the greatest amount of freedom as possible in a free republic. It doesnt mean I agree with what is being drawn, but I support their freedom to do such, no matter how distasteful it is to me personally. It may encourage people to go out and do what the drawing has in it... it gets a bit complicated after that, so I am at a loss for words unless we decide to break it down even more...its a conflict. Being an absurdist, I can appreciate the confliction of such a discussion.

Is that the platform you are standing on? If so then I understand you completely.

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Yes that in effect is my stance. That was a good example as well. Looking at a drawing though isn't intended to immerse people in the experience. A drawing can be deemed "artistic erotica" and people can find beauty in it without the intent being to excite people's baser instincts. As Ash eluded to, video games and snuff films (and all the other illegal categories) are meant to draw in the audience and have them
"experience" that fantasy. That takes it out of simple visual recognition and processes it through the emotional memory centers of the brain and backs up the urges with chemical rewards. It increases compulsion if done regularly. If you can look at a snuff film of child abuse or rape and have no emotional response great... then it doesn't apply to you. But it apparently turns on a whole mess of people because they have their own porn category. I think that speaks volumes about the urges of the average person, and personally makes me sad to be human sometimes.