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Edited on Wed May-26-04 04:55 PM by troublemaker
Most arguments offered in defense of outing gay conservatives apply equally well to viewing pornography. Half the country does it (20%-30% of adults regularly) yet many don't talk about it at work, etc. (Yes, some do, but that's for a sexual harassment thread)
Because it's a hidden vice a climate exists where sale of movies that a third of the country seems to like is criminalized.(If a law is on the books at all it's no mitigating factor that it's only enforced selectively. That's even more un-American than blanket enforcement.) If every willing porn viewer outed himself/herself we would see how numerous they are, and the idea of using criminal law to restrain movies would evaporate.
So we should out all porn viewers. Even though it would be good if 'everyone' outed himself, doesn't outing people for what movies they watch sound sort of wrong? God knows my hackles rise at the idea of publishing public lists of what books everyone reads... is outing their movie choices any different?
And what about drug use? If everyone who smokes pot were outed there would be less support for drug laws. And closet tokers wouldn't have to feel they're the only one. So now narking on people becomes a progressive virtue! How cool is that? ____________________________
PS: I've seen 'categorical imperative' arguments about outing; that it would be better if everyone was out, so outing individuals is okay. This is related to Kant's idea that individuals should do what would be best if *everyone* did it. It's considered a masterpiece of ethical philosophy but it's a moronic idea. Start with "it would be better if everyone drove 55 MPH," and next thing you know our individual moralist is that asshole causing accidents by driving 55MPH in the left lane during rush hour. Sure, the law is on your side, but that's a poor excuse for causing accidents and making everyone late to work. The ethical nature of actions cannot be separated from the real world.
Or, if that failure of the categorical imperative isn't pointed enough, how about this statement? "It would be better for all if *everyone* voted for Ralph Nader." I rest my case.
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