Changing the Way People, Politics & the Media Look at Sex

‘internet’

Protecting Kids On-Line: A Growth Industry

by on ·Making Sex Better, Sexual Intelligence Blog

I was privileged to be part of this year’s annual meeting of FOSI, the Family On-Line Safety Institute. This was the first year they invited a sex expert. So it was 400 public policy people and one sex guy—me. The lineup of speakers was extraordinary: a Senator; senior executives from companies like Verizon and Comcast; several state Attorneys General; President Obama’s Deputy Chief Technology Officer; and dozens of heavy hitters like Adam Thierer (Progress & Freedom Foundation) and Larry Magid (ConnectSafely). The complexity of the internet, broadband, and mobile-connected world of kids and teens which they discussed for two days…

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Alaska Wants to Outlaw Disgusting Imagination

by on ·Pornography & Porn Addiction, Sexual Intelligence Blog

• Because murder is a terrible thing, the state of Alaska wants to outlaw films depicting murder. • Because physical abusing and raping women is a terrible thing, the state of Alaska wants to outlaw TV programs showing this. • Because sexually exploiting children is a terrible thing, the state of Alaska wants to outlaw drawings that show adult cartoon characters having sex with child cartoon characters. All three of those are ridiculous, but the last one is true. Americans are not allowed to look at photographs of actual children being sexual with actual adults. In fact, pictures don’t have…

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When Adults Fail Children—For Life

by on ·Pornography & Porn Addiction, Sexual Intelligence Blog

The Iowa Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of 18-year-old Jorge Canal, who complied with a 14-year-old friend’s request for a photo of his penis. The young man is now forced to register as a sex offender, meaning his chances of getting a college degree, job, or livable apartment are pretty much ended. According to the court, the girl “generally hung out with teenagers older than herself;” was “only friends” with Canal; thought the picture was sent “only as a joke;” and was not “a means to excite any feelings.” Nevertheless, Canal was convicted of “knowingly disseminating obscene material to…

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What Do We Actually Know About Sex?

by on ·Pornography & Porn Addiction, Sexual Intelligence Blog

I’m returning from New York, where I keynoted a big Planned Parenthood event. It’s wonderful to speak to groups of people who support sexual rights. It always feels like visiting family. (The family that makes you feel welcome, not the family that wonders if you were switched with their “real” child at birth.) After I spoke, I saw an old friend, and the subject of pornography came up (I hardly go anywhere anymore that it doesn’t). An influential sex-positive researcher, she told me she favored full access to sexually explicit materials—“except, of course, snuff films,” she said. That brought me…

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Anti-Porn Leaders Lie to U.S. Attorney General

by on ·Pornography & Porn Addiction, Sexual Intelligence Blog

A whole lot of Conservative bigshots wrote a letter last week to Attorney General Eric Holder. They lied and lied and lied about pornography, then asked to meet with Holder as soon as possible so they could tell him how to rewrite Justice Department policies in response to these lies. Here are some of their specific lies: * “Pornography addiction is now common among men, women, and even many children.” Even among therapists who believe in “pornography addiction,” virtually no one believes that it is common among women or children. * “Hotels, cable TV, and satellite companies are making tremendous…

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One Pervert Does Not Equal “Danger”

by on ·Sex & Culture, Sexual Intelligence Blog

When it comes to America’s panic about sex, respect for fact is in short supply. Blogs, CNN & Fox, well-intentioned family advocates, right-wing “decency” groups, and the whole machinery of the Sexual Disaster Industry continually pour out a single message: there’s sexual danger out there waiting for every child, woman, and man. In reality, many facts of life are pretty encouraging: the FBI says that rape, child sexual exploitation, suicide, and domestic violence have all declined this past decade. But if you have ears, eyes, or a computer, you’d never know it. Sexual violence and exploitation are what pass for…

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