Re: Morality Challenge No.2: Re: Genocide and Kiddie Porn?

[burnvictim77]

"Do are you say thing..." Man - I'm not sure what was going on in my mind when I typed that. :) I think it is a combination of "do you mean to say" and "are you saying you think."

[picassolama]

lol..I had to read it three times, but I figured it out :-)

[burnvictim77]

So, you also are of the opinion that child pornography is not determined by how it was created, but by how it is interpreted by the on-looker?

[picassolama]

Of course. Intent does not always reflect outcome, simple psychology. However, if an adult creates images, literature, or other media depicting children in sexual arosing circumstances, this would constitute child pornography. My response to you was based on the scenarios presented. We can always imagine an act which oversteps the bounds of societal norms.

[burnvictim77]

I'm a little confused. So, we should be punishing these two despite the fact that THEY are the supposed victims of the crime, and they gave their full adult consent?

[picassolama]

The issue is not if they are the 'victim' of a crime, the issue is distributing the material to the general population. I have no problem with it being created when they are 15, but to distribute the material after turning 18 does constitute a breach of the public's trust. You have not addressed the addiction of pedophiles, and the stimulus they crave.

[picassolama]

I believe it was gOat who stated in his text video if the couple wished to distribute a video of them having sex, then why not simply make another? Why submit a video with a possible negative impact on society, i.e., feeding a pedophiles weakness? I understand what you are asking, they made it, they own it, they can choose what to do with it. That's very individualistic, which promotes self-responsibility...a pedophile is responsible for his/her own sickness, not society.

[burnvictim77]

I think you are getting into the concept of legislating psychology. Do are you say thing if we create the proper environment socially, there would be no pedophiles?

[picassolama]

Are laws created as a deterence, or are they simply created for punishment? Yes, we do legislate behavior in many ways, pornography, in any form, would be a valid example of this.

[burnvictim77]

I'll have to ask this more straightforward then: Do you think exposure to images that suggest child molestation cause people to desire to molest child?

[picassolama]

Perhaps. I'm not saying being exposed to such images would by default result in someone becoming a child molestor, but the possibility exists. One could argue molestation itself is the greatest cause of future molestation, not looking at images or videos. I believe the images could trigger hidden urges, if the opportunity presented itself.

[burnvictim77]

One could argue that creating a taboo topic actually creates the interest to seek it out. One could argue that the judge who makes the ruling that this video should be confiscated is actually doing a disservice to society. One could argue that in the absence of "simulated porn" people with these urges are left no recourse but to create the real thing for themselves.

[picassolama]

Truly stated, and all of these arguments should be addressed in the social context in which they reside.

[burnvictim77]

And of course, all of these things would be entirely unfounded on anything but speculations, just like your 'what-ifs.'

[picassolama]

whoa...you created the 'what-if' with the morality challenge!

[burnvictim77]

I'm refering to the what-if being exposed to kiddie porn creates pedophiles.

[picassolama]

ah...the cause and effect. Research would reveal if viewing child porn leads to pedophilia, just as it has addressed child molestation and child abuse. Personally I have not researched it, so I can not substantiate the claim there is cause and effect.