Definitions and Limitations

Miscellaneous Post

What is societies definition of “child pornography”. What constitutes as child pornography. A couple of cast members for a very popular television show did a photo-shoot that was deemed to close to child pornography in which the cast members gave apologies for. Lea Michelle and Diana Agron from the hit television show “Glee” did a photo shoot for the magazine GQ. They were half naked dressed in cheerleader outfits and high school apparel from the show. The public was outraged by this being to close to child pornography. Even though the actresses are each 24 years old, they play characters who are in high school and therefor are underage. Half naked photos that represent the characters in the show are considered child pornography by the public. "The intent, I think, is clearly to fetishize high school girls, and that is what I think is so troubling about that photo shoot," says the head of the Parents Television Council. In my belief however the actresses are over the age of 18 and therefor is not child pornography. This does raise a good question about what is considered children. Porn industries know how much people are willing to pay for child pornography so they have tried to find loopholes that will allow them to sell porn which in some way represents child pornography. The porn industry tries to get 18 year olds who look like 16 year olds to play roles to entice their viewers. Now that technology has advanced the porn industry has made CGI videos where children were put in as digital effects but the effects were done poorly to simulate that no child was used in the making of this film. People haven't been making a big deal about this because the porn industry isn't under scrutiny by the Parents Television Council. The main reason Glee took so much scrutiny is because it airs on national television and therefor may be viewed by children. Dictionary.com defines child pornography as “pornography using a child or children as the subject” (Dictionary.com).

Netter, Sarah. "Racy 'Glee' Photos in GQ: Time to Tone It Down or Just Get Over It? - ABC News."ABCNews.com: Daily News, Breaking News and Video Broadcasts - ABC News. 21 Oct. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. <http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/racy-glee-photos-gq-time-tone/story?id=11936706>.

"Child Pornography."Dictionary.com. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/child+pornography>.

Whats Wrong When It Comes To Watching

Ethical Perspective

Many people have different ethical views when it comes to child pornography. Some people believe it is okay to view child pornography because it doesn't hurt the child when someone watches the porn. The child is only hurt when the porn is being made. Others believe it is wrong to view or support anything that shows children are hurt. The vast majority of people don't want to see anyone being hurt especially a child. The reason people watch the porn is because they see it as the child isn't being hurt. A person can change their ethics to justify a belief. In psychology there is a term for justifying an action that contradicts a preconceived notion. That term is “adaptive preference formation”. Adaptive preference formation is used to reduce cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is an action which contradicts a preconceived notion (Festinger). If your original belief was “watching child pornography is wrong”, then you watch child pornography and like it. You then think “Child pornography isn't bad at all”. Your ethical view on it has changed because of the joy you have from watching it. Child pornography is a difficult subject to talk ethically because ethics is one persons belief in a situation, “Would you steal bread to feed your family? Or not.”. I may believe that it is 100% wrong to watch child pornography but you may not. I would steal the bread but you may not. The other problem with trying to find an ethical view on child pornography is “adaptive preference formation”. Someones ethics on the subject may change over time depending on the actions they take around the subject. Another problem with child pornography is how you treat your child. People all treat children differently. One person might portray child pornography as torture to children, but someone else might just compare it to a job no different then adult porn which is legal. Ethics cant be right or wrong its just the decision you made on that topic. My ethical view point is I would never watch child pornography.

HOW DOES THE REST OF THE WORLD FEEL?

Global perspective

As many as 184 countries with Interpol-members have no laws regarding child pornography. Other countries have laws that are insufficient. The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) is a global movement that helps protect children from sexual predators. A study done by the ICMEC has shown “1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys are sexually exploited before they reach adulthood. Less than 35% of those child sexual assaults are reported to authorities.” (Claburn). According to ICMEC only five countries in the world have adequate laws to help prevent child pornography. These countries are Australia, Belgium, France, South Africa, and the United States. The Internet Watch Foundation, based in the United Kingdom, reports there has been a 1500% increase in the number of child pornography images since 1997. ICMEC determined the United States has the most viewers of child pornography but they are buying the porn through off-shore accounts.

In certain countries around the world children are forced to prostitute themselves with tourists so that their family can eat. “On this trip, I've had sex with a 14 year-old girl in Mexico and a 15 year-old in Colombia. I'm helping them financially. If they don't have sex with me, they may not have enough food. If someone has a problem with me doing this, let UNICEF feed them” (CEOS) this was said by a retired American school teacher. Child sex tourists are people who travel to different countries to have sex with children. Child sex tourism is most common in Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia. The countries with the highest rate of child sex tourism are states with the highest rate of poverty. “Studies indicate that child prostitutes serve between two and thirty clients per week, leading to a shocking estimated base of anywhere between 100 to 1500 clients per year, per child” (CEOS). Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) has estimated that more than one million children around the world are drawn into sex tourism every year.

Crimes done to children doesn't just happen in the United States, but all over the world.

Citations

Claburn, Thomas. "Study: Child Porn Isn't Illegal In Most Countries." InformationWeek. UBM TechWeb, 06 Apr. 2006. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.informationweek.com/news/184429489>.

"Sex Tourism." Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.justice.gov/criminal/ceos/sextour.html>.

ICMEC. "Missing Children Website." National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.icmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_X1>.

WHATS THE HARM?

Opposing perspective

A British Colombia judge, in Canada, ruled that possession of child pornography wasn't a crime."There is no evidence that demonstrates a significant increase in the danger to children caused by pornography," says Duncan Shaw (the British Colombian Judge). He continued by saying, “What people keep in their homes is an expression of that person's essential self”. Judge Shaw explains that by possessing and watching Child pornography, it will help to subdue the urge of the watcher from acting upon their desires.

Judge Shaw says Child pornography doesn't increase the danger to children, but this is not true. Most children who are used for child pornography are later sold into pedophile rings where the children are auctioned off. In Europe, the police have recently uncovered the largest child pornography/ pedophile ring in the world. 230 children from ages 7 – 14 were saved. 184 people were arrested. The members of the ring ranged from teachers to other police officers. The age range of the members were between the ages of 19 and 84. These members will be sentenced from anywhere between an 18 year sentence to life. Many people are arguing that this is too much time for those who are only accused of watching the porn and had no connection to the pedophile ring.

A scenario I read on the Internet supports the fact that child pornography watchers are receiving to much time for a crime they had no part in. Suppose there is a family which contains a father, mother, son, and a daughter. Both the son and the daughter are under the age of 18. The father is sexually taking advantage of the girl or even the boy. The Mother finds out. She is then faced with two options: Pretend it is not happening or Tell someone. If she tells someone then there is a high chance the father wont go to jail but instead receive immense counseling. However if the father happened to video tape the sexual acts and uploads them to the Internet and someone watches it, then the person who watches it will receive 18 years in prison while the father will only receive therapy.

I believe the father and the watcher should be both sent to prison for a long time. I can see why people are upset with this verdict but I believe instead of lowering the time that the watcher must do, the police increases the time that the father does.

Rape, Vatican Until. "'World's Largest' Online Pedophile Ring Smashed In Europe."Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/16/online-pedophile-ring-_n_836655.html>.

"Possesion of Child Porn Shoud Be Legal." Cialis for Sale Uk | Licensed Canadian Online Pharmacy 24/7. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://www.ageofconsent.com/comments/forlegalchildporn.htm>.

Child offenders deserve a FULL sentence

Crux of the arrgument
People in possession of Child pornography have been given lighter sentences then what the law requires. “The maximum penalty for possession is six months imprisonment and for distribution is three years imprisonment”. Some judges believe that 6 months for just having child pornography is to high. Many people are arguing that possessing child pornography shouldn’t be illegal. They say child pornography was wrong at the point of filming but now that it’s been filmed and passed around that it doesn’t harm anyone anymore. It is my belief that this is wrong. By carrying around child pornography, it’s supporting the creation of it and will therefore cause more children to be extorted into the business. “More than 20,000 images of child pornography are posted on the Internet every week.” Watching and possessing child pornography shows the makers of child pornography that there are people who would pay money for it and that the more kids they use the more people will buy the product. “

Child offenders can be grouped into two groups “preferential pedophiles” and “situational pedophiles”. Preferential pedophiles target specific children. They have a type which they search for. They have jobs which allow them easy access to children. They seem to be more compulsive and smarter than situational pedophiles. Situational pedophiles don't seek out children. They take advantage of situations that allow them access to children. Situational Pedophiles come from low socioeconomic statuses and are very violent. Pedophiles tend to make videos so they can relive the moment or let other experience their joy.

The type of pedophile is important to know because the way they treat the children determines there sentencing. Situational pedophiles tend to get more time on there sentences because of the cruelty they cause to the children. Preferential pedophiles get less time because they don't inflict unnecessary pain. To me I think this sentencing is a little off. Those who seek out children and get jobs near children get less time then those who just cease opportunities. Don't get me wrong the amount of pain inflicted on the child plays a big role on how long their sentence should be.

Williams, Jeremy. "Porn and Abuse - 7 Pictures You Don't Want To See - a Knol by Jeremy Williams." Knol - a Unit of Knowledge: Share What You Know, Publish Your Expertise. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://knol.google.com/k/porn-and-abuse-7-pictures-you-don-t-want-to-see>.

"Child Pornography on the Internet." Roger Darlington's World. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/sexonnet.html>.