BEST! INTRO! EVER!

Bear in mind that distributing obscenity to a minor is a crime in itself. Forcing other people, however, into the role of unsworn deputy- by force, no less- is abhorrent.

It is incredible that anyone would think it’s a good idea to force more laws upon us, curtailing our speech and expression. Some would immediately argue that in saying so, i support obscenity. My response to that is, well, yes I do. I DO, wholeheartedly, endorse all manner of expression, and believe it should be free from constraint and intimidation. Drawing a naked preteen getting violated by a tentacle monster isn’t my personal cup of tea. But a) it does not harm any real people, and b) who am I to foist my personal tastes upon anyone? If I am allowed to do so, what is to stop someone from doing it to me?

So I accept the art I find questionable. I accept the art I find repulsive. I accept it all and ask in return only that I am accepted, that my expression be accepted. No, I don;t have Larry Flynt’s money, but thank Science he fought the fight, and we need more like him.

But I am appalled at the the lack of serious concern of on the part of 2 of the “geeks” over the federal legislation regarding distribution/hosting etc of so-called obscene material on the net to minors.

Before I’m accused of being in favor of said distribution- LET ME BE CLEAR- it isn’t a bad thing to legislate the prevention of trafficking of inappropriate content to minors- in fact no one would dispute this concept, other than possibly NAMBLA. However- I would like to present to the geeks I single out(sorry I don’t remember the names…) that you are gravely ignorant to the true objectives historically of legislation regarding so-called obscenity and the prevention of it’s distribution / production thereof.

It has in almost every case that certain forces of the right wing and “cultural conservative” movements use and have used said types of censorship legislation to empower the harassment of creators and ultimately, the elimination of any kind of speech(art, writing, etc) that they don’t like or feel is appropriate to them. -

let’s look at just the matters of the “NAKED LUNCH” obscenity trials, ULYSSES obscenity trial, playboy, penthouse wars with the Ed Meese’s Reagan-era attorney general’s office and the case OVERLOAD of the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND as examples of local and federal attempts to have VAGUE, punitive legislation wipe out ADULT”S rights to obtain literature, art , photos , films etc. that is by most sane people- COMPLETELY LEGAL AND PROTECTED SPEECH.

I also find that the laissez-fare attitude of you guys(minus Carl) ironic. according to letter of this vague badly written law- In fact you all could be up on charges if the right parent group or Christian organization decides that your occasional forays into profanity(you did say a few blue words and off color comments) and the whole show for that matter, was to them obscene or “without literary value”. You do realize that there are in fact many many cases that dragged people through both the libelous and fiscal mud defending themselves over these very false claims and legal harassments? But as long as YOU don’t have to worry it’s OK then? WOW, real great attitude.

I really think before you sit on the safe cushion of New England/eastern red-state liberalism(I live in Vermont, and am a fellow lefty) understand that allot of people continue to fight in court RIGHT NOW over harassing/fraudulent legal messes that are allowed and persist because of the local versions of the federal legislation you describe. The cases of Mike Diana, and many comic store owners ARRESTED JAILED AND FINED(not to mention bankrupted) over what should have been cases thrown out of court. No “common sense ” protected them.

How about Larry Flynt’s President- making long term fight with several administrations? He had, thank god , the MILLIONS of dollars to fight the feds over what SHOULD have been “common sense” application of the law. but in point of fact, he was nearly systematically destroyed by its draconian application. and it does currently destroy small businesses and individuals. yes, right now in this country. and unless they can get aclu representation or CBLDF, etc.. they are going to fall under the weight of this. So you better not be the shmuck who lives in a blue state or be ignorant of your rights or not have the emotionally capacity to do jail time while you wait for the public to come to it’s “common” senses- not to mention your court date(yea people are doing time while they wait- hanging judges prevail in conservative America). Check the historical and current record, it happens allot.

My point? Well simply put if you support this type of federal legislation, you support the potential threat of punitive and harassing law enforcement/court intervention into what is safe and not safe for YOU to see or hear or read. There are ill defined minefield of “literary value” and “obscenity” are all throughout this legislation. The fact that there are potential financial/personal ramifications that could break the average person,combined with the fact that the intension of this law and the actual usage are potentially far removed from each other, in the wrong hands should be alarming to you all. But instead you pass off the worst (and currently/historically implemented)- case scenarios presented to you by Carl as nothing to worry about. “HEY THEY CAN GET THE ACLU, RIGHT?”

Oh and BTW- now with this law as it stands , remember, NOW if you get into one of these hassles over so-called “literary value” and “obscenity” - and you get screwed over in court… BAMMO! You’ve done a FEDERAL CRIME. Not a state or local - a Federal Crime. FELONY. That’ll follow you forever- and even if the appellate court overturns it - federal court can say, “sorry” and nothing you can do- save spend millions in civil court trying to get recompense. Oh what’s that? you’re some tiny “dot-com-er” with no money? You’re an even smaller nobody citizen with a free forum somewhere in Web-land? What? You can’t afford legal team or ACLU decides it’s not big enough case? Then you’re fucked. AGAIN READ ABOUT MIKE DIANA- and tell me or anyone else fired up about this issue who has “common sense” , plays by the rules or “would never DO THAT”.

Does it occur to you two that maybe we SHOULDN’T HAVE TO expect to be harassed or exploited or wrongfully accused of something - we SHOULDN”T HAVE TO worry about our Gov’t. doing same just because the current regime wants to push an unconstitutional agenda? That so-called “self policing” and threat based laws that seek to “clean up” public airways , speech, art, commerce- are always with historical hindsight spearheaded by those whose agendas are about elimination of that which they personally don’t like? Do you want to live in such a country? Yes I guess you do. That makes me understand more and more why those who fight for 1st amendment protection and have to constantly fight for rights of those unethically harangued by the courts never have a moments rest. When fellow citizen’s don’t get it- why this is not just scary in it’s open-ended and arbitrary nature- this ethical fight seems hopeless. And that fight is constantly uphill battle after another- doing the dirty work of fighting for your rights, when you don’t even get WHY it’s a fight worth fighting. “Let them eat cake…” seems the order of the day.

Please remember I DO believe you have a a right to your opinions. But in this one case thus-far? they scare the crap out of me.