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The Porn Generation
July 28, 2005
While in the airport yesterday on my way down to the Silicon Valley, I stopped in the bookstore to pick up a copy of "Wired," my new favorite magazine, when I saw a shelf full of Ben Shapiro's new eye-catching book, "Porn Generation: how social liberalism is corrupting our future." Amen brother, Amen. I picked it up and read a few chapters, but since I'm not fond of marking up $26 books, I'm waiting on the paperback, annotation addict-friendly version to buy. If the title is any indication, I once again grant Shapiro the award for being the youngest published nail hitter. And Ben's right; the ubiquitous nature of the pornography industry and a host of liberalists bent on forming policy around morally relative ideals is blatantly guiding the principles (or lack thereof) of an entire generation. The book synopsis reads: "Pornography: it's everywhere -- at the video shop, in your newspaper, in your inbox. And although American society grows increasingly accepting of this state of affairs, porn is unmistakably dangerous: it presents a warped image of sex and self-satisfaction that ridicules the values of faith and family, mangling the most sacred ideals of matrimony. In 'Porn Generation,' Ben Shapiro explains why. This book is about a generation of Americans lost in a maelstrom of moral relativism in a culture obsessed with cheap, degraded, casual sex. It's a powerful wake-up call outlining what we must do now to eradicate this scourge and reclaim the values that made America great." A loaded topic indeed if you just turn on your television. For young unmarried types, media is rampant with images that lay an unhealthy foundation and "awaken love before its time." Incidentally, they are images that wouldn't have been allowed on television 20 years ago. The standard is steadily being lowered and we've created new terms to deal with our low standards. For example, what is "soft porn?" I say porn is porn, and it's all quite disgusting for many reasons. Among them, the manner in which it distorts and perverts our view of sex.
This particular topic is important because in the case of any generation, the mistakes of today will be seen in full tomorrow. Sin has wages and it's a "pay me now or pay me later" type deal. There is a root cause of AIDS sweeping the country, and it has little to do with poverty in Africa. The lesson here: if we don't get a grip on the worldview of the next generation (especially as it relates to the family structure), we will pay later. The overwhelming critique of Shapiro's book, even among conservatives, is that instead of dealing with the root of temptation, he offers poor solutions (most of which includes complete government censorship). I'll reserve my thoughts until I finish reading the book, but I'm curious, in light of the discussion taking place in the media and in government about how to address the porn issue (in relation to those under 18), which direction do you suggest we head? 
Does this include Bob Dole shilling for Viagra? Agreeing with Mr. B the only solution to porn (and many other social ills) are nosie parents. All such censorship by parents to children under their roof is fare game. Because as a parent it is my job to shape the values of my children Anything beyond that I am against. If one idea can be censored, no matter how vile the idea may be, another can be. And it is not the Governments job to tell me, A grown man, to shape my values. Much as I disregard the experts who claim that video-game violence is raising a generation of Columbine massacre-ers based on evidence that violent crime across the board has been steadily decreasing for 20-30 years, so too do I safely dismiss those who make similar claims about porn, such as: Makes you a zombie through the release of 'erototoxins'; "Does this include Bob Dole shilling for Viagra?" According to Shapiro, it does... "Much as I disregard the experts who claim that video-game violence is raising a generation of Columbine massacre-ers based on evidence" For the record, I consider the claim that video-game violence has anything to do with Columbine, totally bogus. Ambra, I'm disregarding them based on a lack of evidence supporting them; I'm agreeing with you in my statement! Yes I know. What is the real threat is the great number of men who are serial monogamists, who make a mockery of the institution of marriage. Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole, Lush Pimplebutt, Bob Livingston, Steve LaTourette, and just about every single other repuke rep come quickly to mind. Ambra, Yes, yes, the world is always ending. And it’s always the fault of the Left. Your "review" of a book that you had admittedly not read in its entirety is not surprising. Your proclamation that AIDS has more to do with "sin" than "poverty" is perverse. No matter, back to the dark ages we go! Let me get this straight, you're just discovering "Wired" magazine? Or you just started to like it for some reason, now that it sucks? Don't like porn, don't watch it. That's what they call "freedom". If I can't have freedom from religion, why should you have freedom from belly buttons? I've long known that "Wired" was around...I just never bothered to pay attention to it. Job Bob...I didn't review the book. I discussed the topic of the book. There's difference. One solution is for parents to stop being friends with their kids and be mom and dad. For an effective reference, watch an episode of "Good Times". Kids are impressionable little mountains of raging hormones and if they aren't taught early at home by their parents, someone else with give them the answers to the questions they have, whether spoken or acted out. We also have to be honest with kids. The one universal response I get when I speak to teens is thanks for my honesty and the admission that no one had ever told them these things. I tell them the truth tactfully. Disease, heartache, pregnancy...all very likely to occur. All life-changing. I tell the boys that they have a responsibility to their future family to be a man who makes his wife feel like a queen who was worth waiting for, to be an example to their sons of how to be a man, and to be an example to their daughters of what to look for in a man. I tell the girls that every guy likes an easy girl but no man wants to marry one. I tell them how easy it is to get pregnant or a disease, and when I give them, often verbatim, the lines that their boyfriends will give them to get them to give in, their ears really perk up. Kids are smart. Adults aren't telling them the whole story and yet don't think that the problems of succeeding generations have anything to do with that. The root cause is found in the lack of training in delayed gratification. We are so blessed (cursed?) by wealth that we have little reason to deny ourselves pleasures unimaginable 60 years ago. Also, the objectification of girls in the very recent past dwarfs any period in history. I trace it to Britney and the subsequent rage of low rise jeans, and belly exposing tops. It is quite stunning. Solution: none. Unless we are prepared to engage in Islamist-style restrictions/judgments, our society literally cannot squeeze this particular toothpaste back into the tube. Satan sure is slick, eh? You are a very good writer Ambra, I must pay attention to you going forward. Okay, I don't have a solution but I do have an explanation... unfortunately you have to have an understanding of God in order to grasp this - which pretty much rules out an unbelieving generation. See, people (both men and women) are made in the image of God. And God is so awesome that even something similar to His image is worthy of respect... pornography is simply the abuse of God's image. It is failing to treat something of great beauty with the respect it deserves. We don't use things meant for great honor as everyday common untensils. The same holds true for violent video games - it's the abuse of God's holy image. -Ter Porn's abundance is a function of two things; 1.human nature 2.free market response to human nature I'm very liberal and I've always dispised porn. So much for stereotypes. Terry McFall's posting is exactly the problem here. As a rationalist, I don't have the luxury of being able to believe in an invisible superbeing who sees all, knows all, and wrote of book of rules for me to follow. He does, I don't. So McFall should try to avoid anything that smacks of pornography. He should not get an abortion, he shouldn't drink alcohol, and he must never take his deity's name in vain. He must eschew work on Sunday, and if he's married, he can never get divorced. Those are the rules he chooses to live by, based on his belief in said invisible superbeing. But! He MAY NOT seek to impose laws and regulations affecting my life, so that I am forced to live in his faith-based world of miracles and prayers. I should be free to abort an unwanted pregnancy, view pornography, work - and drink - on Sunday, etc. And that's pretty much the world we have today. I'm free to live the way I want, he's free to follow his path. In having maximum freedom, we are each free to pursue our independent paths to self-actualization. True, this system does present the McFall's with, perhaps, a measure of unwanted temptation. But that's his problem. Not mine. Is there any blame passed on to the big business interests like GE, AT&T, Viacom, Time Warner, et al that make all that money on p0rn? If there was no demand, there would be no supply. Or is all the blame squarely on liberals that believe in the rights of consulting adults in a free country? I really liked conservatives back in that day when they really were conservatives and wanted less government and more personal freedoms and responsibility; rather than a cult that blames other people for all your problems. Just as you guys get into power you became whiny little spoiled children. Apparently "no one" didn't read the commenting policy which states that people who leave anonymous comments don't get addressed. Ambra, the insidious effect of porn is to make "As a rationalist, I don't have the luxury of being able to believe in an invisible superbeing who sees all, knows all, and wrote of book of rules for me to follow. He does, I don't." - That statement doesn't make sense. You say "as a rationalist" as if you were born that way. You choose your belief system. If you choose not to believe in the Creator, then you have no explanation for the origin of the universe and are forced into the paradox of infinite logical regress, which is quite irrational. So don't act smug and think you've figured something out.
- He didn't say anything about imposing laws on you. He didn't mention laws and regulations at all. You seem to have just irrationally attacked someone because he expressed a religious viewpoint.
- Do you really propose maximum freedom? Do you think it would be best if I was free to drive as fast as I wanted (it's my car)? Should I be able to sell my organs, or my fetus's organs, to whoever I want? Heck - why can't anybody prostitute themselves - aren't we unfairly restricting the freedom of 16-year-old girls who need to make a living? Why am I not free to get whatever drugs I want from the pharmacy - heck, why are any drugs illegal at all? Why can't I buy whatever guns, explosives, nuclear material I want, as long as it's intended for my own private use? Why can't I set up cameras in the girls' bathroom, or in my tanning salon, or at my gymnastics facility, and videotape girls changing - it's my right, isn't it? The point of that ridiculous rant was that you have to have a standard somewhere. What is yours? You should check out this article. The wonderful thing about all of this is that we live in a country where we can vote for politicians who appoint judges who influence laws that support our point of view. Change happening, though, and my question to Raven is: "Will you be able to live in a conservative America as well as I have learned to lived in your liberal America?" The selfish point of view stated by The Raven is the cause of the trouble we are now debating. Yes, of course adults can decide to view or not, but this "I, I, I," attitude, as though what one person does has no consequence or effect on the people around them, is having a terrible effect on kids. Some adults have apparently "legislated" that it's ok to show previews of the evening's adult shows during the advertising time of Saturday morning cartoons when *gasp* children are watching. So, young'uns are now being treated to scenes of seduction during breaks in their cartoons. How quaint. By thinking only of themselves and their bottom lines, these adults are now messing up the lives of millions of kids across the country. "Can't legislate morality" is one of the most ignorant concepts ever. Newsflash: all laws are based on morals. which direction do you suggest we head? The late Holy Father suggested this direction: http://tinyurl.com/aqlw9 I'm with Peter, and those who are with him. Raven's comments are not atypical of those who, while asserting that NOTHING they think, feel, believe, or do affects anybody else, either directly or indirectly; at the same time, many of those who hold to this worldview also insist with the greatest of passion, that a butterfly in the Amazon basin can cause global warming. There seems to be a lack of consistency. Aw man, you missed your chance! { Comments are now closed for this entry. } |
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I'll never forget the day I went into the "student center" of my university and saw a flier on the wall that read "C#!t Club: celebrate your vagina." (Don't be prudish, we're all adults here, we can type the names of body parts without squeeling, right?) That's right folks. A university-sponsored organization that gathered around the topic of female masturbation. Self-gratification in more ways than one. That was one of many moments that shaped my ideas around the abuse of higher education.
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When I was little, my brother and I watched Warner Brothers cartoons in which we used to crack up laughing at the slapstick comedy which included, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd getting shot in the face. My brother and I even shot each other with toy guns when we were little. Well, myself 38 and my brohter 47, still have no murders between us which limits our appeal to women (lol). Our parents are responsible for the men we are, no matter what we see on TV.