Tiassa said:It often seems that there is only one acceptable way to say things in order to satisfy you. What, do I have to say that the law in this case is stupid? Fine. It's stupid. Are you freakin' happy now, or would you like to whimper and whine some more?
Happier. But it's not just the law, it's the interpretation of the law by the people involved that's incredibly stupid and that you were defending as if those involved has no choice in the matter.
Sounds relatively good. I would give law enforcement a little more credit though; while I myself think it's absurd, I know there are many who don't. In a very real way, this becomes a political issue and I have a strong feeling that sometimes law enforcement charges people so that people don't get on their tail for not doing it. Alan Greenspan, a notable canadian lawyer, has made the case that this does indeed occur at times. I believe I remember one case where some teen females made a commercial website wherein they only wore skimpy clothing and I think they were -still- charged. Perhaps it was down south, can't remember.
madanthonywayne said:Tiassa said:I mean, goddamn, man, oh, look, the kids are doing it, so let's just throw out the law. Really, that's how general you're being.
Taking a picture of yourself, whatever your age or state of dress should not be illegal. Sharing said picure with your lover should also not be illegal. The only scenario in which the kids should be charged with child porn is if the intent was to sell the pictures.
I'd even argue with that contention, but I know that in the current political climate there's no way it would fly. I read a very good book on this whole issue of minor sexuality in general and the ways our society represses them, called "harmful to minors", by Judith Levine; there's some info on it on wikipedia here. It even won the 2002 Los Angeles Times book award. It's certainly controversial, but I firmly believe in what she has to say.
madanthonywayne said:If we don't throw kids in jail for actual fucking, how the hell does it make sense to do so for taking pictures of it?
Some kids are actually thrown into what amounts to jail for engaging in sexual activities with their peers; it frequently doesn't even have to involve actual sexual intercourse. The book "harmful to minors" details some of the truly horrendously repressive stuff that has been done to some poor children.
madanthonywayne said:Did you ever play "doctor" as a young child? Or "I'll show you mine if you show me yours"?
Don't know about Tiassa, but I did, and I'm certainly not ashamed of it.
madanthonywane said:Now suppose, while you were playing you had a camera phone in your pocket and took pictures of each other? Are you now sex criminals? You've done nothing different from what kids have been doing since the dawn of man, but now you're a pervert and should be branded for life as such?
Yeah, truly absurd stuff. Hopefully more people will realize this soon.