Free Speech, Porn And Internet Controls

dragons_flight writes: "The US Supreme Court is starting their next session, and on the docket are two cases that pit internet controls vs free speech as applied to porn. The first case will decide whether the government can force online providers to use age verification systems before allowing access to material deemed 'harmful to minors.' The second case deals with whether computer generated imitation porn can be treated with the same laws as porn involving real people (the particular case deals with child pornography). This news article discusses these and other issues before the court. Also ACLU commentary on the upcoming docket." The second of these cases was discussed before, in "Virtual Child Porn: Is It Illegal?"

Comments

Re:Personally I'd think...

[issachar]

As for the child porn, for starters I think that if you get a kick out of that then there is something seriously wrong with you, but that feeling aside I can't see why "virtual" child porn should be illegal. The arguments against real life child porn is the exploitation of children, which is perfectly understandable. However if you get a kick out of seeing some sort of 3 year old alien that's virtual, or a pair of boots, or anything else that's virtual, hey, whatever turns your crank.

Except for the fact of course that the availability of "virtual" child porn will increase the number of child molestations. That's a big statement, I know, but consider regular porn for a minute. Regular porn makes one think of sex, thinking of sex tends to make people want to have sex, and people tend to carry out their desires.

That's not to say that "virtual" child porn will turn everyone into pedophiles. I'm not claiming that. But one shouldn't endulge a "lifestyle" (I can't believe I just called it that), that is harmful to children. (Or to people in general).