Ring Tones, Cameras, Now This: Sex is the Latest Cell Phone Feature
Remember to read thoroughly the “Read Me First” post on this blog before responding to this post. You may discuss any—or a combination—of the following as long as it results in three (3) 5-7 sentence paragraphs.Be sure to attach your name, and the person's name to whom you're responding, at the beginning of your responses. Comments that do not meet the minimum requirements will be deleted.
(N.B.: The image presented here is the very same one used in the original New York Times article here.)
I'll ask you to think "outside the box" in that these matters are rarely as two-dimensional as we think they are. We must begin asking ourselves, these questions to begin journeying to the heart of the matter:
- What is pornography? Is it the graphic representation of penetration between two consenting adults, or does this label also include images of nude/half-naked models?
- Is pornography wrong? If so, then precisely what makes it wrong?
- Finally, who is capable of doing a better job at raising children: Uncle Sam (the American federal government) or those who chose to bring us into this world (parents and caregivers)? How have you arrived at this decision and why?
—Prof. Ferrante
or...
You may respond to these quotes:
Burden on the Caregiver(s)
“As a mother, I think we should be focusing [on] parents, because we are the ones responsible for buying the cell phones [for] our kids…. [Older children] will be exposed [to] porn, but I think, again, we should guide them to confront that… I don’t even have a great answer about why porn is that bad to watch…. That’s why I don’t believe the problem is in the companies offering porn; it is more about supervision and restriction of us, as parents, regarding our children…. The solution is not avoiding everything that is bad for us. The solution is teaching how to say no and to understand why we should say it.” —Student X
“First, I believe that parents should think first and become aware of what a cell phone can do before giving [one] to their children…. I feel that the companies [in the article] should put some kind of parental control [on the phones], but it is not their duty to do this. I think that if parents are going to feel concerned that their children might be using the cell phone for looking at pornography, [then it] is their [own] fault. The companies are just there to serve you, to give you [cell phone service]…. I also think that the persons who distribute pornography through cell phones don’t have the responsibility about whether this is going to fall [into] the wrong hands.” —Student Y
Burden on the Porn Industry/Companies/Government
“…I nevertheless believe that adults should have the right to view pornography if they wish to…. One of the challenges facing our society is the proper regulation of new technologies…. It is the responsibility of those who manufacture these items to design their products with those protections in mind…. The larger issue for our society is the growing demand for pornography. Increasingly, adolescents are accessing these materials online… Are we prepared to ignore the potential for earlier and earlier development of sex addiction in our children?” —Student H
Somewhere In-Between These Two Categories
“For me, [pornography] is right. [It] is entertainment to others. We should understand that we have different fantasies and ways of entertaining ourselves. But on the other hand, these companies should also consider who the subscribers are. If it for the adults, it is fine but how about the young ones? …We should take [pornography] as our own pleasure and not abuse it at the same time.” —Student C
“The sole purpose of cellular phones went from using them to communicate with others more conveniently to now them [becoming] accessories for pleasure. …In my opinion, it is [people’s own] business if they choose to spend all their hard-earned cash [on] a temporary thrill. Before this was available [on cell phones], people were willing to purchase pornographic magazines, videotapes, DVDs, and porn-channels from their cable company; so, why not have a videoclip (via the web) at their fingertips and view it from their phone at any time or place? —Student D
posted by Garth Ferrante @ 10/02/2006 09:38:00 AM
25 comments
25 Comments:
FOR OUR SOCIETY SEX SHOULD BE OVER RATED. THE REASON TO THIS IS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR YOUTH WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY ON TV AND ON THE WEB BUT NOW THE ADULT VIDEO INDUSTRY PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE THEIR MERCHANDISE BY SELLING IT THROUGH OUR CELL PHONES. IN CONCLUSION THE MONEY THAT IS USED TO BUY THE PORN OF THE OUR CELL PHONES.
KARLA QUINTERO
IN CONCLUSION THE MONEY THAT IS USED TO BUY THE PORN OF OUR CELL PHONES......" CAN BE USED FOR SOMETHING MORE PRODUCTIVE TO OURSELVES"
KARLA QUINTERO
To Prof. Ferrante
Fr: Jean Turner
In my opinion pornography is a form of Adult Entertainment, but the problem is that children/teenagers are the one's what will be most attracted to cell phone porn, because adult's are more discret about it. Caregivers cannot monitor children 24/7, and even if they have their phones restricted, they can always view it from their friend's cell phones. I conclude,why expose them to explicit scenes if we can avoid it? It's better to ban pron from cell phones, becuse it's only another money-making feature.
Yes, I agree with Karla, "We have to deal with our youths watching pornography on TV and on the Web.." so why add another venue to it? If the video industry want to do something good, they can give back to our youths by donating to a Cause for them.
Jean Turner
To Prof. Ferrante
Fr: Johanny Rodriguez
I feel cell phone carriers are providing porn for their buyers because so many people have cell phones. The carrier knows that porn is a money maker and they might even get a percentage from whoever is selling porn. It is bad enough that almost everything on the market contains some form of sexuality.
To Jean Turner
Fr: Johanny Rodriguez
I agree that children/teenagers are going to be attracted to the porn websites, just because they are curious. I think there should be a certain age where you can get a cell phone. If parents do decide that they still want to buy their children cell phones, then they should make sure they prohibit the web usage from the phone plan.
Response to Johanny,
That's true what you said "so many people have cell phones," and it's also convenient to watch pron on it. The carriers also make a big profit and that's the only thing that matters to them.
Jean Turner
Response to Johanny,
That's true what you said "so many people have cell phones," and it's also convenient to watch pron on it. The carriers also make a big profit and that's the only thing that matters to them.
Jean Turner
To: Professor Ferrante
I believe parents are capable of doing a better job at raising their children then Uncle Sam (American Federal Government). My reason for making this decision, is because parents are the ones with the control of whether they will buy their children cellphones or not. The government will not be able to be on top of who's actually viewing these pornography sites or features. The government can say the phones will have block access and the person purchasing the phone is legal age. What they're not realizing is that parents buy cellphones for their children and don't even know what these features on the cellphones can do.
Mary Garcia
Response to: Karla
I agree today we have pornography on television, websites, video clips on cellphones and now access to internet sites via cellphone. The difference though is that pornography on television and websites can be blocked by parents. On cable boxes today you can put parental codes to block channels and on the computer at home you can also put parental block codes for children. If all parents were to put blocks on the computers and televisions at home children wouldn't be so exposed to pornography. When it comes to cellphones it's something totally different. Cellphone companies aren't concerned about what they're selling because it all boils down to making money. These companies can always cover themselves by saying "we sold the phone to someone of legal age". Will they have proof? Yes, they will because you need identification in order to purchase a contract cellphone. What these companies do is photocopy the Id and write down the number of the Id on the contract.
Mary Garcia
Response to: Johanny
I agree that children/teenagers will be attracted to porn sites because of their curiosity. If we really look at the whole picture, there is a certain age limit to purchase cellphones. The age limit is eighteen years old or older to purchase cellphones. Parents are the ones that are allowing their children to have cellphones at a young age. Some cellphone companies have cellphones for children, with only three or four buttons for important numbers to call your parents program. Some parents today let their children have what they want and don't put control to it. If I had a child that was under the age of 15 they would not have a cell phone. Today we have parents allowing their children ages 10 and above to have a cellphone. The only person to stop this is the parent. Parents need to stop letting their children control them and start controlling their children.
Mary Garcia
The FCC, federal government and phone companies are all guilty of playing an integral role in making explicit materials available, citing the “freedom of speech” and “parental control” as though we really have options. The latter, parental control, gives a false impression that they invented something to prevent the children from having access to pornography and to protect them as well. Entrepreneurs producing porno do not care about parents or children. They are making every attempt to double their profits. Adults used to go to XXX rated theaters to view pornography in the past. The law should require that they continue to do so.
Porn on television, the internet and now on the cell phone is only allowed to happen because of public demand. We must realize that individuals selling porn will not stop doing so until the people discontinue purchasing this commodity. A free flow of adult material already exists in films and on our airwaves, including singers using foul language in videos. Yet people are not satisfied until they dump their product on all society including children whether people want the exposure or not.
P. Sellers-Bradford
Response to Mary Garcia
I agree with Mary that parents can do a better job raising their children than the federal government although parents cannot always control what the children are doing. In this case, however, parents are given the choice when purchasing cell phone services that feature fewer services. They have the option to buy telephones that dial in and out only with voicemail. However, they put their children at risk if they buy any internet phone service whatsoever. The phone company sends information on offers without your permission, such as ring tones and jokes. Once you touch the wrong button, you unknowingly buy items that you do not want and the charges automatically apply. In this case the buyer must beware!
P. Sellers-Bradford
Response to Mary,
Yes I do agree with you when you say there is a certain age you have to be when purchasing a cell phone. I meant that parents should be way more strict when it comes time for their children to get a cell phone. I think that at age ten you should not be allowed to have a cell phone, but there are certain circumstances where the child may need this phone. Parents should make sure they do not get the phone with internet access.
Johanny Rodriguez
Respond to Mr.Ferrante
from Loreen Hanna
I think pornography is absolutely wrong for many reasons,it is both a graphic representations of penetration between consenting adults which includes images of nude/half naked models, which i find very disgusting. Having pornography as a new feature on phones is telling children that it's okay to have sex, especially that adults are supposed to be role models for children.
The pornography industry has grown so much since their debut with the video cassets. Porno is advertized in the web, DVD's do we really need i to go this far? IF The pornography industry does go this far it will affect the future of our next generation. We can say that pornography was created for "adult services" but as they try to spread the porno industry it goes farther away from the major purpose "adults" and starts reaching children. If porno reaches teenagers more than it already has, we can predict a world of chaos
Manny A. Sanchez
Response to Mary:
I agree with mary, it is a fact that pronogrpahy cannot be stopped but it can certaintly be prevented from the view of our children. Once children get to the age to have a cell phone they would be exposed to pronography already if they had a menu just to access it. If they had a menu just for porno chlildren would think it ok to have it and would want to be curious and try to access it.
Response to Johanny
It is true that in order to purchase the phone the person must be a certain age, there's also a certain age to purchase ciggrattes, but does any one listen? of course not, there are more minors smoking than adults, I guess what i'm trying to say is that kids will always find a way to purchase the phones if they really want to, although it's illegal.So do we have to punish the kids by not giving them a cell phone at a young age because some greedy people want to make money no matter what the cost might be, even if that would be our children.
Loreen Hanna
Response to Jean:
I agree with what Jean said
"That's true what you said "so many people have cell phones," and it's also convenient to watch pron on it. The carriers also make a big profit and that's the only thing that matters to them."
But in addition i think that these carriers wouldnt care about the situation because they are putting big bucks in their pockets. Once they have made this big mistake i think that they will realize is dat thier children have access to it also.
The last few blogs were mine responding to jean and mary
Manny A . Sanchez i think the blog from loreen are in between them
Response to Johanny
We place too much emphasis on “parental control” as a method to safeguard and restrict children from accessing pornography on the internet or cell phones. I personally observed a number of parents exclaim their inability to program the VCR and other electronic gadgets so they rely on their children to do it for them. Children are very capable of figuring out how to remove parental restrictions as well. Parents on the other hand seemingly are unaware how these choices contribute greatly to their children’s vulnerability in accessing elicit materials. Nonetheless, you can guarantee that they will repeat this behavior when buying their child’s cell phone. Is the parent’s judgment truly intact?
Peers can also help children learn techniques to circumvent the blocked features to access whatever they want to view on the internet. We have too much confidence in the fact that our children do not and will not take a peek at pornography when they are left alone to make that choice. I hope that parents will take better charge of the situation and realize what they do to contribute this problem.
P. Sellers-Bradford
In response to prof. Ferrante comment:”who is capable of doing a better job at raising children: Uncle Sam or those who chose to bring us in to the world”. I think the answer to the question is those who bring us in to the world. Uncle Sam is a representative government of elected member selected by the citizens of the United States. The standards they set for children are designed by the vote of the House of Representatives and the senate. The standards set by a parent are done by parental instant. Parents (real parents) developed a sense of power and control over their children so when they enforce a rule it is obeyed. Children who respected and obey their parents are less likely to look at a cell phone with pornography on it. Vienna M.
In response to Mary Gracia
In your comment she stated that parents need to stop letting the children control them. This is a ture fact their are some households where the children are in control and the parents are just there giving the children what they want. Than are cases in some household when the child is sneaking behind their parents back to do what every they want. Although the cell phone company is going to put a block on what ever pornography movie they sell but childten will do what ever it takes. v. Mouzon
In response to Loreena Hanna
I disagree pornography is not a bad thing. It is a form of art and some people like to watch pornography but there is a selected addudience for it. No, young child needs to see pornography but adults should not have to suffer because of some modest adult. If the cell phone company puts the block on the cell phone for pornography there should be no complains form anyone. V. mouzon
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