Some guy summed it up by saying, “I’d rather have my children watching RealLifeCam with people giving each other pleasure than a movie with two people trying to kill each other.”
So what would happen to our culture if all of a sudden pornography, sexuality, and the sheer beauty of the human body were no longer considered obscene or degrading? Would we be labeled heathens? Would we see the collapse of our socio-economical structure? Would volumes of law texts have to be rewritten on the chapters of sexual harassment? More importantly, would we eventually see the reversal of our evolution and grunt our morning greetings? I think not.
Does acting like animals mean we are animals — guess what Victorians — we ARE animals! If any uptight dictators of current “acceptable” acts of discretion would pay attention they would notice that even a very expensive filet mignon is still cooked over an open flame like our chromagnum ancestors, and that pinot noir that is gracefully sipped with pinky out is made from fermenting grapes (a process that has been around for thousands of years).
Besides, many research articles can attest to the tolerance from individuals that are exposed to such stimulus on a continuous basis. For example, the more an individual is exposed to sexually explicit material, the less it ultimately stimulates them. In other words, it’s just not a big deal anymore. The same with foul language, alcoholism, and changing the speed limit from 55 to 75.
I’ve also read arguments that a society that is looser with pornography restrictions sees a higher rate in sex crimes. Folks, let’s be real. Crimes are going to be committed — period! Anyone remember prohibition?
One thing that seems to stay consistent in any culture is its ability to manipulate its ethics and values to conform to current beliefs. We frown on abortion, until a homeless drug addict rapes and our daughters and gets them pregnant. We imprison one for killing another, but call him a hero for killing many in battle. We’re intolerant of terrorism; instead we call it a counter-strike.
If someone has too much to drink and throws up, that is degrading. Some people who lose their jobs consider it degrading, and those of them who take up cleaning toilets may find it degrading. So many things sadly, get lost in interpretation. There are obviously many factors that influence how or whether a certain societal sentiment comes into being. In the US, sex is considered a taboo subject; therefore pornography (which ultimately glorifies sex) is frowned upon.
The human body is a remarkably beautiful thing. From my perspective, the only thing obscene is hiding such a work of art beneath clothing, and the only thing degrading about it is how we suppress its open expression.
