#1 09-12-16 02:59:49

viva

pretty pretty princess

Registered: 14-05-10

Posts: 4,113

Website

advanced censorship in the UK

have you guys been following this stuff? It is getting absolutely draconian over there. It's not long ago that Dreams of Spanking, one of my favourite spanking sites was shut down - and now it's getting more intense. It's one thing to not be allowed to produce any porn with like squirting or fisting or peeing or anything fun. It's another not to be allowed to look at it at all?

so scary

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ … ornography

viva

pretty pretty princess

Registered: 14-05-10

Posts: 4,113

Website

Re: advanced censorship in the UK

here's a less dry article written by our sad and confused peers

http://www.dirgemag.com/pandora-blake-s … p-uk-porn/

and pandora  blake from Dreams of Spanking:

KilgoreT13

Member

Registered: 27-10-16

Posts: 4

Re: advanced censorship in the UK

I'm a little late to this party, but it's interesting enough that I think it's worth the time.

I've heard tidbits of things from people on that side of the pond that I follow on the webernets. There are a lot of different angles to approach criticizing the policy - but for me it comes down to the base level of a kind of moral humility. That is to say, (current context aside) there are a lot of things in life that I don't value, or might evaluate negatively, but I don't think I have any special authority to morally censure someone because I don't have a positive stance on what they do. So I'm very skeptical of people or organizations who think they do have that special authority. For my own purposes, I think there has to be a case made to me that some harm is being done, or could be done (via inaction) for me to feel like I have any special authority to morally censure people, and the same I think ought to go for elected officials.

For this specific case, I can even try to strengthen the position of the sort of person who would push that legislation. They obviously hold a view that could be described as morally conservative (likely with some religious component) such that they believe it reflects a moral failing on the people that make and the people that consume, speaking broadly, fetish-type media. I can even suppose that it's actually true (though I don't believe that it is) that consuming that type of media makes you morally worse. Even at this stage, the argument is a pragmatic one, you would need to show that it's worth devoting resources to combating this moral failing above other already identified areas of moral failing within a society. And, I don't think the argument is there to do that even with all the previous points allowed without contest.

What I think it comes down to is a sort of political expediency without a ready opposition. Conservative-minded types can score easy points by coming out publicly against it. (Of course, not to speak of the lingering hypocrisy of them needing to research the specifics enough to know what exactly to ban.) Few politicians are going to come out publicly in defense of fetish-type porn even if they hold views to the effect that they don't think it's the government's business to regulate those sorts of specifics. It's like handing any future political opponent a quick and easy way to slander you into laughability. So, I think this is definitely one of those kinds of issues that the public would have to voice opposition to, in a coalition  with a broad message.

richard

Administrator

Registered: 14-03-06

Posts: 3,395

Re: advanced censorship in the UK

Few politicians are going to come out publicly in defense of fetish-type porn even if they hold views to the effect that they don't think it's the government's business to regulate those sorts of specifics. It's like handing any future political opponent a quick and easy way to slander you into laughability. So, I think this is definitely one of those kinds of issues that the public would have to voice opposition to, in a coalition  with a broad message.

A political radical in this country canvassed a great deal of financial support from the adult industry over a 10+ year period, on the promise that she would put up a bill in parliament to soften the laws around the production and sale of X rated content.  "Get me elected and I'll change the laws" she'd say, and the industry cheered, but I would point out (while signing cheques), it takes more than one vote to pass a bill, and no politician with any career ambitions is going to put their hand up to pro-porn law reform.   In a climate of sex positivity including a huge support for marriage equality she finally got elected to the senate, but after 2 years of focusing on abortion and drug reform, not a peep about the adult industry.

aven frey

Video editor

Registered: 24-02-06

Posts: 2,577

Website

Re: advanced censorship in the UK

Few politicians are going to come out publicly in defense of fetish-type porn even if they hold views to the effect that they don't think it's the government's business to regulate those sorts of specifics. It's like handing any future political opponent a quick and easy way to slander you into laughability. So, I think this is definitely one of those kinds of issues that the public would have to voice opposition to, in a coalition  with a broad message.

A political radical in this country canvassed a great deal of financial support from the adult industry over a 10+ year period, on the promise that she would put up a bill in parliament to soften the laws around the production and sale of X rated content.  "Get me elected and I'll change the laws" she'd say, and the industry cheered, but I would point out (while signing cheques), it takes more than one vote to pass a bill, and no politician with any career ambitions is going to put their hand up to pro-porn law reform.   In a climate of sex positivity including a huge support for marriage equality she finally got elected to the senate, but after 2 years of focusing on abortion and drug reform, not a peep about the adult industry.

It's a smart move. If she were to come into parliament guns blazing for the porn industry no one would take her seriously, no one would support any of her bills. Instead she has aggressively focused on urgent law reform that supports some of the most marginalised people. She was able to get her first bill, which was a legally mandated area around abortion clinics where people were not allowed to protest adopted by the state government and put into law. I was really proud of this. Now she is working hard on drug reform and right to die issues.
Progress is hard, it's incremental and I think you should feel good Richard that you've at times supported someone who is fighting for these people ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm6yppmfGg8

Also, everyone watch this link! This whole series is incredible.

richard

Administrator

Registered: 14-03-06

Posts: 3,395

Re: advanced censorship in the UK

Er, I think 2 years of silence is not exactly one step down from "going in with all guns blazing".    She has had one bill passed, and it was a bill which affected a few hundred people a year, at most.  She solicited lots of money from the adult industry on a platform of "get me elected and I'll change things" and we've not heard a thing.   I made enquiries several months ago, but nothing has come back.  TWO YEARS.  A lot of people are disappointed.  They are called the Sex Party, not the Drug Reform Party.   I certainly would not have given them any financial support if I'd forseen this outcome.