OT: is p*rn speech/expression? If so, how?

posted 2 years ago by user20461 2 years ago by user20461 +19 / -4

Seriously, what's the argument for porn being speech and expression? What is the message it's trying to convey?

Edit: Guys, I'm asking if it's speech/expression and, if so, how. Most of the comments in support of it aren't answering the question, just showing their support for free speech and expression, in general. Only one guy has made a case for it, comparing it to car shows and art. And, even though I have reservations about labeling it as art, I appreciate that he's making a case for it and not just side-stepping the issue.

45 comments

45 comments share save hide report block hide replies

You're viewing a single comment thread. View all comments, or full comment thread.

Comments (45)

sorted by:

▲ 1 ▼

– OldBullLee 1 point 2 years ago +2 / -1

I hope this article from "Reason" helps answer the question:https://archive.ph/gkikZ

permalink save report block reply

▲ 1 ▼

– user20461 [S] 1 point 2 years ago +3 / -2

Thanks for the article. I think this is the relevant part to the discussion:

As these cases illustrate, the question of whether sexually charged material rises to the level of potentially prohibitable obscenity turns in significant part on the specific contents of the work at issue. If the government wants to ban the sale or distribution of a particular dirty movie, in other words, the government must be able to convince the courts that the movie "taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value." Otherwise, it is protected by the First Amendment.

So judging from that, I wouldn't consider p*rn to fall in the category as noted in bold.

permalink parent save report block reply

▲ 1 ▼

– OldBullLee 1 point 2 years ago +1 / -0

I agree, but for some reason porn gets a pass. Probably because it's already in wide circulation and not easy to regulate. It's become a permanent part of American culture . . . and it's free. I never could figure how any porn producers make money considering anyone can access porn online for nothing.

permalink parent save report block reply