From: mjm@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (Mike McBain)
Subject: Re: Continued Decline of Western Civilization -- Canadian Style
Summary: I thought it was pretty good!
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 02:09:31 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.111649.16508@newshub.ccs.yorku.ca>, tony@nexus.yorku.ca (Anthony Wallis) writes:
> Kevin Andrew Buhr (buhr@umanitoba.ca) writes:
> > [Some stuff about a Rev. James's letter to the Winnipeg Free Press
> >  concerning "adult" video stores and a "serial killer/dead babies"
> >  game.]
> 
> [Buhr attacks Wallis on `elitist recondite anti-sophistic sophistry', 
> whatever that is]
> 
> I don't expect lapidary logic from your typical theological graduate,
> but, in my fairly extensive experience of them, they do a damn good
> job in attempting to counterbalance the moral rot in our society.
> And I'm not just talking about sex and violence.
> 
I'm not sure whether Kevin meant to have a smiley in there somewhere,
but the original clear thinking exercise from Tony Wallis seemed an
excellent analysis of the ravings of yet another weirdo fundamentalist
`Christian', and an apposite portrayal of the kind of demagoguery
so often seen by those who claim some kind of moral superiority over 
the rest of us. Sex shops and video stores exist all over the world.
So do brothels, rock music venues and amusement parlours. They are 
frequently attacked by conservative religious and attendant laymen
as indicating the end of the world or the final stages of Civilisation
As We Know It (TM). These weirdos have their successes, but there is
no improvement in the crime rate or suicide rate just because every 
video store in town was closed down or can't sell X-rated videos.

Here in Victoria (Australia), it's illegal to sell X-rated videos. But
it isn't illegal in the Australian Capital Territory. So people who
really want hard-core can still get it; it just isn't quite so easy.
Previously, if I wanted to sit down and watch stick flicks with my
wife, I could walk into the local store and hire one for the evening;
now I'd have to premeditate and mail order. Is that a big win for
the community? I don't think so, and I'm not particularly interested
in watching X-rated videos anyway.

The subject of links between morality and {X-rated videos, heavy metal
music, comic books, New Age religions, sex education) gets thrashed
in newsgroups and mass media time and again. It starts to become boring,
particularly since the religious types BELIEVE (i.e. have faith) in the 
sanctity and purity of their case, in spite of any evidence to the contrary.

Sheesh. The only reason these guys get their letters published is
because they are so obviously provocative (not to mention bigoted).
Tony was just pointing out (in a really nice amusing way) that the
reality is nothing like the one Mr James would have us believe in.

If you don't believe me, go talk to your imam.

-- 
---
Mike McBain                                 David Syme Faculty of Business
mjm@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au                  Monash University - Caulfield
+61 3 573 2646                              Australia    3145
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship