[c3534l]

The slow drip of government interference means people forget what a free and open interent was like. Slowly, its becoming segmented by chickenshit regulation, censorship, and corporate control. We don't care because its only Texas and its adult content, but this is what the slow chipping away of freedom looks like: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[armada651]

> free and open interent

I have already forgotten all about the open interent, all we're left with is this internet thing full of closed gardens with nations each trying to claim parts of it fall under their jurisdiction.

[JumpCrisscross]

> slow drip of government interference means people forget what a free and open interent was like

Not sure what about any of this is slow or quiet.

[AnarchismIsCool]

Agreed, though it's not just gov interference but also the wrong kind of regulation. We've let mega corporations larger than many countries create digital fiefdoms that take away our agency. There is no free and open internet if a company doesn't want the blue bubbles to talk to the green bubbles.

[CPLX]

An alternate point of view is that one day we will look back with deep shame at this hopefully brief period where we made porn and gambling available to children instantly in limitless quantities.

Not saying it’s easy to figure out how to accomplish change in a free and fair way. But the status quo is pretty clearly a horrifying outcome.

[jasonlotito]

"we"

Being the parents of children. Let's be clear here.

If your children are visiting adult sites in 2024, it's 100% on you.

"gambling" I'm sorry, but gambling? How is a 12 year old supposed to gamble in limitless ways without parental consent? Please, let me know. I'm actually curious.

[itishappy]

There are plenty of ways to bypass parental consent, and as a former 12 year old, I assumed it to be my raison d'être.

My favorite racket was the prepaid credit card laundering scam. I'd give my cash allowance to a friend, whos parent would buy a prepaid credit card as a gift for some vague friend's birthday. I could then use the credit cards for online purchases (specifically a Runescape Membership).

[quesera]

Why involve the friend at all?

Following your description, couldn't you have just bought the prepaid (debit) card with cash yourself?

Also FWIW "laundering" is a well-defined thing that this is not, and "prepaid credit" is an oxymoron! :)

[itishappy]

I was 12, and most of my store visits were supervised, largely because I didn't drive much.

It certainly felt like laundering, but you raise a great point!

[quesera]

Ah parental supervision, of course!

That's a fair equivalent of government regulation and source of funds attestation requirements, so "laundering" is at least metaphorically correct! :)

[phone[phone]]

Tell me you don't have kids without using the words "I don't have kids"

Kids gamble away a bunch of money from their parents all the time. Look at games like FIFA that are rated E for Everybody and all of the news articles about kids running up thousands of dollars in FIFA Ultimate Team Packs. Expecting parents to know that they need to be on the look out for their kids being able to spend unlimited money (well, up to their credit card limit) on a game rated E for Everyone is ridiculous.

[SketchySeaBeast]

Your example, where they spend money in a video game, doesn't match what's going on here. Adults had to attach their credit card ahead of time. This regulation won't help that, and future "prove you're an adult (in privacy invading ways) or piss off" won't help that either. This would be like dad buying a porn sub and then giving the kid their login details. The laws here don't help that.

[stickfigure]

I'm a parent. Like the person you responded to, I control purchases on my child's devices. It's not difficult, and if you need help with that - or any other parenting advice - just ask.

[CPLX]

How old are your children?

It seems exceedingly unlikely to me that you’re able to prevent your children from being exposed to as much pornography as they would like once they’re past the age of 12 or so.

[nerdjon]

> But the status quo is pretty clearly a horrifying outcome.

Care to elaborate? This feels like all of the ads that were warning about the "dangers of gay marriage" without ever being able to name an actual danger. Just fear mongering.

[CPLX]

I think having children and teens exposed to limitless hardcore pornography is likely harmful to them.

Maybe I’m wrong but it seems that the benefits to society of allowing this are essentially zero and the harms likely severe, so I’d support attempts to limit it as a matter of public policy.

[nerdjon]

> I think

We should probably actually attempt to quantify this in more than just a feeling before talking about legislation.

> having children and teens exposed to limitless hardcore pornography is likely harmful to them.

Like above, the fact that you had to use the word "likely" means it is an argument of feeling not fact.

Which you do admit in your second sentence.

> benefits to society of allowing this are essentially zero and the harms likely severe.

I would argue the opposite. There is a major benefit to society to allow people to learn about themselves and their sexuality in a safe manner through exploring self pleasure and porn.

And then as a society de-stigmatizing sex and porn so we can have open conversations about it. So If I was 13 or 14 I could go to my parents and ask about something I saw in a video, something that may or may not be "normal". Maybe it was a BDSM scene and it felt weird that someone was "hitting" the other person. That leads into a conversation about consent and communicating what it is you do and do not want out of a sexual encounter.

That de-stigmatization also leads to discussions about what a real body looks like, how sometimes things may hurt and you may need to ask to slow down or stop. All of the unsexy things that are not shown in porn, that isn't a problem with the porn. It is meant to just be sexy. But we could talk about it.

We only think of this as abnormal because it's sexual related, but it's completely normal with video games, movies, whatever. To see something weird and to ask friends or family about it. Hopefully sparking a discussion.

Sex is a perfectly normal thing for most people and yet we treat it as this dirty secret that we shouldn't talk about.

[c3534l]

People should stop downvoting respectful disagreement. This isn't reddit.