Page 3 David Cameron's response

[Mumraathenoisylion]

Apologies if this story has been posted before.

d-cam response to page 3 ban

I feel helpless with this one. It's not just the children, it's the violence on women, the way it makes women into animals to look at, the self confidence issues of teenagers, the expectation of men, the acceptance of young women and men that this is ok.

It's not ok. I want to do something about it, I actually feel like screaming reading this. What can be done?

[Mumraathenoisylion]

Just as disturbing is that their 'quick poll' currently stands at 51% not in favour of banning page 3.

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

News International are a big backer of call-me-Dave's party. Murdoch makes or breaks governments in the UK. No politician with an ounce of self-preservation will stand up to Rupert. Realpolitik.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Well, he has gone up in my estimation.
When we start trying to ban things just because we don't like something then we are in trouble imo.

[Mumraathenoisylion]

Really? It's not because I don't like it....although I don't.....it's because the sexual objectification of women shouldn't be alongside news....in fact I don't think the sexual objectification of women should happen anywhere but in this case it is a daily occurrence which millions of people see and now find acceptable.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Buffy

I don't care if its only a minority that likes it, freedom of choice is what we are talking about and I don't think anybody has a right to stop this.
I don't think it should be illegal, and nor do I think most people want it banned.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Buffy

I think there is only one right here and that is the right to freedom.
You don't have to look if you don't want to, you don't have to buy.
You can make your ds/ dh promise not to buy or look.
Nobody has the right to stop anybody else's choices imo.

[ScientificProgressGoesBoink]

So more than, does your stance mean that hardcore violent child porn is acceptable too? Because by your rules it would be....

[ScientificProgressGoesBoink]

What we are doing here it trying to draw a moral line in the sand. For some the objectification of women in this way, in an industry proven exploit vulnerable young women, is immoral. The rules and laws of a country don't just exist in vacuum, they change according to the acceptability (or not) of a persons actions according to the generation which governs. This is why women got to vote, why gay couples can marry and should be why we look again at the porn industry. This country has (supposedly) changed in its respect and equal rights for women...one of those rights should be NOT to have to view this crap. And you can't escape it. Yesterday ds and I were in a cafe and there was the sun, open on page 3, which he saw.

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

I know this won't be a popular view on here, but a lot of the apathy is because people generally see adult women choosing to go into this as a career. Comparisons with child porn don't really help. And I am not for or against page 3, just pointing out something that I don't think has been mentioned.

Personally, the Sun is guilty of far greater wrongs than page 3. I'd like to see it shut down for some of the other stuff it is guilty of.

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

I dunno then. Mumraa, why did you bring this up? It's been done to death, apparently.

[emcwill74]

more than - you say you don't think most people want it banned, but why do we have to talk about 'banning' or it being 'illegal'? If Dinsmore decided to get with the 21st century and accept that women are a bit more than sexual commodities defined by their appearance and simply stopped printing the thing, as would be his right as editor with no need for any great democratic say-so, just like when the Sun started it in the first place, then I don't think most people would be bothered either. MOST PEOPLE don't buy the Sun. This tends to be forgotten when p3 supporters say 'who are 126,000 petition-signers to tell 2.3m Sun buyers blah blah blah', but that leaves over 50m people who don't buy it, and therefore, presumably, wouldn't give a toss if it bit the dust. I find more and more when I talk to people about page 3 they just look mildly surprised that it still exists.

[Biggedybiggedybongsoitis]

There is another thread on here at the moment about general public apathy to current issues. As dmc says, it's the biggest obstacle to those who would ban it. Nobody cares, really.

[PleaseJustLeaveYourBrotherAlon]

I support the "no more page 3" campaign and have signed the petitions, but I'm still not sure if the ban on pornography should also include page 3 as I don't think breasts are "pornographic" iyswim?

Are they appropriate in a newspaper? No
Is it sexist? yes
Does it lead to treating women as sex objects? Yes.

But still not sure one law should include the other. I don't want to ban public displays of breasts, really I'd prefer to get to the point where women can wander around topless like men can without anyone blinking an eye and breastfeeding wouldn't encounter anything more than an offer of a glass of a water and a place to sit down.

But David Cameron is a bit of dim bulb really if he thinks parents can stop their children from buying newspapers, or going in to newsagents or going to schools where their teachers can be reading the fucking thing.

I mean he does have children right? --

[Mumraathenoisylion]

I'm sorry if this has been done and done again, I'm also sorry if my op was slightly less eloquent and academic compared to many posts.

I do have a lot to learn. I feel very passionate about this particular subject though and my main reason of posting was one of despair that I and my two daughters have to live in a world where we are merely viewed as animals by some. I would also love advice on how to make that change (trying not to channel Michael Jackson here). I would like to do something pro-active.

[Mumraathenoisylion]

I agree please my fil brings it to our house on every visit. My dm offers it to my husband to read.

Is it a generational thing?

[emcwill74]

If my fil brought the Sun into our house I would take it outside and put it in the recycling bin until he got the message!

[TheDoctrineOfWho]

A minority probably liked the Black and White Minstrels..,