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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a Europe wide ban on pornography is nuts?

199 replies

ophelia275 · 09/03/2013 11:42

The European parliament is seeking a ban on all pornography across Europe.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/european-parliament-votes-on-call-for-porn-ban-8527229.html

I don't think all pornography is bad and I think it serves as an outlet for both women and men to release anger/sexual frustration etc. I don't think a ban would be a good idea because there would always be ways around it and suppressing pornography would just result in more violence and sexual aggression imo. I also don't think there is anything inherently wrong in looking at naked photos of the opposite sex and satisfies a natural urge.

Sometimes I wonder what the EU is going to try and ban next on the grounds of protecting our rights?

OP posts:
MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 20:41

RTB Have you read it? The only thing referencing porn in it says that porn should be banned in advertising and the effects of porn on children studied.

RedToothBrush · 09/03/2013 20:42

Yes I did read it, and I still find it enormously problematic.

Define porn. Thats the problem.

The second paragraph I have less issue with and don't have too much concern about.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 20:45

RedToothBrush couldnt agree more police useing ant t laws to remove people who raise objections during party conferences any one remeber that

Its about if they are allowed to block porn what else will they tell us they are blocking for our own good

They are useing the anger by mostly women to sneek in censorship and like they always say the eu might mean well but what happens when gloden dawn type goverments gain more power what will this black out be used for then

MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 20:47

I'm not so concerned about it, would like to see the previous report that they refer to though. Think that will be the one that is most relevant.

ShellyBoobs · 09/03/2013 20:47

To be honest, I find the whole idea of banning pornography to be utterly ludicrous. There are far more important things to tackle first. And yes, that is relevant when you consider the resource that would be required to enforce a ban on porn.

If we're talking about harmful things, why aren't cigarettes banned?

There is no argument that they kill many, many people, yet they're perfectly legal to buy.

It simply can't be the case that Parliament, European or otherwise, is only concerned with our (physical and mental) wellbeing if cigarettes aren't illegal.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 09/03/2013 20:49

Porn users do have to seek it out. I have spent far too many years hours of my life online since 1998, and have never accidentally stumbled across it.

Part of the problem may be dc seeking it out, there are fairly regular threads here about dc as young as 7 or 8 searching for "boobs tits willies".

So, parental controls, more age-appropriate sex education would be a better way to deal with this issue.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 20:52

Thisisaeuphemism bevause as a parents its your job to stop your children viewing material that is not age apportaie most parents do it with tv by putting pins on there sky and making sure there children go to bed before the wtaer shed*

Putting the recommend filters and being sensible and having your pc in a family room is just a exenstion and because also most sensible parents know its not just porn that needs to be worried about its bullying , far right Groups. That might seek to grab our children por annoitoexia sites, whats know as death sites ect

Only a neive parent would allow a child on line with no sfe gaurds then shout well its not my job they should make sure my child cant get on the site the word here is my child not theres

If you dont safe gaurd your child then you are to blame its the same arugemnt parents trot out about sexualised clothing oh well the shop souldnt sell clothing like that well its my job to make sure my child dose not buy or wear clothing like that

LineRunner · 09/03/2013 20:55

As a parent it's also my right to want to shape the society they are brought up in.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 20:59

OldLadyKnowsNothing you have said what i was trying far to many parents just let there children run wild on line

I with you i never stumbled across hard core porn you have to search for this things you my be a sexy looking lady now aain but you can see that on a sampoo ad down the end of my road

Parents job to know what there kids are up to on line we have set up our pc so this is not a issue with our 13 year old the sad thing is other parents and there complancey is the real threat i know have to ask every parent were my son vists if they have parental controls if there child has a lap to with internet is so can they not use the computer because may just are arsed what there children are looking at its gotton so bad with lack luster pareting the schools now moniter facebook bevause the parents dont have will

LineRunner · 09/03/2013 21:00

Sorry but I just am finding your arguments incoherent, Dom.

FloraFox · 09/03/2013 21:01

Parental controls and sex education are currently available and are not dealing with the issue of harm to society in general or harm to children whose parents don't know how to use controls or don't care enough to do it.

MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 21:04

"Parental controls and sex education are currently available and are not dealing with the issue of harm to society in general or harm to children whose parents don't know how to use controls or don't care enough to do it"

Educating the parents would help there then.

There's not a lot else that can be done here and now. Banning porn would help, but you'd need to make it a criminal offence to view it/distribute it, and even then parents would still need to know how to use filters.

RedToothBrush · 09/03/2013 21:04

I should clarify a bit:

"17. Calls on the EU and its Member States to take concrete action on its resolution of 16 September 1997 on discrimination against women in advertising, which called for a ban on all forms of pornography in the media and on the advertising of sex tourism"

The above relies very, very heavily on interpretation and how people want to enforce it. I am really not comfortable that it will improve rights for women. In fact I think it could be a lot more oppressive and backward if done in a conservative way.

I might be persuaded if terms were very clearly defined and laid out with little room for movement, but I fear that will not be the case.

If these laws are being used by people wanting to control women I think they are dangerous.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 21:07

But my confusion this is not the only threat to children you have "burn pages "
"Catfishes" far roght groups who target young people so even of porn was banned these parents who cant or wont moniter there children on line would still be at risk

morethanpotatoprints · 09/03/2013 21:08

Flora

I don't think this is the main issue though. I had parental control on our family cpmputer many years back now. My ds now 21 but then in junior school was doing a homework project on beavers (the animals). I was in the room with him. I can tell you the pics weren't right for a y5 ds to see. My point is that the controls don't work anyway.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 21:09

Even things like violence my mates borther was caught wtaching be heading on line just as awfual as a child watching porn

Again has a internet ready phone at 10 with no controls btw he would have had to search for the clips

MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 21:10

I can see that, though I suspect that even if it was more clearly defined the people that wanted to use it to control women would do so anyway.

I think people are mostly reading it selectively, so instead of reading, "discrimination against women in advertising, which called for a ban on all forms of pornography in the media", they are reading, "which called for a ban on all forms of pornography in the media". Which is a different thing.

LineRunner · 09/03/2013 21:11

The motion under discussion is about advertising.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 21:11

morethanpotatoprints but the fact you have the pc in the family room ment you were able to deal with it swiftly

If he had a lap top up stairs god know what else he would of seen parental control is also about the loacation of the computer

MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 21:11

"I had parental control on our family cpmputer many years back now. My ds now 21 but then in junior school [...] My point is that the controls don't work anyway"

Technology and parental controls have changed a lot.

MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 21:14

LineRunner Well quite. Seems to be being ignored though doesn't it?

Bearing in mind it was the Pirate Party who drew attention to it, unsurprisingly it isn't being presented in an exactly neutral sensible way. They've got an agenda to push.

Domjolly · 09/03/2013 21:14

Agreed we have a timer on ours amougst other things so ds can only get on at certain times and when the times up the computer simply shuts down

RedToothBrush · 09/03/2013 21:15

The thing is though Linerunner, a lot of people would define something in advertising as pornographic that I wouldn't blink at. And the definition of pornography can shift. Which is why I feel it is just so important to drive the point home and have it totally clarified beyond manipulation.

MurderOfGoths · 09/03/2013 21:17

"Which is why I feel it is just so important to drive the point home and have it totally clarified beyond manipulation."

Totally agree.

morethanpotatoprints · 09/03/2013 21:17

MurderofGoths

Technology has not changed in this sense at all, neither has parental control. Please just try a combination of innocent homework type of words that are also sexual words or even just connotations and see what you get. I also have a 9 yr old dd who is H.ed and udes the internet alot, never without me because controls don't work.
Please parents, don't kid yourself they do.