What is Obscene?

[triumph]

I don't really have a problem with community standards ruling. Not everything needs to be done on a state or federal level. However, they can't use those rules to impact people outside their jurisdiction.

 

[sarah]

But they sure will try.

 

[Plumley]

Of all the things we have to worry about, I think obscenity needs to be way down on the list. I'd rather see the government trying to improve the economy or education or health care as opposed to being sure some small time webmaster gets has id from models in content produced by somebody else. We all have different priorities.

 

[Slashmire]

I think that Plumley does sum up the point pretty well. It's a least of many evil....sure it's bad, but it's somewhere on the bottom of the to-do list :\

 

[Hussar]

I don't really have a problem with community standards ruling. Not everything needs to be done on a state or federal level. However, they can't use those rules to impact people outside their jurisdiction.

See, but, there's a problem with that. I was reading an article about the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated where it describes:

He then submits his film for rating, and it receives a predictable NC-17 rating. As this is an indie film, the MPAA won't provide him with specifics about their decision. He asks to have his rating appealed, and is put through an Orwellian process whereby the arbitrators of his appeal (who unanimously vote against him) are kept secret from him. Here his private eye comes to the rescue again, revealing that the neutral arbitration committee includes executives from the major studios (who are presumably easier on their own products than on those of powerless indies), and, incredibly, two members of the clergy.

So, the ratings system is already biased in favour of big money and particular viewpoints. Sure, it might be a great idea, but, then again, it's censorship by the nanny state, only this time, it's special interest groups that are determining those ratings.

 

[sarah]

People just seem to be pulling further and further away from the idea of being responsible for their own actions, and the actions of their children. No one wants to have to worry about stuff like this anymore. Parents just don't want to deal with having to check out what their children are being exposed to, and I think if you are able to breed you should be able to take responsibility for yourself and the children involved.

 

[dong]

This gives me an idea for another thread regarding discipline of children.

 

[Agaric]

I don't really think that we're ever going to come up with a cogent set of guidelines for what constitutes obscenity that a majority can agree on. I personally think that certain things that seem to qualify for ratings boards (especially in film) are a bit skewed. It's bizarre that showing someone getting shot to pieces is a all right as opposed to a scene of love-making.

 

[dong]

A point well documented by satirists all the way down to the MAD magazine. It really does reflect upon the nature of our cultural perception and treatment of violence as opposed to sex. The latter is often a taboo subject but the former...isn't quite so.

 

[lizakollman]

In my opinion, you can't ever protect your kids from seeing bad stuff. They will no matter what. If they have no TV and aren't allowed to watch it, they'll find a playboy somewhere an dlook at pictures anyway. The key is to teach your kids what is good and what is bad, give them morals and values. Cos you can't protect them forever. But they should know what to do when the see something that is inapprorpriate.

 

[lizakollman]

I don't really think that we're ever going to come up with a cogent set of guidelines for what constitutes obscenity that a majority can agree on. I personally think that certain things that seem to qualify for ratings boards (especially in film) are a bit skewed. It's bizarre that showing someone getting shot to pieces is a all right as opposed to a scene of love-making.

its like walmart. they won't sell a cd with swear words, but they'll sell romance novels that are pretty much soft core porn. who decides what is good for our kids and what is bad?