This is an ongoing discussion I am writing about in length and is tied to my other blog "Political Ethics."
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A non-comparative analysis.
Recently, on another blog site I host, I made a comment regarding my disdain for pornography and how I feel it upsets the social-order of things... only to introduce chaos.
I received many replies and comments from people. Some good, some not very good. But there was one that stuck out. A reader made a comment that many of my readers around various websites have made: "Isn't it better for society to have pornography to use as an outlet for our sexual frustration rather other, more dangerous forms of sexual expression like forced sex [rape], pedophilia [rape], and sodomy?"
I've encountered this argument many times but I haven't addressed it directly. Partly because I never took it seriously, which is a fault of my own, but I also don't see it as valid. In my mind, I see pornography as an evil much like rape.
On the surface of the question; pornography is the preferable choice. I would prefer that a pedophile remain in his house and away from children.
But if we dive deeper into the question there is more than initially meets the eye:
1) Is there a correlation between increased viewing of pornographic material and decreased sexual assaults [rape, molestation, etc]?
-Statistically it's a hard question to answer. There are many variables and the outliers involved. But here are the facts:
The increased viewership of pornography is directly associated with a decreased percentage of rape. According to:
http://www.law.stanford.edu/display/images/dynamic/events_media/Kendall%20cover%20+%20paper.pdf
http://anthonydamato.law.northwestern.edu/Adobefiles/porn.pdf
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3791317?uid=3739768&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=47698863378177
http://www.toddkendall.net/internetcrime.pdf
But is exposure to pornography really the only factor in determining the decrease in incidents of rape over the years?
I would argue that it is not. There may be other factors such as:
1) Public exposure.
- Social media and the internet have revolutionized the way we communicate with each other and the speed in which we do so. What happens in Siberia can be nearly instantaneously transmitted and broadcasted in Wichita, Kansas.
2) Punishment.
-Is the punishment for sexual assault and rape any greater now than it was two decades ago? The answer is no.
3) Are people generally more aware of their surroundings and take greater precautions now?
- Again, no.
4) Do possible offenders feel they have more to lose now than they did in years past?
- Possibly. They might feel more connected to society and more connected in general to the people around them, thanks to social-media and the internet.
5) Are people 'easier'? I mean, is sex with another person easier to achieve today than it was in years' past?
- Yes. Sex is more common and held to greater esteem today than it was a decade, two, or even three decades ago. When women and men alike were held to higher standards and dress codes, media (TV, movies, music, advertisements, etc), and public displays of affection were much more conservative.
Statistically speaking; rape is down, porn is up. And there is indeed a correlation.
This doesn't mean that pornography should be condoned. It simply means that much of American society is without the means to control their sexual urges. Thankfully; as a society, we choose the lesser of the two evils. Unfortunately, we do not choose abstinence and restraint.
SO,
We will now return to the initial question at hand: "Isn't it better for society to have pornography to use as an outlet for our sexual frustration rather other, more dangerous forms of sexual expression like forced sex [rape], pedophilia [rape], and sodomy?"
Again, the face of the question begs the answer YES! But it is to the contrary.
America is not only the largest producer of pornography but she is also its largest consumer. And one more thing: America is also popular destination for sex-trafficking.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdf
According to the statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice [see link directly above], sex trafficking is on the rise. Perhaps coincidentally, there is a correlation between the consumption of pornography and the rise in sex-trafficking.
It is estimated that one in five pornographic pictures on the internet are of under-age children. Many of whom are either forced, or coerced into the industry. And with the rising popularity of cell-phones, many children ranging from the ages of 12-17 are sending naked pictures to a specific love-interest, only for those pictures to end up on the internet.
SO,
Pornography leads to an increase in sex-slaves, child-trafficking, abuse of privacy, and an increase to human-trafficking in general, including drug-trafficking. Many of perpetrators of sex-trafficking are also involved in drug and labor-trafficking, which leads to an increase in crime, an increase in government spending which in turn leads to increased taxes and fewer dollars for Americans to spend on toys, food, clothes, homes, etc.
We have only analyzed the crime statistics, and the effects pornography has with our wallets and the threats it presents. We have not scratched the surface of porn's influence on government, monetary policy, household expenditures, or even delved into the metaphysical dangers porn presents to society everyday.
Next time you feel the need to defend porn, don't! You're not only wrong, but horribly uninformed, and a supporter of human-rights abuses of people of all ages, races, genders, and religions.
I received many replies and comments from people. Some good, some not very good. But there was one that stuck out. A reader made a comment that many of my readers around various websites have made: "Isn't it better for society to have pornography to use as an outlet for our sexual frustration rather other, more dangerous forms of sexual expression like forced sex [rape], pedophilia [rape], and sodomy?"
I've encountered this argument many times but I haven't addressed it directly. Partly because I never took it seriously, which is a fault of my own, but I also don't see it as valid. In my mind, I see pornography as an evil much like rape.
On the surface of the question; pornography is the preferable choice. I would prefer that a pedophile remain in his house and away from children.
But if we dive deeper into the question there is more than initially meets the eye:
1) Is there a correlation between increased viewing of pornographic material and decreased sexual assaults [rape, molestation, etc]?
-Statistically it's a hard question to answer. There are many variables and the outliers involved. But here are the facts:
The increased viewership of pornography is directly associated with a decreased percentage of rape. According to:
http://www.law.stanford.edu/display/images/dynamic/events_media/Kendall%20cover%20+%20paper.pdf
http://anthonydamato.law.northwestern.edu/Adobefiles/porn.pdf
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3791317?uid=3739768&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=47698863378177
http://www.toddkendall.net/internetcrime.pdf
But is exposure to pornography really the only factor in determining the decrease in incidents of rape over the years?
I would argue that it is not. There may be other factors such as:
1) Public exposure.
- Social media and the internet have revolutionized the way we communicate with each other and the speed in which we do so. What happens in Siberia can be nearly instantaneously transmitted and broadcasted in Wichita, Kansas.
2) Punishment.
-Is the punishment for sexual assault and rape any greater now than it was two decades ago? The answer is no.
3) Are people generally more aware of their surroundings and take greater precautions now?
- Again, no.
4) Do possible offenders feel they have more to lose now than they did in years past?
- Possibly. They might feel more connected to society and more connected in general to the people around them, thanks to social-media and the internet.
5) Are people 'easier'? I mean, is sex with another person easier to achieve today than it was in years' past?
- Yes. Sex is more common and held to greater esteem today than it was a decade, two, or even three decades ago. When women and men alike were held to higher standards and dress codes, media (TV, movies, music, advertisements, etc), and public displays of affection were much more conservative.
Statistically speaking; rape is down, porn is up. And there is indeed a correlation.
This doesn't mean that pornography should be condoned. It simply means that much of American society is without the means to control their sexual urges. Thankfully; as a society, we choose the lesser of the two evils. Unfortunately, we do not choose abstinence and restraint.
SO,
We will now return to the initial question at hand: "Isn't it better for society to have pornography to use as an outlet for our sexual frustration rather other, more dangerous forms of sexual expression like forced sex [rape], pedophilia [rape], and sodomy?"
Again, the face of the question begs the answer YES! But it is to the contrary.
America is not only the largest producer of pornography but she is also its largest consumer. And one more thing: America is also popular destination for sex-trafficking.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdf
According to the statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice [see link directly above], sex trafficking is on the rise. Perhaps coincidentally, there is a correlation between the consumption of pornography and the rise in sex-trafficking.
It is estimated that one in five pornographic pictures on the internet are of under-age children. Many of whom are either forced, or coerced into the industry. And with the rising popularity of cell-phones, many children ranging from the ages of 12-17 are sending naked pictures to a specific love-interest, only for those pictures to end up on the internet.
SO,
Pornography leads to an increase in sex-slaves, child-trafficking, abuse of privacy, and an increase to human-trafficking in general, including drug-trafficking. Many of perpetrators of sex-trafficking are also involved in drug and labor-trafficking, which leads to an increase in crime, an increase in government spending which in turn leads to increased taxes and fewer dollars for Americans to spend on toys, food, clothes, homes, etc.
We have only analyzed the crime statistics, and the effects pornography has with our wallets and the threats it presents. We have not scratched the surface of porn's influence on government, monetary policy, household expenditures, or even delved into the metaphysical dangers porn presents to society everyday.
Next time you feel the need to defend porn, don't! You're not only wrong, but horribly uninformed, and a supporter of human-rights abuses of people of all ages, races, genders, and religions.
State of Affairs.
State of Affairs.
Pornography and material lusts.
I disagree with much the Republican party has to say; but I do not disagree with banning pornography. It's sad to see the state of society these days. A society that embraces pornography under the pretense of liberalization and free-speech, but condemns any expression of religion, morality, and traditional values simply because they are "old".
What good is a nation that cannot produce men who have understand integrity and charity? Why is it so difficult for any person to control themselves? Under such circumstances you may be called a slave to debauchery and immorality. A slave to sin and perversion.
To claim that a person cannot control their desires is to admit failure, and ultimately to help yourself to desires that warm the flesh but yield no growth for the heart. We live in an age where premature ideologies trump the rights that our forefathers fought and died for; many of those forefathers wiser than we are today.
Sarcasm and cynicism prevails as formal communication in an age where no one can speak from the heart because they're too wound up in selfish desires and material lust.
God help us!
What value is there in lust? What good does it do to lust for anything? It is a sad time to live in, one that is justifiably akin to ancient Rome. We have become a den of thieves and a house of predators.
Society does not value matters of the heart; nor does it respect a sincere expression of integrity and honest principles. We have become fixated and obsessed with matters of the flesh and Earthly desires rather than embracing spiritual growth; a growth that always leads to joy, peace, and contentment. A strong spirit yields a good heart, which in turn yields a hard-worker, an honest person, and a character that history forever remembers. It is the honest and committed person who is remembered and immolated and praised; not the sinner.
Yielding to the flesh under the guise of "normality" and forms of cynicism is simply the devil succeeding in his work. People have always resorted to excuses for their mistakes; there is nothing new about that. What is new however, is the common practice of accepting such excuses. Excusing bad behavior because you were born is not an excuse; it is a problem with discernment and judgement. We are all human and we all experience the same emotions and desires, but we choose how to express those desires based upon knowledge and wisdom.
Lust clouds our judgement and ability to make rational decisions; we experience the highs and lows of our emotions rather than the stability that is brought about from rationality, which in turn is narrow band of thinking; the product of spiritual growth. Perhaps that is ludicrousness? We have history to back my claim.We will take a specific range of history; 1700's through the 1800's (commonly referred to as the American Enlightenment [1715-1789]). In this brief history of time we see an explosion of liberalization, self-expression, liberty, and democracy. The American Enlightenment was birthed of collectivized group of highly intellectual individuals within the nation. Part of the enlightenment I personally view with a sense of bias due to the rise of deism, but I also believe that to be beneficial in the long-run as it helped breed a new wave of curiosity.The impact was great, but it did not sever the spiritual faith of some of the great men of valor that eventually became presidents, statesmen, businessmen, and leaders of great renown.Between the 1700's and early 1800's industrialization was just getting its feet wet, and people were curious about a great-deal of political and socio-environmental issues. Undoubtedly, many viewed these issues with a sense of ethnocentrism, but it was through that lens that the worlds greatest nation ever, would arise.
If you study the linguistics and syntax of communication used by people of that time you quickly notice a level of detail and beauty that has sense been unrivaled. Furthermore, you experience poetry, essays, journals, and books that have sense never been equaled in elegance, clarity, sincerity, or acuteness. You also notice a great yearning for learning. People were not only curious, they were rational. Not simply rational as we know the word today (Pythagorean Theorem), they were rational in their ability to take the unimaginable and translate it in such a way that any laymen might understand it without misinterpreting a single syllable. Their sincerity gave life to their words.Art, science, and philosophy were arguably near their peak at this time. The minds and workings of people were outstanding, and incredibly liberal.
Looking back we see a sense of pride, charisma, and general happiness that has not since been equaled even though we live in a world where we have every need covered, and every want and desire easily within reach.
Today's world is much different. There is chaos everywhere; time is of the essence. Time is constantly on our mind and we base our entire lives off of it. Incredible!
Poetry and entertainment have "evolved" into forms of expression that only satisfy our immediate and childish desires. Rather than feeding the soul, modern music, TV, movies, books, and other forms of entertainment prey on the most primitive desires of people like sex, lies, cheating, selfish cravings of vanity and ego.
Sex and erotica in music and TV do not improve the lyrics of a song or the script of a show.Drugs do not change the words that are said. But they do affect the level of discernment of the user, and the interpretation of those words.
Would you rather live on your knees than die on your feet? Is the price of fleshly appeasement worth your soul? Selling yourself to immorality and becoming a slave to quick highs... is that rational? Is that admirable? Is it enjoyable to be as a dog and lick up your own vomit only to throw it up again?
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