Hello! The system’s not helping!!

Just a quick note on the Frontline video. Even though the video related more to last week’s topic instead of this week’s, I just can’t fight the urge to give some comments.

It’s pretty sad how the system in a way “aided” the sex trafficking industry. These girls have nowhere to turn to for help. It’s like the system failed them. The police doesn’t really give a rat’s ass. At least it seems so. “We don’t deal with prostitutes” just cause they knew what they were going in for. It may be a stupid decision, but that does not make them any less deserving of help. Hey, what if I decide to commit suicide? It’s not very wise of me. If my foot got caught in a tree (pretty tall tree I must say, ) limb on the way down a 10-floor building, and my life is hanging by a tread, you mean to say no one’s going to help me??

In a way, the system pushed the girls into the hands of the sex traffickers, and then turn around and sneer at them.

Singapore’s very own Paris Hilton!

The news of “Tammy NYP”’s sex video created a big frenzy on the internet. Tammy, a 17 year old Singaporean student, had her cellphone stolen. Two weeks later (I would say they took a pretty long time!!), the sex videos recorded on the cellphone were flying around cyberspace, selling like hotcakes. Not that anyone had to pay, you just needed a computer, and an internet connection. Overnight, “Tammy” became a top search on Technorati. Talk about instant fame.

It’s not wrong or anything to have sex and film she and her boyfriend in the act but she’s got to be more careful with the videos. Wait a minute, I think Singapore has a ban on pornography. Anyway, leaving the clips on her cellphone is like crying out “I don’t mind them getting into the wrong hands.” I’ve misplaced my cellphone a dozen times but I don’t think I’m extremely forgetful or clumsy. A cellphone for God’s sake! Don’t tell me you’ve not had your share of calling your cellphone just so you know where to go looking for it!

Girls, you’ve got to learn to protect yourself, especially when the stigma is worse in Asian society. In the heat of the moment, videotaping your sex act may be a great idea but you’ll never know who might get hold of them. Unless your aim is to be a porn star, be a little smarter! No, I’m not saying porn stars are dumb.

 

Remake of “It isn’t porn’s fault.”

Since we have to take a post and make it better, I decided to choose one which I feel more strongly towards. This doesn’t necessarily make it better as I have a tendency to take you on a whirlwind ride, with my style of writing, before getting to the point. See what I mean. In fact, Caroline’s post is fabulous by itself. Ok, here goes nothing.

Porn and sex trafficking do interrelate in ways. Maybe it’s the idea that both involve sexual acts and the pornographic materials derived from sex traffickers. Porn industry is a legal business by itself and thus shouldn’t be linked to sex trafficking. If the government wants to stop sex trafficking, the porn industry is not exactly the best place to go down on (pun not intended). According to an article from New York Times,

“Because of the porousness of the U.S.-Mexico border and the criminal networks that traverse it, the towns and cities along that border have become the main staging area in an illicit and barbaric industry, whose ”products” are women and girls.”

Criminal networks they say. As far as I can see, it’s the pornography companies the likes of Extreme Associates that are prosecuted. Even if the government do succeed in the removal of Extreme Associates, the problem of sex trafficking is not reduced in any way. It’s like taking a cold medicine for flu. Cold and flu might seem like the same thing but a microbiologist can spend days on ends telling you how different they really are.  

Warnings of possible enslavement might seem farfetched as mentioned by Caroline, but sometimes a silly idea might just save the day, or a few lives in this case. If the victims have a clue what they might be in for, they may be more wary of the situation and seek help when things get suspicious. Most of the time, they are tricked or captured. With better awareness around the world, there lies a possiblity that less people will fall into the trap of seeking a better life overseas. As the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

It’s not a question of talent.

After I read divino74’s post, I couldn’t help but to totally disagree with some of the things he/she mentioned. Firstly, divino74 said that being a porn star is not a talent. Yes, everyone has sex. What’s so difficult about it? Why don’t you ask those who are seeking sexual counseling? Indeed sex is not difficult. Wham, bam and you’re good to go. But GREAT sex is a skill by itself. Hey, there must be something about Jenna Jameson that makes everyone crave for more. She’s a superstar in her own right. I feel that it takes alot of nerves and guts to perform on a porn show. That one little step and they’re gonna be stigmatized for life!

As for safety, if my mind doesn’t fail me, it’s mentioned in the lecture that only a minority of the porn stars have contracted AIDS, as compared to the general public. Extra precaution is taken in the industry. No matter how big a taboo the porn industry is, it is perfectly legal and normal in terms of a business. The porn stars are making this a career and I’m sure they will go to all lengths to protect themselves as we would in our regular jobs with work benefits and all.

In a way, I feel that divino74 does not give the porn stars as much credit as they deserve. They are afterall fellow humanbeings who are in the industry sometimes not by choice.

Cigi and Porn. So similar yet so different.

I do agree with Madelyne that cigarettes and porn are indeed similar in some way where both are addictive and extremely lucrative businesses. In fact, I think pornography has been in existence much longer than cigarettes.

What I wanted to point out is the differences there are. In view of cigarettes, concern is more in terms of health rather than morals. Smokers are puffing their life away. People around them are at risk of developing lung cancer as well as increased risk of heart disease, according to a number of studies. Smokers do not need to hide or feel ashamed when seen smoking. Everyone does it openly. Neither do the majority of us sneer or shun those who smoke. The stigma is not as obvious as the one associated with porn.

In my opinion, porn is dealt with more severely in terms of morals, and the idea that pornography, drugs, prostitution, and even illegal dealings all live under the same roof.

Legalizing the sex industry.

Prostitution is such a controversial subject. The arguments can go on forever. In many states, prostitution is not legal yet in others they are. Maybe the fact that US is such a big piece of land, with 50 small “countries” trying to remain pretty much “united”, it gets confusing. It’s like, “I think legal prostitution is a good idea, maybe I should move to Nevada.” Does it also mean that there’s a congregation of gays in states legalizing gay marriage?

Okay, I should stop deviating so often.

What I’m trying to get at is that there could possibly be some amount of governmental involvement in the sex industry. For something which is considered still to be a taboo in a way, I feel there should be at least some laws to protect both the industry as well as consumers of the products.

They (the sex industry) may say that the government doesn’t know the industry as intimately as they do. If that’s the case, why not gather the influential and “powerful” figures in the industry and meet halfway with the government? Let them form an association or congregation or whatever they want to call themselves. Set some rules and limitations that both are able to accept. So long as the sex industry abide by the regulations they have agreed on, the government will not get in their way. Both have to take and give a little. Maybe it’s better to regulate the industry and put everything in the open, rather than having some illegal transaction going on in the back alley; eventually resulting in the exploitation of the girls. I’m not saying all of them will be exploited, I’m just giving an example.

No means no!

I do agree with “Country Girl” on the point that it is ridiculous that the man was given a lighter sentence based on the fact that the girl is not a virgin. Is the Italian court sending out a message that it’s okay to “rape” a girl due to the fact that she has had sex with other men. I thought it is a known fact that when someone says no, anything done against his or her will is rape altogether. I don’t think that all the previous rape victims in the world, or Italy for that matter, are virgins. That would be absurd wouldn’t it? I mean a man can be charged with rape, even if the so-called victim is his wife!!

Parents don’t need more porn coming their way.

There seems to be quite a number of posts on Adelphia providing porn channels, and why people are making a big fuss about it.

Personally, I do not see what the big deal is about. If Adelphia wants to provide porn channels, they can jolly well do so. I don’t see any way it’s gonna affect me unless they increase the subscription fees. Then I’ll be pissed. Otherwise, I don’t really care!

But what about parents who are trying to shield their kids from all the pornographic materials out there? They get bombarded left, right and center with the increasing notions of sex from advertisements, movies, and even tv series. It seems that everywhere they turn, the canopy is leaking in different places. It is true that children these days are introduced to sex earlier than before. Imagine if you’re a parent trying to explain to your 8 year old what “foreplay” is, without inviting more questions (you know how kids are, they never stop asking!!). Eventually they will know, but being 8 year old is just not the time.

With Adelphia providing porn channels, parents are dealt with another leak to patch up. There are parental blocks you say, but if parents can have one less thing to worry about, it’s a relief already.

Cyberporn and the growing minds.

Well, now that we’ve established that the porn industry has manifested the internet, let me just express my 2 cents on this. Not only has pornography made an impact on technology, but also on the maturing of the new generation. I do not know exactly how the Americans have been affected by this cause I’m not one. But I do know how the Asians have been. Or at least me.

Being brought up in a conservative family and society, not much is said about pornography. Imagine this, pornography, oral sex (except as a precursor to regular intercourse), and anal sex are illegal where I come from. You must be gawking and remarking at what absurd laws we have. I’m not bluffing. IT IS TRUE!! No, we’re not some third world country living in houses up in trees. In fact, we’re a major economic power in Asia, according to Wikipedia. (Not China, guess again).

With the Internet fusing boundaries between countries, porn obviously became more accessible. I do not know what the laws are regarding Internet porn but the younger generation is exposed to more pornographic material than I was 10 years ago. Although websites require one to be of legal age, who really knows if that one viewer is not a 10 year old curious about the human body and its ability to pleasure oneself.

The subject of sex is rarely discussed in the family. All this while, I’ve wondered how people knew what to do during sex. Did they somehow knew by instinct, or are there “classes” which I’m not aware of? My parents didn’t have the “birds and bees” talk with me. It’s been so many years that I don’t quite remember how I obtained my knowledge on sex. Maybe it was the Internet. It must have been!!!! I can’t think of anything else. Sex education in school? Oh come on, that doesn’t even exist back home!

What I’m getting at is that cyberporn has a tremendous impact on the Asian society, especially the younger generation. Teens are now more “educated” in sexual matters, even engaging in sex at tender ages of 14 or even younger. Maybe it’s about time that sex education make its way to class.

Porn and social class.

Interestingly, this post got me thinking. The idea that porn is dirty and a taboo, seems to be not only to the wealthy but quite a big majority as well. It’s ironic how the wealthy were the only ones who had access to porn back then. Somehow it reminds me of those unknown secret “clubs” which were guarded sacredly and available exclusively to the rich and famous.  As the society develop economically and morally, views on pornography changes. Education plays a very important role on the changes. People are taught morals and manners that are expected of a lady and a gentleman.

Are we advancing towards freedom of sex and openly discussing about it? Or is it taking a cyclic path, back to the times when sex wasn’t considered as a taboo?