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robbdn · 04-24-2006, 05:22 AM

I just want state, for the record, that the porn in question here is completely legal in Japan, as are pictures of actual naked children. Child porn is NOT legal in Japan (children in sexual situations). I know that naked children would be considered child porn here in the states. Are sex crimes more common in Japan? The statistics say no, but it is also convincingly argued that they are just as common (if not more common) and that most of the alleged sex crimes go unreported. What does this mean to this thread? Nothing more than the fact that this is an incredibly complicated issue. Here are the things I would like to point out:

1) I agree that any form of media that involves either a) consenting adults, or b) is made exclusively by and sold exclusively to consenting adults should be protected under free speech. This is regardless of what is actually being depicted in the media-object.

2) The argument can be just as easily be made that depictions of child pornography prevent "acting out" as the argument that it encourages "acting out." Japan's situation, oddly, supports BOTH of these arguments. I say this not to endorse one position or the other, but to encourage caution in using these arguments, we simply DO NOT KNOW.

3) Finally, Japan allows these materials under a system of STATE-CONTROLLED CENSORSHIP. The "otaku" is regularly marginalized in the mainstream Japanese press, but for some reason this state censorship hasn't seen fit to ban the materials outright. Compare this to America, which supposedly supports freedom of speech and vehemently opposes censorship. Who has more freedom in this situation? Making it illegal to possess these materials IS A FORM OF CENSORSHIP. For that reason alone, I cannot support it. Our freedoms are more valuable to the whole, and for our "broader social good," than is the perceived danger of a minority of perverts (which, oddly enough, happen to be the same mainstream press that "counted down" to the Olsen twins 18th). Prosecute only when a real crime is committed. I feel sorry for the victims, but I feel sorrier for the public that has their freedoms taken away.

04-24-2006, 05:22 AM	#26 (permalink)
robbdn Crazy	I just want state, for the record, that the porn in question here is completely legal in Japan, as are pictures of actual naked children. Child porn is NOT legal in Japan (children in sexual situations). I know that naked children would be considered child porn here in the states. Are sex crimes more common in Japan? The statistics say no, but it is also convincingly argued that they are just as common (if not more common) and that most of the alleged sex crimes go unreported. What does this mean to this thread? Nothing more than the fact that this is an incredibly complicated issue. Here are the things I would like to point out: 1) I agree that any form of media that involves either a) consenting adults, or b) is made exclusively by and sold exclusively to consenting adults should be protected under free speech. This is regardless of what is actually being depicted in the media-object. 2) The argument can be just as easily be made that depictions of child pornography prevent "acting out" as the argument that it encourages "acting out." Japan's situation, oddly, supports BOTH of these arguments. I say this not to endorse one position or the other, but to encourage caution in using these arguments, we simply DO NOT KNOW. 3) Finally, Japan allows these materials under a system of STATE-CONTROLLED CENSORSHIP. The "otaku" is regularly marginalized in the mainstream Japanese press, but for some reason this state censorship hasn't seen fit to ban the materials outright. Compare this to America, which supposedly supports freedom of speech and vehemently opposes censorship. Who has more freedom in this situation? Making it illegal to possess these materials IS A FORM OF CENSORSHIP. For that reason alone, I cannot support it. Our freedoms are more valuable to the whole, and for our "broader social good," than is the perceived danger of a minority of perverts (which, oddly enough, happen to be the same mainstream press that "counted down" to the Olsen twins 18th). Prosecute only when a real crime is committed. I feel sorry for the victims, but I feel sorrier for the public that has their freedoms taken away. __________________ I'm swimming in the digital residue of a media-drenched world. It's too cold.