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Titus
Joined: 19 May 2012
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Kuros wrote: |
You're right, the elite Romans didn't have the ubiquity of imagery, and certainly these delights were reserved for the elites only. They did have on balance more smells, touch, and taste to make up for the lack of sound and sight. |
I don't want to argue Rome. I suppose the other poster brought it up cause of my name on this site. Titus is the name of my dog (and I didn't name him).
By the way, the vomitoriums (as a place to puke into after decadent feasting) didn't exist. It was an exit. The prevalence of orgies is much less than is commonly thought as well. |
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ersatzredux
Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Location: Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Titus wrote: |
I don't want to argue Rome. I suppose the other poster brought it up cause of my name on this site. Titus is the name of my dog (and I didn't name him). |
You're right, that is what made me think of Rome. You're also probably wise to resist a historical perspective to the porn will be the death of us moral scare, as it does muddy the waters a bit. There does not seem to be any particular link between the military and cultural robustness of a society and their sexual habits. The Athenians and Spartans both practiced pedophilia and mutual masturbastion during their golden ages, and there is no one to match the decadence and sexual perversions of emperors like Caligula, Nero, and even "good" early emperors like Tiberius who liked to rape little girls and boys from the nobility (well, at least according to Tacitus).
You are right though that the Romans, despite the respectability and omnipresence of erotica and the rather frank nature of some of their festivals and rituals- not to mention sex parties and decadence on a scale we can scarcely imagine- did not have the almost infinite variety of porn instantly and easily available like we do. This is indeed something new to human experience But it is unclear what the upshot of it all will be- it is simply too soon to tell. But what is not too soon to tell is that the reformers have as much chance as King Canute did in getting his way. This discussion is an academic one.
So Titus is just the name of your dog? Funny coincidence that, as Titus seems quite an apt choice for you considering your perspective on things. And, don't get me wrong, it is a perspective worth discussing.
Oh, and for GF,
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Still, there is something willfully blind in a mentality, such as his, that seeks categorically to separate the plague of pornography and onanism from "supposed moral decay", as if they were not in themselves actually an extreme form of moral decay |
I think you need to do a bit more historical reading yourself if you consider looking at dirty pictures and jacking off as "extreme moral decay". Obviously, you ain't seen nothing yet. |
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NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011 Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:31 am Post subject: |
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Despite the ongoing censorship, there are always ways to download pornography for South Koreans. |
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Titus
Joined: 19 May 2012
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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So Titus is just the name of your dog? Funny coincidence that, as Titus seems quite an apt choice for you considering your perspective on things. |
A cousin named the dog. He (the cousin) is a member of Casa Pound over in Italy. I didn't object. I'd like the trains to run on time.
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You're also probably wise to resist a historical perspective to the porn will be the death of us moral scare |
This was my comment:
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Korea, like all nations, ought to work to lessen the ease with which young men find porn. Men should be taught and encouraged towards discipline and self control. A generation of men sitting in their darkened houses alternating between gaming and fapping is the death of a civilization. Not that I object to my own civilization being put out of her misery, but I can't find enough ill-will in my heart to wish it upon the Koreans too. |
I did not make the "moral" case. I made the "deserves to exist" case.
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The Athenians and Spartans both practiced pedophilia and mutual masturbastion during their golden ages |
Yes but at least they were social.
I've read James O'Meara on the subject. I know what was going on in Athens. It's a convincing argument.
Ultimately, I am not worried about the morality re: porn (well, not primary worried about morality). I am worried that my race will stop existing because the modern man is a candyass. He is sitting in his basement, alternating between Call of Duty and jacking off to porn, and not out building family (or in the case of Sparta, building culture and civilization).
I've read a good deal about how the mind reacts to porn (and other visual/media stimuli). It isn't pretty. We can literally become addicted to seeing stimulating imagery in a fantasy setting.
Also, men who spend age 14-30 jacking off to 10's are going to have a hard time banging the 4-5 they can land in real life. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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Masturbation is probably actively healthy for men. Pornography is likely just an issue of moderation, so it is problematic to the extent that modern American society simply cannot handle moderation. Young men in their teens or twenties looking over a bit of porn while between girlfriends is fine. Smoking an occasional joint is fine. Getting a bit deep in your cups on occasion is fine. Addiction is the problem, regardless of the medium. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:22 am Post subject: |
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Fox wrote: |
Getting a bit deep in your cups on occasion is fine. |
What book of Game of Thrones are you on now? I just made it through the third.
The Koreans are following the Chinese example of censoring the internet, it seems. It doesn't work incredibly well in China. Young people get filters or VPN and get around the internet.
The Americans might follow suit, but it will be because the industry demands a pay-pass to all the new .xxx sites, ostensibly as a way to screen out minors, but genuinely to assure profits. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:21 am Post subject: |
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Kuros wrote: |
Fox wrote: |
Getting a bit deep in your cups on occasion is fine. |
What book of Game of Thrones are you on now? I just made it through the third.
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It's all downhill from here, good sir. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Kuros wrote: |
Fox wrote: |
Getting a bit deep in your cups on occasion is fine. |
What book of Game of Thrones are you on now? I just made it through the third. |
I read them all quite a while back. I agree with Northway's assessment. |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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Korea for the most part really doesn't understand freedom.
The Internet has the potential to be a difference maker in the world - it can bring information and freedom to people all over the world - or governments like China and South Korea can limit it. If you remember the whole "Minerva" incident - this is as much political as it is moral.
The freedom of the Internet may be the most important issue for the future of humanity. Sadly, companies like Google are putting profits before principles. |
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visitorq
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:01 am Post subject: |
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Unposter wrote: |
The freedom of the Internet may be the most important issue for the future of humanity. Sadly, companies like Google are putting profits before principles. |
I actually agree with you on this wholeheartedly. Without the internet I feel as though I would be wallowing in ignorance. The amount if truth I've been able glean from the information available online is staggering to me; it has opened my eyes to so many things... Censoring the internet is as repugnant a notion to me as burning books. I agree that free humanity's future may literally depend on having a free internet (I don't think it's even an exaggeration) and all attempts to control or limit it should be fiercely and jealously resisted... |
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Titus
Joined: 19 May 2012
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Unposter wrote: |
Korea for the most part really doesn't understand freedom.
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Freedom, in the sense you're using it, is a creation of northern Europeans, who shunned clannish social organization and cousin marriage. It is relevant only to us.
Koreans are not individualistic. They will never be individualistic. |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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It looks like we finally agree, VisitorQ.
Titus: "I would never use the word never" but it certainly doesn't look like it in the short run. |
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visitorq
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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Unposter wrote: |
It looks like we finally agree, VisitorQ. |
On some things, yes. That's good. |
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