
Originally Posted by
MMI
My bad, Mkemse, I was replying to Icey's original post.
I think the accepted definition of pornography in England was, for a considerable period of time, something that "tends to deprave or corrupt". The new legislation defines a pornographic image as a picture that appears to have been produced solely and principally for the purposes of sexual arousal.
I can see clever barristers who are defending people charged with an offence under this Act having a whale of a time with this definition: it creates more uncertainty than it resolves! "Appears"? Appears to whom? The man on the Clapham Omnibus?
Solely and principally - are these two terms not mutually exclusive? Or are images that have a variety of purposes, but the main purpose of which is sexual arousal also caught by this definition. Can we expect to see Playboy Magazine withdrawn because of this; it contains articles written for entertainment as well as pin-up pictures.
Sexual arousal: What constitutes "sexual arousal"? An erection? Sticky panties?
Finally, it should be noted that only extreme pornographic images are rendered illegal by this Act - images of "snuff", serious genital injury (not just spankings or pussy whipping), necrophilia and bestiality. I believe that all of those acts are generally regarded by British society as unacceptable. I am surprised paedophilia isn't also mentioned, but perhaps other laws provide protection there.