On: U.S. Manga Obscenity Conviction Roils Comics World

[jgrahamc]

Really, where's it going? I read the text of the law and it seems pretty clear to me. I don't have a problem with outlawing this material at all.

[yummyfajitas → jgrahamc]

The reason child pornography is illegal is that to make it, you need to abuse children.

But what's wrong with drawings that makes them more than simply free speech?

[sethg → yummyfajitas]

It is well-established in the law that First Amendment protections do not apply to obscene material--where "obscene" is not just "pornographic" but "sexually explicit in a really really gross way with no redeeming social value". There's a summary of the relevant law on the DOJ's Web site here:

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/optf/links/citizens_guide.html

I'm not saying this a good law, but anyone who has this kind of stuff should know that the "it's just ink on paper" argument cuts no ice with the judges.

[wolfish → jgrahamc]

Why do you think it should be outlawed? Why should the government have any say in what art you are allowed to view?

[jgrahamc → wolfish]

I do not believe that these manga depictions of sex with minors have "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value". So, I do not believe that they constitute art and therefore it's OK for the government to intervene.

[radu_floricica → jgrahamc]

Neither do our comments. Should they be subject to government approval too?

[jgrahamc → radu_floricica]

They are not obscene.

[radu_floricica → jgrahamc]

We're getting somewhere. So why do obscene stuff should, in your opinion, be controlled by the government? I don't mean why it's distasteful or unhealthy or something like that, but what makes you want to cross the line from "not socially accepted" to "men with guns ruin your life"?