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[thucythucy]

138. Some people posting here and elsewhere

might be "trying to ban porn"--not sure how that would even be possible--but I've also seen that quite a few--perhaps the majority--of those posters who raise these concerns also say, up front, "I'm not calling for censorship" or words to that effect. As did I. They're raising questions about the content of porn--some porn anyway--the language and the images used therein--and it's effect on women, both those who work in the industry and those who might suffer collateral effects. In any case, I can only be responsible for my own opinions and posts.

I alluded to how the NAACP picketed showings of"Birth of a Nation" when it was released. Which side would you have been on? The picketers decrying the film's outrageous racism (which, BTW, led to a massive influx of membership into the KKK, and which also, coincidentally? used rape as a teaser for audiences), or those defending the film as "free speech?"

My basic point is: I think it's legitimate to raise questions about porn, as we progressives might raise about any other media product. If a movie contains obvious racist or homophobic content, I'll condemn it. Same with obvious sexist content. If I raise such issues about a movie or even a genre of movies ("snuff" films, "slasher flicks&quot , I wouldn't expect people on a supposedly progressive website to instantly respond with "So you want to ban all Hollywood movies?" or "those people consented to making a racist, homophobic film, so what's your problem?" I suppose it might happen, but I'd be surprised.

I don't see why porn should be any different. And yet there is this visceral reaction to any attempt even to raise these issues, a reaction that I find rather troubling.

Anyway, I think we might have to agree to disagree on this one.