Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

I like my porn and I will fight to keep access to it.

It's up to the parents not the state on what is right and wrong for a minor to see. I think that currant laws are enough. Child Porn is a crime... go after those that harm children. 18 year old or older laws for access to porn is fine by me also. But that's not really going to stop children from getting it.

Before the day of the internet, getting porn was just as easy. It's called a magazine. I remember being 12-13 years old and getting them all the time. Porn and children are a normal thing though also. The Human Body becomes sexually active far before the age of 18-21. I believe that limiting it's access to minors is okay but going after a 16 year old male or female is a waste of time and resources. Teenagers will look at porn. Simple as that.

As an adult. I enjoy adult entertainment. When I was in a relationship my partner enjoyed it also. We were both adults. She watched and viewed as much adult material as I did.

Parents should have filters on their personal computers. It should not be a state mandated program.

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Just coming out of South Florida, a certain milforum member actually said something mmarsh actually agrees with, in the weather Hell has reported 14 inches of snow and the Knicks will win the NBA Finals. (Ok the last is abit of wishful thinking).

Unfortunately what you are describing to me comes across as a mixture of kids growing up and failed parenting, lets be realistic here no matter how old we are we all pushed the boundaries in the process of growing up but most of us knew where to stop and that was usually well short of blowing up a tanker or killing someone.

I would contend if asked the kid knew what he was doing was seriously wrong and as such should be punished accordingly from this he should learn at least where one boundary is. I would also be very happy if his parents were billed for any damages he may have incurred that way they might spend more time explaining the seriousness of boundaries and less time assuming he knew something.

I've got my own views on parental responsibility, however the government have already emasculated parents in the raising of their children, so now it is up to them to help offset the effects of their actions.

I would agree and worst of all they have also managed to emasculate the police and schools in dealing with kids at their end (at least in this part of the world) as well which leads me to believe that the government is not capable of making the decisions that your one is trying to.

Originally Posted by MontyB

Unfortunately what you are describing to me comes across as a mixture of kids growing up and failed parenting, lets be realistic here no matter how old we are we all pushed the boundaries in the process of growing up but most of us knew where to stop and that was usually well short of blowing up a tanker or killing someone.

I also did some things that had I been caught would have had far reaching consequences for my future, a mixture of sly cunning and enormous good luck meant that I wasn't caught. In fact, I would go so far as to say that bye and large, I was regarded as a "good kid" in the community.

I'm sure that my parents went to their graves thinking that they had been good parents, they certainly set good examples.

I would contend if asked the kid knew what he was doing was seriously wrong and as such should be punished accordingly from this he should learn at least where one boundary is. I would also be very happy if his parents were billed for any damages he may have incurred that way they might spend more time explaining the seriousness of boundaries and less time assuming he knew something.

I'm only guessing here, but I'd say the kid did as he did thinking not so much in terms of whether it was right or wrong, but that he would not be caught. This is a well accepted and understood tenet in criminology. I would argue that this type of behaviour is more prevalent in kids who are given lots of leeway, and exacerbated by bad social examples by adults.

The fact that adults are not willing to limit such things as porn on a public system such as the internet is a good example of adults making irresponsible decisions. If they can do it, why can't I? We all know how quickly kids will pickup on these little signals that we send either individually or as a group.

In short, not doing something about easily accessible porn on the Internet sends the wrong message entirely.

I would agree and worst of all they have also managed to emasculate the police and schools in dealing with kids at their end (at least in this part of the world) as well which leads me to believe that the government is not capable of making the decisions that your one is trying to.

The fact that the Government has made a series of poor decisions in the past, is no reason why they should be prevented from trying to at least limit the damage in the future.

Originally Posted by senojekips

In short, not doing something about easily accessible porn on the Internet sends the wrong message entirely.

To a certain point I agree with you however where does it stop?

We have a lot of obese people in this world should the government step in and tell us what we can and can't eat?

There are a lot of slogans on things people find offensive should the government control those as well?

I really do believe we spend far to much time avoiding a measure self control and responsibility by abdicating it to our respective governments.

Originally Posted by MontyB

To a certain point I agree with you however where does it stop?

It never stops. It never has, and it never will, life goes on and the rules that govern it must change with the times. The day it "stops", civilization as we know it (or desire it to be) begins to die.

We have a lot of obese people in this world should the government step in and tell us what we can and can't eat?

There are a lot of slogans on things people find offensive should the government control those as well?

All of these things are being looked at as we speak and are more or less under constant review. Mainly at the insistence of the taxpaying public. In Australia, there would not be a week that goes by where someone or another, is not demanding that the Government control the eating habits of our kids, advertising of junk food etc. (and also for adults although not quite as often)

I really do believe we spend far to much time avoiding a measure self control and responsibility by abdicating it to our respective governments.

I agree 100%. Unfortunately this is all bought about because some people just won't take responsibility and don't wish to exercise self control.

As much as it would be nice to be able to run our own lives there is a responsibility by government to enact laws for the greater good especially where the effect of their action or inaction affect the public purse. Once again when looked at, this is almost always at the insistence of the public who are sick of paying for the results of previous Government mismanagement and inaction on the complainant's personal hobby horse.

Personally I think that the government absolutely love these little campaigns as it keeps the public eye off the real problems, such as Government waste. But that could be the subject of a thread all on it's own.

Originally Posted by senojekips

All of these things are being looked at as we speak and are more or less under constant review. Mainly at the insistence of the taxpaying public. In Australia, there would not be a week that goes by where someone or another, is not demanding that the Government control the eating habits of our kids, advertising of junk food etc. (and also for adults although not quite as often

Are you sure its at the insistence of the tax paying public or the insistence of a few busy bodies who believe that they know whats best for society.

I can almost guarantee that every one of these "campaigns" is run by someone that prefers to be called "ms" and has a heart rending tale of how the government failed to protect her kid from something damn stupid that an ounce of intelligence would have avoided in the first place.

Originally Posted by MontyB

Are you sure its at the insistence of the tax paying public or the insistence of a few busy bodies who believe that they know whats best for society.

I can almost guarantee that every one of these "campaigns" is run by someone that prefers to be called "ms" and has a heart rending tale of how the government failed to protect her kid from something damn stupid that an ounce of intelligence would have avoided in the first place.

On this point I'm afraid that I must concede total defeat. This has long been my personal view, but it must be admitted that after all is said and done, I am a cynic of the highest order.

Yes, I can see where you are coming from regarding some of these campaigns. But to return to the original debate, I can see no practical, moral or socially redeeming features in porn being made available to children, regardless of the medium.

Freedom means responsibility. As long as we fail to be responsible, we will neither have nor deserve freedom.
People think freedom is easy, that it's the easiest way to live when in fact it is the hardest way to do it right. But it's rewarding if you put in the effort.
I think I like where this thread went though it was about a pretty unlikely topic.