What's YOUR moral limit when crossed with free speech?
 

Someone posed the question to me the other day, "What do you think about computer generated CP or stories written on the same subject."

For whatever reason, I have a SERIOUS problem with the computer generated images, but not so much the written word. I wouldn't want the guy writing those stories living NEXT to me and my family, but I somehow see it as less threatening. Anything visual on the subject though, fake or not, should be illegal imo.

Beside that one, I also have a problem with depictions of violence against women in porn (not really JUST in porn, but for this debate, specificially porn)...ie. Extreme Associates.

I do understand people should have a right to view what they want to view so long as it's legal, but those two things in particular I admittedly have a problem with.

-Fisting is fine by me-most women I know that have tried it, have loved it.
-Scat is fine too-not my thing, but I don't have a problem with it being shown, so long as it doesn't pop up while I'm eating thank you very much.
-Hate literature would be in my list of things that shouldn't be allowed either, but that's another debate.

So, I'm curious to know what line others draw when it comes to what they think of the free speech vs obscenity debate. Or does free speech cover everything in your eyes.

I have no morals, so...

freedom of speech is good to have, but some (as is the norm in every society) will take it to the extreme and say the craziest things under the guise that they have the right to freedom of speech.

I think that if you're not hate mongering, and you're not hurting anyone then go ahead and have your freedom of speech.

But Ron I do disagree with you on the written CP, doesn't matter what form it comes in - image, written word, whatever (and yes I know some court somewhere ruled that some guy convicted of CP could not be charged with CP through his stories and I believe was allowed to continue to write them), but when someone is writing sexual fantasies about having sex with children I don't consider that freedom of speech. I consider that obscene and completely wrong.

Just like someone writing a sex tale about 3 guys fucking some blonde chick isn't 'freedom of speech' really, it's fiction/fantasy and designed for a purpose - to get people off, that's not 'freedom of speech'.

I guess it all depends on your exact definition of Freedom of Speech.

What a hot topic for debate Ron, I'm sure I don't have the debating skills to go at it with you, but definitely an interesting topic!

As soon as they make this illegal they can go after Stephen King and several hundred other authors.

I woke up yesterday and shot my neighbor in the eye with a 12 guage. Then I cut his heart out with a butter knife. <---- Fantasy, will you put me in jail now? I'm pretty sure murder carries a much longer sentence than child porn in most any part of the world so surely writing about it or putting it in I dunno... movies has to be worse right?.

ronaldo, when you say my moral limit do you mean shit I don't want to see / hear or things I think people should be arrested for?

i believe freedom of speech has to be absolute in order for it to work

PLEASE don't take what I said as in any way LIKING or CONDONING those written words Ruth...that's just not the case at ALL. (Sorry for the caps, but I can't emphasize that enough).

But, I DO see the other point of view on that, that your censoring someone's thoughts and ideas. I personally wouldn't associate with, nor let my kids or anyone else's for that matter, around someone I knew to be writing crap like that, BUT, that's a real grey area for me. I agree it's wrong and sickening, but I'm not sure it's right to try and control what people are thinking...regardless of the subject matter.

Freedom of speech is essential. It's not the governments job, nor should it be, to regulate morality.

I know you have, silly !!... :thumbsup !!

Fair question.

Simulated visual depictions of CP should be illegal imo.

As for EA, I'm legitimately torn on that one. On one hand, you have consenting adults. On the other, I do have a problem with depictions of violence against women. Hollywood is one thing, the women don't really get hurt. The women in these videos DO physically get hurt. I couldn't do some of the things they do in those videos and not get arrested...unless I'm paying her?

As an industry I'd like to see us take some responsibility instead of having it thrust upon us by the authorites. How that would be done? Granted, I don't have an answer because it could never work.

So, while it wouldn't break my heart to see it made illegal, it's not something I would actively fight for either.

Anything else the industry produces that I'm personally aware of or can think of, yeah, it's pretty much a matter of choice.

can freedom be absolute?

I'm all-ears on this

There is no such thing as absolute freedom.

All these questions have been answered in the supreme court already.

To bad the rightwingnuts dont have anything better to do but dredge up old questions while they rob the treasury and send all the sheep to church on sunday to pray for a better after life.