why is is ok for the government to put harsh laws on our freedoms and interests?

Question

I was looking up some info on ferrdom of speech laws and i found this http://truetales.org/writings/breakingnewsarchives.htm#fbiobscenity
this is hugely important to both people of alternative sexuality and those who believe in freedom of expression and human rights. There is currently a very real threat to the viewing of ‘extreme’ pornography in the UK. How many films or photographs do you possess in print or on your hard drive of people in bondage, being flogged or whipped, etc? If proposed government legislation goes through then you may be convicted, sent to prison for 3 years and put on the Sex Offenders Register – even if the images are acted and consensual.
Concerned? You should be! It is vital that we act NOW to stop this ridiculous legislation – it will be almost impossible once it is introduced to do anything about it and you may find that many of your favourite LiveJournal communities and adult websites are blocked. It may also mean the end of Bizarre mag

If the UK does this then the US will not be far behind. I think it is my right as an American to see and do what i wish. I am not hurting children or you, i am living my own life the way that i feel is right for me.
What is going to come next? Are they going to monitor out thoughts?

What i think bothers me the most is the fact that we think it is ok to kill innocence in the name of God and war, But if we show a nipple we are evil in the eyes of he government.
There is an answer here that bothers me in more ways than one. This guys answer shows the kind of mentality that is taking away our freedoms. I will not move to another country, i have the RIGHT and FREEDOM to be here and EXPRESS what i think and feel. if you are not happy with porn on the internet, dont look for it. If you do not want ur kids to see it, Be a parent and make sure that you know what they are doing or get netnanny. Would you let your children play in traffic? I think that all adults out there know what is on the internet and should know to protect their children. I am not hurting anyone i am, i am simply speaking freely.
I am living a life that is different than yours and i have the right to do it (or did)

immature babble or insults only show your lack of intelligence. This is a real issue and a real topic to discuss. If you want to act like a child take it somewhere else. I am looking for real in depth answers and a real debate.
This is a solid question that needs intelligent answers. So far i can only see 3 answers that are well thought out. I would like to see more. Even if i dont agree with your point of view, i would like to hear it.

Just for the record; I think that child porn is bad. I am talking things that are done with adults.

Answer 1

I can only really speak of the U.S. as the U.K. has a slightly different take on civil rights, but I'm sure that there is common ground.

In the U.S., there are the freedoms mentioned in the Constitution, specifically the first amendment, that include freedom of speech, religion, peaceful assembly, and the press. Pretty much the reasons for these freedoms are to allow for peaceful dissent of government policies and a guarantee that it would not be a crime to do so. It's not exactly freedom of expression or freedom to look at certain types of pictures.

However, part of the idea behind freedom is the ability to act as one wishes as long as it doesn't not infringe on the sensibilities of others. One might have the right to freedom of speech, but along with that should be th converse, which is the freedom to avoid it if we choose.

I think that the same can be said of morality. Some people have a sense of morality that tells them that pornography is a wrong that must be stamped out. The converse of this is simply the right to not be impressed onto with that mentality, assuming that it itself is not impressing back.

Obviously, we want to keep pictures of sexual activities away from where everybody would have little choice in seeing it. This would be a clear violation of the avoidance paradigm. But then the question becomes whether or not private viewing by willing persons (consenting adults) is a danger to society.

I do not believe so. Actually, I'll disagree that child pornography should be prohibited because it "might" lead to criminal behavior, although it should be prohibited because children do not truly have the ability to consent. Given that extreme example, the normal stuff where the models/actors, producers, and viewers are all consenting adults is even less of an issue.

The onus of proof of society-threatening behaviour lies with those that contend that pornography is a moral wrong. I do not think that they can demonstrate a causal relationship. Thus, our freedoms should then include the right to view legitimately-produced material.

I suspect that is the government attempts to regulate this too far that there will be a significant backlash. Unlike the USA PATRIOT act, which places restrictions that I disagree with but still has claims of national benefit, there would be no valid reason for targeting what we choose to read and what we choose to view other than pandering for votes from what I perceive to be a minority in our country. I suspect that with the right argument, there would be enough citizens that would challenge such an assault on freedom of this type. At least I hope so and hope that most of us subscribe to the words of Voltaire, "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Hope that gives a proper answer to your question.

Answer 2

Child abuse is the course of our present and indeed our past society. Every social class, every profession, every religion is involved in it. It has to be cut out like a cancer otherwise we lose all control over the perverts who practice it. If child pornography leads a single person to practice what they have seen on the screen, then the cause must be wiped out. No-one has the right to violate a child and therefore no-one has the right to view that type of material. I believe it is right and proper that someone who has downloaded child porn purposely should be charged, convicted and punished for doing so. They should be removed from our society and monitored when eventually released.
As for Sado/Masocism: it is not a criminal offense in the UK to take part in such a practice(s). However, the only assault in law one can agree to is a common assault - one in which no injury is in fact inflicted. Actual Bodily Harm and above is still a criminal offense even if the parties consent. And so it should be. If not, there are many perverts who will go on to crusifictions, amputations and many more disturbing acts of assault. Another point, is why should such acts, even if simulated, have to be filmed. It is in order to make vast amounts of money from naieve people who should but do not know any better.
Pornography in itself is not a criminal offense but certain acts are if included in the film or publication. Once again, I believe, rightly so, otherwise who knows what will be shown next. Children who have access to such films on the internet are seeing things that my generation could not even imagine and a reading of questions and answers in this forum gives some indication to the direction children are now taking. They seem to think, through pornography I will wager, that anal sex is more normal than vaginal sex. They are not getting any advice on the dangers, the diseases etc., that such a practice can cause.
Finally, I will end by saying that someone must keep a lid, however loose it may seem, on pornography and I would suggest that the Government through legislation is the better method. God forbid the Church should be allowed to get involved other than with their own congregations...............

Answer 3

Every time the government passes a law that limets what kinds of things you can buy, where you can live, how many people can live in a building, they are taking away some of your freedom. When the government taxes you they are taking away some of your economic freedom. Many people have to work for months just to pay their taxes. When ever the government takes money from someone and gives it to anyone else they are taking away our freedom. When the government drafts people into the military or has mandatory service as the president is recommending they are taking away years of someones life, that is a lot of lost freedom. The government should only make things illegal that infringe on another individuals right to life, liberty, or property.

Answer 4

Porn is a different animal then when I was a youth. In the 60s and 70s Playboy and Penthouse as it. Penthouse was racey. As a kid sneaking peeks it was fairly normal. Now porn is at virtually every turn of the net, porn that exploits children, and depicts sex slaves bound or getting pissed or crapped I deem beyond the pail.

I believe child porn, should be strictly prohibited. And punishment should be harse and swift.

The depiction of people in degrading situation leads to societal behaviors that mirror "art".. Seeing somone peeing or defecating on someone is sickening. I do believe what happens between consenting adults is between them. But porn takes people out of the equation except for those who are used in the depictions. It does raise concerns about human rights.. Should it be necessary for you to see a naked woman getting beaten to get off? If so, perhaps you need to seek psychological counseling. "Alternative Sex" as you call it, is libertine to some degree but in a very real sense degradation of another human is a form of control, which violates their rights consenting or not.
Many victims of sex slave trade exist throughout the world and are forced into situation of this type without knowledge of the human rights laws.

By downloading these items you are contributing to this problem. Does it make you the same as the person acting as the pimp in the slave trade? To some degree yes.

It is not a matter of freedom of speech.. Your "freedom of speech" concerns are at a cost to someone else's dignity.

In days prior to pop-up blockers and spyware detectors porn sites infiltrated many home PCs.. This is want I call an offensive violation of privacy..

Think about the people on the other end of your whacking off.. Perhaps you'll gain a different perspective.

Answer 5

It's not ok but this country is guided by religions that do not agree. They think they have the right to be able to tell every one what they can and cannot do. They do this because they cannot handle anything out of the ordinary they want this world to be just like them well I say to hell with them if it makes you feel good and you are not hurting anyone then what is wrong with it? The human body is the most beutiful thing on this planet. Censorship is what's ugly. If someone is offended by someone naked then they have problems that go way beyond what is normal.

Answer 6

Um, dud? Your slip is showing. First of all, its the governments job to take care of society as a whole. If some types of behavior are termed "harsh" by certain groups it doesn't indicate the law is harsh, its just an opinion by some group. Point two, you can't be charged in violation of a formerly practiced incident if and when the practice of the incident becomes illegal. Point three, the very first criminal conviction of any law such as you describe will be pushed all the way to the Supreme Court by All Crazy Liberals Unite (ACLU), before a final decision would be reached. Point four, would you please move to a different country?

Answer 7

Unfortunately, people are too lazy and judgemental to want to fight a law like that. You're right. Once it's introduced, the game will be over. But then, we've been losing our freedoms for years. Nobody cares, that's the bottom line. I'm no child molester, but I do wonder where people expect them to live, if everyone is saying 'Not In My Backyard!'. Seems pretty hypocritical to me.

Answer 8

People fear what they do not understand and that leads to efforts to "stamp out" the horrors of the world, as seen by those who think that they are affected by what you or I do in the privacy of our homes.
The media does not help. Most times that an S&M theme is touched on, it is portrayed as a non-consensual act with no mention of the planning, negotiation, discussion and collaboration that goes into a scene.
The government really needs to get the heck out of my bedroom.

Answer 9

Hey I'm with you babe. Someone needs to put a stop to it. Once the governments ban one thing they will start banning another. And to put someone on the registered sex offenders list for doing something between two consenting adults is down right ludicrous.

Answer 10

Vote Libertarian