Obscenity

[andrewducker]

Following the discussion last week of obscenity, it seemed that some people were taking obscene to mean "things that offend me" and others were taking it to mean "Things that are generally considered offensive". So I'm wondering about the differences..

[Poll #162494]

Oh, most of my polls allow anyone to look at the results. If you would be more likely to answer truthfully (or at all) if the results weren't generally visible, let me know.

Comments

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

Another stray apostrophe Andy - I'm waving that hammer!

[andrewducker]

It's there deblierately to annoy you and Sana.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

And me. I'm annoyed too.

[andrewducker]

Hurray!

I have an idea for a new poll.

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

yeah, right....

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

Copout- nakedness is the obvious answer to the second question ;) And we already covered that one in another debate ;)

[andrewducker]

feel free not to give an obvious answer.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Well, I did try. I also decided that answering something like "the gap between rich and poor" to the first question would be a cop-out - I do have a sense of what's sexually obscene. And I really copped out of trying to describe it.

[andrewducker]

You basically believe that anything consensual goes, so long as people can make a choice whether to encounter it or not?

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Sort of. But then, of course, you have to decide which things it's OK to expose people to in the general way of things, and then you're asking the same question again. Some people think same-sex couples holding hands in public is obscene, and I don't. So.

Actually, I'm a complete prude, but I try not to make a lifestyle out of it.

[andrewducker]

I'm similar - I don't actually feel the need to go to strip clubs. Heck, I haven't even downloaded any porn in ages.

I do, however, defend the rights of others to make those choices for themselves.

[andrewducker]

Oops, you meant me.

I've changed my answer.

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

Heehee :) It took some thinking to come up with something that wasn't "naked people" because that just seemed like the typical answer. But it's not really true for me, anyway.

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

Oooh, the new one was a much better choice. Eeks!

[andrewducker]

Eeks is right :->

Ick, too, I expect.

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

Yeah, have to say I think that's pretty obscene. ;)

[andrewducker]

By which you mean "It makes me go Ick!" or "It shouldn't be allowed."?

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

By which I meant, "It makes me go Ick!" I haven't thought about it enough to consider whether it should be allowed or not.

[rollick.livejournal.com]

Regarding poll privacy, I'm a lot more likely to take the time to answer a poll if I know I can then look at other people's answers. Especially with click-button polls, once you've answered, you then automatically see everyone else's answers on your friends list… that's the main reason I answer polls. I generally don't bother with the all-private ones.

[darkoshi]

the things i think are obscene are mostly in the 'ick' category. i don't care much if other people do them, they just seem icky.
and to me, 'gross' is a better descriptor of those things than 'obscene'.

that's not including the things which i would consider as non-consensually cruel, which i would rather label as cruelty than obscenity, since obscenity is so hard to define.