17 Comments
⭠ Return to thread

You’ve also failed to define pornography. And who prohibits porn in public? Also the internet is not a geographic area so it’s not really analogous at all.

Expand full comment

Neither of us specifically defined pornography. We were both making our introductory statements. I did give an implied meaning when I likened it to sexual expression in public which is not legally allowed. The online display of the type of sexual behavior that wouldn't be legal in public in real life would be a good starting point for what would constitute pornography for the purposes of a public online community. You may be looking for a one-size-fits-all application or definition, but as I mentioned, there are other factors in play here. The distinction between public and private must be made. Is Substack going to have private sectors for exclusive access? That would play in to the decision.

You asked who prohibits pornography in public. Pornography openly displayed or blatant sexual expression/activity in public places is against the law. Nudist colonies don't simply appear when you walk around a corner. There's a defined process to access them. They are not part of the public arena.

Your last comment seems self-contradictory. It's true that the internet is not a geographic area, because it's an analogy. If it were the same, it wouldn't be an analogy.

What I didn't elaborate on yet is the role of persons in public in real life vs. the role of posted content in an internet community. The content becomes the people, the actors. Thus posting content of that nature in a public community would be akin to engaging in sexual activity out in public in real life.

Expand full comment

Her objection isn't serious enough to be treated seriously. She's playing "progressive" word games, which is what her kind does.

Expand full comment

Lewts even go to Diogenes. He has been said to advocate doing EVERYTHING in public that one does in private. If porn is to be everywhere, even here, then so is pooping and peeing sans underwear. Just like Diogenes. No discrimination about what you cant show!

Expand full comment

Thank you for your very well reasoned and considerate response.

Both your response and reading through Substack's view of content moderation were a breath of fresh air to me.

Expand full comment

You are welcome, Jeff. I feel it's good to be forthcoming, take a rational approach, compare ideas, and see where that leads. To me, that's a great way to understand other perspectives and learn more about those perspectives as well as your own.

Expand full comment

I shall not...attempt...to define ["hard-core pornography"]... But I know it when I see it.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Potter Stewart

1964, Jacobellis v. Ohio

Expand full comment

Tl;dr - the best reason to disallow porn is that every time you allow it into a generalized space, it takes over the space. It’s the kudzu of the Internet. And it has plenty of its own space on an internet that has infinite space.

Expand full comment

We know it when we see it, and so do you. Play a smarter game.

Expand full comment

And here I thought you'd be impressed with my Justice Stewart quote...

Expand full comment

Good job defining subjective! Do you want a cookie? Is “define words” the smart game you’re playing?

Expand full comment

There's no lack of porn on the internet. It doesn't have to be everywhere, no matter how much you want it to be. Oh, and thanks so much for your condescension. You must be a "progressive" too. LOL

Expand full comment

you my dear are snide, not a worthy behavior to embrace

Expand full comment

Cathy, what may be pornographic may not be easy to define precisely but it is easy to identify. Anybody can tell what is pornographic without it being defined.

Expand full comment

That's a contradiction in terms but okay

Expand full comment

OMG tell that to the school boards across the world right now. You can't read it out loud in the meeting, but it can be in the library of a 6 year old. The world health organisation is trying to teach children to masturbate by the age of 4 and they are designing books that I view as porn for 3-8 year olds. This is site really does need to consider this more carefully as I would like to write here but it's just to vague and the right are trying to stop all people learning about sex it seems.

Expand full comment