Is 'simulated rape porn' to be banned in the UK?

[Teelie]

It's just a publicity stunt to show he's doing something about a percieved problem that doesn't exist.

While rape is real and there is real abuse in porn, it's not all the same thing. Meaning if you allow fantasy rape to exist you justify real rape in some kind of bizarre logic. Or that fantasy rape scenarios lead to real rape.

In some cases it might but I'm always dubious of claims backing these kinds of studies which show a clear result because there is usually a cloud covering the methods used to prove it (to use a similar example, the MPAA/RIAA and piracy, depending on which study you read the results are literally polar opposites in their effect on the market).

And all of this is under the guise of "protecting" women and children without actually making any effort to do so. This way he can say he's done something (banning rape fantasies imparticular, porn in general) and by the time it's shown to have at best a minimal effect (more likely none) on any kind of sexual violence it'll be forgotten about.

Real effort would require real world actions and changes that he won't or can't pass into law. So this is the visible alternative. All the praise, none of the effort or results for his display.

To forbid a freedom, especially one you disagree with, is the worst way to accomplish change in society.

And here's an alternative thought: Should we ban simulated murder as well? If you do that, then how many movies, television series, books, etc are you going to have to ban to enforce it?

 

[chamber-music]

While I find rape porn distasteful and rape as a plot device in some movies and tv shows disturbing I don't think they can ban it.

This sounds like one of those things the government just talks about but won't actually do anything about. Its too much of a legal mine field.

Banning anything featuring rape isn't going to make rape stop happening sadly. The sick evil pieces of s*** that rape people are still going to do these things. You only have to look at those third world countries where rape is rife and they don't even have access to the things depicted on the internet or in the media.

Jodie Foster won her first Academy Award for The Accused. And though the movie depicts a fairly brutal gang rape (simulated, of course), it clearly doesn’t endorse or glamorize the act. Would the British law apply to those who happen to have The Accused in their video library?

The Accused is tame compared to the scenes in more modern films and tv shows like Irreversible or This Is England 86 which are long uncut and violent scenes that make you want to vomit.

 

[bullets]

It's kind of disturbing , but these are just scenarios. If there was an actual crime involved then I would be for it. You can't tell me banning these videos will make anyone less prone to violence. The Prime Minister just has an agenda.

 

[Dr.]

The Accused is tame compared to the scenes in more modern films and tv shows like Irreversible or This Is England 86 which are long uncut and violent scenes that make you want to vomit.

So it’s not rape, per se? The law would make an exception for comparatively “mild” rape scenes?

 

[Hyde]

I can't wait for David Cameron to not get re-elected in 2015.

But, that's a discussion for another thread.

 

[jmc]

There's a massive difference between video depicting actual rape and actors performing it in a film. And it's a very slippery slope because what's the difference between porn and a mainstream film depicting it? Cameron's quest to de-pornify the UK is only going to end up failing. People like sex, they like their fantasies. The irony is much like porn, this idea of his is nothing but an illusion of safety.

 

[Schlosser85]

I fail to see why people think it's up to them what other people watch.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Issues like this are potential political wins though; it's a way of getting votes from both traditional conservatives and left-wing feminists.

 

[jmc]

Issues like this are potential political wins though; it's a way of getting votes from both traditional conservatives and left-wing feminists.

I doubt it. It's the government acting against a problem in the wrong way giving people the illusion they are doing something. Banning rape porn isn't going to prevent rapists which I'm assuming is the underlying message here.

 

[Raiden]

So it only pertains to porn with simulated rape? How about movies with simulated rape scenes in them? Is it only bad influence if the actors are engaged in actual sex?

 

[Pink Ranger]

I doubt it. It's the government acting against a problem in the wrong way giving people the illusion they are doing something. Banning rape porn isn't going to prevent rapists which I'm assuming is the underlying message here.

It's not about solving problems, it's about getting public support. Politicians push for bad laws all the time because they are popular.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Why?

Why do you think that you should dictate what other people watch?

Are you unable to imagine the shoe on the other foot and someone arbitrarily banning something you enjoy?

I'm against the prison term, isn't that enough?

 

[jmc]

It's not about solving problems, it's about getting public support. Politicians push for bad laws all the time because they are popular.

But this isn't popular. This whole UK war against porn thing started with one of the newspapers starting a campaign to 'fight' porn. The thing is you read the comments on the website and it's near universally panned because most people agree that people are within their right to enjoy the material. It's a misguided moral crusade that won't prevent anything, in fact I'm not sure who a ban like this is suppose to protect.

 

[Teelie]

As I recall this paper making the fight porn campaign itself has a lot of nudity and near-porn in it. Or it did until recently before it began this crusade.

 

[Astro13Zombie]

I welcome the idea of banning porn with open arms, but this is kinda ridiculous
On the hand, I understand their point of view

All porn?
Why?

 

[Warhammer]

Is there some kind of rape porn epidemic in the UK? Shouldn't resources and time be used to fix, y'know, important issues?

 

[chamber-music]

Is there some kind of rape porn epidemic in the UK? Shouldn't resources and time be used to fix, y'know, important issues?

That is the whole point. Bringing this stuff to the forefront deflects from the more important issues that the government should be held accountable for.

I find it hilarious that the conservative party members were complaining about not having enough time to deal with issues like gay marriage or House Of Lords reform but they are willing to waste time on trivial nonsense like this which isn't at the top of the public's list of issues that need addressing.

 

[Warhammer]

Yeah, I hear you on that. Anyone who even had that in their top 5 issues that the government should be concerned about, they need to go dig their heads in some sand and just starve to death.

 

[Ajendo]

This is a non issue really. Nothing will come of this nonsense.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Is there some kind of rape porn epidemic in the UK?

Let's just saw the Teletubbies reboot kind of goes in a different direction.

 

[Warhammer]

Let's just saw the Teletubbies reboot kind of goes in a different direction.

Gives a whole new meaning to Tinkie Winkie.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I ranted about this on my facebook the other night and got a seriously good level of agreement to my disdain that this might happen.

A friend of mine posted this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/31/domestic-violence-rape-crisis-cuts_n_2049137.html

Yeah, the government really cares about rape victims

This isn't about the victims.

This is about the upper classes trying to stamp out what they percieve as unsightly lower class behaviour (despite the fact they probably do much seedier stuff behind closed doors).

 

[Teelie]

All that money going into banning porn could actually be put to good use funding those services that actually do something instead.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Wow, that's political self-interest laid bare, isn't it? That's like cutting funding to education and youth programs and then trying to ban rap music for encouraging criminality.

 

[NickNitro]

So if I have sex with a girl in the UK will I go to jail for choking her? If so I probably wont go.