'I was 13. I thought that's what was expected of me'

[canetoad]

Three clicks. That’s all it takes to move from a popular adult site’s homepage to a video in which men dressed as soldiers rape a screaming “village girl”. Three more clicks and there’s a naked teenager crying helplessly as a man puts his hand around her neck against her will.

The videos are free. And none of the world’s most popular porn sites visited by this masthead, which show men treating women with violence and coercion prohibited under Australian law, stipulated the content was for adults, or required users to check a box confirming that they were over 18.

Amid deepening concern that adolescents’ easy, free access to a vast array of adult material is normalising gendered violence in adolescent sex – some teens say their first sexual experience involved a hand around their neck – the nation will soon begin debating whether to restrict access to minors. Those concerned include the NSW’s Children’s Court president and the head of the state’s child abuse squad.

The eSafety Commission has handed in its report on how Australia could introduce an age verification road map to the federal government, a move that could also restrict children’s access to violent gaming and gambling. Age restriction can range from government-issued “certificates” to technology that scans a user’s facial characteristics to assess their age. The government is due to respond soon.

More: https://archive.md/TfwL7
Or: https://www.theage.com.au/national/i-was-13-i-thought-that-s-what-was-expected-of-me-20230426-p5d3fh.html

[Hekate]

1. Good luck, and I mean that sincerely

[canetoad]

2. Thanks pal

No better time than under a Labor government.

[ahlnord]

3. OK as long as you have reached a certain age?

Of course, this content of violent pornography is harmful to minors, but is it not harmful to everyone? I don't understand how it gets better for someone over 18 or 21 to view it. Does this analysis take into consideration only the impact on the mind of a minor to see such things? How about the impact on women and girls everywhere who are depicted in such salacious and humiliating and dangerous scenes? Why is the degradation of women somehow acceptable? We would balk at the degradation -- for sexual titillation and entertainment -- of blacks tormented by whites, or Jews tormented by Nazis, etc. Why are women fair game? The scenes of sexual violence played out on screen and in porn videos arouse men to enact them in real life. This is harmful to everyone ... period. An age limit doesn't make it "ok."

[canetoad]

4. The article is about teens

It is long and detailed.

Why should it cover all those other topics?

[chowder66]

5. [phone]

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. If it makes you feel any better ...

On these types of sites, there are also BDSM videos portraying men torturing/humiliating other men, women torturing/humiliating men, and women torturing/humiliating other women

It's acting, these people are getting paid, or at least they're doing it because they enjoy it sexually. In fact, men often PAY to be in these types of porn videos where they're being dominated and humiliated by a sexy woman.

And I actually know women who enjoy watching these types of porn as well, and having the experiences depicted in them (consensually).

Is it good for society to have this out there? Probably not, because so many people aren't that great at discerning reality, I'd grant you that.

But I'm way more worried about young people accessing it than I am about adults.

[The Magistrate]

7. It Is An Interesting Conundrum, Sir

Sadomasochism does exist, it is effectively a sexual orientation, in which people do engage consensually, and pornographies will be produced for the market they provide. What persons of this orientation see in such materials will be quite other than what is seen by persons otherwise oriented.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Florida CONservatives restrict rights-affirming sex education for children. Perpetuates attitudes

The CONservative attitude tends to view women and children as possessions to be dominated. Parental rights trump human rights, it seems.

By restricting sex education and forbidding discussion of sex in other classrooms, you end up with victimized teens like the thread title (which is about Australia, but universally applicable). Thus "traditional" attitudes are perpetuated and CONs are happy. Too many CON women have bought into or been indoctrinated into the subservient role.

[2naSalit]

9. Why is...

Sexual abuse a form of entertainment?

[Marcuse]

10. We could pose the same question regarding physical abuse.

[2naSalit]

11. Okay...

That's not an answer, only whataboutism.

The question is, why is sexual (and other) abuse entertainment?

[Marcuse]

12. I'd posit vicarious living, for the most part.

[malthaussen]

13. Vicarious relief of frustration.

The question about such entertainment will always be whether the vicarious relief is greater than the potential encouragement/normalization.

There's plenty of entertainment I don't understand (eg, horror movies), but if watching other people pretend to do something can keep an individual from actually doing it, then it's performing a service (however odd). Reminds me of that line in "Sweet Cream Ladies," "They might keep a simple fellow out of jail." I'd say it's better to blow off steam watching a video, than to do so actually by assaulting someone.

Again, there are plenty of arguments against any and all violent entertainment, as to whether they encourage the violence they depict or not. Most of the research I've seen suggests not; most of the clamor of the media suggests they do.

-- Mal

[2naSalit]

14. ...

I don't find those reasons satisfactory at all. Think this form of "entertainment" is a psychological problem on a cultural level.

I have a lot to say about it and don't mean to truncate the discussion with this simple response because I actually have a response that is quite lengthy but I don't have time to write it out at the moment. I'll try to come back and do that but I have shit that has to get done right now.

[malthaussen]

15. I have plenty of thoughts on it too.

I don't think reasons are always satisfactory, though. When it comes to the thornier problems, almost never.

-- Mal

[Brenda]

16. I agree with you. Kinda disgusting people defend this shit.

How many people watch horror movies and act them out IRL? Tiny number.

Yet, rape affects nearly half of all women and girls. Human trafficking is such a horrendous issue I see stickers in public toilet stalls giving numbers to call for help for those people caught in that world wide network. Hundreds of thousands of missing indigenous women and girls today....most found have been raped and tortured.

One in four women in the armed services report sexual assault by fellow servicemen.

So, no. It is not just like watching Friday the 13th.