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Sex wants to be free? (Top Posts - Social/Legal - 060407) - - - Human Nature: Science, technology, and life. by William Saletan http://www.slate.com/id/2167537/fr/rss/ Updated Monday, June 4, 2007, at 10:53 AM ET - - - Excerpts: Law enforcement agencies are investigating virtual crimes. Incidents: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/01/AR2007060102671.html 1) Japanese officials arrested a man for mug- ging virtual characters and selling their virtual property for real money. 2) Belgian police investigated a rape in Sec- ond Life. 3) German authorities investigated child sexual abuse in Second Life. 4) The company that founded Second Life expelled two members in the German case. 5) U.S. federal officers have invented avatars to inspect Second Life for possible gambling law violations at virtual casinos. Rationales: 1) Some virtual crimes have real effects, such as trauma or real profits. 2) Virtual depictions of child abuse are illegal in some countries. Objection: "Since when is fantasy against the fricking law?" ... For Human Nature's take on policing cybersex, click here. http://www.slate.com/id/2151428/ The Internet is killing the porn industry. For the first time in years, video sales and rentals are down. Old trend: The Web helped the industry by facil- itating anonymous purchases and downloads. New trend: It's drying up demand for paid porn by facilitating uploads of free, cheaply made porn. Old complaint against porn: It's crudely made trash. New complaints by porn industry: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/02/technology/02porn.html 1) Free porn is crudely made trash, whereas we use sophisticated actors, sets, and lighting. 2) Porn consumers don't seem to appreciate the difference. 3) When we offer them free samples, they just use us for their pleasure and leave us with noth- ing. Human Nature's view: For all you sophisticates in the porn business … it's called irony. ... - - - end excerpts - - - |
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