Porn in Libraries versus Free Exchange of Ideas – Who is Right? (Possible Poll)

(LONG POST) bring snacks

Eli raises some good points, but there’s a few that I have to comment on. I’m not trying to start a flame war, nor am I trying to debase someone’s opinions. But, from research I personally undertook, I have different views which I think deserve mention.

People pay for cable to view what they want and no one can or should stop them.

There’s this government entity called the FCC, whose sole purpose is to stop people from seeing things on TV and cable that the FCC finds offensive. Keep that in mind, the FCC defines the nature of offensive material- not us.

The public library serves everyone and is funded by taxes. In a sense the public is a shareholder and as such has rights to speak and express their opinions.

So is the military, the police, the FBI, the CIA, and yes, even the FCC. And while we have rights to speak for or against any of these organizations, the organizations always seem to maintain a right to ignore public opinion and do as they damn well please. All in the name of some code of professionalism and the nature of the occupations. That doesn’t mean libraries can’t, or shouldn’t be different. But this argument grows old and tired upon closer examination. There’s a lot of things funded by taxes that no one gets a say in except a handful of politicians.

Porn depicts debased behavior, disrespect for women and is not free from causing harm.

Meanwhile, I could put forth that there’s plenty of porn that depicts nothing other than sexual acts which are an underlying fundamental drive in almost every human being on the planet. Damn near everything that lives has a sex drive. The disrespect for women is up for grabs too. Sure there’s plenty of disreputable adult film makers, just like there’s plenty of disreputable used car salesmen and plenty of disreputable librarians. However, I’ve spoken with porn actresses who work for the reputable movie makers. And there’s a few discrepancies with the old “harmful to women” argument that need pointing out:

• Women are almost always paid more than men. Even first time actresses stand a chance of making more than a veteran male performer.
• Not all porn actresses are dumbass bimbos. Asia Carrera is a member of MENSA, Nina Hartley is an RN, and the list goes on. Women get into porn for much the same reasons anyone gets into a career- because it’s good money.
• Porn is no more harmful than violent TV shows, video games, or cowboys and indians. If we’re to blame society’s woes on porn, then at least some blame should rest with beer commercials too. I can’t think of anything “free from causing harm.” I’ve trained in two different styles of ninjutsu, and I’ve studied a lot of crime. I can honestly say that I could kill a full grown man with a teddy bear.
• There are more than a few feminist porn actresses. Nina Hartley, in particular is a very active feminist.

Would libraries allow materials on how to build a bomb, do a terrorist act, or promote racial hatred?

Yes we do, yes we should. I have books in my library that detail how a bomb is built. Even the best filters can’t filter out pipe bomb construction sites if you look hard enough. And there’s plenty of books around libraries that speak to and against racial intolerance. Like that “Opposing Viewpoints” series says, those who don’t understand their opponent’s arguments cannot fully understand their own.

Why does porn and its harmful piece have a certain immunity?

Porn doesn’t have a special immunity. There’s plenty of other stuff on the net and in print that’s just as offensive, if not more. There’s sites and books all about crime with pictures of dead bodies, mutilated remains, and bloody corpses. It’s just that, for some reason, those aren’t half as popular as looking at naked people. If it were, people would be screaming about that. Porn enjoys the same immunity as R rated films. Keep in mind, almost all R rated films depict graphic violence and not so graphic sex. It’s very possible to have lots and lots of graphic violence and almost no sex- like horror films. Meanwhile, most X rated features present graphic sex with little to no violence. So which is better?

If someone had a book or web site that advocated harming a certain ethnic group or even using that group as a means to debase their traditions and mores would librarian’s defend their inclusion?

Yes, my library has a book which advocates harming certain ethnic groups and using that group to debase traditions. It’s called the Bible. Shall we pull that one from our shelves? I’m a pagan, and the Bible (Leviticus among others) says that I should die. But ya know what, I’ve yet to register a complaint.

Porn does the same thing to women. helpless people, and humanity in general.

I’ve found this to be an argument among a lot of conservative type folks, but also among a few liberals too. There’s this idea that porn is harmful to women, yet there’s tons of women in porn and even more that like porn, and even more that defend porn. Margaret Cho has appeared on the cover of Ms. magazine, and she has spoken publicly in favour of porn. Besides, a lot of women I know would take great exception to being grouped with “helpless people.”

The biggest problem with all the research into media and violence is with people like me. I’ve watched porn, I have no problem with porn, hell I’ll come out and say it “I like porn.” I play violent video games. (Half Life 2 and Doom 3 rock.) I watch violent movies. (I adore Japanese horror films. Believe me, when it comes to graphic violence, America has nothing on Japan.) I read violent books. (Long live Hamilton and Robb) I carry a gun. I’m well versed in blades and blunts and I’m a martial artist. In spite of that, I don’t want to kill anyone. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Hell, I don’t even wanna make someone cry. So where’s the connection?

As a last word, and speaking of Japan, you really have to hand it to our almond eyed friends across the Pacific pond. Japan produces some of the most violent movies in the world. They have some truely depraved pornography, both film and printed. Tokyo packs millions into small spaces. Indeed there are plenty of Japanese porn movies which depict violent and gruesome rape along with bloody torture. Sounds like a perfect formula for a violent society, no? Except that Tokyo has one of the world’s lowest crime rates. All research against violent media ends at Tokyo because there’s where it all falls flat like a bad flan.