# Pornography or Prostitution
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [September 20, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547 "2005-09-20T16:03:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/1 "2005-09-20T16:03:58Z")
An interesting article from CNN, we talked about it in my ethics course today - so I throw it to the SDMB wolves. What do you think?
[CNN Article](http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/12/colb.pornography/index.html)
---
### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/2 "2005-09-20T16:15:24Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#):
>
> An interesting article from CNN, we talked about it in my ethics course today - so I throw it to the SDMB wolves. What do you think?
>
> [CNN Article](http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/12/colb.pornography/index.html)
The fundamental problem is of course that it is absurd to prosecute people for either prostitution or pornography, both being products of our butt-ignorant culture. The law codifies such imbecilities and then has problems being logically consistent. Well, imagine that!
---
### Author:  [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/3 "2005-09-20T17:06:02Z")
Interesting article. The article fails to mention that the distinction is blurred even more by porn producers who both make and act in a movie. They are essentially paying a woman to have sex with them on camera. The line between prostitution and porn is even more blurred in these cases.
Of course, I think that both should be legal.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/4 "2005-09-20T18:43:07Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#):
>
> Pornography or Prostitution
. . . Gee, that’s a tough choice . . .
---
### Author:  [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/5 "2005-09-20T19:11:04Z")
I guess in order to legitimize their activity, prostitutes should video tape every session and distribute those videos to the public.
---
### Author:  [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/6 "2005-09-20T20:44:34Z")
It would be A-OK with me if both prostitution and pornography were both legal (porn is already). I don’t believe in legislating morality anyway (yes I know that is a blanket statement and over generalization). The comment about porn, sex, and “butt ignorant” however is just begging for some sort of really funny joke.
---
### Author:  [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/7 "2005-09-21T00:49:39Z")
The analogy in the article, comparing a film-maker filming two people having sex, to another film-maker filming a drug transaction, is fatally flawed, because (in the US) a drug transaction is illegal per se, regardless of whether or not the people are being paid to appear on camera, or doing it “for free” without a cameraman, whereas having sex is fundamentally legal.
---
### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/8 "2005-09-21T01:39:17Z")
Pornography is a very loose term. It can be represented in many forms and is defined by community standards. When comparing the video-sex aspect of pornography to the act of prostitution you still have the factor of community standards plus the additional health/social conditions of a live sex act.
It is the live sex aspect that carries with it a higher level of social concerns and is therefore restricted in the majority of communities (again, through the use of self imposed standards).
---
### Author:  [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/9 "2005-09-21T02:19:34Z")
Could the pornographers dodge any attempts at prosecution by having each actor and actress sign a statement that they are happy to have sex with their fellow cast members for free, but only charge for having the cameras there?
---
### Author:  [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/10 "2005-09-21T17:00:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The analogy in the article, comparing a film-maker filming two people having sex, to another film-maker filming a drug transaction, is fatally flawed, because (in the US) a drug transaction is illegal per se, regardless of whether or not the people are being paid to appear on camera, or doing it “for free” without a cameraman, whereas having sex is fundamentally legal.
George Carlin: “I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal. _Selling_ is legal. _Fucking_ is legal. Why isn’t _selling fucking_ legal?”
---
### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/11 "2005-09-21T17:12:29Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#):
>
> The fundamental problem is of course that it is absurd to prosecute people for either prostitution or pornography, both being products of our butt-ignorant culture.
Neither being restrictive or permissive regarding sexual activity, nor authoritarian or libertarian regarding lawmaking, are questions of knowledge…they’re moral questions. So, “ignorant” isn’t the best term to use here.
---
### Author:  [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pornography-or-prostitution/322547/12 "2005-09-21T17:50:02Z")
Legalize Prostitution!
Of course one day, I will start my New Tantric Church of Hedon whose followers will preach that sexual tension is the cause of many of the world’s ills. My temple priestesses will lend their services out to non-believers and pre-converts. They will meet you in your hotel room. Lay out consecrated sheets, and holy candles. They will then exorcise the sexual tension from you. In return the Church only asks for a donation.