Blogging for Backlash (2)

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ThedaVamp
Posted by ThedaVamp on Mon 9 Oct 06, 3:22 PM

Blogging for Backlash – what an excellent idea and excellent timing too.

Having observed the Government Consultation Process, and the responses of those who agree with the proposed new laws and those who disagree – one thing has become more noticeable over the past few months – sane, law-abiding citizens are getting scared.

Now some of us within the BDSM community who have spent time responding to the consultation, supporting Backlash, going to events, even appearing on television might get a tad frustrated about the lack of support from people within our own community – “It doesn't affect me” “I don't have anything to do with images of extreme pornography” “I'm scared that this will influence my employers/friends/family etc” “It's a good thing – it will protect people from the real deviants”. I believe this NIMBY attitude is being turned (slowly) as members of Backlash, The Spanner Trust, Feminists Against Censorship to name but a few are working hard to inform and educate people (whether influential or not) to the very real damage this new law can cause to our society. People only tend to act when their own back yards are threatened and the reality of this proposed law starts to sink in. This is what's happening now. This is why people are starting to get scared. And maybe it's a good thing. Maybe people need to be scared for them to act, to stand up and be counted, to assist in whatever small ways they can.

This law isn't just about pornography, it has nothing to do with crime prevention or risk management – this is about freedom. The freedom of consenting adults to view the materials they chose (whether distasteful to some or not) and not be classed as Thought Criminals for their fantasies.

Studies have shown that viewing of enacted violent materials does not increase the incidence of violence within a society, in fact it lowers it. The Government's own consultation paper states that there is no link between viewing acts of violence and performing them. To use a predictable example – the news. Blood thirsty wars fought for no logical reason. Dismembered bodies, screaming children, slaughtered men and women shown to us daily at the flick of switch. This is the real risk. The dehumanising of innocents at the end of a remote control. This is reality.

This proposed new law doesn't protect children, animals, the dead and all innocents as it claims. It infantilises women, it bestialises men and it is unenforceable – wasting police resources that could be better used in a variety of arenas – including that of protecting women and children from domestic violence.

The government proposal views fantasy/fictional images of symbolic violence that are enacted as distasteful, corrupting and dangerous.

It views the very real violence against real people perpetuated on a daily basis as necessary and admirable actions in protecting the citizens of the UK.

As the Backlash website states “Free societies do not criminalise people on grounds of taste”

Reality or fantasy? Which would you choose?

Replies

9 Oct 06, 4:33 PM
Rosalee
UK, 4 yrs
Well said.
I agree that this is primarily about freedom. It doesn't really matter whether or not we think we personally will be affected by the new law. Some people will be and I'm pretty sure that those people are unlikely to be violent sex criminals.
There is also the question that if this law is passed, what will come next? Are we happy to have our freedom to think and fantasise eroded bit by bit by useless and dangerous new laws?
http://www.fiawol.demon.co.uk/FAC/

9 Oct 06, 4:55 PM
MsDemmie
UK(EX), 10 yrs

A very considered piece - thank you.
"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph." Haile Selassie, 1892-1975


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