Will the EU ban Porn...and do you care?

    • 866 posts
    March 9, 2013 9:00 AM GMT
    There are moves a foot to ban pornography in the EU. If you read teh article you will see that written porn is banned in Iceland and they will soon be banning internet porn there. Leaving aside whether or not governments can actually stop porn on the net - what toolswill they use and who will police it? - is this a good thing.

    For those people with children surely it is up to you as parents to control their use of the internet, rather than expecting "the authorities " to do it.

    What do you think - do you care? And note that although this is a proposed EU policy it is supported by the Nasty (oops sorry the Tory) Party.

    Let's have some debate and see what you think

    hugs

    Pauline xxx

    "The European Parliament is preparing to vote on a proposal to ban all forms of pornography.
    A report detailing the ban was prepared by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.
    Embedded under Article 17 of the report is a clause that, if eventually made into law, would effectively ban pornography across all types of media, including the Internet, in Europe."


    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2290270/Will-porn-banned-Europe-EU-set-vote-internet-crackdown.html#ixzz2N1yUpEsL
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  • March 9, 2013 9:08 AM GMT
    Pleb's the lot of them, sorry had to get that one in, Interesting point there Pauline.

    Ban it surly not - maybe they should drop the word - Porn, and give it a new title - Extreme Erotica !

    Although i will add, i whole heart'd agree with the need to keep it away from children, and ultimately that should fall down to the parents!

    The opt in option is probably a solution, but still will have issue's - Responsible parenting!


    Hugs Liz xxx


    This post was edited by Elizabeth (Liz) Arlington-Lee at March 9, 2013 9:36 AM GMT
    • 3 posts
    March 9, 2013 9:27 AM GMT
    Every time something like this happens people will find ways around it

    They cannot stop sites like pirate bay so what chance for something that makes millions
    • 60 posts
    March 9, 2013 9:52 AM GMT
    First of all we have to look at the paretns being responsible for their children. Thats not going to happen parents aren't responsible for their children anymore. You only have to look at the kids behavour in and out of school. But for the governments to take the control for what,when and how we think and act is far to far beyond the bounds of responsibilty they have to much control of that already. but as the world is full of stupid people who can't control themselves or even think for themselves the rest of us reaponsible sane people will be made to suffer. as usual
    • 13 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:11 AM GMT
    I am sick of governments making our minds up for us for what is best and what is not .Maybe we should start voting on these fat pay packets they earn to get them cut ,they would love that wouldn't they.
    Sooner we are out of this potty EU the better ,if we ever get the chance to vote on a referendum that is ..
    • 60 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:13 AM GMT
    careful what you wish for Sharon
    • 13 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:16 AM GMT
    Yeah i know, if only they came true .
    • 60 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:19 AM GMT
    this is aside to Paulines original question....but would it be a good thing to come out of europe our biggest export market x
    • 13 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:35 AM GMT
    I think so because i feel all these restrictions have killed our industries also you only have to look at the fisheries industry to see a massive example through EU restrictions.
    We are told what to do and not what to do and as a country we pump masses of money into this barn pot EU elite and get nothing out of it what so ever .
    Being in the EU has had no effect on me as an UK resident and as i say i am sick of all these potty rules etc they keep imposing on us ,not just the UK but Europe as a whole.
    So yes we need to get out and start being the country we once was instead of yes men.
    • 26 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:37 AM GMT
    For a start europe trading partner only Switzerland and Norway do ok and don't have thousands of eastern europeans claiming allowances.No way will the germans ban porn to much money
    • 60 posts
    March 9, 2013 10:55 AM GMT
    I agree with you Andrea having been to the Reeperbahn x x
    • 866 posts
    March 9, 2013 11:04 AM GMT
    I guess being in or out of the EU is more emotive and interesting than having the internet controlled.
    • 52 posts
    March 9, 2013 11:33 AM GMT
    To get back to the original question, this strikes me as yet another example of the nanny state, or maybe the nanny union in this case. We are forever being bombarded with rules and regulations "for our own good", mainly during Blair's tenure. Surely it is up to peoples own common sense.

    As for Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands banning porn. I don't think so!
    • 866 posts
    March 9, 2013 12:07 PM GMT
    Ever wondered what percentage of internet usage is by watching porn......30%, 70%, 90%....it must be a high number. Right?

    Nope

    Its FOUR percent, though 13% of all searches are for porn...... makes you think

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/julieruvolo/2011/09/07/how-much-of-the-internet-is-actually-for-porn/
    • 47 posts
    March 9, 2013 3:31 PM GMT
    Ha, Germany ban porn, anyone ever been to Hamburg lol
    • 10 posts
    March 9, 2013 7:31 PM GMT
    where there is a will there is way to access what people want, I see this as more censorship and it violates our civil rights PERIOD and I don't see how it can be done
    • 5 posts
    March 10, 2013 1:18 AM GMT
    Just a general erosion of peoples rights to do and watch what they want by hypocrits both here and abroad in goverment who think they know what's best for for the general public. One cannot drink, smoke or eat these days and heaven forbid if you wish to take a snap of your grandchildren at a school play.
    cc ; Victor Meldrew
    • 42 posts
    March 10, 2013 9:32 AM GMT
    I'm not going to answer either of the original OP questions directly but make these points:
    porn is nasty and degrades the people who participate in producing, distributing it and watching it - erotica can and should be a form of artistic expression - there is a difference!

    we need to think about the women - born and trans who are forced into degrading acts to make porn

    if we leave the EU God help us as trans people - we will be back to the 80s in terms of oppression by the vested interests in this country. The only thing which led to things like the Equality Act was EU legislation on human rights. If England leaves the EU my only hope is for the Scots to claim the North of England as far as the Trent where Bonnie Prince Charlie got to and then we can be part of a greater Scotland under Alex Salmond in the EU with the south of England left to Dave and his rich mates (and I don't have any Scottish blood in me!).
    • 122 posts
    March 10, 2013 12:21 PM GMT
    The realistic issue on why they are wanting ban porn is they aren't getting a cut (TAX) in the profits been made.
    If they do ban internet porn there are "Proxy bypass sites" that enables them still to watch whatever they desire.
    • 259 posts
    March 10, 2013 11:07 PM GMT
    I brought up two daughter in the days when the Internet was new and had no contols. As I worked in IT both daughters had the Internet in their rooms and I did limit what they could do. All I did was try to teach them how to look themselves both physically and virtually. I did overhear one say to the the other 'Hey I've got a perv on here'. I paused trying to think what to say then heard 'OK banned him and passed his ID around'. So do I want governments to ban porn - NO. But I'd like to get parents educated in looking after their children.
    • 57 posts
    March 11, 2013 3:15 PM GMT
    this is a smoke screen for other issues which they want you to forget about, or to camouflage things they don't want you to see... SEX SELLS and creates MILLIONS in revenue & if any European (western, non muslim country) government that bans Pornography would be stupid, the Dutch & German economy would suffer the most... banning porn is only being discussed to divert our attention from bigger issues....

    Banning porn would create an even bigger under ground black market which would need extra police to enforce the laws, and that would cost money, and as they've already lost revenue from the porn industry where would the funding come from for the extra police to enforce the new laws...

    so let's discuss the 'possibility' of the EU banning porn and we'll forget about the other shit that the EU is in...
    • 26 posts
    March 11, 2013 3:55 PM GMT
    Lisa i think you hit the nail on the head typical politicians create smokescreen xx
    • 57 posts
    March 11, 2013 4:46 PM GMT
    it's the typical "oh look over there whilst I nick one of your chips" gag...

    "oh look over there" (whilst we take away your benefits & let more immigrants in)
  • March 12, 2013 1:42 AM GMT
    Whilst I have a very liberal outlook ,I would have to beeing a TS and proud of it, Ido think that Pornography should be better controlled particulaly to ensure children can not get to view it. Hoe that regulation can be brought in i dont know but it does concern me, i do think however children brought up in the right way would be self regulating, but dont make it easy for them to get it on the internet.
    .For my part i am not concerned one way or the other..
    • 235 posts
    March 14, 2013 12:06 AM GMT
    Pornography is the graphic description (in pictures or words) of sex. As such it can be of varying quality - people call porn they like erotica and porn they don't trash but in the end those judgements are subjective and up to the individual to make. And that is the point - reading or looking at porn should be an individual choice not a choice made for people by the state. As for the danger of degradation it is very real, for sure, usual as a result of criminal involvement in the industry. But would you trust a state that allowed child abuse at the BBC to be covered up for years to make a decision on whether porn should be banned. I wouldn't. And it is a fact that women in the sex industry have achieved more in the struggle against degradation by organising themselves to fight for decent pay and conditions than any ban on porn has ever achieved. And finally, like alcohol, children should be protected from its sale and distribution - but not by state bans xxxxxx