One good thing leads to another. As a parent, I don't want my children exposed to A: Porn of all types. B: Someone masturbating (surreptitiously) next to them on the seat. C: Pedophiles watching any type of porn next to my children.
My favorite scenario is an angry parent kicking the shit out of a pedophile that did any of the above purposely to my child. Can you imagine the total disaster that would be on a plane 5 miles above the law?

Fountainhead

Funny thing is, an up-n-up at Focus on The Family went on James Dobson and asked his supporters to pray for rain to wash out Obama's big speech in Denver.

Now a Cat 3 hurricane is steaming towards New Orleans just as the republican convention is starting in St. Paul, reminding everyone of the lack of leadership during Katrina. Looks like these crazies are finally getting what they deserve.

acsturt

@strider_mt2k: You can live your life however you want, it is afterall a series of choices and you are left to deal with the consequences, regardless of the actions. I don't really take offense until it starts to bleed over into my life.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: Your point is valid.

My rantlet was indeed assuming that everyone is acting in an appropriate manner in public. I wanted to be clear on that.

Interesting discussion.

strider_mt2k

Will the group also be protesting newsstands at airport that carry a wide spread of pornography?

I used to work at the campus computer lab when I was at UCSC, and the policy was that porn was OK, but if it offended another customer (or yourself) you could ask them to turn it off.

Frankly, I've never understood the appeal of watching porn in public, but that's only because I've never understood the appeal of watching porn for the sake of watching porn. There's a second step, right?

Milo.Stone

@hagrun: If your going to assign a viewpoint to a group, please back it up with a link that states such. Not trying to be a dick but I get tired of getting assigned an opinion from someone's conjecture on the situation. Also the view that publicly viewing pornography is socially unacceptable over rides the view of people who think it is appropriate because it should. Would you find it acceptable if I forced you to read the New Testament against your will?

@ Jesus Diaz: It's ridiculous to assume that just because you know how to act in public that everyone will. We all know that it is not socially unacceptable to rob someone, yet it happens, we all know that it is socially unacceptable to kill someone, but it happens. If you don't make a law stating that someone can't do something, some retard will.

@dc-united: I don't think being condescending is a very valid remark. If you don't see a bunch of condescending comments in the reverse in this thread, then your blind. It isn't a matter of trying to tell other people what is good for them, it is a matter of trying to protect ourselves from being forced to see things that we don't wish to see. I fully respect other people's right to view porn, that is their choice. But when they want to look at it in a place where I have to see it as well? Then I have a problem.

@Curves: Freedom also means that I am free to not have to see that crap in a public place. If your going to do it, it should remain private.

@hindsight2020: I got here from one man and one woman in a bedroom, not a 5-way orgy with a horse and a midget in an elevator, heh.

Rhodizzle

They already ban sex in public places, but that doesn't stop the homeless people from getting their freak on in full view.

Parents should be watching where their kids are and shielding them from the guy in the next seat watching porn. Isn't that "focusing on the family". Others will do what they like... watch your own darn kids.

whatnot22

Mini-fig genitalia?

"It's ok, Jesus. Size doesn't really matter..."

ideaman2020

Personally I find sitting between two fat people on an airplane way more offensive that glancing over at someone watching Pump Friction. And besides, one of these laptop privacy screen shields might help too.

bms

Thats it...Enjoy your 5 mins of public attention "Focus On The Family"

mister_s

[RANTLET WARNING]

Shouldn't we all be left to deal with life the way we choose?

If it's all about what we're gonna tell a god at the end of it all, aren't we really just atoning for our own actions?

If that's the case then get off my shit and let me life my life as I please, okay?

Otherwise I'm just gonna piss you off a whole lot more.

strider_mt2k

I've heard stories of guys watching porn on PMPs while riding the Washington DC subway system.

Jeb_Hoge

This just in: Dr. David Weiss has been caught watching porn on American Airline flight 1011.

orphic1

i watch porn in public all the time. i dont see the big deal. if you dont like it, dont look. :D

bobojuice

@Mr.DuckSauce: They are also blaming the general populous for stuff that not everyone does. For instance crime in this country is down overall, and youth violence is at it's lowest in the past 30 years, but religious peeps insist the opposite. It's all opinionated listening... they hear and see only what they want.

hagrun

Freedom means people can look at whatever they want. Freedom also means that I (and all my fellow passengers) can make fun of a guy watching pregnant-mini-horse porn in a crowded airline cabin. Wanktard.

Curves

Why should their views over ride the views of people who think porn is sociably acceptable? I personally believe porn is best kept at home, but I can't really say that my views are more right than anyone other person's.

hagrun

Whatdoyoumean :"Just like I can watch porn in my iPhone in any public place across the country but I don't because it's just wrong, the same will apply here, Mr. David Weiss."

Its a small screen! If (hypothetically) I was watching porn on it (again theoretically), no-one would ever know!

Rustabout

Religious Groups are the more sickly in sexual idea's than the people who aren't, with their idea's about situations and people on a daily basis which is for the so called better, they are shaming or judging others on one hand, while touching themselves with the other.

Mr.DuckSauce

What -- I can't leave "something special in the air"?

Ba doom ching. I'll be here all night. Tip your waitress.

diem

The problem with this group and others like it is that they are incredibly condescending. They really believe that they know what's best for everyone and that they're really protecting us from our own blundering selves.

Screw 'em.

dc-united

it's only irony that certain religious groups will fight against what is humanly natural. how do they think they got here?:)

hindsight2020

I'm all for everyone doing their own thing, and I certainly wouldn't want anyone curtailing my ability to watch porn, but say that I have a "right" to watch it in public is going a bit far.

Just as the freedom of speech doesn't guarantee you the right to yell "fire" in a theater, the freedom of expression doesn't necessarily give you the right to force someone to view pornography. Simply saying they can "look away" doesn't cut it. Allowing others to see your porn on a plane isn't very different from allowing others to see it playing in your car's DVD player/screen or setting up an outdoor screen in your yard and showing it.

You might be okay with letting your children watch porn, but I'm not. I don't have any illusions that if my 14 year old son wants to see porn, I can keep him from it...but I'm not quite ready to give it to him yet...

chasmm

@Rhodizzle: So, by your logic, if you kill somebody and nobody is looking, it's fine?

two cans tied together and thrown down the street to wake up the surrounding neighbors with a loud annoying noise

@nutbastard: I understand that there will be people who will view it on the plane anyways and they won't get caught. I am fine with that. The whole reason for it is that 10% that does it in plain view.

Rhodizzle

@nutbastard:

actually, nutbastard, laws are designed to appeal to the primal instinct of judging punishment vs. reward.

If the punishment is sufficient enough, the law (as designed) is supposed to act as a deterrent to certain behavior.

When minor infractions do not have sufficient punishment, it is extremely easy for the individual to see that they could stand to benefit from taking the risk, seeing that the punishment is relatively minor. Running a red light, for instance.

On the other hand, acts like cop killing carry incredibly high punishments, and thus act as a very high psychological deterrent for assaulting the police officer who pulls you over for running the red light.

Parapraxis

@Rhodizzle: Just wondering how often you are exposed to porn right now on airlines?

bms

@Rhodizzle: "@ Jesus Diaz: It's ridiculous to assume that just because you know how to act in public that everyone will. We all know that it is not socially unacceptable to rob someone, yet it happens, we all know that it is socially unacceptable to kill someone, but it happens. If you don't make a law stating that someone can't do something, some retard will."

Well thats just factually wrong. It isnt just soccially unacceptable to rob/murder someone, it is infact illegal( check the laws ). And yet it happens everyday( check the newspapers ). Making anything illegal has never stopped people from doing it. So should we ban the sale of kitchen knives?
And even without wi-fi, what is stopping the perv from watching porn offa his hard disk or a dvd? Now there is wi-fi, and you guys are waking up? why just airlines then, put up firewalls in all cafes and public hotspots. Next step would be in homes with kids, because this way you are attacking even before the 'crime' has happened. Why stop just at airlines?
Morality comes form within. Dont confuse laws with morals please.

mister_s

@Rhodizzle: Change that last ? to a .

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle:

You're correct, it doesn't stop anyone from doing anything. It does however provide me the peace of mind that whatever doofus violates this will have guaranteed consequences.

...They will possibly be subjected to the mechanism of punishment, 90% of criminals don't get caught - only the stupidest 10%.

@jdevlin:

It is not interfering with freedom to filter porn from an in-flight internet service.

I definitely have to agree with you there - airlines are (mostly) private businesses who should be able to do whatever the hell they want with their own airplanes.

nutbastard

@nutbastard: Point taken, although I do make a distinction between my reading the bible next to you and you watching porn next to me?

Rhodizzle

Come on, let's be honest, who wants a dude blowing his load on the back of your seat? I don't.

two cans tied together and thrown down the street to wake up the surrounding neighbors with a loud annoying noise

@CubFan81: I understand that there are some side-effects of filtering. I filter my own internet using OpenDNS and understand that it can get in the way from time to time. Once I have to hit the call button, the exact damage that I'm trying to avoid has already been done.

Rhodizzle

@boofighter: Bull. Porn didn't hurt the families you're referring to, it was just an expression of what was broken all along. What leads a husband to pornography? Sexual frustration? Repressed fantasies his wife won't participate in, or he won't express? "Cheating," with people or porn, is just a symptom of a marriage that was broken to begin with. It's not porn's fault.

Steel_Pelican

@hindsight2020: My comments are exactly justified. That part that you mentioned was a joke, my God allows me to have a sense of humor too, I'm not just some robot that is here to tell you that you are wrong. I take these comments seriously because the people typing them identify those that hold this viewpoint and are Christian or 'religious' (two different words to me) as a bunch of friggin morons who want to dominate the world and tell you how to do things when it simply isn't true. I don't hold issue with other people's choices. It breaks my heart that they make them and I wish they wouldn't, but it isn't my choice to make, so I leave it at that.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: but isn't that the issue here? The guy in the back row should have the option to do that if he feels he can. Just as you should have the option of pushing the attendant button and asking him/her to ask the other guy to knock it off. After that, its up to the airline to enforce that aspect.

The problem with filtering it beforehand is you assume everyone onboard is a criminal before they commit the crime. And it's been a while but back when they used to filter porn at libraries it kept honest students from looking up information on breast cancer and other legitimate but close to xxx keyword information.

CubFan81

"Fortunately, most of this nation is not stupid.'

I believe you are wrong sir. Empirical evidence shows that in fact, the vast majority of the human race is quite stupid, especially in this nation. :)

devwild

@Rhodizzle:

"Would you find it acceptable if I forced you to read the New Testament against your will?"

As offensive as one might find it, would you listen if some uppity athiest sitting next to you asked you to stop reading the Bible on the plane, out of concern for his children? viewing something in a position where someone CAN visually eavesdrop is different than FORCING someone to look at something.

"Freedom also means that I am free to not have to see that crap in a public place."

Sorry, that's not at all what freedom is, and airplanes are not public places. By your argument I should be 'free' to not have to see bumper stickers with offensive words in them. Maybe i wouldn't want my kids seeing "fuck this truck" stickers.

The INVERSE of the 1st amendment is NOT true!

nutbastard

Am I the only one who had to run off and GIS for "Princess Peach's Underpants"?

njb42

@Rhodizzle: some of your rants are non-justified. the porn that i see are not 5-way orgies. . .1 man 1 woman. call it what you want, but it is still porn. also, you are taking these other opinions way to seriously. they are not personal attacks against you, remember this is a blog page. you will always find some weird comments. me personally, i do not have the need to watch porn on a plane or any other public environment. my wife and i choose to see it in the comfort of our own bedroom where all the magic happens! heh!

hindsight2020

@Polybius: I'd say it is a stretch to say that the article above and the comments in support aren't dumping on religion.

Rhodizzle

@Curves: It isn't legeslating morality. Legislating morality is putting a ban on porn. This is protecting me from other people's morals.

Rhodizzle

@92BuickLeSabre: Nice that you bring that up. This is really not a new problem, if even a problem at all. Porn watchers have most surely been bringing on board and viewing their DVDs and pictures onto airplanes for years now.

bms

@Curves: Hey, the pointing and laughing was bad enough, but you didn't have to get the whole cabin to chant "Wanktard" at me.

CubFan81

@FrankenPC: Giz took a big steaming dump on religious groups, specifically Focus on The Family. Focus on The Family ≠ relgion.

Steel_Pelican

@Rhodizzle: Thanks
I love this thread.... We need freedom and tolerance for porno peoples.... BUT EFF THE CHRISTIANS!!!! I can't believe how close minded some lefties are.
I don't see what's wrong with the quote in the article. No matter how retarded the view point, someone out there holds it to be true. Someone out there thinks that porn is ok to watch in public. It is not interfering with freedom to filter porn from an in-flight internet service. If public sex is illegal, I don't see why displaying images of sex publicly should be ok.

jdevlin

@nutbastard: You're correct, it doesn't stop anyone from doing anything. It does however provide me the peace of mind that whatever doofus violates this will have guaranteed consequences. I fully understand that laws don't stop people from doing anything. Laws aren't made to be broken, and I fully agree that you have a choice to follow them or not. You don't have a choice in dealing with the consequences should you be caught. If you are that guy in the back row sitting in the corner with your laptop and your blazing away at all of the xx you can handle, that is fine, as long as I don't see or hear it.

Rhodizzle

You know, the internet is not required to view objectionable material on a laptop. Is it a problem now?

Junginator

@FrankenPC: They're not dumping on religion, they're dumping on people who say stupid things ;)

Polybius

@hindsight2020: Human nature and pornography are completely different. How we got "here" should be a private thing between a husband and wife. Though I do agree that most of those religious types are crazy.

Polybius

@stradric: First off, I'm not a dobsite, I'm a Christian who happens to share their beliefs on this particular subject. Second, How does my not wanting to watch your porn on an airplane make me ignorant? Am I ignorant because I have a view on something and I strive to make it so? What about viewing porn on an airplane qualifies you as 'sane thinking'?

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: Just because we are free to do something doesnt mean we should. I would be that parent that fountainhead speaks of kicking the ass of the pedophile in the seat next to my child who did do this. I just think legislating morality is a slippery slope that we should not even go down.

Curves

@Rhodizzle:

We all know that it is not socially unacceptable to rob someone, yet it happens, we all know that it is socially unacceptable to kill someone, but it happens. If you don't make a law stating that someone can't do something, some retard will.

You just got done saying how people do illegal things all the time, and then go on to say it's a good thing we have laws to keep people from doing such things!

You have it BACKWARDS: a law never STOPPED anyone from doing anything, ever. Laws don't prevent people from doing things, they only provide a mechanism for punishment after the fact.

nutbastard

the idea that porn is good and does not harm anyone is very narrow minded and a bit selfish. there have been many families that have been hurt by a member watching porn. i don't have the exact number, but many sexual criminals start out by watching porn and then that leads to them acting out.
i know that not everyone who partakes in porn watching in a sexual criminal.

boofighter

This stems from the idea prevalent among many Abrahamic religionists that we only restrain our behavior out of fear of punishment. If there is no threat of punishment (from American Airlines), then we will Sodom the Gomorrah out of our co-passengers all the livelong day. The only thing that keeps us in check, in the eyes of these types, is fear of eternal damnation. And since most of us are unswayed by fairy tales of fiery lakes, the only thing standing between their faithful, virgin eyes, and our throbbing, heathen lust are rigidly enforced rules.

Funnily enough, many religionists argue that the only cause for human morality is adherence to scripture. Isn't it strange then, that atheists worldwide have been staying moral on airplanes lo these last 100 years, despite the widespread availability of printed pornography available pre-flight in airport newsstands?

Steel_Pelican

I love it....

Giz can take a big steaming dump on religion and no one really gives a damn. Now, start harping on i{enter word here} or Intel etc, and it starts a Jihad.

FrankenPC

These fundies are always good for a laugh. It's just not so funny when they actually get their way and impose their repressive beliefs on the rest of us.

Hey, Dobson-ites, if you want to be sexually repressed and live in your little world of ignorance, that's fine. Just don't expect the rest of us sane-thinking individuals to sit idly by while you try and get your way.

stradric

Personally, I think the 5-year olds of the world would be well-served by keeping the extra 30 seconds of porn-free existence that it currently takes for Joe Pervy to pop an adult DVD into his laptop instead.

92BuickLeSabre

@acsturt: I don't see the connection...

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle:
I'm pretty sure there are laws requiring public decency. You can't just project porn on the side of your house for your neighbors to see. However you are allowed to own it.

DeanOfAllTrades

@everyone

I just want you all to know im just arguing a position here for the sake of it all - in this society, really, people shouldnt be viewing porn on airplanes in such a way that others may be exposed to it.

but while the society dictates as such, i disagree that theres anything inherently 'wrong' with pornography and that theres anything inherently 'right' about our societal laws.

that being said, the societal laws still exist, and agree with them or not, you've got to deal with them. also, is it really that hard to simply be discrete out of consideration for your fellow human beings?

also, you paid for that iPhone/laptop etc - why give out the porn for free? let those cheap bastards get their OWN porn tube.

nutbastard

@Rhodizzle: Public sex led to the fall of Rome? You've got to be kidding. Try an untenable empire, or influx of competing cultures, or political unrest, or insufficient resources, or plague epidemics, or any of the other perfectly reasonable reasons put forth by people with Ph.D.'s in the field- some might even argue that Constantine's conversion of the Empire to Christianity is at the root. But I doubt you'll find "public sex" anywhere on the list.

Steel_Pelican

@Rhodizzle:"I don't see a difference between wifi/dvd/hard disk. I'm arguing the point and figured that you could put the rest together on your own."

why should the airline ban anything? If you require them to ban it then the Airport security should scan hard drives as well.
The point is that it just doesnt happen.i fly a lot, i have never seen anone watch porn. no have heard of a single incident. That is morals at work. And i dont like the idea of enforced morals. It defeats their purpose. children/people should be taught why not to behave inappopriately, not scared into it by making inappropriate behaviour illegal.

"Nowhere have I stated that laws = morality, if you go back and read, you'll see that I in fact state the opposite. Read all of my posts before trying to come back with your self-satisfying snarky comments please."

Well you want morals turned into laws!! Which is exactly what i meant shouldnt happen. And this is exactly where the slippery slope arguement applies. Morals should not be turned into laws, so that you know when to stop. heck, we have so much trouble in making people respect the law, morals are even more varied, in all areas, it will be disastrous.

fyi, none of it meant to be snarky, from my side its jus an argument.

mister_s

@UrIt: I try not to watch stuff with alot of violence in it either.

Rhodizzle

@nutbastard: I don't mean that it was THE reason, but it definitely belongs in the list of reasons you gave.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: It's like watching TV. If you don't like what's on, change the channel. In this case you have the right to look away.

ackthbbft

American Airlines Tag Line:
"WE KNOW WHY YOU FLY"

schrosa

@nutbastard: @Parapraxis: @Rhodizzle: Gang, we're not talking about laws here. There are laws that prohibit someone from fapping in front of you, or forcing you to watch pornography, or allowing a minor not in their care to watch pornography. And if any of the above happen to you or your children on a commercial airliner, you would have plenty of protection in civil and criminal court.

And let's get serious about this idea of being "forced" to watch pornography. Being "forced" to watch pornography would involve some kind of threat of physical reprisal for not watching, i.e. a gun to your head, or some mechanism to keep you watching (a la A Clockwork Orange). There is a HUGE difference between being exposed to something and being forced to watch it.

Steel_Pelican

im definitely one to support the porn industry, however im not so sure all this hype is worth it. i mean how many people will actually undergo the awkwardness that would come from surfing through some porn while another person sits next to them? has anyone had any first hand experience with this? i just never knew it would be so common for someone to engage in something thought "private". dunno it might just be me but i definitely wouldnt watch porn on a plane.

caveman1428

you can see a guys hand go into a grinder, come out decimated with bones every-which-way, or another guys head explode from a 55cal shot gun cartriage in the left ear...

but you can't see boobs...

i totally don't get it.

and unless this becomes a constant thing of people watching porn on planes, a few isolated incidents doesn't mean every single person on the plane is going to whip it out (be it pants or lipstick tube thingie) and go to town.
i'd like to think, though naively i know, that people are slightly better than that.

the bathrooms though... you go right ahead, self accepted Mile-High club

UrIt

@nutbastard: Nutbastard is right! Some thirteen year old girls are mature enough to make their own sexual decisions, yet the stinking puritans in charge around here won't let men have sex with their preteen daughters! The bastards! Moral equivalency is great.

HonusWScruggs

@axiomatic: It's easy to just state that it is not Christianity, support your claims please.

Rhodizzle

@nutbastard & iomatic: You are correct, there is violence in the Bible. If you take the time to read it, there is a point and a lot of lessens to be learned through the suffering that took place.

Rhodizzle

I take porn on my laptops with me when I go on vacation...what's to stop me from playing my .mpgs on a plane? nothing. but I'm not going to.

Lupison

@Rhodizzle:

No, greed and bickering and abuse of the people at the highest levels, as well as the unavailability of reliable long distance communications, coupled with the eventual fracturing of the empire into small sort of territories with everyone and their mother claiming to be the emporer brought rome down

nutbastard

Looks like I'll have to start requesting the last row now, so I can porn it up the whole flight w/out having kidlets peering over my shoulder.

@Rhodizzle: "I got here from one man and one woman in a bedroom, not a 5-way orgy with a horse and a midget in an elevator, heh."

Dude that's hot - where can I buy that DVD?

This whole argument is entirely ridiculous. If someone is in such dire need of porn in-flight, they likely already have plenty of it on their laptop, or have DVD's or mags w/ them. Not having wifi isn't going to stop them. Having wifi on the planes isn't suddenly going to turn the rest of the 'normal' passengers on the plane into a bunch of raving porn addicts.

Jackhole

I find overzealous members of the invisible sky landlord crowd far more unsavory than some guy/girl watching porn.

At least the person watching porn is keeping the porn and their opinions to themselves.

Sorry but American x-tianity is not really x-tianity at all. I learned this after traveling the world for my job.

axiomatic

@hindsight2020: You mean killing off societies and pillaging people in the name of their God, yeah sure. GET YOUR RELIGION OFF MAH WIRELESS!

iomatic

@Rhodizzle:

"I agree that they are both moral issues, but that is just about where the similarity ends. The vulgarity involved is incomparable."

I agree! The Bible has more violence and depravity than A Clockwork Orange and Platoon combined!

"I also think you'd be hard pressed to call it 'making love'."

Ahem, 'couples amateur porn'??

nutbastard

@nutbastard: Because those exact things led to the fall of one of the greatest civilizations in the world, the Roman Empire.

Rhodizzle

@devwild: You know, I've found that most people I get to know in this nation aren't nearly as stupid as I'd be tempted to think from passing contact with them. I've also felt that way about the people in other countries I've lived in. But maybe I'm not smart enough to get it.

HonusWScruggs

Anyways, the whole reason we don't have sex in public is all puritanical guilt tripping passed down from generations past - so much so that the concept of sex in public is inconceivable to most people, and yet, doubtless there have been entire civilizations where such practice was accepted and normal - why is it we assume the way we do things NOW is the RIGHT way??? Would it be too devastating to our collective ego if we knew other civilizations did things differently and were much happier than we are?

nutbastard

@nutbastard: I do believe and assume that it is inherently better than pornography, and I think you'd be hard pressed to prove that it was just as vulgar from an objective view. You would have to go quite subjective to substantiate that. I also respect your right to believe that it is equal to someone watching porn in the next seat. I just can't see the argument to compare the two. I agree that they are both moral issues, but that is just about where the similarity ends. The vulgarity involved is incomparable.

I also think you'd be hard pressed to call it 'making love'. I used to be addicted to porn and I'm now filtering my own internet because I don't think its something that I want to view and don't think it is appropriate for me.

Rhodizzle

Of course...it is Friday and the editorial staff might need something to bump up the views for this week...

Just saying...

chasmm

@nutbastard:

damn, blockquote fail

nutbastard

@Parapraxis:

"When minor infractions do not have sufficient punishment, it is extremely easy for the individual to see that they could stand to benefit from taking the risk, seeing that the punishment is relatively minor. Running a red light, for instance."

ah but those inclined to take such risks and ignore societal laws are also likely to ignore/delay contemplation of the consequences. Laws only keep SOME kinda-sorta bad people from really going off the handle, but only because they are intelligent enough to contemplate the consequences with some amount of accuracy... also, those with nothing to lose tend not to care.

nutbastard

Back on topic though, just beacuse we are free to do something doesnt mean we should. If I had children, I wouldn't want them getting on a plane and sitting next to a dude who has porn on his screen the whole flight. Hopefully, even w/o the filtering, people can be respectful to others and keep their 'private time' actually 'private', or atleast keep it private when kids are around.

Jon B.

@Rhodizzle:

I do make a distinction between my reading the bible next to you and you watching porn next to me

why? all things being equal, along with the inability to ethically legislate morality and religion, why is it inconceivable that someone could find the bible just as offensive and controversial as you find porn? Porn and sex are moral issues, as is ones relationship with God - that is in practical form they're both harmless facets of the intellectual side of life, things to ponder and decide whether you accept them or not.

By making the distinction, you're assuming that the bible is inherently, irrefutably, BETTER, when in fact, taken objectively, there IS not absolute scale one can follow.

I mean hell, they KILL people in the bible - i'm just trying to watch people make LOVE. All that violence and killing, I dont want to encounter that kind of negativity and i dont want my children to either.

nutbastard

@two cans tied together and thrown down the street to wake u...: Not at all. By my logic if you killed someone and there were no evidence or witnesses, you may not be punished for it.

Rhodizzle

Uhm, Sir Jesus, what exactly does this have to do with tech? Ok, so the word 'online' is in the title, but it looks like a giant rant to spark up a religious arguement within the comments.

Just curious, don't shun me :P

Jon B.

@mister_s: I don't see a difference between wifi/dvd/hard disk. I'm arguing the point and figured that you could put the rest together on your own.

And don't use a slippery slope argument of someone trying to filter the entire internet to argue this specific case, the argument just doesn't hold water. I have been fairly good about stating 'public places' so please don't start dissecting arguments that I haven't made such as filtering in the home.

Nowhere have I stated that laws = morality, if you go back and read, you'll see that I in fact state the opposite. Read all of my posts before trying to come back with your self-satisfying snarky comments please.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: Other countries (even Vatican City, Rome) is more tolerant of other religions and viewpoints than most American christianity cultures are. Also, when you talk to christians from Eurpoe they are generally not critical of others or their lifestyles. The out of control "I need to police the world for the kids, wont someone please think of the kids" lunacy is uniquely american.

I am a born an raised US Texan myself so I am deep in to "conservative land" so unfortunately I see the worst of it.

When I hear American christians condemn other religions with hate speech (think Westboro Baptist) I look to you other christians to get to these idiots and educate them that hate is not the way of Jesus. But it never happens.

Other countries do not tolerate this bastardization of religious tenents as much as America does.

Just my opinion though... and since I'm a godless heathen it will most likely be dismissed anyway.

axiomatic

@mister_s: Yes the probability in this case is extremely low, like I said I'm just arguing the concept.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: I think such things are left best at the discreation of the people. Because there is nothing such as absolute protection. You cant protect anybody form everything. If there is one thing that history has taught is that over use of any kind of legislation has led to its misuse.

In this case, you and i both agree that it watching porn in flights rarely happens, if it happens at all. Can you compare the probability of a kid being in the neighbouring seat while a perv is watching porn in public, to the probablity of a kid waking up in the middle of the night and entering his parents bedroom while they are fucking?

yes parents should have locked the door and blah blah. the same way co passengers will protest and make that guy stop. we dont need laws for such stuff.

mister_s

@nutbastard: I agree, it is their decision, I'm just casting my vote in favor of it, whatever that may or may not mean.

Rhodizzle

@Steel_Pelican: I think it's my right to not be exposed to offensive material in a public place. I'm all for freedom of speech but there's a line that I draw. People like to use the freedom of speech argument all the time to protect their right to do indecent things in public and I don't agree with that.

If it becomes an issue, I will in fact go elsewhere, but I'd like to keep my options open as long as I can. I don't go to McDonald's because they corporately contribute money to organizations that I oppose and call me a practitioner of hate for being vocal about my beliefs.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle:

"I don't think that restricting WHERE someone does something is legislating morality."

But it is - it's not debatable. If you make laws restricting people from engaging in so called immoral behavior anywhere, you've still made a law restricting immoral behavior.

that being said, it should be left to the airlines to decide, and if people dont like it they can vote with their business.

nutbastard

@Jackhole: Correct. Although Sniper arguably isn't my best class...

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: That's hilarious. So if If I understand you correctly, headshotting people in TF2 is all good all day, but don't let me see a boob because that will warp my mind.

Jackhole

@Rhodizzle: "We don't necessarily do these things to restrict you, but to protect ourselves."

How and why do you need to be "protected" from pornography? It's not the government's job to "protect" you, at the cost of everyone else's liberty. Your government exists to protect your life, your property, and your rights. Not your feelings. If porn makes you feel uncomfortable, that's not the government's problem.

If you feel too "vulnerable" as the result of a corporation's business decisions, take your business elsewhere, or found an airline that caters specifically to your own, and your peers' sensitivities. Anything else is legislating morality, or worse, institutionalizing religion.

Steel_Pelican

@Mr.DuckSauce: I daresay that my debate has been quite rational and that I've presented my opinions in an organized manner that tries to address the issue at hand.

I just did some Googling and can't find the source that I thought I had, so I'll retract that since I don't have proof.

Rhodizzle

@Jackhole: You are correct. My line lies more along the lines of bloody gory violence like that you stated in your post though. I play the heck out of Team Fortress 2 though.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: Pornography in your mind did not make empires fall, it was corruption, stating nonsensical things like like that is the reason why rationale is dead for people like you, to say that that was the main reason is idiotic, the byzantine empire fell, Constantinople fell, many empires fall because of corruption, not because of sexually.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Mr.DuckSauce

@Rhodizzle: "@UrIt: I try not to watch stuff with alot of violence in it either."

So I guess you don't watch the news?...or any action movie from any major studio?...or most any hit show on network TV?...or play any video games?....or...etc...

Jackhole

@DeanOfAllTrades: Agreed.

Rhodizzle

@mister_s: I understand and agree that this won't happen alot, I'm mainly arguing the concept and trying to defend the actions of right-wing crazies everywhere. We don't necessarily do these things to restrict you, but to protect ourselves. I can only speak to the issues that I agree with, not everyone's thoughts. I don't think that restricting WHERE someone does something is legislating morality. I think it is only legislation if it is a direct ban no matter where your doing it.

Rhodizzle

Oh NO! The flying Spaghetti Monster might smite me...

SoundSystem

@two cans tied together and thrown down the street to wake u...:

Yeah thanks for that image. My first chuckle in this thread. Nice comic relief.

dbsanders

I wouldnt WATCH online porn if it were not for the flight attendants not being as hot as they used to.

Now they are obese and can barely fir through the isles themselves, and act as if YOU are inconveniencing THEM whenever you ask for something!!!

Its a 12 hour flight.. and I'm not gonna join the mile high club with any of them, may as well clear the pipes somehow right!?

Mith

@Lucifer_Cat: Understood.

Rhodizzle

@axiomatic: Not dismissed at all. I get just as aggravated at Christians that mis-represent what the Bible says as you do I'm sure. Westboro Baptist Church? I think they are wrong. What people fail to see is that they are a group of people that don't accept the opinions of others. It makes my job monumentally harder to try to explain Jesus to people when their preconceptions are based upon those morons.

I fully respect those other religions beliefs, I just think they are wrong. If you ever catch me throwing that in their face and calling them idiots, please point it out because that is never my personal intention. I can't apologize for those that misinterpret the Bible and use it for hate, but I understand that they are wrong.

Unfortunately, I also laugh when atheists or other religions assert that Christians aren't tolerant of other religions, as we are singled out and harassed for our beliefs.

Rhodizzle

@Rhodizzle: Rhodizzle, I agree with your stance that ideally, there should /not/ be people watching porn on the aircraft. I however disagree with your notion that filtering access is the way to do it. For one, it does nothing about people watching it on DVD or off the HD. Also, I am fairly sure - given the way airline attendants treat their customers - that anyone watching porn will be asked to surrender the laptop.. and will be charged with terrorism if he/she refuses. Filtering net access is like putting antivirus software on the voting machines... its supposedly better than the alternative, but someones doing it horribly wrong.

Lucifer_Cat

@Rhodizzle: yes the probability is low but you are mising the point. i compared the probablities of the two equally 'scaring situations'. both are possible, and i personally think the later is more probable.but it doesnt mean, you should ban parents from having sex, if they have little kids( which maybe they already are not having ;-) ).

I am arguing the concept too. and its been fun, but now i hafta leave, to catch a flight. Hope nobody is watching porn onboard.

mister_s

@king_of_fools: David, is that you David?

Jesus Diaz

Jesus Diaz is a bit of an ass for posting this in the way he did; its ok to have a differing opinion but to attack someone else because they have a different opinion than you, and put them down like this is just asinine ... as if families traveling together really want to run across and deal with the situation where they have some retard (lets say Jesus Diaz for example) looking up porn for enjoyment or even for work (gawker does have a porn based sister site). Focus on the Family simply seeks to protect people from having to be in these situations and its really not that much to ask.

king_of_fools

@Rhodizzle: I like this guy. +1

Jon B.

I am against filtering the internet, unless done in the home, or a public library, or school. That being said, I think the flight crew would be absolutely justified in stopping someone watching porn in-flight. That's what the taxi is for.

It sounds like Jesus agrees with Mr. Weiss that watching porn in public is wrong. I'm having trouble reconciling the general consensus that it's OK to ban cell phone calls in the air, but not porn. Hmmm.

@hindsight2020: "how do they think they got here?"

I doubt that porn was involved, but one never knows.

@dc-united: "They really believe that they know what's best for everyone"

As opposed to Liberals?

@acsturt: "reminding everyone of the lack of leadership during Katrina."

A lack of leadership from the corrupt state and local governments.

@stradric: "the rest of us sane-thinking individuals"

So sane individuals watch porn in public on airplanes?

@boofighter: "but many sexual criminals start out by watching porn and then that leads to them acting out."

Gotta disagree with that one, Sparky.

@nutbastard: "a law never STOPPED anyone from doing anything, ever."

Sweepingly generalize much?

@jdevlin: "I can't believe how close minded some lefties are."

Some?

@devwild: "the vast majority of the human race is quite stupid, especially in this nation."

You've certainly established this in your case. Thankfully you're wrong about many of the rest of us.

@axiomatic: "I learned this after traveling the world for my job."

Remittance man?

GadgetPlay

@Steel_Pelican: Post of the day!

jiffy

@Curves:
I completely agree with you.
Word for word.

tehdahl

How dare they try to prevent me from joining the mile high club, even if I'm flying solo.

unibrow4o9

@Curves: You have the right of it for sure. Well said. I may not be religious myself, but I would never begrudge someone practicing their interpretation of good faith.

axiomatic

@hindsight2020: You can't actually get pregnant from looking at porn fyi.

Gotta love the public schools and the fight against sex-ed ;P

jiffy

Just a little note for clarity: Please do not confuse religion/the church with faith in a higher being, they are not the same thing. I have a very deep faith in God, but I really dispise organized religion for exactly the stupidity going on in this thread. Faith is about choice, religion is about someone forcing their choice on you.

Curves

@Rhodizzle: There is no consitutional right to never be offended.

American Airlines has made the decision that it is better to have their crew handle any rare inappropriate situations that may occur, than to apply inaccurate filters that will prevent many users from accessing perfectly legitimate sites.

Most would see that as an understandable business decision; not view it as a slap in the face to religion.

robinandtami

@king_of_fools:

OR quit breeding!

Faslane66

@Mr.DuckSauce:

PWNED!!! no S##T!! They are usually some hypocrite that has no clue. F-em. and all their holier-than-thou attitudes.

Bring it Bitc#es!!!

Faslane66

@Steel_Pelican: You would be forced to watch it say a person thats in a middle seat of row on a plane are you supposed to only look straight that is impossible for anyone to do you have to move your head along with other body parts, so infact you would be forced to watch unless you could get up and choose another seat and most times your not able to.

utube2007

Porn sites should start adding "Focus on the Family" to their list of site keywords. Then, we can just search for "Focus on the Family" while on the plane.

bts

It's stupid and it's an insult to every intelligent person in this nation. Mr. Weiss happens to believe that if a guy watches porn next to a little kid, and that kid's parents won't say a thing during the flight? Does he also think that even if the kid's parents voice their opinion and the guy ignore them, no one else on the plane will help them?

pixelslave

I read this whole thing hoping to be REALLY offended. Man, the GizOverLords have been very effective in civilizing the site. This discussion has been almost INTELLIGENT by comparison to some previous dust-ups in these parts.

The ratio of irrational dunderheadedness to tolerant, patient give-and-take is almost immeasurable.

Phooey. I miss the old days.

I keed, I keed!

ps61318

You sir, are sadly, sadly mistaken. I work in a Public Library and if you ask any other public library worker across the nation they will tell you, "people do not know how to behave in public" Libraries across the nation are dealing with people who view porn in plain site of young children, employees, or anyone else for that matter. I don't think interenet access should be unfiltered anywhere in public, including on flights. I don't think internet access should ever be unfiltered in public spaces. It's one thing if you have your own mobile web device, but when a company is supplying interenet they absolutely have a responsibility to do all the things Focus on the family is asking them to do. Your rights to view porn aren't above my or anyones elses right not to view porn. If you want to view porn wait until your home and noone else has to deal with it. Pretty simple if you ask me.

mrlibrary03

@GadgetPlay:

fear of punishment exists whether or not there are actual laws governing the punishment.

nutbastard

Damn am I late for this one. Gotta trust anything that a group with "family" on its name says! I mean, the word is right there!

andyo

@Steel_Pelican: Well said.

stryder100

@mrlibrary03: Airplanes are not public places.

Internet filtering should be in place in public places where children may have access to inappropriate sites AND their parents may not be there to supervise them - I'm thinking specifically of schools and libraries. Now, that assumes that the parents need to give their children unsupervised access to the Internet. (And I think the argument that "legitimate sites get blocked" is an excuse to not improve filtering technology and tune it until it's right - just laziness, in other words.)

The other solution is to prevent ANY access by children to the Tubes (it's not impossible, just difficult - and increasingly more so for anyone with a child who has to do a research paper); or have the child only have access while they are in plain site - situate the computer in the family room, for example, or go with them to the library.

I disagree with Focus on the Family for many reasons - their tactics, their goals, etc. I don't necessarily disagree with going to some extremes to protect children from inappropriate content (which includes sex and violence).

(The foregoing is my opinion, not yours. You may take it if you want, but I'm not suggesting that you do. There, that should appease someone.)

ps61318

@pixelslave: That isn't the point at all in my opinion. The point is that it shouldn't even get to the point where I have to ask. Once my kid sees someone else' porn the damage is done. And for all those that asked 'who would watch porn on an airplane?', kindly see the comment by mrlibrary03

Rhodizzle

@ps61318: No kidding. It feels like CSPAN or something. Well, maybe CSPAN2.
Okay, cable access coverage of city council, but totally at least a medium-sized city.

92BuickLeSabre

They filter/alter movies inflight but not the internet why the disconnect, yes not everyone can see the internet on your screen but your row can
Its not just porn but violent content I'm pretty sure anyone with a child doesn't want them exposed to a snuff movie/extreme violence etc.
They filter workplace internet not just to increase productivity but also to prevent lawsuits I think AA is just opening the floodgates to a bunch of lawsuits

kiwijaws

@robinandtami: I don't view it as a slap in the face to my values. I see this article and the way that it portrays Focus' decision to make a public statement as a slap in the face.

Rhodizzle

Next, Focus on the Family will try to stop you from watching R rated movies on YOUR laptop while on a plane that happens to have children on board.

Give it rest you religious zealots...

berribrand

If the religious fundies would stop coveting my possessions and being so nosy, then they would not see the porn on my laptop/psp/phone/etc.

Don't shove your religious views on me. Why do you people want to control the lives of other people when you can't even control your own lives? I seem to recall a series of religious "leaders" engaging in very public sex acts recently.

berribrand

@hindsight2020: They're just taking it out on the world because they're not getting any.

infmom

Not that I approve of anyone blatantly watching porn on planes, but why should they be restricted because someone next to them has different beliefs? If I believe something is good and you believe it to be bad, why should I have to alter my behavior because you are sitting next to me? Porn is not illegal, so if you don't want your children watching it, move them. Or pack them in your carry-on.

YourHero

bah! new "after" something, not "before".........

qikamar

Come on, it is "focus on the family".

Dr Dobson and his family focused fanatics complain about and boycott new something every week.

Wells Fargo, Mcdonalds, Disney, Proctor and Gamble, etc......

....taken with a grain of salt I say.

qikamar

@berribrand: Wow, your cool... (/sar)

Jon B.

Kinda puts that whole "thank you for flying the friendly skies" in a whole new perspective,eh?

Getting back to the focus of the whole thread,I just find it funny that they say "this nation hasn't been serious about attacking pornography...",um,who do they think is 'buying' the $6 billion or so a year sold in porn? Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey?

Now if you'll excuse me,I'm gonna go watch some X Tube :0)

FiveLiters

@YourHero: It should be restricted because it's indecent. I'm all for the privacy to do things in your own home but that's where it needs to stay.

@berribrand: Please go back and read the other comments if your going to try to participate man, I've said a few times that it isn't about restricting what you do, but restricting what I or my children are subject to. I choose not to watch porn, so I don't want to have to see yours either.

@infmom: Don't try to be constructive or actually participate, you might hurt yourself.

Rhodizzle

I don't know how the internet service will be implemented, but if there truly could be pornography on seat screens, in easy view of my kids, that would be a problem for me. Sure, you can say that flight attendants should deal with a problem, but by definition they are doing it after the fact, AFTER my children have seen whatever someone else decides to view. It's up to American Airlines to decide what's more important to them when offering this public service - respecting those who want anything goes or those who have concerns about vulgar content being shared with those who don't want it.

waterwagen

Would they protest people watching porn in public? Probably not, because you know that you can be arrested for lew conduct for watching porn in public.

Airlines also have policies against lewd behavior which includes looking at pornographic media. I have even witnessed some army guys getting escorted off a plane because they wouldnt put their skin mags away on the plane. They were going to boot camp, so I imagine they needed all that type of stimulation they could get! ;)

My verdict, FOTF = epic fail

UncleArgyll

@Rhodizzle: Heh. Nice stuff. Here's my deal. I actually HAVE a child, unlike several commenters on here, and I'd punch a guy in the neck for getting a chubby while watch porno in the plane seat next to my kid. Same as I'd punch him in the neck for doing it on a train, subway, or other public area. My kid doesn't need to see some perv's pecker pokin out when he's 5 years old! I think that's what people are missing in this whole argument. If AA would just set a policy of no public porn viewing on their planes, then I wouldn't have to start punching pervs at 10,000 feet.

buzz

buzzwizard

Only fanatical religious group people can have this much dirty thoughts.
I'd be more afraid to expose kids to groups like these than to porn.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

This whole argument is bullshit. I'll start taking it seriously the next time I see someone jacking off at a computer in a public place.
Oh by the way, which is more offensive: a guy jacking off to straight porn or a chick jacking off to gay porn?

Wrapitup

@Rhodizzle: It would be one thing if I were to start showing off porn, but why are you or your children looking at my screen in the first place? You're only argument would be that naturally children are curious, and if that is the case then simply switch seats with them and ignore me. If you were reading a magazine that I absolutely hated it doesn't mean that you have to put it away.

With that being said, I still do not condone porn on planes, I just think restricting internet is worse.

YourHero