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D.C. Madam Apparent Suicide | 75 comments (75 topical)

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Right on. (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by Chimster on Thu May 01, 2008 at 02:06:38 PM EST
I have a logic question. Why should pornography be legal and prostitution not, when both involve people being paid to have sex? The only difference I can tell is that one is always done while a camera is rolling. Am I missing something?

[ Parent ]
Pornagraphy is legislated by the state. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Fabian on Thu May 01, 2008 at 02:19:18 PM EST
IIRC, only California allows adults to be paid to engage in sex acts for the camera.  It's a major industry for that state.

[ Parent ]
That, and there was a decision by the (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by scribe on Thu May 01, 2008 at 02:36:08 PM EST
Calif. Supreme Court some years ago, which decided that acting in pron* was really "Acting" in which the script called for sex and not "having sex for money", therefore not prostitution.

Since there is no clear way of drawing a line between a "legitimate" dramatic performance and pron, this seems a reasonable resolution, assuming one does not want all motion pictures/video to treat adults on the same level as children.  For an example of the spectrum, and why it can be difficult to draw lines, see, e.g., the actress Chloe Sevigny in "The Brown Bunny" (in which she performs a particular act) vs. same actress in "Boys Don't Cry" (nudity, simulated act) vs. the same actress in "Big Love"(talk and situations).

There is no bright line test, regardless of what the government (or preachers trying to use it) might say.

*  A deliberate misspelling so the filters won't block Talkleft from all sorts of "serious" "business" sites.  

[ Parent ]

D.C. Madam Apparent Suicide | 75 comments (75 topical)

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