[Zippy]

vote for which option you feel is more likely

I think it's very easy to imply that porn somehow fuels certain sex crimes. However, I honestly believe that it actually can do the opposite. For many, porn provides a visual outlet for their sexual desires and frustrations. Basically, it gets them off. Without it they may well feel the urge to go out and commit a sex act to satisfy those strong urges.

This is an interesting article from the scientist that finds the rate of sex crimes decrease as porn use increases. It actually doesn't surprise me at all. It's very easy to find a sex criminal who has viewed porn. But it's just foolish to assume that the porn led to the crime. Most guys view porn regardless.

(PhysOrg.com) -- The arguments against pornography are many, ranging from insistence that porn degrades women and is morally reprehensible to the assertion that pornography viewing is the cause of sex crimes. However, over the years, there have been numerous studies done on this subject. And, reports The Scientist, it appears that there are links between sex crimes and pornography. Just not the sort of links many of us might have expected. Instead of causing sex crimes, porn might actually contribute to reducing their incidence.

Over the years, many scientists have investigated the link between pornography (considered legal under the First Amendment in the United States unless judged “obscene”) and sex crimes and attitudes towards women. And in every region investigated, researchers have found that as pornography has increased in availability, sex crimes have either decreased or not increased.

While that is far from a ringing endorsement, it does at least seem to indicate that pornography isn't contributing to sex crimes. While some naysayers may point out that most offenders in prison have been exposed to porn, the fact of the matter is that nearly every male -- and a good number of females -- is exposed to pornography at some point. It stands to reason that most offenders have viewed porn. But other studies found that being punished for porn use might contribute to someone becoming a rapist, and not the porn use itself. Indeed, continues The Scientist, a repressive religious upbringing might be more of a factor in rape than porn:

Looking closer, Michael Goldstein and Harold Kant found that rapists were more likely than nonrapists in the prison population to have been punished for looking at pornography while a youngster, while other research has shown that incarcerated nonrapists had seen more pornography, and seen it at an earlier age, than rapists. What does correlate highly with sex offense is a strict, repressive religious upbringing. Richard Green too has reported that both rapists and child molesters use less pornography than a control group of “normal” males.

This sort of assertion is bound to raise a few eyebrows and even cause a little controversy. Especially when taken alongside studies that seem to indicate that porn doesn't result in feelings of misogyny. Additionally, while there is anecdotal evidence that porn users are abusive toward their female partners, there is no evidence that pornography use is the cause of these actions. Perhaps there are other factors, such as alcoholism or violent tendencies, that are bigger influences.

In any case, while such studies do not prove that porn is actively good for society, they do seem to imply that pornography isn't actively bad for us.

[Smithy]

Neither, I don't think it discourages or encourages them unless you're watching some sort of out there sorta porn

[joeysteele]

[QUOTE=Zippy;4159700]vote for which option you feel is more likely

I think it's very easy to imply that porn somehow fuels certain sex crimes. However, I honestly believe that it actually can do the opposite. For many, porn provides a visual outlet for their sexual desires and frustrations. Basically, it gets them off. Without it they may well feel the urge to go out and commit a sex act to satisfy those strong urges.

I agree with this, this comment led me to vote discourages,a really good point made Zippy.

[Jords]

Depends on the individual person.

[Shaun]

neither.

[bananarama]

Hard core i believe is more likely to discourage sex crimes due to lack of censorship........

Censorship (soft core being the result) is more likely to leave the viewer frustrated because of the censorship factor. Frustrated people are more likely to act irrationally and thus the potential for sex crime is greater...........

None of this can of course be proved.........Porn, prostitution is part of life and its time it was accepted as normal instead of silly moralistic condemnations and scare stories about hard core porn causing sex crimes.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. European countries with their relaxed attitude to hard core on TV channels don't report any increase in sex crimes........Therefore Britains victorian attitude is simply pandering to religious nut cases who want to control other peoples rights to seek adult pleasures........

The religious and prudish and official censorship control freaks should be revolted against........The Mary whitehouse control freak type mentality should be stamped on and driven out of existance.....

The control freak idiots at Ofcom should be jailed for destrying freedom of choice in a so called free country.....

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by bananarama

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. European countries with their relaxed attitude to hard core on TV channels don't report any increase in sex crimes........

which euro countries have hardcore porn on their tv channels? and have you studied the stats from all these countries or are you just guessing?

anyways, this is now increasingly redundant as the internet gives easy access to hardcore porn.

I actually don't think that UK tv does have a Victorian attitude. Compared to many countries(certainly the US) our TV shows are considered quite hard hitting and explicit. Not hardcore porn obviously but I don't think that needs to be shown on mainstream TV.

[Benjamin]

Neither.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Zippy

which euro countries have hardcore porn on their tv channels? and have you studied the stats from all these countries or are you just guessing?

anyways, this is now increasingly redundant as the internet gives easy access to hardcore porn.

I actually don't think that UK tv does have a Victorian attitude. Compared to many countries(certainly the US) our TV shows are considered quite hard hitting and explicit. Not hardcore porn obviously but I don't think that needs to be shown on mainstream TV.

If you take a look at the Hard core available from europe all legal tv channels in most of europe on hotbird 13deg you will see what I mean......

A well known hard core channel Spice platininum (changed name can't remember but know its still active) and has been for years all over europe quite legal on their tv networks. Where as here in the uk tv channels hard core are banned.....yet we have a high rate of sex crime...As I said quite clear proof of the pudding is in the eating.......

[bananarama]

Qote from zippy " actually don't think that UK tv does have a Victorian attitude. Compared to many countries(certainly the US) our TV shows are considered quite hard hitting and explicit. Not hardcore porn obviously but I don't think that needs to be shown on mainstream TV."


So you don't think Britain has victorian attitudes. You are obviously completely unaware of Ofcoms activities.......If they have their way even the present day soft core will effectively be banned......

A new interpritation of their ridiculous broadcasting code of which I participated in during the consultation period.........They are now saying that if the scenes shown imply penetration (Not show it) then it is tha same as showing penatration and should be disallowed on uk TV at all times.....

P.S. If you want to learn more about the comparison to Britain and Europe and censorship subcribe to What satellite which covers all aspects of european cahnnels and what is allowed compared to the victorian UK. There you will find the pudding and the proof over time.......

So even scenes which have discreat angles and object in the way of seeing private bits they will still be banned if Ofcom get their new way of interpritation of the code........If that aint victorian I don't know what is.........

The UK is a disgrace for adult human rights........Polititions living in the dark ages........As for the internet..........That free and easy access to porn will also come under serious attack from our censors........

As at present Ofcom have little control over the internet........But watch this space..........

P.S. You can learn more about what europe allows by subscribing to the multi sat mag What satellite.........The differences between the UK and most of the western world is glaringly obvious........The UK is well and trully in the dark ages when it comes to adult entertainment

[Beastie]

Encourages.

[Twilight]

Neither.

[Kerry]

I'm in the neither camp too.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by bananarama

If you take a look at the Hard core available from europe all legal tv channels in most of europe on hotbird 13deg you will see what I mean......

A well known hard core channel Spice platininum (changed name can't remember but know its still active) and has been for years all over europe quite legal on their tv networks. Where as here in the uk tv channels hard core are banned.....yet we have a high rate of sex crime...As I said quite clear proof of the pudding is in the eating.......

well its not clear proof at all.

Access to porn on mainstream TV channels is not the problem here. Hardcore porn is now freely available in most homes via the internet so your argument is kinda outdated.

Also, please be more specific when talking about europe. It is not one country it is about 50 countries. All very diverse and with their own cultural mindsets particularly when it comes to sex, religion and other major issues. You can't just lump them all together and imply they all think one way and the UK thinks another...thats simplistic BS and you know it. Some have more restrictive laws than us and a more prudent attitude to sex and others have a more liberal attitude. There's a huge variation in cultures.

When it comes to pornography the laws are pretty much the same across europe in that you have to be 18 to purchase or participate in porn. Germany has relatively strict laws about obtaining hardcore porn whereas Sweden has no age laws regards possession of porn and shops can even sell to minors.

So porn availablity is not the key here. Just to make this point lets look at the statistics for rape(2007);

*Cases per 100,000 population


now Sweden, as Ive stated, has one of the more relaxed attitudes to porn access and possession in europe. But just look at the stats. Looking elsewhere on the list there doesn't seem to be any clear correlation between porn access and rape crimes. Or even any clear link regards liberal attitudes to sex. Sweden has always been regarded as having one of the most open minded and liberal thinking attitudes to sex in the world. But it isn't keeping their sex crimes down.

So your argument that restricted attitudes to porn means more sex crimes doesn't quite add up. There are clearly many other factors involved.

It certainly doesn't come down to whether spice platinum is available on our TV screens! Who the fck needs that when you have the internet? As Ive said, you're thinking is outdated. There's really no need to be fighting for more hardcore porn on our TV screens these days. Our younger generation are all on the net.

[Niamh.]

I would say neither. I don't believe for a second that watching something on TV can make a person, who otherwise wouldn't, capable of rape or violence.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

So you couldn't continue this discussion where we started it and I made a point that porn could encourage sex crimes, you opened a whole new thread to make your point clear.

I didn't read your whole intro (because i'm on my way out) but I vote yes porn can encourage sex crimes. Such as violent games have been known to encourage mentally unstable like kids that go on to shoot-em style rampage at schools.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Ithinkiloveyoutoo

So you couldn't continue this discussion where we started it and I made a point that porn could encourage sex crimes, you opened a whole new thread to make your point clear.

I didn't read your whole intro (because i'm on my way out) but I vote yes porn can encourage sex crimes. Such as violent games have been known to encourage mentally unstable like kids that go on to shoot-em style rampage at schools.

actually I was intending to do a thread on this before that appeared so I decided to do it anyways....with a poll and a more direct question.

in the right forum.

why do you care? make your point in either thread.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

Originally Posted by Zippy

why do you care? make your point in either thread.

Because I love you zippy. I needz to beez where you beez

jst kidding