There was a US Supreme Court decision this week that got me thinking about fandom. The court ruled that even computer generated examples of child pornography that aren't actual images are prosecutable under child pornography laws. The law in question was enacted and then amended by Congress a couple years ago against those who advertise or promote sales or simply make available child porn even if what they use to promote it is not real photos of child porn. I wondered if this has any implications for fanfic or for fanart (HP and Legolas/Thranduil examples coming to mind) since it's computer generated. Would that now be prosecutable under this ruling as computer generated promotion of child porn? I don't know that it is, but I'd be interested to find out. The Court ruled that the law is fair enough as amended by Congress to protect legitimate artistic expression, so that things like "Romeo and Juliet" won't be labeled porn.
I personally can't ever believe that child-rape is justifiable as artistic expression in fandom when we know writers produce it and readers read it mostly to get off on it. All I have to do is look at all the "so hot" comments this stuff gets. That's just irresponsible and shows an astounding lack of judgment and maturity. I don't mind stories (novels, movies, plays) about two teenagers who may engage in sex as the power dynamic is more equal. But a young child and an adult? Freedom of speech was never intended to promote positive thinking and acceptance about something that reprehensible.
The court ruled that even computer generated examples of child pornography that aren't actual images are prosecutable under child pornography laws.
I only read about that "in passing", but if it's the way you put it there, then I'm fine with it. It's like the law deals with it here. If I find the time, I have to read up on it.
All I have to do is look at all the "so hot" comments this stuff gets. That's just irresponsible and shows an astounding lack of judgment and maturity.
It's a dangerous lack of judgement and maturity. It's boggling to see that there even have to be discussions about this - fantasising about child/adult is wrong. Period. If that's what gets you off, you need help. There is no point for anybody arguing with me about it. Why there's this constant pressure to be all-accepting, I don't know. There's no law that forces me to speak positive about such stories, and there's no law that forces me to keep quiet about them. Fandom netiquette? Who wrote it and who is the fandom police?
When I'm telling people not involved with fandom about such things, they usually ask me "did you call the police?" - fandom doesn't live in a bubble, folks often forget that.
Freedom of speech was never intended to promote positive thinking and acceptance about something that reprehensible.
Freedom of speech seems nowadays to be viewed as a carte blanche for people to behave like idiots...
I personally can't ever believe that child-rape is justifiable as artistic expression in fandom when we know writers produce it and readers read it mostly to get off on it. All I have to do is look at all the "so hot" comments this stuff gets. That's just irresponsible and shows an astounding lack of judgment and maturity. I don't mind stories (novels, movies, plays) about two teenagers who may engage in sex as the power dynamic is more equal. But a young child and an adult? Freedom of speech was never intended to promote positive thinking and acceptance about something that reprehensible.
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I only read about that "in passing", but if it's the way you put it there, then I'm fine with it. It's like the law deals with it here. If I find the time, I have to read up on it.
All I have to do is look at all the "so hot" comments this stuff gets. That's just irresponsible and shows an astounding lack of judgment and maturity.
It's a dangerous lack of judgement and maturity. It's boggling to see that there even have to be discussions about this - fantasising about child/adult is wrong. Period. If that's what gets you off, you need help. There is no point for anybody arguing with me about it. Why there's this constant pressure to be all-accepting, I don't know. There's no law that forces me to speak positive about such stories, and there's no law that forces me to keep quiet about them. Fandom netiquette? Who wrote it and who is the fandom police?
When I'm telling people not involved with fandom about such things, they usually ask me "did you call the police?" - fandom doesn't live in a bubble, folks often forget that.
Freedom of speech was never intended to promote positive thinking and acceptance about something that reprehensible.
Freedom of speech seems nowadays to be viewed as a carte blanche for people to behave like idiots...
Reply
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