From: vimrich@athena.mit.edu (Vernon R Imrich) Newsgroups: alt.censorship Subject: Re: porn, censorship Date: 8 Feb 1994 04:28:15 GMT Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lines: 110 Message-ID: <2j74cv$o3i@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU> References: Keywords: pornography, censorship In article , n9330101@scooter.cc.wwu.edu (Gwen Hunter) writes: |> Am researching the free speech defense of the violent subjugation of |> women, children, and men via pornography, and would like your input as to |> how to deal with the effects of these messages on our culture. I believe |> that snuff films, portrayals of incest, etc. do reflect a sickness in our |> culture as well as promote this sickness. I am researching the free speech defense of the violent subjugation of property and property rights via socialism, and would like your input. I believe that socialist/communist magazines reflect a sickness in our culture as well as promote this sickness. |> Case in point, our local |> neighborhood pharmacy stocks 27 porn titles, two of which are devoted to |> describing the 'pleasures of incest' from the standpoint of the victims. |> My foster daughter's father was convicted of statutory rape. Upon his |> arrest, she came to live with us and I took her to her dad's apartment for |> her clothes. It was littered with this type of porn, which he had |> purchased from this pharmacy. Case in point, our university library stocks at least 5 socialist magazines, one of which is devoted to the eventual violent workers revolution that will socialize the world. A so-called "peace activist" who was a FORMER HONOR STUDENT recently turned herself in after 23 years on the lam for her involvement in the MURDER of a Boston police officer. It was found that she had become involved with the robbery of banks to fund the purchase of weaponry through extremist political literature. |> I honestly believe he thought these kids |> were enjoying what he was doing to them, ala these magazine depictions. I |> also think he must have been sick to begin with, but this drug store |> nourished this sickness. I honestly believe she thought these actions were helping to bring about the liberation she wanted, ala these magazine descriptions. I also think she was misguided to begin with, but these magazines nourished this ignorance. |> |> This store is 4 blocks from my daughter's elementary school. Over the |> course of last year, 4 of her friends, while walking home from school, |> were followed and grabbed at by men in cars. There have been 5 such |> incidents reported so far this year. How do you reconcile the free speech |> defense of such porn with its effect in the real world? Where does my |> daughter's right to walk safely in her neighborhood fit into this schema? This library is INSIDE my university. Over the course of last year several activists have tried to disrupt classes, and have previously tried to shut down the university over its foreign investments. How do you reconcile the free speech defense of such incitement with its effect in the real world? Where does my right to avoid political indoctrination fit into this scheme? |> |> I have read several studies of the effects of this type of porn on its |> viewers, and they are best summarized in the following conclusion drawn by |> Victoria O'Donnell: "Observed sexual aggression may evoke |> aggression-facilitating responses....individual predispositions are a |> major factor in determining the effects of pornography on individuals." |> (Victoria O'Donnell, "The Pornography Controversy: Issues, Effects |> Research & First Amendment Rights." 11/14/1986) I have read several accounts of the effects of marxist theories on worldwide revolutionaries. They are best summarized in the historical accounts of the Khmer Rouge, and communist Russia. Apparently, the aggressive revolutionary elements of Marxist theory led to aggression-facilitating responses. Individual national predispostions are a major factor in determining the effect of Marxist literature on nations however. (Various Newspapers over the last 20 years). |> So we nurture violent |> aggression in such individuals under the protection of free speech rights, |> even though it leads to mutilation, physical and psychic, of human beings. |> There is something terribly wrong with this picture (these pictures). So we nurture violent revolution in such individuals under the protection of free speech rights even though it leads to honor students being involved with bombings and murder and the mass killing and destruction of civil war. There is something terribly wrong with this dogma (these dogmas). |> |> I agree that free speech is critical to our democracy. But there's got to |> be a way of addressing this sickness without undermining democracy. I agree with free political opposition. But there's got to be a way of addressing this subversive literature without undermining democracy. |> Actually, we don't live in a democracy. If we did, we could all walk the |> streets safely. Violent porn is undermining democracy. |> |> What are your thoughts about this? |> Actually, we don't live in a democracy. If we did, we could all walk the streets without fear of communist/socialist infiltration. Marxist theory is undermining democracy. What are your thoughts about this? -- P.S. Apologies to the Marxists out there, but the similarity to the McCarthy "communist scare" was irresistable. -------------------------------------------------------------------- | Vernon Imrich |*. . .. . . . ** . .* ' . . '. . . | | MIT OE, Rm 5-329b | You've just crossed over into; . * . ..| | Cambridge, MA 02139 | . .* . THE . .. . . .* . . * | | | . . .. . T W I L I G H T . .. . . .* | | 617-253-3910 |: . * ' .. .* . . Z O N E . . .* . | --------------------------------------------------------------------