Meet (awesomely named) Dawn Hawkins. She is executive director of Morality in Media, which (according to its website) is “the leading national organization opposing pornography and indecency through public education and the application of the law.”
As Dawn recounts in the video below, last month, while she was flying on Delta Airlines, she noticed that the guy seated in front of her was, on his iPad, looking at porn on the airplane. (It was also six in the morning. But you know what they say: it’s never too early to start looking at porn on an airplane.)
Ms. Hawkins asked a flight attendant to ask the guy to stop looking at porn on the airplane; the attendant said there was nothing he could do about it; the guy begrudgingly stopped looking at porn on the airplane. A day or two after the incident Dawn made the video below, and has been embroiled in a bit of (coffers-enhancing) controversy ever since.
As I write this, Ms. Hawkin’s video has been viewed 172,516 times on YouTube. It’s also there garnered 570 likes, and 23,503 dislikes.
I am choosing to decide that one guy, looking at porn on an airplane, in addition to 23,503 people on YouTube giving Ms. Hawkins’s video a thumbs down, does not mean that while I was looking the other way—while I was busy alphabetizing the books in my study, or taking notes in my astronomy journal about the galactic wonders I’d seen through my telescope—our society decided it was okay to look at porn in public.
Then again, what do I know? Once National Geographic decided that no film about animals should ever go more than two minutes straight without showing a traumatizing display of horribly graphic animal violence, I knew all bets were off for our culture.
So you guys tell me. It’s still considered flat-out unacceptable to look at porn in public, right?
Now, to be clear, I’m not asking for opinions on porn itself (though I’m all ears if you care to share about that). I’m also not soliciting comments about the young and earnest Ms. Hawkins, or her organization, as entirely engaging as I’m sure that conversation would be.
Right now all I’m asking is whether or not No Public Porn Perusal is still the rule. It is, right? No one thinks that on a plane—or in a restaurant, or a hotel lobby, or … in an elevator, or whatever—it’s okay to look at porn, correct? That’s still something you’re supposed to do (because, let’s face it, trillions of people every day do do it) only when you’re very strictly alone, right? Or maybe, at most, when you’re with that special someone, or … someones, I guess. But not right out in public, right?
As most of you know, I’m hardly the Church Lady. (Speaking of which, why do I assume Ms. Hawkins is Christian?) But if you guys tell me that you have ever seen anyone casually looking at porn in a normal, everyday, public sort of setting, then … well, then that will be, for me, something that I really, really don’t need, which is one more reason to never leave my house.
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
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A guy really “needs” to watch porn in public? all he has to do is buy a screenprotector that limits the viewing angle on his ipad. I assume these exist for tablets as they do for monitors.
Then it’s hardly public anymore.
Agree with the people who said porn industry’s morality problem is abusive treatment of the actors.
Could not do the survey but i think options involving never leaving the house are a bad idea: you could get a vitamin D deficiency if you stay inside too much.
“Could not do the survey but i think options involving never leaving the house are a bad idea: you could get a vitamin D deficiency if you stay inside too much.”
This!
So I’m thinking, if the objective really is to shame the guy into never viewing porn in public again, maybe the correct approach would have been to say in a very VERY loud voice: HEY, WHATCHA WATCHING? IS THAT PORN? I LOVE PORN! DO YOU LIKE PORN, TOO? WOW! HOW OLD ARE THOSE GIRLS? THEY BARELY LOOK LIKE THEY’RE FOURTEEN! DO YOU LIKE PORN WITH YOUNG GIRLS IN IT? ISN’T IT REAL HARD TO FIND PORN WITH YOUNG GIRLS BECAUSE BECAUSE IT’S ILLEGAL? ARE THEY BEATING EACH OTHER WITH WHIPS? I REALLY LIKE PORN WHERE YOUNG GIRLS BEAT EACH OTHER WITH WHIPS — I GUESS YOU MUST LOVE IT, TOO, HUH?
I know this is meant to be funny…but sadly there are too many who believe the proper response to others is to attempt to publicly shame and scorn them.
I exercise every morning after dropping my wife off at the bus stop so she can go to work. After exercising, rather than change into street clothes (which I would just have to change out of the next day when I go to the gym) I put on the clean set of sweats I’m going to wear while exercising the next day.
If I have any errands to run or shopping to do, I do ‘em in my new sweats. It makes sense and it cuts my laundry by 50%.
Now, if someone objected to my wearing sweats in public and tried to shame me, my response would be, “Yeah. So?” See, I have neither shame nor pride when it comes to wearing sweats in public; I figure as long as I’m comfortable and my naughty bits, pot belly, and hairy back are thoroughly covered, it ain’t nobody else’s business and if somebody thinks it’s their business, well, they’ve just demonstrated they’re the type of people I don’t need to pay attention to.
Conversely, if I was wearing a T-shirt with an arrogant / hateful / threatening message on it — let’s say “Death To All Humorless B / tards” as a phrase I picked just off the top of my head — then I had better be prepared to back up my reasons for wearing such a shirt where humorless b / tards and / or the people who love ‘em congregate. It would bee like wearing a Jimmy Dean All-Pork Sausage T-shirt at a meeting of the Jewish-Muslim Friendship League.
So the bottom line is this: If you (rhetorical) can’t answer a personal question with “Yeah. So?” you are probably doing something wrong.
Hmm…yeah probably a good rule of thumb and I thought he should not have been doing so on the plane.
HOWEVER….
My comment was about the busybodies like this self righteous indignant prick of a woman who thought it was her place to attempt to publicly humiliate this man. To me…that was far more of a public disgrace than the few bondage pics he was viewing. At least his actions only caused people to think HE was a jerk. Her actions caused people to think all CHRISTIANS are jerks, or worse yet, perhaps this was the way Jesus is.
He publicly humiliated himself. He exposed his own sickness. And did we just see a comparison of wearing sweats in public to watching porn in public?? Really? Those two things are equal? Watching porn in public is a sign of emotional detachment– this guy has serious issues. He needs help.
Perhaps he has serious issues…perhaps not. I challenge you to prove such a silly statement to me based upon him viewing a few bondage photos. you don’t know why he had them. He may indeed have an addiction, or he may have been mildly curious as to what the silly fuss was about this whole bondage fetish.
But by your own words this guy “needs help”. Sadly what he received was NOT help but an effort to publicly crucify him. How do you know that if he was as “emotionally detached” as you believe him to be…that this disgraceful woman did not drive him to suicide when he got the chance?
Honestly…your extreme reactions here and the unloving behaviors demonstrated by this woman and apparently supported by, totally you disgust me. I am so fed up with your kind of “Christianity”.
typos…grrrr
I know this is just a news article but the comments from psychologists might apply here. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=18273566
I’m sorry. There are people in this world who have been sexually abused who could be just as “set off” to commit suicide by believing they’ll have to adjust to seeing all out porn every where they go. Alcoholics have problems. I’d like to see them all get help. I don’t want them getting behind the wheel and killing people. Am I sympathetic to their issues? I sure am. But there’s a stopping point for some.
what if it were video of a real murder? or some other intensely emotional experience….
I am fine with it being the persons right to do whatever he wants to PROVIDED IT DOESNT INFRINGE ON OTHERS- If the guy was reading a book with the same subject matter the answer is obviously that there is no problem, since the media doesn’t attract its own attention by its form. the same could be said for people who like to be loud when intimately involved- do the neighbors have a right to their peace as well?
some people got upset with the Ice T song “Cop Killer”, or the film “Natural Born Killers” for the same reason- It points at a society wrapped up with personal gratification over social responsibility I guess.
There’s a scene like this in the movie Manhunter (the first film version of Red Dragon, which introduced Hannibal Lector to the world). The hero, a criminal profiler, is going over horrific crime scene photos on an airplane when a child seated near him catches a glimpse of the images.
I am surprised at how easily we humans all become quiescent sheep who are afraid to draw attention or get involved in situations in public. I know we are not talking Kitty Genovese but still. Good for Michelle to have the confidence to say out loud what others were too intimidated to say. Brava for your bravery, girl!
I just don’t see any evidence of her claim and I see all kinds of red flags that make me skeptical of her words.
Huh. To be further ignored.
But to Nancy a bove, Kitty Genovese?! Lord, how you just dated yourself (and now me). How many readers here will have no clue?
As for porn in public……NO WAY!! NADA. I like buzz’s solution, tho I’m not sure I’d do it. It’s great fun to think about however.
I think Ms. Dawn seriously over-reacted to the situation given that she would have had to have been seriously nosey to see what the man was watching anyways. But still… porn does not belong in public. It creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for people who are not so increadibly horny that they just have to get a quick look at something naughty right this instant. Of course we DO have all sorts of shows with scantily clad young ladies running around flaunting all but 2% of their bodies on tv now so maybe the guy just got confused.
love it, ashley
http://www.artlurker.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/HighGlitz_MaryAshton_web.jpg
http://us.acidcow.com/pics/20100216/child_beauty_pageant_28.jpg
I agree with your rationale except one point. Maybe Misty Dawn was confused.
i agree that public porn probably isnt a good call, but at the same time, like you said, its only public if other people are being nosy, in which case them getting offended is their own damn fault. as long as he wasnt masturbating, i think its okay. id never do it, and i would mock anyone who would, but its not as big a deal as we are making it.
90% of women in porn have been sexually abused. Well over 50% are addicted to illegal drugs. Those of us who view porn are watching deeply hurting drug addicts.
I have no answers, but I am reposting Anna Lind Thomas’ comment here because I think she said it so well.
Anna Lind Thomas said this, right here in the comment section of this blog.
>>>For my master’s degree I did a lot of research on porn. I get a little frustrated sometimes when the debate is focused on our own feelings of whether it’s “right” or “wrong” to watch it – over the reality of what we’re actually watching. Over 90% of women in porn have been sexually abused – most as children and nearly just as many currently in porn use drugs in order to do their job “convincingly.” Many experience unimaginable abuse – physical and emotional – on and off set. That to me is the real tragedy – that we’re all so consumed by our own sexual desires to consume pornography – we have no problem doing so at the expense of sexually abused, drug addicted, suffering women. I even reviewed an interview where Jenna Jameson – the most vocally proud woman in porn, who was raped as a teen – contributed that to getting into the business in the first place, and in a recent interview cried over her fear of how her children may perceive her. This isn’t the case for ALL women in porn – but statistically, it is for most. Something to definitely think about it. I’m not posting all my references here … but here’s a good site from a woman who used to be in porn – http://thepinkcross.org/pinkcross-blogs/shelley-lubben>>>
be that as it may, not watching porn isnt going to make people stop getting abused. if it would, id be all for it, and deal with the sexual frustration on my own. being as thats not the case though, being as im powerless to stop the abuse, i see no problem venting my sexual energy in the only way i can without a girlfriend.
Am I missing something, Michael? Porn is the only way you can “vent your sexual energy” without a partner? Really? What did people do before TV? Come on, give me a break.
If people did not buy porn, there would be no porn industry. Estimates vary, but the porn industry nets conservatively around three billion dollars annually. If consumers shunned porn in all its forms, the industry would die.
Of course that is unlikely. What you could do, if you were so inclined, is make your opinions known to the corporations that work in the industry. Tell them that you want the actors and actresses to have a union (or similar industry group) that will protect them from abuse, provide addiction counseling, provide complete, comprehensive mental health coverage, provide decent wages, include them in profit sharing from their work, provide comprehensive health insurance for the worker’s entire family…you get the idea. Don’t forget coverage for dental and eye glasses.
At least then you would know that you had done your small part. You would no longer be powerless – but rather you could play a very small part in changing the industry to help both you, and those you are suffering.
correction
and those WHO are suffering.
There’s no”like” button or I’d “like” your comments, Susan.
That really was good, Susan in NY.
I agree with Susan, Michael. As much as I disagree with how Ms. Hawkins went about this, I think something’s wrong if porn is your only sexual outlet. Not trying to be judgmental, but there are other ways, you know. Unless you’re speaking hypothetically.
would you care to suggest alternative methods? im all ears.
Wait. Are we talking about different … functional modalities of masturbation?
Well, personally, I would vote for …. you know what? Never mind.
I have the prefect solution for the suggestion that we are supporting suffering women by watching porn.
Watch gay porn.
hilarious soul mentor. and in answer to your question susan what did people do before porn? they got married when they were 16. they had sex with animals. they raped women. they did quite a large slew of things that are not good for themselves or for society. i dont like porn any more than the next guy, id choose a real girl once a month over porn once a day. but thats not an option for me. i didnt abuse those girls, i didnt tell them to get into porn, hell i usually only watch homemade porn anyways, but i certainly dont feel responsible for their suffering, even if i am sympathetic for it.
Wow.
You know rape isn’t about sex, it’s about power, domination and control – right? People rape with or without porn. It has nothing to do with sex though sex is the weapon of choice.
that is one small more or less irrelevant detail in a still valid argument.
You’re not actually suggesting that rape being rooted in power/violence – not sex – is a “small, irrelevant detail”, are you? You can’t be in this day and age.
“Remember: Rapists don’t watch porn. So watch more porn today.”
No. Copy fail.
Michael,
The above is really not very nice at all. People still get married when they are 16, and some people use animals inappropriately. But rape?
Make your point, but don’t be a jerk and put rape in the same category as sex.
Agree, Peter. As i was listening to her, i was trying to visualize the situation, and i was visualizing her peeping through the gap, sitting up and looking over etc. etc, because i have never been able to see what the person right in front of me was doing or looking at. And he wasn’t looking at a video, as some seem to think, he was looking at pictures, so it’s not like she heard anything. She went out of her way to see what was on his computer.
She saw it upon taking her seat.
Okay. So after watching her video, all we have is the word of a woman on an anti-porn crusade going all RWNJ on some guy and everyone one the plane is looking at her like she’s a cuckoo bird.
Two things come to mind.
First, The Salem Witch trials. No, not because she’s a witch. But because if you go on a crusade to find witches, everyone becomes a witch.
And second, there is a holier than thou, rolier than thou Baptist charlatan in my town who believes two men kissing is pornographic.
IMO this woman just hit the amoral morality ATM and she’s just in it for the money.
Keep polishing that piñata, Dawn. You just might hit the gusher.
Well said!
Yeah I’m inclined to agree with you. Even if her intentions are pure…her methods are destructive to both her cause and to Christian influence in the world.
It could have been a movie like “Come Undone” or “Brokeback Mountain” for that matter. Had loon attacked me for watching a movie she decided was pornographic because it showed..say…men kidding, I’d have taught her the meaning of “smote”.
Kissing, not kidding.
iPad dude was rude.
Self-righteous chick was rude.
They met, and rudeness abounded.
And that’s more of a problem than all the porn on all the planes in all the world, as far as I’m concerned.
amen brother.
Good summary!
Ms. Hawkins, you can think whatever you want, but geez. If you are going to be an activist for anything, have some tact. There is a time and place for everything, and publicly shaming another person is NOT the way to get them to stop something or come to your side.
And wow, way to project onto other people, Ms. Hawkins. You know what probably made the other passengers really uncomfortable? Some woman yelling about porn at 6 AM, probably mostly because it was 6 AM. Time and place for everything, right?
You were completely inappropriate, and though I stand for no sex trafficking of people, I don’t stand for what you did. That woman had every right to stand up and tell you to stop harassing that man. You don’t know what her beliefs are, stop projecting onto her.
And how dare you judge another person’s happiness or not by one single interaction with them. YOU DON’T KNOW THESE PEOPLE. It can’t be said enough.
A quiet, private talk, something like, “Excuse me, could you please shut that off? This is a public place, and that bothers me.” That would be far more effective, and respecting of everyone’s rights.
It actually worries me the kind of impact you’ve had on this man for shaming him so thoroughly. Your actions have consequences, Ms. Hawkins. Learn them.
Well said Jenna! I agree with you wholeheartedly!
No, it is never okay to view porn in public. It’s just totally inappropriate. However, she handled it terribly. The guy stopped looking at the pictures, that should have been the end of it. But she took inappropriate behaviour as a personal affront, couldn’t control her anger, and set out to humiliate the man (just in case he wasn’t humiliated enough already). And that is never okay, either. Frankly, i applaud the woman who stood up and put an end to what was surely an uncomfortable experience for all.
What woman “who stood up and put an end to ……” That’s the second comment that had a similar reference but I see no such reference in John’s story. It sounds like another woman on the plane shut Ms Hawkins down, but where is that reference? Or do I have to subject myself to the video? I’m not going to bother.
It’s in the video.
Dawn Hawkins and porn in public.
Both are rude and distasteful.
Which one is more harmful to humanity as a whole?
After looking at her webpage I’d say that Dawn is way more harmful.
Well said.
I’d thought from the headlines and hoopla that he was watching hardcore VIDEOS with full penetration and SOUND effects. But then I watched her video and listened to her rant. Looking at photos of some youngish women dressed in bondage gear does not equal full on porn. Tasteless and unappealing to most of us, yes, but so long as he wasn’t obnoxiously flashing the crowd, it wasn’t really worth drawing the attention of the entire cabin to what this man was looking at on his iPad. In fact, after her outburst, no doubt every single pubescent boy within hearing range was making frequent bathroom or stretch the legs trips past this guy’s seat… I’d have been that 50 year-old woman telling her to knock it off.
I absolutely agree. Thank goodness for the lady who stood up and told this lady to zip it. It is embarrassing to watch the aftermath of Her Highness being dissed.
Wow. You guys are really deep. And intellectual. All I could think was ‘why look at porn if you’re not going to…you know… Bring it to it’s natural conclusion’. I mean, its not like watching The Office or The West Wing. It’s kind of ‘viewing for a purpose’ isn’t it?
But I just don’t get porn anyway.
Um. I’m thinking you do.
i agree with john lol. i never understood guys who watch porn just to…watch it. seems pointless. actually i kinda hate watching porn, its almost like a chore. i have to, otherwise ill get you know..overwhelmed and be distracted all day. but its not like i want to waste my time that way.
It was weird for me seeing this late last night… I mean, in regards to how desperate some people are for pornage…
I was watching some episosdes of the Angry Video Game Nerd last night – not something I subscribe to, but I’d followed a link and decided to watch a few episodes because I’d seen him skewer some things in a hilarious fashion before. The AVGN is an Internet persona who reviews retro video games from the early NES/Sega/Atari era and picks out the really badly-designed and stupidest ones to rant over in a screaming-rage fashion for humor. (If you ever look him up, be warned – his favorite word starts with “F” and rhyrmes with “duck” and he uses it a lot). Last night, I decided to watch his episode on Atari Porn
That is, bad attempts at “adult” games for the Atari 2600 system made by third-party manufacturers. Oh, man – it makes me shudder a bit to think that when I was a tiny child in the early 1980s and happily playing Donkey Kong and Pac-Man on my first gaming system, that some people were horny enough to get hot over 4-bit pixelated “boobs.” (Don’t even get me started on how comical the “nude male characters” were rendered)!
I mean… yeah, if people were that desperate for pornage then, it doesn’t surprise me that some people are desperate enough to risk dirty (not in a “fun” way) looks on a public place like a plane to get their desperate fix.
That’s actually an interesting point. My stepdaughter and her fiance play a number of video games along the “quest for treasure and slay the dragons” sort – and just about every female character in them could be characterized as “young women in bondage gear” – and it’s generally impressive that they can stand upright, all things considered.
My guess is that Dawn Hawkins can tell the difference between actual porn and a video game, but sometimes you never know with some people. I’ve had people give me very rude looks for kissing my husband goodbye in public, generally far more of a peck than all the straight couples around us doing the same thing. Some people have their own interpretations of things.
Here is the AVGN episode I was talking about – Not Work Safe but less so for the badly done pixel-”porn” and more for the character’s mouth. (Don’t worry, the Nerd is just a persona, an acting job – if an actual person was that angry all the time, they’d have had an anuresum by now)! http://cinemassacre.com/2007/08/22/atari-porn/ The men in these games! The men! Floppity-floppity…
By the way, “Screw Attack Productions” ISN’T a porn reference, it is a reference to the Metroid series – which is a perfectly work-safe/general audiences series of games about an interstellar bounty-hunter who saves galaxies from biological corruptions, energy sucking aliens and things of that nature. Samus Aran is a badass woman, too – and one who spends most of her time in a clunky mech-suit and wasn’t revealed as female until her second game. (I’ve only played part of one Metroid game myself, though, I just know some of the mythos).
Modern video games do have a little more… realism… if you can call it that. You started in and I immediately thought of Soul Calibur. I have Soul Calibur II for my GameCube – it’s a fighting game where you beat the crap out of characters with swords in pursuit of the shards of Soul Edge, an evil, soul-eating sword that various characters want either to destroy or to wield, depending upon if they’re good, evil or indifferent. Ivy… oh, gah, Ivy. She has two costumes: One has her looking like a stylized version of one of the Founding Fathers, the other is – leather bondage-gear. Also, she should think about getting back-surgery. Fans of the Soul Series make fun of this – mercilessly. For added fun, GameCube version of II – the guest-fighter for that port is Link, from the Legend of Zelda series. One of Link’s moves in that game is an amusing grab that lets him jump on another character, ride their shoulders and spank them with his sword. 0_o – It’s a playful move, but gets… really weird if you play a friend as Link vs Ivy in her scanty-costume.
Not all video games are “porny” at all, I assure you. A lot of Nintendo’s stuff is rather innocent, as they primarily market themselves as a family company (kind of the Disney of video games) – not that they don’t have mature titles. My favorite series is The Legend of Zelda series – and while it has a few things that make you raise your eyebrows (in a “wow, clever that they got away with this” way, typically played for humor), female characters are generally dressed realistically – either plainly or in royal attire. Nearly-naked tends to be reserved for fae-fairy-type entities, for which that is a typical fairy-tale depecition. Then there’s a RPG I’ve been playing, “Wild Arms 3″ which has a young woman protagonist dressed in… Western-style petticoats – not skimpy or sexualized at all.
custers revenge? classic. its not even fun to play. just stupid.
There were no “4-bit pixelated boobs”, as there were no 4-bit home consoles. The 2600 is an 8-bit system. Bitness was a later marketing term and has nothing to do with a chip’s actual graphics cabilities. For instance, the Intellivision is actually a 16-bit system but of course has nowhere near the capabilities of the Sega Genesis.
Um… When are people going to realize the “Porn” in and of itself is NOT the issue.
There is a deeper issue in the heart of men ‘and women’ that porn just happens to ‘console’ the pain/wound/issue, like a drug. Like any addiction, the drug is not the issue. Eliminate the drug, and your still left with a broken person. Heal the person and the ‘drug’ will disappear. Even Ms Hawkins hinted at that in her video.
Just my $0.02 of unprofessional thoughts…
Eirin–so true!!!!!! So messed up!!!!
I’d guess that our culture is more offended by Dawn Hawkins and her reaction than to anyone viewing porn in a public place. I understand that it is not uncommon for men to view porn on computers in public libraries. Some slopes are indeed slippery.
It’s not uncommon, but it’s also not generally tolerated. I know some librarians, and it’s a constant issue. It’s not that it’s something everyone is overlooking.
I agree that Ms. Hawkins’ message is valid, but perhaps the way she handled herself is the very thing that sabotaged her efforts. Had Ms. Hawkins approached the flight attendant prior to engaging in a very dramatic scene with her fellow passenger, she might have had a different result. It is clear to see that Ms. Hawkins was very upset when she did not receive any support from other passengers, but if she really did get emotionally charged (an assumption I am making based on her own accounts of the situation), she was probably seen as the “crazy lady yelling on the airplane.”
Is pornography in public okay? In my opinion, absolutely not. But we also have to ask ourselves this question – is verbally attacking another person public okay either? This answer is a little more complicated, but should always be in our minds when approaching others.
Good analysis!
love it, Michelle!
“A woman disagreed with me. A WOMAN, of all people” o_O
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlYrOZCSuA8
i’m gonna get in so much trouble
Meh. This woman isn’t terribly offended.
Ha!
Ha! Brilliant.
Perfect, Michelle!
Publically doing things that should remain in private is always a problem. However, I dislike people saying what others should or shouldn’t view/read/hear/etc. There was a time when Lady Chatterly’s Lover, by D. H. Lawrence, was considered porn. If I had read it in public, where someone looking over my shoulder might have been able to read it too, would I have been doing wrong? Too much of what is one person’s porn is another’s art. Unless you are making others see it, or making it impossible for them to avoid seeing it, no one should complain. If it really is in public, is it really porn? I wouldn’t trust Ms. Hawkins or Mary Whitehouse or the like to be my guide. Censorship does more harm than good.
As with some other writers, I found it interesting that she was able to see quite clearly the images he was viewing in the seat in front of her. I can’t recall ever having been able to see what someone in front of me on a plane has been doing. She had to have been sitting forward in her seat (where was her seatbelt?), peering through the gap, or around the side if in an aisle seat, or standing up looking over the back of his seat.
was in a similar situation, not on a plane, but in a book-store/coffee-shop… couldn’t let this golden moment pass… so as Ranger [my service animal] & i walked by the table, i asked, “i will bet good money, this is as close as ya get to the real thing, eh?” [i have a booming-teachers-voice that doesn't do 'whisper']
the laptop was slammed shut by that person, then he got up and left… the other customers applauded… i expected to be confronted outside, but Ranger IS a really big dog.
yes, we have the right to view what we choose, as long as it’s legal… but there are times and places for viewing.. public places are NOT the place.
I agree. If DOING porn in public is illegal, why wouldn’t viewing it be?
was in a similar situation, not on a plane, but in a book-store/coffee-shop… couldn’t let this golden moment pass… so as Ranger [my service animal] & i walked by the table, i asked, “i will bet good money, this is as close as ya get to the real thing, eh?” [i have a booming-teachers-voice that doesn't do 'whisper']
the laptop was slammed shut by that person, then he got up and left… the other customers applauded… i expected to be confronted outside, but Ranger IS a really big dog.
yes, we have the right to view what we choose, as long as it’s legal… but there are times and places for viewing.. public places are NOT the place.
Good for you. You made someone’s pathetic existence even more pathetic.
No doubt. So much for Christian compassion.
Porn induced erectile dysfunction is now pandemic. No, I’m not talking about “performance”anxiety. Why do we call it “performance” anxiety anyway? Why do men feel that they’re “performing”? What are they circus animals? I’m sick of the porn industry exploiting the male libido! Porn is emasculating men. The truth be told, porn users suck in bed because they don’t truly know how to connect with a woman the way a woman wants and needs– and guess what, they know it and turn back to using porn. It is really sad.
True. When you need progressively stronger stimulation to respond sexually (and find yourself with erectile dysfunction looooooong before middle age) that is not a sign of normal sexual development. That’s a sign that something has gone seriously amiss. I feel sorry for the guys in my generation (mid-twenties) and younger. Most boys going through puberty today have already “hooked” to porn before their brains have even gotten an opportunity to get excited about real girls. It’s a shame.
It’s also shame that the medical community hasn’t yet acknowledged the existence of porn-induced ED. This presentation by an Anatomy instructor and neuroscience enthusiast was really enlightening to me: http://yourbrainonporn.com/your-brain-on-porn-series
in most states viewing porn on an iPad where someone else could see it would be at the least public indecency. (here it’s called “obscene and sexual materials and performances.) it’s perfectly legal for adults to view porn in private.
Okay, I have no problem with porn. I really don’t. But viewing it in public is not only rude and idiotic, it’s illegal in most if not all 50 states. It’s not exactly a clear-cut set of laws, but if you are looking at porn on a plane (or anywhere else) and someone’s kid walks by and sees it, the parent can press charges. At that point, you are a sex offender in most states. So, yes, I went with ‘wrong, because what are you, stupid?
Even if it weren’t illegal, I look at it the same way I do watching movies or videos with a lot of profanity on my phone in public. If it is something that will likely offend others, then there’s just no good excuse for subjecting them to it.
“it’s illegal in most if not all 50 states”
Is that true? Computer says no.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110611173628AAKTpg1
You thought you found a good answer at Yahoo answers??
THanks for posting this John–I just sent her this note:
Dawn,
Just watched both your videos and would like to lend you some insights. I do work as an advocate for full inclusion of the gay and trans Christian community in the church. We may not agree on many issues in the social justice arena, but clearly, we both are at the edge of engaging issues.
I say this as kindly as I can–you need help in communicating your beliefs with others. THe things we each do are emotionally charged. I am a VERY strong Christian and if I had been sitting next to you, I would have talked to you about HOW you attempted to engage the situation.
From the moment you opened your mouth, i could have told you the disaster it would become. When you have a message to give, you need SOME level of relationship. Yours was not a “stop now, someone will die if you do not stop” message. It was a beliefs and values message and raising your voice to a person in the way you did would probably not have been at all productive.
I imagine this is not an infrequent situation. You might want to get some training on how to better deal with it so that you EVEN honor the human standing in front of you TOO. YES, even him.
If you want to be more productive and effecting in direct engagement, there are skills for that. Seek out the help of professionals. In my opinion, and from LOTS of experience here, your message is an honorable one, but the way you did it does not work.
I hope this is something to think about. Reach out to me if you would like insights.
Kathy Baldock
CanyonwalkerConnections.com
Kathy, please let us know if you get ANY kind of response. THanks for reaching out…
Are you kidding me? Why isn’t that illegal? The guy should have been arrested by the US Marshall on the plane. I mean isn’t porn illegal, like pot, in most places? And of course you shouldn’t do it in public. What if I got naked with my husband in public. We’d be arrested that’s what. Public space is not private space. You don’t live in a one way bubble where you can see out and no one can see in. That’s why it’s called being out in public. What if the guy whipped it out and peed in the middle of the plane? I’m sure they’d do something about that/1
“I mean isn’t porn illegal, like pot, in most places?”
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/funny-pictures-kitten-is-confused.jpg
Seriously? You’re setting up multiple straw man arguments. And porn is not illegal.
Actually, a lot of porn IS illegal and NOT protected by the First Amendment.
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