The War on Porn
Around the world the war on porn has been gaining steam. It generally happens in countries with conservative leadership, corruption and scandals, so of course it is also happening here in the United States.
Adult entertainment in not just assaulted by governments and politicians, but by hackers as well. This very site was under constant assault until we put in stricter security. A new study published by Info Security magazine found than adult sites are targeted by hackers more than any other sites. Interestingly, according to the study, these attacks are not done by amateurs or freelancers but appear to be done by hackers for hire. That leaves the question: Who is paying for this?
In Tennessee, Republican state representative James Van Huss introduced a new bill that would make it much more difficult for adult viewers to access porn sites. It seems similar to the disastrous law that was passed in the U.K but ultimately found impossible to implement, despite spending $2.5 million over two years to try and figure out how. It is titled the “Safer Internet for Minors Act,” but the text of the bill contains no specific means for restricting access to the required “parental controls” to users over 18, and no “age verification” requirement. It also does not define what pornography is. Passed or not, the Tennessee law will never be implemented, because it would be impossible to implement in any Constitutionally acceptable way.
In Utah, it is even worse. They have a bill under consideration that seems less bad. It would just require warning labels. You might remember that four years ago Utah declared that porn was a public health hazard. The new bill sponsored by Republican (it is not always republicans, just mostly Republicans) Brady Brammer, a strict anti-abortionist. It just passed the House committee. It defines pornography as “any description or representation, in whatsoever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse,” that may appeal to “the prurient interest in sex of minors.” According to Bremmer, if you are fined under the law, you would have to fight it out in the courts to determine what is pornography. They could go after nudity on a cable show, or even a partially nude selfie on Twitter. In other words, they can go after everybody. While obscenity is sort of defined under law (albeit in an insane manner), pornography is not, let alone pornography that has some special purient appeal to minors.
I do not consider any of my sites pornography, and we generally do not post penetration images or erect penises, but that would be no defense. We would still have to go to court if we were targeted. Obscenity is illegal, but something educational generally can not be deemed obscenity. It can be deemed pornography, however. If your site is considered to be pornographic, and it is unclear who gets to decide this, and you do not put up a warning, you can be fined $2500. That is per viewer. If something gets 1,000 views, Utah would expect you to pony up 2.5 million dollars, even if what you are doing is not for profit and strictly educational.
They are not specifying what the warning label would be. They merely suggest something along the lines of “exposing minors to pornography is “known to the state of Utah” to negatively affect minors’ emotional and brain development and their ability to maintain intimate relationships. Such exposure may lead to harmful and addictive sexual behavior, low self-esteem, and the improper objectification of and sexual violence towards others, among numerous other harms.” (Check out our Sex Science Sunday podcast on the latest study on sexual objectification). This is not a scientifically supportable statement, similar to requiring physicians to tell patients their medical abortion is reversable when it is not, as some States have done. They would force site owners to declare something that is not scientifically true, and if passed, I would bet that the minors part would be removed to warn that everyone is damaged by viewing porn, which is what they actually believe.
The episode of House Hunters last week generated a little controversy. Instead of the usual couple looking for a home, they had a throuple, consisting of Brian, Lori and Geli. They had such special issues as needing a bathroom with three sinks. Trust me on this one. Get each adult their own bathroom. The two kids can share one. Polyamory does not show up all that frequently on television (poylgamy does not count – check out our discussion on Polygamy on last week’s Faith Friday podcast). While many applauded how well the threesome represented themselves, anti-gay anti-abortion extremist Princeton University professor Robert George, the man behind the fiercely anti-gay National Organization for Marriage, was not amused. He is quoted as saying ““The normalization of polyamory rolls down the track, just as I and others predicted it would. It was, as I said, less a ‘slippery slope’ than a simple unfolding of the logic of social liberalism. I’m disappointed in #HGTV for promoting this as normal.” Ah yes, they are guilty of the crime of showing how the world actually is rather than the way Robert George demands it should be.
Sometimes it feels like I am living in a country with five year old boys in charge, desperately worried they will get cooties from girls. Case in point, the god-awful show The Bachelor. If you love this show, I weep for you and our country. They had an episode in which women modeled colorful bikinis for a Cosmo photo shoot while on a group date with bachelor Peter Weber in Costa Rica. Group date? Where does Robert George stand on this? I am sure he was fully on board with the truly amateurish painting in of the back of the women’s bikinis because they were two “cheeky.” Check out the video and pictures here to see just how ridiculous it was.
My advice would be to skip the new movie Sonic the Hedgehog. Wait for it to come out free on cable, since the only reason to watch it is Jim Carey. Instead, hop over to Woodrocket where for now you can view Sonic the Vadgehog for free. Thankfully, it does not star Ron Jeremy. Instead, April O’Neil has the honors as she plays with Lexi Luna. It was directed by Holly G. Meyers.
Doc Johnson has a new partnership with rapper, actor and entrepreneur Young M.A to create pleasure products branded with her name and image.
“Young M.A is an incredible talent and voice for her community,” said Scott Watkins, VP of sales and marketing. “We are thrilled to be working with her to produce products that she uses, loves, and fully recommends to her audience.”
The Brooklyn-based artist first gained mainstream attention in 2016 with the release of her now triple platinum single “Ooouuu.” Since then, she’s remained consistent with a slew of highly successful singles, “PettyWap” and “BIG” (both trending towards certified gold records), which led into her critically acclaimed 2019 debut album, Herstory in the Making. Most recently, Young M.A was featured on Eminem’s latest album, on his track, “Unaccommodating,” and she played a recurring role on the Emmy Award-winning show Mr. Robot. Young M.A just announced her North American “Herstory in the Making” tour, where she’ll be performing in 40-plus markets starting in early March.
“I’m aware I have a heavy influence on women and spark their curiosity around sexuality,” Young M.A said. “I never hide the fact that I keep one in the closet—so I decided to share some of my experience, personal favorites, and I partnered with Doc Johnson to bring you my sex toy line. No matter your sexual preference, Play NYCe!”
In this collaboration, Doc Johnson will be producing two items, a 7” Perfect D with Balls and a Vibrating Vac-U-Lock (strap-on) Starter Kit which includes a harness and three attachments set branded Play NYCe and featuring Young M.A’s name and image. All of the dildos and attachments in her products will be created in Doc Johnson’s caramel-colored dual-density ULTRASKYN. These products are available for purchase here.