Censorship



The banner  belongs to Backlash, http://www.backlash-uk.org.uk/about.html, an organisation that exists to campaign against unnecessary censorship.  The government is intending on criminalising 'extreme pornography'. Now I know a lot of people might think this is a good thing, and it indeed doesn't criminalise anything not already banned by the obscene publications act.

The Internet is a tricky thing to police. I'll admit that. But I do have to admit that the proposed legislation http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/130/07130.43-46.html#j400
seems somewhat badly drawn.  It is a response to a case where a man who watched extreme pornography killed a teacher and did unpleasant things to her corpse.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6237226.stm

It is my opinion that the actions of this unhinged individual are leading to an action by the government that threatens the rights and liberties of the many thousands of individuals who find gratification in unusual, but consensual ways. It seems that whenever someone commits a shocking crime and has a minority interest, all others with that minority interest are subsequently (if they weren't already) regarded with suspicion.   I don't like this. 

the family of the victim make the plaintive statement, she would be alive if it wasn't for the internet. I cannot even begin to understand what a horrfic experience it has been for those people and for the terrified victim.

What I can say is that if it wasn't for the internet, there are people who would be dead. People who have found friendship, understanding and support in their darkest times. People who have found health information, safety information, quit smoking or quit drugs, people who have been inspired to become doctors and carers and life savers. The Internet is not to blame.
There are people who have no doubt used the internet to calm their rages and their violence without striking out.
There are people, I don't doubt, who have developed their wrongness through images on the internet, exactly as they would have done through whichever outlet was provided them- violent gangs, the armed forces, torturing animals, alcohol, music played backwards and subliminal mesasges in tv commercials. And it's not above these people- these criminals- to claim the Internet made me do it because in our society it's always someone elses fault. Two hundred years ago it was 'the demons possed me' and you can follow the progression, blame what people are suspicious of.

If people really cannot tell the difference between consensual 'violence' and going out and killing someone, if they really are so easily led astray by images, and fictions (i HAVE TO SAY THOUGH, PRODUCERS OF EXTREME IMAGES, PLEASE MAKE IT BLOODY OBVIOUS THAT YOUR FICTIONS ARE JUST THAT) then surely the solution is not criminalisation but education.

(Have to say, personally, not sure I am all for having sex with dead bodies. If it's something someone wants to play at, of fantasize about, then go ahead.  You want to actually dig up a body or kill someone, you're a sicko. Why? Because they don't consent and you're upsetting other people, and oh yeah, killing people isn't fair, right, or consensual.)

To give proper emphasis to choice, and to consent, and empowerment to say no. 

To point out that some men and women (yes, both men and women) enjoy of their own free will, submission and domination.

And to point out that if you are not there by your own free will, then by gods you'll be taken seriously and not treated like dirt by the authorities when you tell them.

There. Little rant over. Except to add, why is it allowable to show people killing and dying in movies for teenagers, but not people fucking, or having a hard on? Oh no, you can't show erections, the horror! Women would be uncontrollable because they are inherently sexually vulnerable and all the men would have to wank furiously because they saw it on the big screen!