Free Speech = Free Porn
Labors of a Digital Pimp was featured on Fleshbot a couple of days ago; if you missed him then, you’ll want to check him out now. He’s had excellent coverage of the Alito nomination process and how it could impact the average surfer’s porn viewing (free speech = free porn; less freedom of speech equals less freedom of expression for smutmongers, equals less free porn). What I really like is how easy he makes it to get involved in the process and that he points out just how much less likely politicians would be to go after porn if fans of adult entertainment weren’t ashamed to stand up for it.
His last point is his best: “And it is clear: Pornography is not Obscenity. The Rove machine, and other cultural warriors have done everything they can to blend those boundaries, and it is time to take back those terms and reframe the debate based on law, not smirking, adolescent innuendo from the religious extremists…”
Make no mistake about it, this is a cultural battle, and the “other side” is in it for the long haul. It cuts across party lines: neither red nor blue has a monopoly on individual liberty or the right to read, purchase, and produce works of fiction and fantasy. There is a strong push right now toward believing that ideas are harmful. No creatively sexual society can thrive when those guys are unopposed (and our society is pretty damn creatively sexual).
February 11th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
As scary as it can be as a consumer of porn (or other services/products related to the sex industry), I really wish more people would speak up and defend their rights to it. I do not think it is enough for us as service providers, sex workers, pornographers etc.. to be at the front lines. I think being joined by consumers en masse would be radical and powerful.
February 12th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
I think you’re right. As long as no one admits to wanting it, they’ll be able to put a hell of a lot of crap legislation through. If this “it’s okay to like porn” feeling keeps growing though, it just might happen…