How do you define porn?

December 20, 2011

I found many different definitions of porn online. These are a few of my favorites.

Alexander Cockburn, Britain's chief justice:

"The test of obscenity [pornography] is whether the tendency of the matter charged as obscenity is to deprave and corrupt those whose minds are open to such immoral influences and into whose hands a publication of this sort may fall."

Virginia state obscenity statute:

The word "obscene" where it appears in this article shall mean that which, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, excretory functions or products thereof or sadomasochistic abuse, and which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters and which, taken as a whole, does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

(Code 1950, § 18.1-227; 1960, c. 233; 1975, cc. 14, 15.)

Merriam-Webster

1: the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement

2: material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement

3: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction <the pornography of violence>

Alan Sears, president and CEO of the Alliance Defense Fund and former director to Attorney General Edwin Meese’s Commission on Pornography stated: “The sexual union marriage, between one man and one woman, is meant by the Creator to be an act of supreme love, giving, and unity. It’s a picture if you will, of supreme selflessness. Virtually all advocates of secular sexual behavior center on an “it’s all about me” philosophy rather than mutual love and care for the other partner. I have repeatedly referred to pornography as the “true hate literature” of our age, because of its hatred and exploitation of the human person, regardless of size, shape, color or gender. It reduces human beings to valueless commodities to be ogled at and disposed of like used tissue”.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

“Pornography is any material depicting or describing the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings”.


What's your definition? 

Welcome!

The following is what I posted on the newly created Mothers Against Porn Facebook page. I will do more of a personal post on this blog ASAP!

I’m sure many of you are wondering why you have been invited to become a friend of Mothers Against Porn. Let me give you a brief history about this page and why I developed this group. Besides being a full-time mother of four boys, I am also a full-time student earning my Bachelors degree in Secondary Education Heath Science. Over the past several months many of my classes have focused on the stages of both cognitive and physical development of adolescents. In addition I have also participated in many classes that discuss sex education and all that it encompasses.  Much of what I have studied has both educated and frightened me with regard to the dangers associated with pornography both mentally and psychologically.

Thus, I have decided to create this group and a blogspot with the same name, with the purpose of creating awareness. I also hope that others will be able to share their stories of how pornography has affected their lives and what they have done to protect themselves and their families against this horrible epidemic. Please know that my goal in forming this group is strictly to create awareness and provided support.  I will do my best to also provide factual information as much a possible when quoting professionals in this area. Also note that I would never intend to offend or embarrass anyone involved in this group and I will do my best to keep all information shared on this page by members or visitors as confidential and anonymous as possible.