So…was it as good for you as it was for me?

Ah yes, the critiquing of one’s blogs as the first grading period comes to an end.  Well, I’ve actually enjoyed writing these blogs.  They actually get you to watch and listen to the lectures.  I don’t have any classes, nor do I work on Wednesdays, so this has been my unofficial day of blogging and the viewing of our class lectures.  However, this blog is my opinion of my own blogs and what grade I should receive.
          Well since I strive for all “A”s, then I should start from there.  The requirements are as follows for an “A”: To receive an A, the student must demonstrate clear originality in thought and presentation, and must be willing to be creative, as well as compelling, in their presentation. The A blog becomes more that just another student voice; it is a source of learning for the whole class, including the instructor. The “B” blogs should link to additional materials. Perhaps most tellingly, it will attract the attention of others in the class and of those outside of the class. Also, the “C” blogs should be free from grammatical errors and spelling errors. In addition, the entries should have a clear thesis, a strong paragraph structure, and provide some form of evidence for the claims or arguments presented. The student demonstrates a good understanding of the materials presented and has obviously formed an informed opinion. You should also be posting three times most weeks.
Well if you start from the “C” grade blogs, I’ve definitely followed those guidelines.  My blogs are free of errors and have evidence that I do understand the topics addressed in the corresponding lectures.  As for the amount of blogging, every week I’ve posted at least 3 times to go along with my added comments.  For the “B” grade blogs, I’ve always tried to add links to other blogs as well as to corresponding websites in relation to the blog.  This blog even got the attention of other students and I think was a point well made.  I feel that my blogging is an “A” grade.  The previous blog, was creative, and I felt it could be a learning tool the whole class could use.  Not just to educate the readers on the issue, but as a way to motivate them to perhaps seek alternative ways to make legal changes in our society.  It would, at the very least, make people think about what they feel is appropriate and what should or shouldn’t be changed.  All my blogs show my strengths of understanding the topic, and commenting on them in a well rounded blog.  I feel that I emphasize what I’m trying to get across in a clear and original presentation.
What I could improve on, is adding more comments to other’s blogs and show my own opinion in a stronger fashion.  I feel that in my previous blogs I’ve gotten out what I’ve wanted to, but I would feel better if they were read more by others, and commented on.  I could also come up with better blog titles for my blogs.  Although, I do like the way I’ve done that so far!  I liked the title of this blog, but maybe I only get my own jokes, oh well.

All in all, I enjoy blogging and look to continue and improve upon what I’ve done so far.

Edit Ani

This blog, that I picked, had a few errors and was nice and short too! Plus, I do agree with what the writer has to say and the opinion being made.

In the third lecture, the feminist perspective was discussed.  This topic highlights the problem of what would happen if there were no rules as to what porn is good and bad. “If ‘anything goes’ it doesn’t make sense if it is hurting people.”  This is true for the most part but, what if that is exactly what gets you “off”? Many people have all sorts of kinky fetishes and there are thousands upon thousands of websites devoted to “hurting people”. I’m willing to bet money that there are a fairly even percentage of men and women who take the “free tour” on these websites. Where is the line drawn if there are a considerable amount of women who deem violent porn against them, to be acceptable? Should it be labeled “porn” even though many consider it to be “erotica”?
There is no easy answer to this much debated issue. Probably, because most women will never admit to enjoying porn let alone having a fetish.
 As long as the actors and actresses in these videos aren’t really getting hurt…then in my opinion, let the whipping begin! 

Porno, the safest thing next to Abstinence

When we all hear and think about porn, we imagine sex with random people.  Sex that isn’t done in your home, videotaped and something that is considered dirty.  We also tend to think that the porn stars of today, probably have more STDs than any “normal” person having sex.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.

            The porn industry is one of the safest ways to have sex nowadays.  They do numerous amounts of tests from HIV to STDs on a monthly basis.  In fact, recent studies have shown that it’s more risky to have sex when in an Ohio high school than it is to have sex in the porn industry.  This is because of the amount of untested individuals having casual sex and not knowing whether or not they have anything.  Of the few people in the industry that have contracted the “monster”, or HIV leading to AIDS, several received it from an outside sexual interaction not involved in the porn industry.  It’s just more publicized to show people that porn is bad and society should reject it.  Some even go along the lines of porn and prostitution being the same.  When the biggest difference is that the porn industry makes a good effort to support sexual health, prostitution is just random people not knowing what each other has.  All the society looks at is the random act of sex and that only 17% of the industry uses condoms.  They don’t look at the monthly tests, the counselors for the actors, and the films, on staying sexually healthy; many of the porn stars are required to view.  The porn industry has a union, more or less, that helps its members to be more educated on how to protect themselves.

            I personally feel that society could learn a thing or two from the porn industry.  For the amount of sex they have, and the little number of contracted STDs they receive, then they must be doing something right.  If we all had counselors, educational films on how to have safe sex, and tests done, then our STD and AIDS problem would be reduced drastically and could even prevent them.  So is porn really all that bad and has it nothing to offer that could be positive?

Does it really feel good?

In the most recent lecture we talked about the talent.  We discussed how people feel about porn and if in fact they actually enjoy creating the films.  Do they actually have the choice to choose or not?  Apparently we’re to discuss this more in an upcoming “Sex Slaves” film/lecture this week.

            This argument of whether or not they enjoy engaging in sexual activities has been down played in the past.  All you really hear about are actresses like Jenna Jameson saying how much she loves making porn and will do so until she is old.  However, you don’t hear about the people lured into the business without having any say in it at all.  The sex slave industry is larger and more secret than any of us ever thought.  The estimation is that there are over 800,000 sex slave being shipped around the world from country to country.  This is even more alarming in the United States where the guess of the amount of domestic sex slaves is anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000.  These people obviously don’t like the industry or else they wouldn’t be labeled as slaves.  Also, our society brings us up thinking that men do in fact enjoy sex all the time, and that it’s a “dream job”.  However, you never really hear about how most start off into gay porn and only do so because the money is so much better.  According to our lecture, about 25% to 50% of all gay porn stars are actually heterosexual.  That right there proves that they are only doing it for the money.  The money for a male on female porn star is anywhere from $300 to $600 a scene, compared to $3000 a scene for a gay sexual film.  You hear time and time again of how porn stars actually don’t like it and claim to be drugged for a scene.  Even way back to the “original porn star” Linda Lovelace, in Deep Throat, claims that she was forced to have sex on screen. 

            After listening to the lectures and reading about this topic, I really do believe that this is the only way for some of them to make money and ends meet.  They sometimes don’t even have a choice to have filmed sex and is out of their control.  So, do porn stars really enjoy sex?  This can be left up to your own opinion, but I feel that only the top few do, and the others just go along with it.  

Reply to Amy’s Ted Bundy Blog

This blog got me thinking and quick to reply.  It’s a blog on Ted Bundy and how the viewing of porn, led him to the killing of 28 women.
I really hate the whole “I’m blaming certain images that led me to kill somebody” thing.  Everything imaginable has been blamed to psychologically motivate a crime.  What about the fact that these people have a few screws loose in their head?  I mean, if they found no porn in Ted Bundy’s house, how could this sick individual blame porn?  I saw Chuck Norris terminate a hostage situation using deadly force, Superman stopped a train and our vice president shoot a buddy, am I going to do those?  No way. Why not, probably because I’m not a deranged idiot with these sick ideas. I see where Amy is coming from, but Bundy was just plain messed up in the head.  It really ticks me off, that there are such sick people out there, not just sex offenders and murderers that can get out of long term sentences.  This is all just because they saw somebody do something and they felt they should do the same?  It’s a knock on our judicial system for all of this non-sense.  Yes porn was violent in the past, but just because your friend tells you to jump off of the bridge, are you going to?
 

Ban All Porn With Any Child, PERIOD!

In the most recent batch of internet class lectures (#9), we talked about everything from Adelphia XXX, to defining what snuff is.  There was one minor topic that really got me thinking and a little upset.  That was the United States Federal government ruling on hacking/computer animated porn.
Specifically what got to me was what they said about child pornography.  They ruled that since a cartoon depiction of a child, isn’t really a human child, that it’s not illegal.  If there is one thing we’ve learned about pornography and the internet, it’s that technology is a driving force and is increasingly powerful and coming up with new ways to push the porn industry. Which led me to my next point of, when is it illegal?  With all the new technology, computer animation is continually looking more and more realistic and thus could create an even more life like child shown in videos.  This is the way that porn is going, maybe not just yet with children, but adult porn is being created with programs to simulate sexual relations that may or may not be done in real life.  Photoshop is being used to manipulate film and pictures to accomplish somebody’s fantasy.  If that is done with a child, Is it child porn now?  Is it then illegal?  I feel this is a very important subject and should be taken at a more realistic and respectable angle.  I personally feel that even if it is a cartoon child engaging in sexual relations, that it should be illegal to distribute and view.  What could possibly come out of the viewing of this as something positive or beneficial?  To me, it could just led to a sick person being motivated to carry out an act.
I’m sure you can tell how much I’m against child porn by now, but how do you feel?  This topic is a sore subject in today’s society and needs to be addressed to help our children in the future.    

 

This topic was recently addressed in an issue of Parade magazine, found as an insert in the Buffalo News Sunday edition.

Window Shopping

By window shopping I mean, you can look but you can’t touch.  That only goes to a certain point when your in a relationship.  As this blog says , most girls feel that their boyfriends shouldn’t goto strip clubs. My question is, what about a bachelor party?
It is well known that if you’re dating a girl, you can’t go to a strip club without sneaking out or lying.  To me, lying is worse than going to a place your “not allowed” to go to.  However, what about a bachelor party?  You know those parties that raise money for the newlyweds to go on a honeymoon together.  For them to spend time and relax after making a commitment to spend the rest of their lives together.  This is definitely a heated debate that depends on the couple, but I do hear all the time that a male strip show is more of a comedy show than anything.  Well, any guy that wiggles his junk in front of my girlfriend is doing something just as bad as what a girl would do with her crotch in my face.  At a bachelor party, it’s a known fact that the best man gets all the attention from the entertainment, not the groom.  Which is good for the husband to be, but not if you are in a relationship and are the best man.  I guess you just have to trust your significant other not to ruin something that is special to the both of you.  It could be considered a true test to one’s relationship, as bad as these might sound. 
Luckily, well in my case, we just don’t really bring the subject up, let alone argue about it.  We also don’t really get into situations that would entail us going out without each other, especially to a strip club.  However,  I can tell you one thing, I’ll be having a bachelor party to benefit us!!!

Wow, actually learning something!!!

The past couple of days, I’ve just spent time reading other blogs.  Partially because I didn’t really know how to use the new system due to the frying of a certain motherboard.  But if there is one thing I have come across, it’s that I am actually learning a thing or too.
First off, I never thought of the VCR, camcorder or even the Polaroid camera, as a part of pornography.  I mean, growing up, you tend to shy away from the conversation, let alone make an accusation of that.  You just go with the flow and never question certain things.  I found it very interesting on how porn itself, has affected each and everyone of our lives and is continuing to push us further.  It’s in our lives and we sometimes don’t even know it.  For example, many of us seen to have viewed the Dateline episode on which child molesters are caught in the act of pursuing sexual relations with a child.  Everything from the new “love bubble” to sex in the Olympic village, porn and sex are abundant and are often avoided in discussion.  Porn is on the news, blogs around the world, and even in our very own class.  So why does it continue to be ignored by society when it plays a major role in our world today?
Of the many things preached so far in this class, it’s that we don’t have a laid out set of tracks on what porn is and isn’t.  There are different rules and ideas on what it has done and is doing. We need to approach it, study it, and learn from it, so we know what to do and how to act with it.  There is a lot to be learned from porn, but we as a society need to make it our goal to give it a fair shot and not just approach it with disgust.
 

Porn…Society’s Red-Headed Step Child

Why is everybody always picking on porn, isn’t there anything better to do?  This business is so big, like what this blog is saying, that its obvious that people enjoy it and tend to not see anything wrong with it.  By saying there isn’t anything wrong with it, I mean in respect to world wide problems and domestic affairs in the United States. 

With that in mind, I personally do find porn to be wrong with the filming and watching when children and animals are involved.  However, somebody had to be in agreement with me, and that person was Bill Clinton.  His policy on porn took a side track to that of our affairs in Iraq and in our own country.  This industry is a billion dollar industry and thus has an effect on our everyday lives.  For instance, in one shoot that could cost the Hustler Company $55,000 they can turn in into a million with the selling of the films’ pictures, soft core edition for TV networks, and hard core for its XXX videos.  Such large companies as AT&T, GE and Yahoo are tapping into this enormous vault of money that is taking off as technology increases.  It sells VHS tapes, DVDs; it’s on television, and the internet.  At one point or another, we all have run into it.  With this being such a big part of today’s society, there has to come regulations.  Regulations, with set rules and laws should be applied, but not to the extent that some administrations have gone after it.  The Reagan and George W. Bush administrations seem to have put it on the front burner with greater ease than others.  The porn industry has even brought about great new technologies that are now used in educational services with the internet and computer software.All in all, this issue shouldn’t even be in the top 10 or problems to deal with for our government.  This just goes to show that porn is the Red-Headed Step Child of our society and will never gain the respect or value to our community as an industry.
 

Obscene 2 Me, But Not You

After watching the “American Porn”, Frontline program, it’s clear that the biggest thing in the industry is what obscenity is.  This has been an on-going legal issue since the first time obscenity was used to describe porn, and the first arrests were made.  This process was depicted in this edition of Frontline on PBS and is very interesting about how it has shaped porn into what it is today.

            It starts off by talking about the obscenity charges against “Rob Black” and his film that was actually being documented by Frontline.  The film, which Frontline later backed out of documenting, involved woman being tortured and raped and was viewed as obscene.  The Federal government actually raided the production company, while “Black” claimed he was not guilty.  This goes back to what is obscene and what isn’t and how there hasn’t been a real standard into it.  The case that all is based on was Miller vs. the State of California in which a three point test was setup to legally say what obscenity is.  The first was what community standards were and if the average person found it shameful, the second was if the community standards found what it depicts sexually, to be offensive and the third was if it lacks and scientific value or is considered art. 

I don’t know if it’s just myself, but this test doesn’t seem to have that “set in stone” factor that most laws should and seem to have.  How could anybody’s test all be the same and written to the “T”.  This whole obscenity thing seems to be more and more ridiculous the more we learn and is following a path to no where.  Where does anybody’s path lie?