What is pornography?
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:36 pm
It is a shortcoming of the English language and, for that matter many others, that no suitable noun exist to describe visual adult sexual entertainment. We have hi-jacked a Greek word 'pornographos' meaning the writings of harlots. Clearly this is unsatisfactory.
It is clear that different people have wholly different opinions of what constitutes pornography. I have even known people who consider the Sun page 3 to be pornographic. It is my opinion that with varying standards amongst individuals, restricting books and films because they are obscene, by use of law, is pointless. In any event those standards are constantly changing, so the likelyhood of agreement is small. There are of course certain items which have to be restricted for obvious reasons.
What do others on this forum think? Can anyone suggest a noun which better describes the material which we are all interested in?
It is clear that different people have wholly different opinions of what constitutes pornography. I have even known people who consider the Sun page 3 to be pornographic. It is my opinion that with varying standards amongst individuals, restricting books and films because they are obscene, by use of law, is pointless. In any event those standards are constantly changing, so the likelyhood of agreement is small. There are of course certain items which have to be restricted for obvious reasons.
What do others on this forum think? Can anyone suggest a noun which better describes the material which we are all interested in?