Unique disclaimer: Hollings Therapy, LLC does not advocate the sexual exploitation of children.
Obscenity
I was in elementary school when I saw my first pornographic material in the form of magazines. For the purpose of this post, pornography may be defined as printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.
Regarding such materials, the United States (U.S.) Supreme Court ruled in Jacobellis v. Ohio (1964):
The recognized interest in preventing dissemination of material deemed harmful to children does not justify its total suppression. This conviction, based not on the exhibition of the film [The Lovers] to children, but on its exhibition to the public at large, must be reviewed under the strict standard applicable in determining the scope of the constitutional protection.
Though there have been further attempts to define obscenity, namely Miller v. California (1973), the Court tends to defer to each state concerning this matter. As was the case in my childhood, pornography inevitably winds up before the eyes of minors.
This matter recently came before Texas authorities under the auspices of Texas House Bill 1181. Per one summary, the proposal relates to the “publication or distribution of sexual material harmful to minors on an Internet website; providing a civil penalty.”
Because the definition of obscenity or pornography is abstract and dependent upon each state, the proposed legislation could have had serious monetary consequences. Per one source, “The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in June, was to take effect beginning Friday [9/1/2023]. It carried a fine of up to $10,000 per violation that could be raised by up to $250,000 per violation by a minor.”
This measure purportedly required “users to submit facial scans or pictures of their government-issued photo IDs.” Personally, I think that such a resolution potentially violates the First and Fourth Amendments.
I’m not alone in this conclusion, as one source claims that “the age verification component in House Bill 1181, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, ‘is constitutionally problematic because it deters adults’ access to legal sexually explicit material, far beyond the interest of protecting minors.”
Trampling the rights of adults in favor of a Helen Lovejoy position, as it relates to a “think of the children” declaration, is little more than an illogical appeal to emotion and an egregious offense to constitutional rights. Thankfully, the proposed law was struck down.
With the World Wide Web having been made available to the general public in 1993, the 1997 Lords of Acid release of “Cybersex” was early to the online buffet from which sexual pleasure is served. Lyrics include:
In cyberspace, I’m your cyber baby
I’m super sexy and super nasty
Let’s misbehave where nobody can see
In cyberspace, it’s just you and me
Though I was 21-years-old when initially hearing the track, I was at the ripe age of 15 when I first heard the Belgian electronic dance music (EDM) act’s song “I Sit on Acid.” Lyrics include:
Darling, come here, fuck me up the—
Sit on your face
I wanna sit on your face
Sit on your face
I wanna sit on your face
Cybersex—virtual sexual encounters in which two or more people have long distance sex via electronic video communication and other electronics connected to a computer network—is reportedly a $1.13 billion industry. For context, that’s purportedly more than the annual gross domestic product for Antigua and Barbuda.
Pornographic magazines in my youth and salacious versus from Lords of Acid from adolescence through adulthood may or may not have impacted me in ways I don’t know—nor may ever be capable of knowing. Who knows?
This raises interesting considerations in regards to obscenity and attempts to restrict cyber-sexual content. Nonetheless, basing moral edicts upon unknown potentialities isn’t something of which I’m fond.
MUSTurbation
In a blogpost entitled Story of Erica, I outlined a rational position for and against sex work. This was accomplished through the lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
Focusing on this perspective, in a blog entry entitled Stop MUSTerbating, I stated:
According to [Albert] Ellis, “There are three musts that hold us back: I must do well. You must treat me well. And the world must be easy.” Whereas masturbation is largely considered pleasing, musterbation isn’t a pleasurable act.
When a person says something like, “The government must positively identify everyone who engages with porn, because children mustn’t ever gain access to obscene material,” this form of demandingness rests upon a conclusion derived from a faulty main premise:
Major premise: If there is government-enforced identity verification for pornographic material, then children won’t observe sexual acts.
Minor premise: There was no government-enforced identity verification for pornographic material I accessed as a child.
Conclusion: Therefore, I didn’t observe sexual acts.
This formal fallacy, denying the antecedent, is invalid because the truth of the premises doesn’t guarantee the truth of the conclusion. How do I know this? Because I began this post by stating, “I was in elementary school when I saw my first pornographic material in the form of magazines.”
I had access to pornographic material despite the government having enforced moralistic identity verification policies for the purchase of such content. What musterbating on others would do, in regards to Texas House Bill 1181, is inconvenience some people while not preventing all individuals from accessing porn.
As it appears to be mostly conservatives promoting musterbation of this sort, allow me to illustrate a different proposal that would impact the Second rather than the First and Fourth Amendments. Consider the following argument:
Major premise: All people opposed to gun control are people who hate children that die due to gun violence.
Minor premise: All terrible people are people who hate children that die due to gun violence.
Conclusion: Accordingly, all people opposed to gun control are terrible people.
Given this faulty premise which supports an illogical conclusion, all firearms must be restricted by the government! Would you support this proposal? I most certainly do not.
Likewise, musterbating to achieve personal gratification at the expense of the rights for others isn’t something I endorse. Moralizing by Republicans, conservatives, the rightwing, or whatever terms are being applied at the moment isn’t based on reasonable premises which apply to all U.S. citizens.
While it may be true that you abhor those you consider whores, not everyone shares your worldview. Furthermore, I prefer not having arguments cum at me from those who musterbate without regards to who it is being coated in the spermatic fluid of irrational belief.
Conclusion
I first encountered porn at a young age, and despite adults trying to shield me from obscene content. Early into adulthood, trailblazing EDM group Lords of Acid’s “Cybersex” inaccurately prophesied, “Let’s misbehave where nobody can see.”
Now, cybersex is virtually everywhere (pun intended). Nonetheless, this fact hasn’t dissuaded some people from needlessly attempting to control the behavior of other individuals.
Regardless of efforts to drastically limit access to cyber-sexual content, political action in Texas recently failed. This reportedly included a requirement for porn sites to post the following paternalistic warning for obscene material:
· “Pornography is potentially biologically addictive, is proven to harm human brain development, desensitizes brain reward circuits, increases conditioned responses, and weakens brain function.”
· “Exposure to this content is associated with low self-esteem and body image, eating disorders, impaired brain development, and other emotional and mental illnesses.”
· Pornography increases the demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography.
Even though I agree with a portion of this advisement, I don’t value the suppression of free speech under the guise of an appeal to emotion in the form of protecting children. As such, musterbating on others to achieve moral gratification isn’t something I condone.
Undoubtedly, not everyone who reads this post will agree. Indeed, some people will be so turned off by the photo of a former sex worker used for this blogpost that they will ironically become erect enough to musterbate on me for featuring her.
If you are such an individual and would like to stop the unpalatable act of cumming out your mouth with illogical and unreasonable moments of musterbation, I may be able to help you.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s original EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Abbott Governor. (n.d.). Greg Abbott [Official website]. Retrieved from https://www.gregabbott.com/
Associated Press. (2023, September 1). Judge strikes down Texas law requiring pornographic sites to verify user age. Fox News. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/judge-strikes-down-texas-law-requiring-pornographic-sites-verify-user-age
Bowman, E. (2023, September 1). A Texas law requiring age verification on porn sites is unconstitutional, judge rules. Texas Public Radio. Retrieved from https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2023-09-01/a-texas-law-requiring-age-verification-on-porn-sites-is-unconstitutional-judge-rules
FindLaw. (n.d.). Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973). Retrieved from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/413/15.html
FindLaw. (2016, April 26). Movie day at the Supreme Court or “I know it when I see it”: A history of the definition of obscenity. Retrieved from https://corporate.findlaw.com/litigation-disputes/movie-day-at-the-supreme-court-or-i-know-it-when-i-see-it-a.html
Fung, K. (2023, September 1). Conservative judge blocks Republican bill to stop kids from watching porn. Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-judge-blocks-republican-bill-stop-kids-watching-porn-1824073
Gitnux. (2023, August 18). The most surprising cybersex statistics and trends in 2023. Global Commerce Media, LLC. Retrieved from https://blog.gitnux.com/cybersex-statistics/
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth
Hollings, D. (2022, March 25). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2023, July 9). Sound of freedom. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sound-of-freedom
Hollings, D. (2023, May 24). Stop musterbating. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stop-musterbating
Hollings, D. (2022, December 13). Story of Erica. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/story-of-erica
Justia. (n.d.). Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184 (1964). Retrieved from https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/378/184/#top
Klee, M. (2023, August 31). Texas anti-porn law blocked in crucial win for free speech advocates. Rolling Stone. Retrieved from https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/texas-porn-age-verification-law-blocked-first-amendment-1234816200/
LegiScan. (2023). Texas House Bill 1181 (adjourned sine die). Retrieved from https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB1181/2023
Logically Fallacious. (n.d.). Appeal to emotion. Retrieved from https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/cgi-bin/uy/webpages.cgi?/logicalfallacies/Appeal-to-Emotion
Logically Fallacious. (n.d.). Denying the antecedent. Retrieved from https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/cgi-bin/uy/webpages.cgi?/logicalfallacies/Denying-the-Antecedent
LordsofAcidBand. (2020, April 8). Cybersex (Sherzo) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/uQnKoWu8nPA?si=AnidPP-DXJNQc1Kz
Matweychuk, W. J. (2013, October 17). Three “musts” that hold us back. REBT Doctor. Retrieved from https://rebtdoctor.com/29-blog-self-help-posts-on-rebt/three-musts-that-hold-us-back
Neas, C. (2023, August 12). Pornhub, coalition of adult websites sue Texas over law requiring them to collect user’s legal ID. KXAN. Retrieved from https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/pornhub-coalition-of-adult-websites-sue-texas-over-law-requiring-them-to-collect-users-legal-id/
Nowlin, S. (2023, September 1). Judge rules Texas law requiring age verification at porn sites dicks over First Amendment rights. San Antonio Current. Retrieved from https://www.sacurrent.com/news/judge-rules-texas-law-requiring-age-verification-at-porn-sites-first-amendment-rights-32543930
Ring, J. (2023, April 30). 30 years ago, one decision altered the course of our connected world. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2023/04/30/1172276538/world-wide-web-internet-anniversary
Simpson Wiki. (n.d.). Helen Lovejoy. Retrieved from https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Helen_Lovejoy
Snippets. (2013, December 30). The Simpsons - Helen Lovejoy - Think of the children [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RybNI0KB1bg
Texas Legislature Online. (2023). H.B. No. 1181. Retrieved from https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB01181H.htm
UndergroundMusicDude. (2011, February 12). Lords of Acid - I Sit on Acid (Lust album) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/HcbZUmLlNEo?si=cblfeJsKflmLvbJE
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Antigua and Bermuda. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_and_Barbuda
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Jacobellis v. Ohio. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobellis_v._Ohio#cite_note-6
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Lords of Acid. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_of_Acid
Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Lovers (1958 film). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovers_(1958_film)
Wisevoter. (2023). GDP by country. Retrieved from https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/gdp-by-country/
Comments